TEMPERATURE-VARIATIONS IN A TROPICAL SUBTROPICAL ENVIRONMENT - QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA, 1910-1987

Minimum daily temperatures have increased significantly and the daily temperature range has decreased significantly in Queensland in both summer and winter over the period 1910-1987. Temperature variations in Queensland, particularly average and minimum temperatures, have largely paralleled those of the Australian region and Southern Hemisphere. Trends in minimum temperatures and the daily temperature range in Queensland cannot be attributed to urban warming. Effects of urban heat islands on temperature are, however, evident in some of the large coastal cities of the State. During the summer wet season, variations of the daily temperature range are controlled largely by variations of daily maximum temperatures. These are, in turn, linked to variations of rainfall, cloud amount and the Southern Oscillation. During the winter dry season, variations of the daily temperature range are controlled largely by variations of daily minimum temperatures. These are, in turn, associated closely with rainfall, cloud amount and sea-surface temperatures (SSTs) in coastal waters. The recent rise in daily minimum temperatures and decrease in the daily temperature range in Queensland are not unprecedented in the 78-year record. Variations of rainfall and SSTs in adjacent waters have generally accompanied the temperature changes.