Jarntimarra Database (JNT-DB)

Climate Data

This data has been obtained from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). Further work is needed to acquire more localised climate histories and predictions (3, 6 and 12 months, updated in this document regularly). For example, monthly averages including solar radiation and wind (for estimation of renewable power potential) and relative humidity (relevant for analogue suit operations, for example) should be included. In addition, typical daily weather profiles during various months would be useful for operations planning.

Climate Overview

This section should be expanded to provide a detailed climatic overview with a focus on central Australia.

Mean Temperature and Median Annual Rainfall for the Australian Continent:

The driest part of Australia is Lake Eyre (adjacent to the Sturt Stony Desert) with an average rainfall of around 140 mm per annum and less than 30 rain days annually on average.

Climate Averages

Australian weather stations collect data at least daily, and BOM provides averages for a range of parameters. The Queensland Department of Natural Resources provides interpolation of climate averages for locations between stations (navigate to SILO website).

BOM Weather Stations in four States:

Western Australia (WA)	Northern Territory (NT)
South Australia (SA)	Queensland (QLD)

Key Weather Stations relevant for Mars analogue activities:

STATION Alice Springs, NT LONGITUDE 133.89° E LATITUDE 23.80° S ELEVATION 546 m
STATION Balgo Hills, WA LONGITUDE 127.99° E LATITUDE 20.14° S ELEVATION 420 m
STATION Birdsville, QLD LONGITUDE 139.35° E LATITUDE 25.90° S ELEVATION 47 m
STATION Coober Pedy, SA LONGITUDE 134.76° E LATITUDE 29.00° S ELEVATION 215 m
STATION Giles, WA LONGITUDE 128.29° E LATITUDE 25.04° S ELEVATION 598 m
STATION Halls Creek, WA LONGITUDE 127.66° E LATITUDE 18.23° S ELEVATION 422 m
STATION Kulgera, NT LONGITUDE 133.30° E LATITUDE 25.84° S ELEVATION 509 m
STATION Leigh Creek, SA LONGITUDE 138.41° E LATITUDE 30.47° S ELEVATION 194 m	No Image
STATION Moomba, SA LONGITUDE 140.21° E LATITUDE 28.11° S ELEVATION 39 m
STATION Oodnadatta, SA LONGITUDE 135.45° E LATITUDE 27.58° S ELEVATION 117 m	No Image
STATION Woomera, SA LONGITUDE 136.82° E LATITUDE 31.15° S ELEVATION 167 m
STATION Yulara, NT LONGITUDE 130.97° E LATITUDE 25.19° S ELEVATION 492 m

Weather Radar

During Mars mission simulations, Mission Controllers can access an online radar service provided by BOM at http://www.bom.gov.au. Regularly (10 minute) updated radar images obtained up to a radius of 130 km can be viewed from a number of remote stations. These provide a near real-time picture of local precipitation conditions. With a knowledge of current wind conditions (prevailing from the west across the continent) this could provide insight into imminent weather for field crews.

ACST = Australian Central Standard Time
AWST = Australian Western Standard Time

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