What drives NSW weather?

To understand our state’s weather we must view our climate in conjunction with the factors that govern weather and climate across the whole of Australia. The position and topography of our continent produce a diverse range of climatic conditions, many of which have marked seasonal variations. The driving force is the general circulation of the atmosphere. Although this is a global process, it is possible to describe some dominant hemisphere circulation patterns that will help us to understand the seasonal changes of climate in Australia.

The contents of this Primefact include information on the following:

• The sun drives the system
• Effect of the earth's rotation
• Eastwood movement of systems in the mid-latitudes
• Effect of the north-south movement of the sun with the seasons
• Typical summer and winter synoptic charts
• Daily variations
• Local effects