NZ Climatology

Question 1

What effects no climatology

Answer 1

Latitude
Oceanic surrounding
Topography (mountain ranges)

Question 2

Nz latitudes

Answer 2

34°-47° south

Question 3

Northern tip influences

Answer 3

Tropical influences
Small temp fluctuations
High Rh
Fair visibility and light to mod winds

Question 4

Non far north temp changes

Answer 4

14° in NI
10° SI

Question 5

Westerlies

Answer 5

Prevailing winds in NZ
NZ lies in northern edge of mid latitude westerlies
Effect southern edge most (70% of time in Southland 50% in northland)
Pressure in westerlies
Between 1000 and 1020hPa
Deep depressions in south can reach 970 hPa
Intense highs can reach 1040

Question 6

Fronts

Answer 6

Cold fronts most common in westerlies (low pressure polar fronts)
Fronts diminish as the move north (due topography and increase temps)
West Coast most effected (no protection from terrain)
Wettest part of NZ is Milford Sound

Question 7

Depressions

Answer 7

Of tropical origins usually reduced from tropical cyclone to depression
Can produce gale northerlies and easterlies
Warm sector air meeting cool southerlies can produce strong southerlies and heavy rain in cook strait/east coast

Question 8

Oceanic surroundings

Answer 8

RH around 87% during summer and 89% during winter
West Coast 5% higher

Temp variations
West Coast 7°-8°c
East coasts 12°-13°c

Question 9

Rainfall

Answer 9

Highest West Coast of SI
east coasts get more sheltering so lest rainfall but most variable (also more turbulent)
Summer rain more common in NI

Question 10

Topography

Answer 10

Two large mountain ranges ssw to nne
Rain and clouds west turbulence east (with westerly)
Gals through cook and foveaux strait
Nw winds up to Taranaki
Sw winds north of Taranaki

Question 11

Gales cook and foveaux straight

Answer 11

Nw
Little cloud turbulence in friction layer
Se
Low cloud and low vis on exposed areas
Little turbulence

Orographic depression
Lee of southern alps
Draws air from east (sea breeze)
Depends on strength of norwester

Question 12

Nw flow

Answer 12

Pre frontal between large high pressure systems to the north
Cs or as along West Coast
Gales through straits
East coast dry and clear with turbulence

Question 13

Sw flow

Answer 13

Unstable
Cu cb ts
Light turbulence in west common in east
Some cu east coast with higher base

Question 14

SE flow

Answer 14

High pressure southwest
Low pressure to west moving south east
Extensive low cloud and precip on east coast
West sheltered with turbulence

Question 15

Pm weather

Answer 15

Gorge effects wind
Southerlies and easterlies produce turbulence and cloud to north
Light moist sw produces low cloud
Westerlies favourable