Bureau of Meteorology - Services for Agriculture Brochure

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SERVICES FOR AGRICULTURE IN TASMANIA

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
TAS Quick Reference Directory	1800 061 437
TAS Detailed Directory	1902 935 847

Telephone Weather Services -

Online Directory
National Telephone Weather Services Directory 1900 926 113
TAS Full State Service 1900 955 364

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 the newspapers and can be accessed electronically (see Section 5 for details).
Products include:

State forecasts - summary forecasts for Tasmania, for the next 24-36 hours with outlooks for a further three days, are issued four times daily.

District forecasts - more detailed forecasts for the next 24-36 hours are issued twice daily. District boundaries are shown on the map.

City and town forecasts - detailed forecasts for Hobart, Launceston, Burnie/Devonport, St Helens, Swansea, and Strahan, valid for the next 24-36 hours, are issued four times daily along with outlooks for the next three days.

Warnings - forecasts of hazardous weather, usually for the next 12 to 24 hours, including:
*	fire weather(conditions favourable for the rapid spread of bush fires)
*	gales over that land(average wind speeds greater than 63 km/h)
*	severe thunderstorms (damaging wind gusts, large hail, very heavy rain or tornadoes), limited by areas of radar coverage
*	floods (warnings of minor, moderate or major flooding in various river basins)
*	road weather alerts (adverse weather related driving conditions)
*	bush walking weather alerts (low temperatures, heavy rain, snow, strong winds)

2. AGRICULTURAL FORECASTS, WARNINGS AND SERVICES

Direct radio broadcasts
*	on weekdays at 06.30 am over ABC 7NT (The Rural Report)
*	on weekdays at 12.35pm over ABC Regional networks (Country Hour)
*	on week days at about 06.40 am and 7.25 am over ABC 7ZR and 7.15am and 3.3pm over ABC 7NT and less frequently on week ends

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) OR
*	through WeatherCall (Voice) Services on 1900 926 162 OR
*	on the Internet at http://www.bom.gov.au/silo/products/SClimate.shtml

Warnings sheep farmers
*	a warning of cold wet windy conditions when newly shorn sheep or newly born lambs will be at risk
*	based on results from field experiments relating chill factor to wind speed, rainfall and temperature values
*	issued year round

Daily press information
*	the weather page in the Tasmanian daily newspapers - prepared by the Bureau - includes temperature and rainfall reports; weather forecasts; forecast weather maps for the current day and subsequent three days

Evaporation data for irrigation and water loss applications
*	class A pan evaporation data for a number of locations - published daily in a couple of newspapers - published weekly in The Tasmanian Country - broadcast daily

3. GENERAL INFORMATION ON RECENT WEATHER

The following can be obtained through subscription:

Bulletins - Daily weather bulletin (observations from about 50 weather stations). Contents:
*	maximum and minimum temperatures
*	rainfall amount over the previous 24 hours
*	9 a.m. temperature, dewpoint, cloud amount, winds speed and direction, and sea state
Daily, weekly, monthly and annual rainfall bulletins are also available
River Height Bulletin also available (see Section 8 for details)

Monthly Weather Review - Available by about the end of the following month. Contents:
*	introduction and synoptic summary
*	rainfall - district averages, monthly rain list, daily totals at selected stations
*	temperature data at daily reporting stations
*	dates of selected phenomena
*	evaporation and sunshine data
*	water storage available for irrigation
*	Hobart - observations summary and various graphs of related to temperature and rainfall
*	maps - daily weather, monthly rainfall (both isohyets and decile ranges), departures from normal temperatures (maximum and minimum)
*	summary of normal conditions for the month of interest, and for the following month

Daily Meteorological Observations -
*	for each day of the month, the maximum and minimum temperature, rainfall, and other information are listed for various sites

Daily Synoptic Weather Chart (Australia)

Monthly Rainfall Review and Drought Review (Australia)
*	focus on recent rainfall

(For details of current subscription rates, Phone (03) 6221 2043 or Fax (03) 6221 2045)

4. OTHER PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND INFORMATION

New Services
*	The Bureau is happy to discuss enhancing its weather and climate services to meet the needs of agricultural industries
Contact: the Weather Service Coordinator for Tasmania & Antarctica, Phone (03) 6221 2081 or Fax (03) 6221 2082

Bureau Publications
*	a catalogue of ALL Bureau of Meteorology publications is available free of charge
Contact: The Hobart Office or The Publications Section of the Bureau of Meteorology on (03) 9669 4312

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:

*	weather charts and satellite images are available on Weather by Fax, for example:
		- Australian Weather Map (MSLP Analysis)	1902 935 210
		- Australian Forecast Chart (MSLP +36hr Prognosis)	1902 935 211
		- Australia 4 Day Forecast Charts	1902 935 002
		- Australian Region Satellite Picture	1902 935 201
		- South Eastern Australia Satellite Picture	1902 935 203


*	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

*	real-time Tasmanian rain and weather data and 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 and other consultative services including professional analysis of complex data for Tasmania
*	seasonal outlook (Tasmanian focus)
Contact: The Tasmania & Antarctica Climate and Consultancy Section, Phone (03) 6221 2043

*	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.

*	RAPIC
	- for information about, and on-line access to radar weather images
Contact: Weather Service Co-ordinator for Tasmania and Antarctica: Phone (03) 6221 2081 or Fax (03) 6221 2082

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
*	main directory (Freepoll 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 services (Freepoll 1800 061 440) contains: - pollfax numbers for satellite pictures, weather charts, marine forecasts and information, national services and advices
*	Tasmanian directory (Freepoll 1800 061 437) contains: - pollfax numbers for forecasts, warnings and products pertaining to the State including a range of weather products of relevance to agricultural applications.

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:
- forecasts for Tasmania (State, district, provincial city and town forecasts, and coastal waters). Phone 1900 955 364
- flood forecasts for Tasmania. Phone 1900 955 359

7. AN OVERVIEW OF THE CLIMATE OF TASMANIA

Tasmania enjoys for the most part a "temperate maritime" climate with the sea, never more than 115 km distant, suppressing temperature extremes. The prevailing westerly airstream leads to a West Coast and highlands that are cool, wet and cloudy and an East Coast and lowlands that are milder, drier and sunnier. Annual rainfall varies markedly across the state, averaging less than 600 mm in the Midlands but over 3500 mm in some part of the mountainous west. Though droughts have not plagued Tasmania to the same degree or severity as the mainland states of Australia, some have had serious consequences.

Summers are usually mild, with any hot periods rarely lasting more than a few days. Mean maximum temperatures during summer are in the range of 18 to 23^oC, and during winter between 9^oC and 14^oC. In elevated regions the temperatures are about 5^oC lower. Westerly winds are particularly strong and persistent in late winter and early spring. Afternoon sea breezes are predominant in most areas in the summer months. Cold fronts often cross the state, and these can bring "cold outbreaks" and snow to low levels particularly during winter. Frosts can occur throughout the year in all areas apart from the extreme coastal strip, where the frost "season" extends from about March to November.

Annual Average Rainfall Map for Tasmania

8. HYDROLOGICAL SERVICES IN TASMANIA.

Flood Warning Service
*	warnings contain information about the likelihood of flooding and its possible impacts and are designed to protect life and reduce the damaging impacts of floods
*	this service is provided by the Bureau working in close cooperation with the Tasmanian State Emergency Service, police and local authorities
*	these warnings can assist those in the agricultural industry by providing time to allow stock to be moved to higher ground, for the removal of irrigation pumps from rivers or for temporary floodproofing measures
*	flood warnings, flood watches (outlook of the potential for flooding) and river alerts (advice to landowners that particular rainfall or river level conditions have been exceeded) are issued in Tasmania
*	flood warnings and watches are available through the media as well as the Weather by Fax service, Weathercall and the Bureau's Internet home page
*	flood warnings are only issued for selected rivers
Contact (for further details of services provided for your area): The Hydrology Section, Tasmanian Regional Office, Phone (03) 6221 2061

River Height Bulletins
*	part of the flood warning service
*	issued daily for over 60 locations on Tasmanian rivers, with information on: - river heights and reservoir heights at 9 am - the change since the last reading - the height at which minor flooding commences and an indication of whether flooding is current
Contact: (for details of current subscription rates), Phone 03) 6221 2043 or Fax (03) 6221 2045.

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, Tasmanian Regional Office, Phone (03) 6221 2061 or the Head Office Hydrometeorological Advisory Service, Phone (03) 9669 4609 or Fax *(03) 9669 4725*

BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY OFFICES IN TASMANIA

For further information on the products and services outlined in this brochure write to:
	Regional Director, Bureau of Meteorology, GPO Box 727G Hobart, Tas., 7001

Alternatively you may phone, fax or e-mail the office
	Phone (03) 6221 2081 Fax (03) 6221 2082 E-mail M.Ball@bom.gov.au

Limited advice and services are also available from:
	Meteorological Office, Launceston Airport Phone (03) 6391 8377 Fax (03) 6391 8692


	Meteorological Office, Hobart Airport Phone (03) 6248 5031 Fax 03) 6248 5629

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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