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State and trends of soil erosion by water and wind
2016, 2011 Assessment summaryLand State and trends Soil: Formation and erosion Year...
Figure LAN23 Estimated net soil loss due to wind erosion, 22–23 September 2009
2016 MapDownload as pngDownload dataset Source: Dustwatch Australia, as published in Butler et al. (2013) Figure LAN23 Estimated net soil loss due to wind erosion, 22–23 September 2009 Soil: Formation and erosion
The physical environment: The atmosphere—climate and weather patterns
2016 Report Content2016 Antarctic environment State and trends Antarctica The physical environment includes both the nonliving factors that characterise an ecosystem (e.g. weather patterns, ice coverage, the...
Soil: Formation and erosion
2016 Report Content2016 Land State and trends Murray Darling East Coast Greater Sydney Under steady state, erosion rates are equal to soil formation rates. The...
Resilience of Australia’s air quality 2016
2016 At a glanceAt a glanceThe frequency, duration and severity of episodes of poor air quality in urban centres are influenced by short-term meteorological conditions, in combination with local topography and/or atypical emissions. Air quality is usually restored to acceptable levels once the immediate...
Figure ATM25c Monthly median particle number concentration at Cape Grim, under baseline wind conditions, 1976–2015
2016 Graphc Monthly median particle number concentration at Cape Grim, under baseline wind conditions, 1976–2015 Monthly median particle number concentration at Cape Grim, under baseline wind conditions, 1976–2015 Monthlymedianparticlenumberconcentration(particlescm-3)...
Figure ATM25a Monthly mean concentrations of carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide equivalent at Cape Grim, under baseline wind conditions, 1976–2015
2016 Grapha Monthly mean concentrations of carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide equivalent at Cape Grim, under baseline wind conditions, 1976–2015 Monthly mean concentrations of carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide equivalent at Cape Grim, under baseline wind conditions, 1976–2015...
Introduction 2016
2016 At a glanceGood air quality is essential for human health and the environment. Air quality is an important contributor to quality of life, and plays a role in the livability of our towns, cities and environment. Ambient air quality is determined by the types and amounts of pollutants emitted into the...
Pressures affecting Antarctic historic heritage
2016, 2011 Assessment summaryAntarctic environment Pressures Pressures on Antarctic historic heritage Antarctica Year...
Figure LAN25 Grade of soil erosion for the physiographic provinces of Australia
2016 MapDownload as pngDownload dataset Note: Numbers on the map correspond to the regions listed in assessment summary: State and trends of soil erosion by water and wind Figure LAN25 Grade of soil erosion for the physiographic provinces of Australia Soil: Formation and...
Australia’s marine environment is influenced by the cycles of several natural climate phenomena, including the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, the Indian Ocean Dipole and the Southern Annular Mode
2016 Key Finding2016 Variability in the phases of these climate phenomena change rainfall patterns, sea surface temperatures, surface winds and oceanic currents. These changes can influence the degree of vertical mixing through the water column and the relative location of cyclone events. Simultaneous...
Marine renewable energy generation
2016 Report Content2016 Marine environment Pressures The marine renewable energy industry is an emerging industry globally. Ocean energy technologies and devices (e.g. offshore wind farms, wave energy generators) are being developed...
Box ATM3 Fire weather
2016 Case StudyAustralia is one of the most fire-prone regions in the world. The fire season is distinctly different across the continent, occurring during the dry season in northern Australia, spring and summer in the subtropics, and middle to late summer in southern regions. The potential for...
Figure MAR20 Spectrogram showing the main contributors to the marine soundscape in the Perth Canyon
2016 GraphFigure MAR20 Spectrogram showing the main contributors to the marine soundscape in the Perth Canyon An image of the sound spectrum from 5 to 2000 hertz for September 2012, showing the alterations in decibels, on a scale of 50 to 110, caused by the main contributors to the marine...
Several factors, such as ocean acidification, increasing wind strength and changes in ocean circulation in the Southern Ocean, may affect the base of Antarctic food webs
2016 Key Finding2016 Dissolved carbon dioxide acidifies the ocean and reduces the availability of carbonate ions that shell-making organisms require for calcification, reducing the ability of these organisms to form shells. This may affect their reproductive capabilities and recruitment. Changes in the...
Planning and strategy
2016 Report Content2016 Climate Effectiveness of management South Coast An important role of government is to develop effective policies, implemented through supporting strategies and plans. Emissions...
The living environment: Marine and terrestrial
2016 Report Content2016 Antarctic environment State and trends Antarctica Given its extreme conditions, the Antarctic has a surprising diversity of ecosystems. Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, driest and...
Pressures on Antarctic historic heritage
2016 Report Content2016 Antarctic environment Pressures Antarctica The Mawson’s Huts Historic Site at Cape Denison in the AAT is Australia’s oldest and arguably most significant historic heritage site in...
Introduction 2016
2016 At a glanceAntarctica is the southernmost continent. Including all islands and ice shelves, it covers an area of about 13.9 million square kilometres (km2)—nearly twice that of Australia. The sea ice that surrounds Antarctica adds about another 19 million km2 at its maximum extent in September–October...
Vegetation
2016 Report Content2016 Land Introduction Like the soil that supports it, vegetation is fundamental to ecosystem processes and human survival. Vegetation is vital for: producing oxygen for animal and human life maintaining air quality...
Box ANT6 Rapid collapse of an alpine ecosystem through dieback
2016 Case StudyOld-growth cushion plants and mosses on subantarctic Macquarie Island are being decimated by recent climate change, with rapid, progressive and widespread death across the island. Endemic Macquarie cushions (Azorella macquariensis), estimated to be hundreds of years old in some...
Marine regions
2016 Report Content2016 Marine environment Introduction Tasmania Marine Temperate East Marine South West Great Barrier Reef Marine North...
Pressures affecting the Antarctic terrestrial environment
2016, 2011 Assessment summaryAntarctic environment Pressures Pressures on the terrestrial environment Antarctica Year...
Outlook for the marine environment 2016
2016 At a glanceAt a glanceThe contribution of the marine environment to the economy is projected to continue to grow 3 times faster than Australia’s gross domestic product in the next decade. It is in Australia’s interest that our ocean ecosystems continue to bring economic, cultural and social benefits...
Pressures affecting the Antarctic environment 2016
2016 At a glanceAt a glanceThe climate of Antarctica is changing. Compared with conditions prevailing in the 1950s, parts of West Antarctica—particularly the Antarctic Peninsula region—have warmed. In East Antarctica, where Australia operates, temperatures have also increased, but to a lesser extent. Across...
Pressures from livestock production
2016 Report Content2016 Biodiversity Pressures Livestock production is the dominant land use in the extensive land-use zone of Australia (see the Land report for further information). It is considered a major contributing factor to the...
Understanding and research
2016 Report Content2016 Climate Effectiveness of management Tasmania Greater Melbourne In the 5 years since SoE 2011, international climate science has advanced significantly. The IPCC,...
Box ATM5 Cape Grim: monitoring the health of the global atmosphere for 40 years
2016 Case StudyThe Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station (Cape Grim BAPS), established in 1976 to monitor and study global atmospheric composition for trends as a result of human activities and natural variability, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2016. The station is managed by the Bureau...
Pressures on natural heritage
2016 Report Content2016 Heritage Pressures Lake Eyre Our terrestrial and marine natural heritage is susceptible to the general pressures arising from climate change outlined above, as well as some of the...