Southern Alps

Southern Alps

1. Precipitation Levels at 3,000 mm on the West Coast

2. Precipitation Levels at 15,000 mm near the Main Divide

3. Aoraki/Mt Cook is the tallest peaks along the Alps and within New Zealand - Elevation of 3,742m

4. 16 peaks above 3,000m

5. Permanent Snow above 1,800m

6. Large extending Mountain Range along the West Coast of South Island

7. The temperature Climate results in the Maritime Effect leading to a humid Climate

8. The Alps lay perpendicular to the flow of Westerly Air

9. Westerly Winds of 200km/h

10. As orographic rainfall descends over Alps the air cools leading to condensed moisture as the process approaches the taller peaks

11. Orographic rainfall results in heavy rain

12. 400 mm of annual rainfall to the South

13. 1,000 mm annual rain to the North

14. Water vapour condenses , which drops on the Coast and Southern Alps. Once over the mountain, the air warms up

15. Dry Climate along the Eastern ranges and EHC