William Atkins
Wednesday, 27 January 2010 22:10
Science -
Climate
Page 1 of 3
Better weather forecasting computer programs are needed to improve on the specifics of each violent storm system occurring in the eastern coast region of Australia, especially as the world’s climate increases in temperature.
Current meteorological forecasting methods are able to give good predictions for up to ten days in the future.
However, weather systems along the eastern coast of Australia are especially violent and unpredictable. Better forecasting sytems are needed to predict the specific conditions that generate such storms.
Weather systems along the eastern coast of Australia produce what is called “east coast lows” (ECLs). These low-pressure weather systems cause intense atmospheric patterns several times each year.
They can result in heavy rains, gale-force winds, and high seas off the coast of New South Wales, southern Queensland, and eastern Victoria.
ECLs are especially dangerous because they often develop rapidly and unexpectedly overnight.
Most of the time, these ECLs occur in the fall and winter months, and their maximum frequency of occurrence is concentrated around the month of June. ECLs are part of a larger class of storm systems called “
cut-off lows.”
For additional information on ECLs, please read the Australian Government/Bureau of Meteorology’s website “
About East Coast Lows.”
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