Australian Northwest Cloudband
The Australian Northwest Cloudband (NWCB), or just Northwest cloudband, is a
Formation
Developing a NW-SE orientation and influenced by the
The cloud band occurs when the
Background
On the warm tropical side, the clouds are generally heavy and
A tropical-extratropical feature, the cloudband provides up to 80% of the annual rainfall for northwestern Australia and up to 40% of the annual rainfall for southwestern Australia, including most of the winter rainfall over northwest Western Australia and Central Australia, which tend to have a drying trend in that season. Southern Australia, though, would receive most of its cloudband-associated rainfall when the band connects with cold front systems.[5] The band increases rainfall over the northwest (Kimberley region and Pilbara), central (Great Victoria Desert region) and southeastern Australia (South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania).[6][7]
The cloudband is an extensive layer of cloud that tends to be 3,000 km (1,900 mi) to 8,000 km (5,000 mi) long (with a width of at least 450 km (280 mi)) and would link a
Occurrence
They generally occur between March and October, but more during late autumn and early winter when the oceans around the country are warm and the subtropical
References
- ^ "Northwest cloudbands". Bureau of Meteorology. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ^ a b c Massive northwest cloudband from Indonesia to Tasmania by Anthony Sharwood from Weatherzone. 29 April 2022.
- ^ Research brief: New dataset shows NW cloudbands are increasing over Australia by Climate Extremes. July 8, 2019.
- ^ Preston-Whyte, R.A. and P. Tyson, 1988. The atmosphere and weather of Southern Africa (Oxford University Press) 375 pp.
- ^ "Indian Ocean". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ^ What is a northwest cloudband? by Ben Domensino from Weatherzone. Monday 21 June, 2021
- ^ Why more clouds can mean less rain in Australia by Kim Reid, University of Melbourne. Phys.org 2003 - 2021 powered by Science X Network. 2 December 2019
- ^ Tapper, N. & L. Hurry 1993. Australia's Weather Patterns: an introductory guide (Dellasta Pty Ltd, Mt Waverley, Vic.) 130pp.
- ^ 7000km long cloudband stretches across the country by Joel Pippard from Weatherzone. 19 June 2022.
- ^ Smith, R.K., M.J. Reeder, N.J. Tapper, and D.R. Christie, 1995. Central Australian cold fronts. Mon. Wea. Rev., 123, 16-38.