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Climate
Rainfall
Photo: High Rainfall - DERM
Photo: Tully River - DERM Annual mean precipitation is high throughout the province, with a mean of 1800 mm and maximum of 7512 mm. This is the highest precipitation value recorded in Queensland. The values for the driest quarter mean precipitation throughout the province are patchy, and range from low (with a minimum value of 0 mm recorded) in the western and northern extremities to high elsewhere. Rainfall erosivity is on average very high and ranges from moderate to very high throughout the province. Precipitation results in lateral runoff from the surrounding catchments into rivers, supplying water, sediment, nutrients and debris (allochthonous inputs) to the system. The high volumes and erosivity of rainfall in this province suggests a high potential rate and volume of input. The high volume of rain is responsible for the perennial or near-perennial nature of river flow in the province both via direct run-off and by recharging groundwater sources contributing base flow. The high altitude Bellenden Ker Range has endemic invertebrate species from families that are aquatic (various caddisflies), but because there is so much rainfall these species are able to live on land.
Wet Tropics FBP Rainfall Maps State Rainfall Map Temperature
Photo: Henrieta Creek - DERM
Photo: Belastomatidae - DERM The annual mean temperature for the Wet Tropics FBP ranges from cold to moderate, with the lowest temperatures recorded from the areas of the province at higher altitude. Values for the highest weekly mean maximum temperature are similar throughout the province. Values for the lowest weekly mean minimum temperature range from moderate to high. The ratio of the hottest weekly maximum to the coldest weekly minimum values was low throughout the province. This suggests that seasonality in temperature is not pronounced e.g. the temperature difference between the hottest and coldest times of year is small.
Summary Maps of Province Temperature State Temperature Map Water Balance
Photo: High Runoff - DERM Mean Annual Runoff in the province is high (7.24 mm).
Information about water balance
Last updated: 21 February 2012 |
— Department of Environment and Resource Management
