|
-
Rockhampton Weather Office is located at latitude
23degrees23' south , longitude 150 degrees29' east at an
elevation of 10 metres. The Office is located on the
eastern side of Rockhampton Airport, which is on the
western fringe of the town. Rockhampton, on the Tropic of
Capricorn is situated on the Fitzroy River, some 50km
inland from its mouth. The station and Airport are
situated on the river flats between the Berserker Ranges
to the east of town and low ranges to the west and
southwest, including the Mount Morgan Range. Many lagoons
are situated in close proximity to the Airport.
Rockhampton's distance from the coast and the location of
the Berserker Ranges, combine to delay the afternoon sea
breeze, hence reasonably high maximum temperatures are
recorded during summer. Location of the lagoons in the
area, plus topography, mean the station is a high fog risk
with the right synoptic situation.
-
In 1871, Rockhampton Post Office became
a rainfall reporting station, and in 1897 temperature,
wind and humidity readings were added. This continued
until 1939 when an Official Meteorological Office opened
at Rockhampton Airport. At the outbreak of World War 2,
the station passed into Military jurisdiction and became a
vital cog in the war effort providing meteorological
information to the huge volume of Military traffic on
transit to New Guinea. With the conclusion of the war,
Meteorology once again became a civilian function with
Rockhampton continuing to play an important part in the
new, expanding aviation industry.
-
In December 1961 the Office was relocated to the Flight
Service Building at the base of the Control Tower. and
began to play an ever increasing role in providing weather
information to community, rural and industry interests.
Pilot balloon flights were undertaken from this site. With
the shift to the present location Radar wind and
radiosonde flights commenced, these had previously been
performed at Gladstone Weather Office, which ceased to be
a staffed office.
-
All this surface and upper atmosphere
meteorological data is incorporated into scientific models
to assist with forecasts on local, state, national and
global levels. The information is also archived to form a
comprehensive climate database, which is essential to
current and ongoing research.
-
As part of its service to the local maritime community the
Rockhampton office broadcasts coastal waters forecasts
using VHF radio, with coverage from about Townshend Island
to Bustard Head. Marine Consultative Committee (MCC)
meetings are held each year in Rockhampton or Yeppoon to
improve dialogue between the Bureau and marine weather
service users.
-
The Fitzroy River drains a catchment
area of over 140,000 square kilometres , the 3 major
tributaries combine about 100km west of Rockhampton as the
Fitzroy. Because of its size and fan like shape, the
Fitzroy river catchment is capable of producing
devastating floods following a heavy rain event. Major
floods have occurred at Rockhampton in 1918, 1954 and
1991.
-
During the 1991 floods the Office at that time was
situated in a building at the base of the Control Tower.
Water was lapping the front door, with all but about 20
metres of runway under water at the flood peak. Access to
the Office was courtesy of Airport Fire Rescue who
transported staff from higher ground off the Airport to
the Meteorological Office in a high clearance tender. The
instrument enclosure was on high ground and free from
water, however staff needed to wade through waist deep
water to get to the enclosure. Considering all sorts of
wild-life (snakes etc) were mixed up in the murk, this was
no mean effort. All road and rail was cut for about 10
days into and out of Rockhampton, stopping the supply to
northern towns. The new meteorological Office is
constructed on a raised mound above the 1991 flood level.
|
