Introduction
Norfolk Island (29° 02' S, 167° 57' E) lies 1,760 km ENE of Sydney, 900 km ENE of Lord Howe Island, and 675 km south of New Caledonia. The main island (35 sq. km) is about 8 km E-W and 6 km N-S, with a coastline 32 km long, and a highest point (Mount Bates) 318 m above sea level. There are two smaller islands to the south. Nepean Island (4 ha) rising to 32 m, with a 1.2 km coastline and Phillip Island (1.4 sq km) rising to 280 m, with a 6 km coastline (Fig. 21.1.2.1 ). The climate is subtropical, with a mean monthly maximum (February) of 22°C, a mean monthly minimum (August) of 16°C, and an average annual rainfall of 1,326 mm. The prevailing winds are easterly (NE–SE) in summer and westerly (S–W) in winter, when gales occur. Waves generated by these winds are accompanied by ocean swells mainly from the SW and SE, while tropical cyclones to the north generate waves from that direction (Jurd 1989). Mean spring tide range is about 1.3 m.
Norfolk Island and...
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References
Abell RS, Falkland AC (1991) The hydrogeology of Norfolk Island, South Pacific Ocean. Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geol Geophys Bull 234
Jones JG, McDougall I (1973) Geological history of Norfolk and Phillip Islands, Southwest Pacific Ocean. J Geol Soc Aust 20:239–254
Jurd G (ed) (1989) Norfolk Island environment book. Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service. Canberra
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Bird, E. (2010). Norfolk Island. In: Bird, E.C.F. (eds) Encyclopedia of the World's Coastal Landforms. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8639-7_227
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