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Weather, Climate and Sports: a Sampler

A Weather Edge for Yachts

Football's Thrills and Chills

Weather Odds for the Racing Industry

Cricket's Weather Tactics

Surfing Waves Born of Wind

Ballooning's Weather Constraints

Of Birdmen and Birds

Weather elements rain, temperature, humidity, and cloud often affect sports performances and spectator comfort.

Bureau of Meteorology temperature
sensor in an instrument screen (background),
Centre Court, Australian Open

The timing and intensity of rain is a critical factor in determining whether some sports can proceed. Sometimes engineering solutions guarantee completion of major events: since 1988 the Australian Tennis Open has been played at the Melbourne Park stadium, where a sliding roof can be closed over centre court.

Weather-watch radar imagery of a line
of storms approaching Melbourne

Because the Open is regarded as an outdoors event, tournament organisers close the roof only if rain threatens play. They get vital short-term information on weather within 200- 300 km from the Bureau of Meteorology's weather-watch radar (radar data are displayed on a personal computer at the stadium). Rainfall patterns could indicate the approach of a cold front from the west, or the intensity of scattered showers.

During competition the safety and success of racing yachts depends on varied forms of weather and climate advice.

Tens of thousands of Australian weekend sailors need short-term forecasts and warnings. Other requests range from the global scale competitors needing climate data when planning round-the-world racing to the extremely detailed local meteorological data which shape yacht design and sailing tactics for an America's Cup course.

A Bureau of Meteorology officer briefs competitors in the Sydney-Hobart race

During competition, continually updated weather information is vital. Australia's best-known yacht race, the Sydney-Hobart event, typically sees more than 100 boats leave Sydney on Boxing Day for the 630 nautical-mile run lasting four or five days. It's not unknown for a quarter of the yachts to withdraw under pressure of weather or equipment problems.

Football codes dominate the Australian sporting calendar from mid-autumn.

Despite average temperatures several degrees below summer maximums, players from southern States may suffer heat stress when playing in, say, Brisbane.

Wind frequently determines how people cope with temperature variations. In warm conditions a breeze helps to evaporate perspiration and conduct heat away from the body. High ambient humidity means decreased evaporation and increased perspiration.

Example of wind chill (dashed lines) - a 20 km/h wind and 0C air temperature
give a wind chill factor equivalentto -10C on a still day

Colder winds mean significant loss of body heat and even risk of frostbite when temperatures are near or below freezing. Wind impacts on comfort in colder climates are often expressed as 'wind chill', the equivalent temperature' that, under calm conditions, would produce the same level of comfort as the prevailing temperature and wind. Meteorologists may also make complex calculations (incorporating relative humidity and temperature) to devise a Heat Index.

Mud flies from sodden turf

Weather has a big impact on Australian racing, which involves annual betting turnover of $8000M on 23000 races at 404 courses.

Betting odds, attendances, racing rules, commercial decisions and even composition of fields may fluctuate with changing weather.

Internationally, Australia's best-known race is the Melbourne Cup held at Flemington Racecourse. Flemington is one of the courses which use Bureau of Meteorology weather radar and satellite imagery to assist decisions on course safety, parking, shelter, even catering.

While rain has fallen on about one in three Cup days since the first Cup in 1861, only twice has rain forced postponement. The warmest Cup day was 35.1C in 1902, the coldest, 11C in 1913. The highest rainfall was 46.5mm in 1942.

Storm threatens international cricket, Adelaide

Meteorology often claims the total attention of cricket players and spectators. Alert tacticians with good local knowledge, an eye on weather radar, or an ear to radio, may profit from up-to-the-minuteinformation ...monitoring the passage of a cold front, the expected arrival of a sea-breeze, the drying of a pitch, or cloud threatening poor light.

Television commentator with weather instrument, Melbourne Cricket Ground
(Photograph courtesy of Channel 9)

Captains seek information on winds that might enliven a fast bowler, humidity that may help balls to swing, high temperatures that can affect a pitch, or tire batsmen and the fielding team. The batting order and an accurate four-day forecast may determine the fate of a five-day international match.

In one-day matches rules may allow time extensions to offset weather interruptions.

Meteorological satellite image of a cold front approaching western Victoria

Surfing is a popular sport in Australia. Hardy enthusiasts use wet suits to surf through winter.

Wind creates ocean waves. For a given wind speed, fetch (the distance over which the wind blows) and duration, there is a maximum height which waves may reach; beyond that they lose as much energy from the breaking of whitecaps as they gain from the wind.

Waves moving over long distances eventually move with a speed greater than that of the wind; they flatten out and take on a long-crested shape called swell. Swell can travel thousands of kilometres. Hawaiian surfers, for instance, may ride waves originating in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica.

Bureau of Meteorology sea swell prediction (metres). Note large heights generated
by low-pressure systems in the Southern Ocean

Factors such as shape and alignment of the coast and ocean floor may amplify waves to create good surfing spots.

Competition hot air ballooning sets pilots tasks which usually involve flying to a target. Pilots use the natural variation of wind with height; they can control up-and-down movement, but their horizontal movement depends entirely on the wind.

Weather officer makes wind measurements to support competition. Mildura, Victoria

Immediately above the earth's surface, in the southern hemisphere, the wind direction generally rotates anticlockwise with height up to about one kilometre. Wind speed in this lowest layer usually increases with height. Pilots generally take off along a bearing corresponding to the average' wind in the layer they propose to use, and then change height to adjust left and right motion as they zero in on the target.

Example of hot air balloon flight pattern

During the National Ballooning Championships, often held in Mildura, the Bureau of Meteorology provides detailed wind information every 100 metres up to 2000 metres.

The Bureau of Meteorology often provides on-site meteorological support for national hang gliding competitions. Technology and communications give on-site forecasters access to a wide range of data including surface and upper air wind and temperature, satellite and radar imagery. Forecasters' briefings on expected conditions particularly upper winds and thermal activity help organisers set safe courses, and offer pilots maximum use of prevailing conditions.

Pigeon racing is thriving in Australia, with more than 5500 owners and 33000 birds. The Bureau issues specialised pigeon racing forecasts, emphasising wind speed and direction over courses which range from 200 1000 km. Rain, fog or unsuitable winds will postpone races. Up to 10000 birds compete in big races.

Weather officer tracks a pilot balloon during hang gliding competition at Mt Buffalo, Victoria