86 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol XII, January, 1958 
TABLE 1 
Comparison of the Climates of Sydney, Lord Howe Island, and Port Macquarie 
SYDNEY 
LORD HOWE 
ISLAND 
ABOUT PORT 
MACQUARIE 
°F. 
°F. 
°F. 
Mean shade temperature 
62.9 
68.6 
65.3 
Highest shade temp, ever recorded on any day 
108.5 
110.7 
116.0 
Lowest shade temp, ever recorded on any day 
35.9 
45.0 
24.0 
Spring mean shade temperature 
62.9 
68.0 
65.6 
Summer mean shade temperature 
70.7 
74.8 
73.1 
Autumn mean shade temperature 
64.1 
69.0 
66.6 
Winter mean shade temperature 
54.0 
62.4 
55.7 
Average Monthly Temperatures 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May 
June 
July 
Aug. 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Nov. 
Dec. 
Year 
Sydney 
71.4 
70.9 
69-3 
64.5 
58.5 
54.4 
52.5 
55.0 
58.7 
63.3 
66.6 
69.7 
62.9 
L. H. Is 
75.5 
75.0 
71.4 
69.7 
65.0 
63.7 
61.0 
62.4 
65.3 
67.6 
71.4 
73.8 
68.6 
Port Macquarie 
District 
74.0 
73.4 
71.9 
67.3 
60.5 
56.1 
54.3 
56.5 
60.8 
65.9 
69.6 
72.0 
65.3 
evident that this area is much more humid 
and cooler. Clouds very often cover the tops 
of the mountains and rainfalls are more fre- 
quent there than on the low part of the island. 
The comparison of the average monthly 
temperatures shows that the climate of Lord 
Howe Island is distinctly warmer than in 
Sydney (5.7°F. in year’s temperature) and 
noticeably warmer than in Port Macquarie. 
The climate is more moderate, with only 14° 
of difference between the warmer and colder 
months, while in Sydney it is 19-9°, and in 
Port Macquarie 19.7°. This gives good ground 
for the existence of a number of tropical 
plants and animals, but it seems that the high 
humidity is a strong handicap for elements of 
the flora and fauna which prefer arid con- 
ditions. 
It is necessary to add that the island is 
subject at times to strong winds and high 
seas. It is never very cold, as the warm current, 
which is also responsible for the most south- 
erly coral reef in the world, helps to maintain 
an even climate which rarely goes below 60 
or above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. 
Annual rainfall is about 75 inches. 
If we take meteorological data over the 
period from 1917 to 1938, the average annual 
rainfall was 67.30 inches. The mean daily 
temperature over the same period was 66.4 
degrees, the mean daily maximum being 71.9 
degrees and the mean daily minimum 60.9 
degrees, with a difference only in 11 degrees. 
The highest reading recorded during that 
period was 89-0 degrees and the lowest 42.8 
degrees. 
Oliver (1917) gives the following tables on 
the climate of Lord Howe Island. 
Atmospheric pressure varies regularly with 
the direction of the wind, being highest in 
south-east and east weather, and lowest in 
north-west and west weather. The highest 
reading recorded was 774.4 mm., on 9 June, 
1912, east wind; the lowest, 750.3 mm., on 
16 September, 1911, wind north-west. 
