Spectacular images captured in the Australian Weather Calendar 2015
05/11/2014
The Bureau of Meteorology has today released its Australian Weather Calendar 2015, showcasing a diverse range of weather phenomena across Australia's landscape.
Bureau of Meteorology Deputy Director Corporate Services, Ms Vicki Middleton, said thirteen winning images had been selected from more than 800 entries to the Bureau's highly contested photographic competition.
"The Bureau provides Australians with environmental intelligence for safety, sustainability, well-being and prosperity. The Weather Calendar highlights the diversity of the Australian landscape and captures rare and beautiful weather events through photography," said Ms Middleton.
"The images selected represent each state and territory and aim to promote a broader understanding of the science of meteorology.
"The calendar features stories about how Australian industry uses the Bureau's environmental intelligence in business decision-making. Major industry sectors such as aviation, shipping, agriculture and resources depend on Bureau information to operate safely and efficiently."
Published jointly by the Bureau of Meteorology and the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society since 1985, the popular not-for-profit calendar is now in its 31st year, with annual sales of 60,000 across more than 80 countries worldwide.
The prestigious cover shot is of a dandelion sparkling with frost, taken in Kambah in the Australian Capital Territory.
Other photographs inside the calendar include a radiant aurora australis in Coles Bay, Tasmania; a dramatic funnel cloud near Cooma, New South Wales; a heavy rainstorm over the Kennedy Range, Western Australia, creeping desert fog near Kati Thanda — Lake Eyre, South Australia, an apocalyptic roll cloud at sea taken during the Sydney to Hobart yacht race; an unusual bird-shaped cloud over Mount Macedon, Victoria; a spectacular storm front over Darwin and towering cumulonimbus clouds near Warwick, Queensland.
Winning images have been taken with a variety of cameras, from an iPhone held out of a moving car to high-grade professional equipment.
Ms Middleton said the Bureau relies on a network of thousands of volunteers, including rainfall and river height observers, and each volunteer is provided with a copy of the calendar annually.
"Each of the Bureau's dedicated volunteers will receive a copy of the Australian Weather Calendar 2015 as a small token of our appreciation for their valuable contribution, which supports critical weather forecasting services, and strengthens Australia's long-term climate record."
Go to the Bureau shop to purchase the Australian Weather Calendar 2015 online, while stocks last.
For more information visit www.bom.gov.au/calendar, or to view the video go to:
