Science Centres: Climate
December
November's climate
Global setting and climate outlook
Feature article
New leader of the National Climate Centre
Dr Andrew Tait - New leader of the National Climate Centre
Dr Andrew Tait is the new leader of the National Climate Centre (NCC) at NIWA, taking over from Dr David Wratt, who is now the General Manager for Climate Change at NIWA.
Andrew studied at the Universities of Otago and Colorado and has been working as a climatologist at NIWA since 2000.
A monthly newsletter from the National Climate Centre.
December 2007 – Number 102
November climate – well below normal rainfall in many areas. Low stream flows everywhere. Near average air temperatures, but some hot days in the north and east of the country late in the month.
Outlook for December to February – air temperatures are likely to be average or above average in all districts.
New Zealand climate in November
Rainfall (click to enlarge).
Temperature (click to enlarge).
November featured frequent ridges of high pressure over New Zealand, with more dry southerly quarter winds than usual.
Global setting and climate outlook
La Niña strenghtens
Difference from average global SST (click to enlarge).
Monthly SOI values (click to enlarge).
La Niña conditions have strengthened in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, and are expected to persist through into autumn 2008. For the first month since this La Niña event began, the SOI has shown a strong movement upwards, although the present prevailing conditions are described as moderate.
