Topic 1 Content
Climate Regions of Australia and the Pacific Islands
The map is titled Climate Regions of Australia and the Pacific Islands. This map displays the different climate regions that exist in Australia and the Pacific Islands, using color. The map shows the landmasses of Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, including the islands of the Philippines, Indonesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia. Australia is central in the map. A map key exists on the left side of the map, which explains the colors used for each of the climate regions. A compass rose does not exist on this map. It is assumed that the cardinal direction of north is toward the top of the map, west is to the left of the map, east is to the right of the map, and south is toward the bottom of the map.
- Areas shaded in khaki represent arid climate. Arid climate is found in western and central Australia in correlation with the Australian Outback. The southern, northern, and eastern sides of this section meet a boundary with semiarid climate. The western side of this section meets a boundary with semiarid climate and the Indian Ocean.
- Areas shaded in light brown represent semiarid climate. Semiarid climate surrounds the arid climate section found in western and central Australia. The northern side of this section meets boundaries with tropical wet and dry and humid subtropical climates. The eastern side of this section meets boundaries with humid subtropical. The southern side of this section meets boundaries with Mediterranean climate, marine west coast climate, and the Indian Ocean. The western side of this section meets a boundary with the Indian Ocean.
- Areas shaded in brown represent highland climate. Highland climate exists in the central portions of the Islands of Borneo and New Guinea.
- Areas shaded in yellow represent humid subtropical climate. Humid subtropical climate extends along the entire eastern coast of Australia. The eastern side of this section meets a boundary with the South Pacific Ocean. The northern side of this section meets a boundary with tropical wet and dry climate. The western side of this section meets a boundary with semiarid climate. The southern side of this section meets a boundary with the South Pacific Ocean and marine west coast climate.
- Areas shaded in light green represent tropical wet and dry climate. Tropical wet and dry climate exists in a few areas on the map.
- Tropical wet and dry climate exists along the northern section of Australia. The northern and western sides of this section meet a boundary with the Indian Ocean. The eastern side of this section meets a boundary with the South Pacific Ocean. The southern side of this section meets a boundary with semiarid climate.
- Tropical wet and dry climate exists on some of the islands of southern Indonesia.
- Areas shaded in dark green represent tropical wet climate. Tropical wet climate exists in a few areas on the map.
- Tropical wet climate exists on the majority of the islands in the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia, and Polynesia.
- Areas shaded in blue represent Mediterranean climate. Mediterranean climate exists along the majority of the southern coast of Australia. The southern and western sides of this section meet a boundary with the Indian Ocean. The northern side of this section meets a boundary with semiarid climate. The eastern side of this section meets a boundary with marine west coast climate.
- Areas shaded in white represent Icecap climate. Icecap climate exists in all of Antarctica. Antarctica is found in the bottom left corner of the map.
- Areas shaded in burgundy represent marine west coast climate. Marine west coast climate exists in two location on the map.
- Marine west coast climate exists in the southeast corner of Australia, including the island of Tasmania. The eastern side of this section meets a boundary with humid subtropical climate. The northern side of this section meets a boundary with semiarid climate. The western side of this section meets a boundary with Mediterranean climate. The southern side of this section meets a boundary with the Indian Ocean.
- Marine west coast climate also exists in all of New Zealand. This section is surrounded by the South Pacific on all sides.