What are the climatic zones of Australia? Australia: climate, climatic zones and areas

Australia - the mainland, which was studied by Europeans not immediately, distant and unusual. In addition, it is completely located in the other hemisphere, and is also the smallest on Earth. To study its features will be interesting to everyone who wants to have an idea about the climate and the nature of different parts of the earth.

Geography of the continent

Australia comes from the Latin australis , which means "southern". Thus, the name of the continent is directly related to its location. The extreme northern point of the continent is Cape York. South-East Point is located in the south. In the west, Australia ends at Stape Point, and in the east - Byron. The length of the continent is 3200 kilometers from north to south. From west to east it occupies 4,100 km. Only at the beginning of the nineteenth century Australia appeared on maps. General information about the continent became available as a result of the numerous journeys of the discoverers. English captain Matthew Flinders rounded it completely and gave the title. The geography of the continent includes several climatic zones and natural zones, each worth considering in detail. Around the continent are groups of islands - Melville, Bathurst, Tasmania, Groote Island, Derk-Hartog, Flinders, Fraser and Kangaroo.

Waters around the mainland

The presence of the oceans directly affects the climate that Australia has. Rivers and lakes also play a role. The mainland has no connection with other continents, it is washed by the Pacific and Indian oceans. In the north are the seas - Arafura and Timor. The largest gulf is the Carpentarium. Along the southern and western shores stretch shallows without pronounced currents. From the east, Australia is washed by the Coral and Tasman seas, the relief of which includes deep basins. Along the island arcs there are gutters. Their depth can reach ten kilometers.

We continue our conversation about such a continent as Australia. The climate, climatic zones and areas of this continent we will consider further.

Subequatorial climate

The strip of this type of weather covers the north and north-east. Answering the question about the belts in which Australia is situated, the subequatorial climate should be mentioned first along with the tropical and subtropical climate. This region is distinguished by a small amplitude of annual temperatures and impressive amounts of precipitation, sometimes reaching more than 2000 millimeters. They are brought to the ground by the monsoon. This means that everything happens in the summer. In the winter season, the air becomes dry, hot winds from the continent are blowing, sometimes they can lead to drought.

Tropical climate

Answering the question, in which climatic zones Australia is located, do not forget about this strip. Especially on the mainland it is expressed in two variants. The humid tropical climate is distinguished by the extreme eastern part, which is affected by the southeast trade wind. The trade winds carry the air masses of the Pacific Ocean to the mainland, moisturizing the earth perfectly. On average, up to 1500 millimeters of precipitation falls here. The warmest month has a temperature of twenty-five degrees, and the coldest one is thirteen.

Determining in which climatic zones Australia is located, we should not forget about the impact of the relief - for the Great Dividing Range the air masses are difficult to penetrate, so there precipitation falls only on the western slopes and foothills. In the center and in the west is a desert tropical climate with average summer temperatures of thirty degrees and the same winter as in the previous type. What is the climate in Australia in the desert area? There is the hottest area. In the area of the city called Alice Springs, the temperature of a summer day can rise to plus forty-five, and fall at night below zero. These territories receive three hundred millimeters of precipitation a year. Sometimes the rain may not be several years.

Subtropical belt

The subtropical climate is divided into three varieties - Mediterranean, humid and continental. The first is the south-western region. It, as is obvious from the name, resembles the conditions of European countries - France and Spain. The Mediterranean climate is characterized by hot and dry summers. Winter here is humid and warm. The annual amplitude of temperatures is rather low: from +23 degrees in January and to +12 in June. Precipitation falls to a thousand millimeters. In the continental climate area, New South Wales and Adelaide are located. The main features of this zone are a small amount of precipitation and impressive temperature fluctuations for the year. Finally, the subtropical moist climate is characteristic of Victoria and the south-western foothills. Mild weather prevails here with a lot of precipitation. In summer, the temperature reaches +24, and by winter falls to 15 degrees. The local areas are great for growing vegetables and fruits, grazing dairy cattle or sheep.

Now you know in what climatic zones the mainland Australia is located, and you can pay attention to other details.

Zone of deserts and semi-deserts

In addition to the climate, it is worth considering these natural areas. The climate in which Australia is located also affects these zones. Thus, one of the most common zones is the deserts and semi-deserts characteristic of the northern part of the continent. Physical weathering leads to the appearance of a specific relief. This zone is distinguished by such deserts as Big Sand, Simpson, Greater Victoria. They are characterized by high temperatures during the day with possible frosts at night. The difference between the Australian deserts and many others lies in the fact that there is enough moisture for some vegetation. The fauna is sparse. In the zone of deserts and semi-deserts there are antelopes, marsupials, hyenas, jackals. Prevail a variety of jerboa and gerbils, as well as reptiles. In fixed sand dwells a larger number of animals than in the stony area.

Equatorial forest zone

As mentioned above, in which climatic zones Australia is located, it also affects the natural areas encountered here. The wet equatorial forest zone is found on the east coast of Australia. To form such a territory, a high humidity and precipitation in the amount of more than two thousand millimeters per year is required. The hot temperature is above twenty degrees, and such a volume of rain is provided by warm currents. In this zone there are several tiers of plants with an upper one reaching forty meters. Australian eucalyptus can reach even a hundred! Plants of such territories have very large leaves that remain green all year round. Here live a variety of snakes, frogs, spiders, lizards and insects. Animals often differ in small size (for example, koalas). There are also monkeys. Larger animals simply could not move in the lower or upper levels of such a zone, filled with thick branches, large leaves and large tree trunks.

Savannah Zone

The extent to which Australia's mainland is located in the climatic zones allows it to be distinguished by special geographical regions. For example, sandstone savannah, located in the north, is a kind of natural attraction. Current from the mountains of the river flood this zone, as a result of which extensive floodplains are being developed. So there is a moist savanna with impregnations of rain forests and small shrubs. Here grows a lot of grasses and shrubs. Knowing in what climatic zones the mainland Australia is located, one can not be surprised by the unique nature. However, a national park known all over the world under the name "Kakadu" is still impossible to overlook. This is an amazing place with virgin areas of vegetation.