Teleconnection of atmospheric and oceanic climate anomalies with Australian weather patterns: a review of data availability

Abstract

The quality and quantity of observed and reanalysed data influence the direction and accuracy of scientific research. This paper reviews the data available for the study of climate and weather patterns in Australia. A list of global reanalysis and satellite data is provided, along with a more detailed review of available in situ (weather station) data in Australia. Regularly updated climate indices are identified that have previously been linked to Australian climate and weather events. Observation of Australian weather is severely hampered by the continents' vastness and remoteness, as evidenced by heavy bias of in situ measurements that are generally clustered in the coastal high-population centres (mainly southeast of Australia), with central and northern regions often having to rely on remote sensing and reanalysis data. Data sparsity can introduce significant uncertainty in terms of extreme weather and climate change management, as variables such as rainfall exhibit high spatial and temporal variability. Several areas for future research are identified, including investigation into the impact of Australian aerosol levels, the connection between soil moisture and flooding potential, and teleconnection between Atlantic sea surface temperature and Australian climate. While this study focusses on data availability to investigate Australian climate patterns, findings are applicable at a global scale.