Climate Change Chart of Fraser Island, Australia

Overview of climate changes

Temperature changes

Monthly mean temperature was higher by a difference of +1.16 °C averaged across calendar months in the more recent period; this is an unweighted comparison of monthly means, not a day-weighted annual average or a measure of daytime maximum temperatures. The largest monthly increase was in June, with a difference of +2.41 °C compared with the earlier reference period. This identifies the strongest increase among the supplied monthly comparisons, not a continuous change between the reference periods.

Changes in rainfall

Mean daily rainfall had an average difference of +0.71 mm/day across calendar months in the more recent period. This is an unweighted average of monthly means; it describes daily amounts rather than monthly totals and does not mean every month was wetter. The largest monthly increase in mean daily rainfall occurred in May, with a difference of +1.74 mm/day. By contrast, February had the largest monthly decrease, a difference of -0.54 mm/day compared with the earlier reference period; these monthly contrasts show that changes were not uniform.

Changes in sunshine duration

Mean daily sunshine duration averaged across calendar months was lower by a difference of -0.16 hours/day in the more recent period. This is an unweighted comparison of monthly means, not a day-weighted annual average, and it does not imply less sunshine in every month. The largest monthly increase in mean daily sunshine was in February, with a difference of +0.62 hours/day; the largest monthly decrease was in May, with a difference of -0.47 hours/day compared with the earlier reference period.