Climate Change Chart of Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island

Overview of climate changes

Temperature changes

Averaged across calendar months, monthly mean temperature shows a difference of +0.65 °C in the more recent period; this is an unweighted mean of monthly averages, not a day-weighted annual average or a measure of daytime maximum temperatures. The largest monthly increase was in May, with a difference of +1.06 °C compared with the earlier reference period; this identifies the strongest increase among the supplied monthly differences, not a continuous change over time.

Changes in rainfall

Averaged across calendar months, mean daily rainfall has a difference of +1.33 mm/day compared with the earlier reference period. This is an unweighted mean of calendar-month averages, and the measure describes daily amounts rather than monthly totals. The largest monthly increase in mean daily rainfall occurred in December, with a difference of +3.81 mm/day; this is a comparison of period averages, not a statement about every day in that month. By contrast, May had the largest monthly decrease, a difference of -0.46 mm/day. Together, these monthly differences show that the comparison varies by calendar month rather than describing a uniform shift.

Changes in sunshine duration

Averaged across calendar months, mean daily sunshine duration shows a difference of -0.57 hours/day in the more recent period. This unweighted monthly-mean comparison describes average daily hours, not a day-weighted annual figure or conditions on every day. December recorded the largest monthly decrease in mean daily sunshine, with a difference of -1.16 hours/day compared with the earlier reference period; this marks the greatest monthly decrease in the supplied comparison, not a continuous trend.