Bureau of Meteorology - Services for Agriculture Brochure

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SERVICES FOR AGRICULTURE IN
THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

Access weather and climate information by:

Internet -

http://www.bom.gov.au for the web home page
http://www.bom.gov.au/silo for meteorological information for rural industries
http://www.bom.gov.au/silo/products/Meteograms.shtml for computer weather guidance for a specific location (by subscription)

Weather by Fax -

Online Directory
National Quick Reference Directory 1800 630 100
National Detailed Directory 1800 061 440
NT Quick Reference Directory 1800 061 438
NT Detailed Directory 1902 935 848

Telephone Weather Services -

Online Directory
National Telephone Weather Services Directory 1900 926 113
NT Full State Service 1900 955 363

Telephone Weather Services Call Charges:
1900 numbers: 77c per minute incl. GST; 1300 numbers: Low call cost - around 27.5c incl. GST.
(More from international, satellite, mobile or public phones)

Other telephone weather services are listed under "Bureau of Meteorology" in the telephone directory.

1. GENERAL FORECASTS AND WARNINGS

These are provided to radio, television and newspapers and can be accessed electronically. Products include:

Town and city forecasts - Three times daily forecasts for Darwin and selected towns for the next 24 to 36 hours and outlooks for one further day (four days for Darwin). Minimum and/or maximum temperatures are included with designated issues. These centres are shown on the map.

Warnings - forecasts of hazardous weather, usually for the next 12 to 24 hours, including:
*	tropical cyclones. Phone 1300 659 211
*	severe thunderstorms, Darwin and rural area. (damaging wind gusts, very heavy rain or tornadoes)
*	fire weather(conditions favourable for the generation and rapid spread of bushfires)
*	gales (wind greater than 63 km/h)

2. AGRICULTURAL FORECASTS, WARNINGS AND SERVICES

Direct radio broadcasts
*	on Weekdays at 12.35pm over the ABC Network (Country Hour)

Frost Risk Forecasts
*	a frost risk is appended to the Alice Springs evening forecasts
*	issued from May to September inclusive

Seasonal outlooks and summaries
*	a summary of recent conditions in the southern half of the Territory is published in the monthly Alice Springs Rural Review (NT Dept. of Primary Industry and Fisheries)
*	a monthly summary plus seasonal outlook is published in "The Gulf News" newspaper
*	a rainfall summary and decile map is published along with primary industry statistics by the Department of Mines and Energy in a regular brochure "Prime Stats - Rural and Fishing Industries in the NT"

The Seasonal Climate Outlook.
*	provides monthly detailed updates on El Niño indicators (including a six month El Niño outlook)
*	gives an outlook on rainfall and temperatures for the next three months for all regions in Australia
*	can be obtained through subscription - Phone (03) 9669 4603 for details OR
*	through Weather by Fax on 1902 935 251 (rainfall) and 1902 935 313 (temperatures) OR
*	through WeatherCall (Voice) Services on 1900 926 162 OR
*	on the Internet at http://www.bom.gov.au/silo/products/SClimate.shtml

Weekly Tropical Note.
*	provides a brief weekly update on El Nino indicators plus intra-seasonal patterns of change in the tropical climate
*	available on the Internet at http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/tropnote/tropnote.shtml

New services
*	the Bureau is happy to discuss enhancing its weather and climate services to meet the needs of agricultural industries
Contact: Co-ordinator, Weather Services, Phone (08) 8920 3810

3. GENERAL INFORMATION ON RECENT WEATHER

The following can be obtained through subscription:

Bulletins- Monthly and annual rainfall bulletins for the Northern Territory

Monthly Weather Review, NT - Target publication date is 20th of the following month. Contents:
*	severe weather summary, including flooding
*	rainfall - district averages, monthly totals at all stations, daily totals at selected stations
*	temperature - maxima, minima, monthly means at selected stations
*	evaporation, sunshine hours
*	Darwin and Alice Springs - observations summaries
*	maps - daily weather, monthly rainfall (both isohyets and decile ranges), departures from normal temperatures (maximum and minimum)
*	daily synoptic maps
*	summary of normal conditions for the month ahead (e.g. January edition contains March summary)

Darwin Tropical Diagnostic Statement - Available during the second week of the following month
*	technical publication
*	contains information about circulation patterns including monsoons, the Southern Oscillation Index, rainfall and cloud cover, tropical cyclones, etc.

Daily Synoptic Weather Chart (Australia)

For details of current subscription rates - Phone (08) 8920 3810 or Fax (08) 8920 3802)

4. OTHER PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND INFORMATION

Bureau Publications
*	a catalogue of ALL Bureau of Meteorology publications is available free of charge
Contact: The Darwin Office or The Publications Section of the Bureau of Meteorology in Melbourne

National Benchmark Network for Agrometeorology
*	a project of the National Committee for Agrometeorology
*	a network of about 190 observing stations, many of which are automatic weather stations, chosen to provide data in areas important to agriculture
*	a subset of the Bureau's observational network
*	instrumented with sensors specific to the requirements of agriculture
*	being progressively implemented
Contact: Services Policy Branch Phone (03) 9669 4705

The following products and services will incur a charge:
*	RAINMAN
	- RAinfall INformation for better MANagement - a software package developed by the Queensland Department of Primary Industry (QDPI) using data supplied by the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) - designed as a management tool where activities are significantly affected by rainfall - provides information about the probability of a certain amount of rain occurring at a particular time, thus making it easier to plan such operations as planting and harvesting - based upon the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), linked to the broadscale weather pattern over Australia - contains rainfall records for almost 4,000 locations Australia-wide from the beginning of recorded observations - has the facility for users to enter their own rainfall data to allow examination of the effects of the SOI on rainfall probabilities at their own location - accompanying booklet Will It Rain provides explanations of the El Niño phenomenon and other aspects of Australia's climate - regular updates available
Contact: Special Services Unit Phone (03) 9669 4994 Fax (03) 9669 4670

*	real-time Northern Territory rain and weather data and Australian climatological data, including secondary data (means, medians etc) and tertiary data (deciles, cumulative frequencies, length of growing period, wind-frequency analyses, etc.) - available in various formats
*	climate surveys (regional/state/territory, national)
*	consultative services including professional analysis of complex data for the Northern Territory
*	weather charts and the latest satellite imagery
*	special forecast services for the Northern Territory
*	seasonal outlooks (NT and Australian tropics)
Contact: Climate and Consultative Services, Darwin, Phone(08) 8920 3816

*	Monthly Rainfall Review and Drought Review for the whole of Australia
	- focus on recent rainfall - annual subscription $41.35 inc GST (2000 price)
Contact: The Publications Section of the Bureau of Meteorology in Melbourne on (03) 9669 4312..

*	consultative services invloving other parts of Australia
Contact: National Climate Centre, Phone (03) 9669 4082

*	Farming a Sunburnt Country
	- an award winning, 35 minute video and manual on El Niño and drought - 'Managing Australia's variable climate' is just one of the topics - compered by Neil Inall - contains interviews with farmers and scientists - $21.95 inc GST (2000 price)
Available from: Bureau of Meteorology, Climate Analysis, Phone (03) 9669 4072.

5. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON ACCESS AND DELIVERY METHODS

Internet
*	the Bureau of Meteorology Internet home page is http://www.bom.gov.au - many different products available including forecasts, charts, satellite pictures, climatic information - included in this suite of products is:
*	SILO - a specialised Internet web site jointly administered by the Bureau of Meteorology and QDPI - accessible from BoM home page viz. http://www.bom.gov.au/silo - provides a large selection of meteorological and agricultural information (much of which is cost free) relevant to anyone in the agricultural arena

Weather by Fax

a polled facsimile information service providing access to more than 150 services
- includes forecasts, warnings, the Seasonal Climate Outlook, satellite pictures, charts, bulletins,information on Bureau products, pamphlets and other relevant information

National Quick Reference Directory (1800 630 100) contains:
- general information relating to the Weather by Fax service, including advices of new services,details of other sub-directories and services, hints and guidance on using the Weather by Fax service, and a listing of contact telephone and fax numbers for gaining further information and assistance
- updated monthly

National Detailed Directory (1800 061 440) contains:
- pollfax numbers for satellite pictures, weather charts, marine forecasts and information, national services and advices

Northern Territory directory (1800 061 438) contains:
- pollfax numbers for an increasing number of forecasts, warnings and products pertaining to the Northern Territory

Telephone Weather Services

provides up-to-date recorded forecasts by telephone using Telstra's 1900 system. (1900 numbers are mainly collectives, that is, the state numbers allow access to the metropolitan, marine, country and capital city temperature services for that state through a single entry number

National Telephone Weather Services Directory (1900 926 113) gives 1900 services for all states through a single number OR

poll Weather by Fax on 1902 935 254 for a list of all Telephone Weather Services

key WeatherCall numbers:
- a three month rainfall outlook (a seasonal rainfall forecast comparing expected rainfall with average rainfall). Phone 1900 926 162
- forecasts for country Northern Territory which includes provincial city forecasts.
Phone 1900 955 367 (other services are also accessed via this number)

Daily Press
*	weather map and satellite picture, with explanation
*	weather notes
*	forecasts, warnings

7. AN OVERVIEW OF THE CLIMATE OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

The Northern Territory's climate is distinctly different from those of southern Australia, and varies greatly between the Territory's northern and southern extremities. Northern and, to a lesser extent, central parts of the Territory experience two distinct seasons: the "wet" (October to April) and the "dry" (May to September). In the Top End, the average year-round daytime temperature ranges from 30°C to 33°C, with overnight temperatures in the high teens to mid 20°C's. At the height of the wet season, median rainfall is 300 - 400 millimetres per month. Tropical cyclones can occur during the wet season, usually forming within an active monsoon trough. The rest of the year rainfall is minimal.

In the southern and central parts, the contrast between wet and dry is not as marked. While zero rainfall can be experienced in all calendar months, significant totals are also possible in all months, but are more likely in summer. Winters (June to August) are cool and summers (December to February) hot. In Central Australia the average summer daytime temperatures are around 35°C or more, dropping to about 25°C in June and July. This far from the sea, the night-time temperature plunges year-round; in summer it will range from 20 to 25°C, in June and July, it can be as low as 0°C out in the desert.

From May to September the prevailing southeasterlies bring predominantly fine conditions throughout the Territory.

8. HYDROLOGICAL SERVICES IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY.

Flood Warning Service
*	the Bureau issues generalised flood forecasts containing information about current and expected future heavy rainfall and the liklihood of flooding within major river basin areas
*	generalised flood warnings are included in routine public weather forecasts and are available through the media as well as the Bureau's Internet home page
*	the Northern Territory Police and Emergengy Service issue specific flood warnings for some areas (Katherine, Daly River, Victoria River, Alice Springs)

For information about:
*	rainfall Intensity-Frequency-Duration (IFD) information for any Australian location - useful in many applications including the design of drainage systems, small dams, etc.
Contact: Either the Hydrology Section, Northern Territory Regional Office, Phone (08) 8920 3838, Fax (08) 8920 3832 or the Head Office Hydrometeorological Advisory Service, Phone (03) 9669 4609 or Fax *(03) 9669 4725*


BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY OFFICES IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

For further information on the products and services outlined in this brochure write to:
	Regional Director, Bureau of Meteorology, PO Box 40050 Casuarina, NT 0801
Or call personally at:
	3rd floor, The Met Building, 13 Scaturchio St., Casuarina, NT

Alternatively you may phone, fax or e-mail the office
	Phone (08) 8920 3800 Fax (08) 8920 3802
	E-mail climate.nt@bom.gov.au

Advice and services are also available from:
	Weather Service Office, Alice Springs Phone (08) 8952 1943 Fax (08) 8953 0223

Limited advice and services are also available from:
	Meteorological Office, Gove Phone (08) 8987 2477 Fax (08) 8987 2659

	Meteorological Office, Tennant Creek Phone (08) 8962 2392 Fax (08) 8962 1200

HEAD OFFICE OF THE BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY

	The Director Bureau of Meteorology GPO Box 1289K Melbourne, VIC 3001

	Phone (03) 9669 4000

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