About decadal and multi-decadal temperature maps
References & Guides
How were the maps created?
Maximum and minimum temperature data are recorded at a network of stations across Australia. The data from these weather stations are stored electronically in the Bureau of Meteorology's database called ADAM (Australian Data Archive for Meteorology).
The 10, 20 and 30-year average temperature maps are based on daily temperature data from between 60 and 800 weather stations.The daily data were extracted from ADAM and a number of quality control checks were then applied to the data. For example, the data were checked for missing values over the length of the data record.
After the quality checks were applied to the data, monthly averages were calculated for each of the weather stations. An objective analysis technique was then applied to these station averages to produce regular gridded datasets covering Australia. These gridded datasets were analysed to obtain annual averages over each specified period.
Finally, the gridded data were visualised in a geographic information system and the colour maps created through this process.
You can find out more about the format of the gridded datasets and the analysis technique is described in the metadata.
Stations used in the analysis
Daily temperature data from between 60 and 800 weather stations across Australia were used to create the decadal & multi-decadal temperature maps. These stations are shown in the maps below.
Temperature metadata
The following metadata summary, and detailed metadata file, provide information on the decadal and multi-decadal temperature grids. For example, information is provided about the format, spatial extents and analysis techniques used to generate the grids.
| TITLE: | Decadal and multi-decadal mean annual temperature data. |
| DESCRIPTION: | Decadal and multi-decadal mean annual temperature grids. The grids show the temperature values across Australia in the form of a two dimensional array. The data extend from 1900 onwards. |
| CUSTODIAN: | Bureau of Meteorology |
| GEOGRAPHIC EXTENT NAMES(s): | Australia |
| AVAILABLE FORMAT TYPE(S): | ASCII row major, Arc/InfoTM grid export(.e00), Shapefiles. |
| SCALE/RESOLUTION | The resolution of the data is 0.05 degrees (approximately 5km) |
The detailed metadata file provides more information about these temperature gridded datasets, including information about the analysis technique. You can also find out about the other gridded datasets we have available.
Copyright & contact information
Please note that the copyright for any data supplied by the Bureau of Meteorology is held in the Commonwealth of Australia and the purchaser shall give acknowledgement of the source in reference to the data. Apart from dealings under the Copyright Act 1968, the purchaser shall not reproduce (electronically or otherwise), modify or supply (by sale or otherwise) these data without written permission from the supplier.
If you want to know more, please contact us at climatedata@bom.gov.au
