Variability in the trade wind regime and wet season of Northeastern Queensland

A significant shift in trade wind direction from southeast to east has been identified along the northeastern Queensland coast, with increasing trends in trade wind inversion (TWI) frequency and modest increases in inversion base height, particularly in subtropical regions. This variability is closely linked to the subtropical ridge (STR), influencing rainfall patterns during the wet season (November–March). While the Madden-Julian oscillation (MJO) strongly affects intraseasonal rainfall variability across most regions except the northern Queensland region (NQL), NQL exhibits a notable relationship between warm rain precipitation features and MJO phases. Interannual rainfall variability is primarily driven by El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), with stronger associations observed during the wet season. The study also reveals that trade winds dominate daily rainfall in the Wet Tropics, contributing nearly half of total rainfall annually and approximately 40% during the wet season. No significant trends were found in the frequency of rainfall clusters.

Murphy, M. J. (2017). Variability in the trade wind regime and wet season of Northeastern Queensland. Monash University. https://doi.org/10.4225/03/58B78CD282F97