18°S 143°E Gilbert River – Queensland by Degrees

AT THE POINT Location: Degree Confluence 18S 141E is located in far northern Queensland. The closest settlement is Gilbert River (after which the degree square is named), approximately 23 km to the south-west. The confluence itself has yet to be visited, but access to the general area may be possible via private property tracks by 4WD. Landscape: Elevation at the degree confluence is approximately 185 m, and the landscape is generally flat, although it is broken by the courses of numerous creeks. Aside from a property track to the south-west, the Google Earth image shows no other human features near the point. Vegetation at the confluence appears to be reasonably dense. The closest creek is the Schneider to the south and north, which eventually drains into the Gulf of Carpentaria via the Einasleigh River. Many of these nearby creeks have pools and waterholes along their courses, and the terrain could become muddy and boggy during the tropical summer rains. The primary geological features at the site are Cainozoic Tertiary-Quaternary (less than 65 million years ago) sedimentaries and alluvium including sand, sandstone, gravel, and silt. Point Information: Jo Grant   IN THE DEGREE SQUARE Climate: The closest representative weather station is at the Georgetown Post Office, which is approximately 65 km to the south-east of the degree confluence, and has an elevation of 292 m. The station has been recording data since 1872. Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Mean max (ºC) 34.4 33.5 33.4 32.5 30.4 28.2 28.2 30.0 33.0 35.8 36.6 36.1 32.7 Mean min (ºC) 22.9 22.7 21.5 19.4 16.1 13.1 12.0 13.1 16.2 19.7 21.7 22.8 18.4 Mean rain (mm) 226.3 212.9 123.1 28.9 9.3 10.5 6.8 4.3 6.4 16.7 50.7 128.4 824.7 The highest temperature recorded was 43.5°C in January 1994, and the lowest was -3.0°C in July 1974. The greatest rainfall recorded in a year was 2 045.7 mm in 1974, and the least was 308.4 mm in 1926. These and other climate statistics for Georgetown can be found at: Australian Bureau of Meteorology, http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_030018.shtml. Extremes of Nature: The area is subject to the impact of tropical cyclones. The database maintained by the Bureau of Meteorology shows that 36 cyclones have passed within 200 km of the confluence since 1906, four of which passed within 50 km (an unnamed TC in 1956, TC Judy in 1965, TC Fiona in 1971, and TC Brownyn in 1972). These and distant cyclones bring potentially destructive winds and intense rainfall with them. Cyclone information for this area and all of Australia can be found at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology website, http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/silo/cyclones.cgi. Cyclone tracks within 200 km of point 1906 to 2006 (Bureau of Meteorology web site) Like most places in the Australian tropics, extreme heat is also a danger. Records show that the Georgetown Station experiences 110 days annually with temperatures 35°C or warmer, although very few of these reach over 40°C. Such extreme temperatures can cause heat stroke and death if appropriate measures are not taken such as avoiding strenuous physical effort, keeping as cool as possible and drinking lots of water. Heat waves kill more people in Australia than all other natural hazards combined.

Last updated 23 October 2009. For more information email admin@rgsq.org.au Return to home