Drought in Australia

Drought in Australia is defined as rainfall over a three month period being in the lowest decile of what has been recorded for that region in the past.^[1] This definition takes into account that drought is a relative term and rainfall deficiencies need to be compared to typical rainfall patterns including seasonal variations. Specifically drought in Australia is defined in relation to a rainfall deficiency of pastoral leases and is determined by decile analysis applied to a certain area.^[2]

Historical climatic records are now sufficiently reliable to profile climate variability taking into account expectations for regions.^[3] State Governments are responsible for declaring a region drought affected and the declaration will take into account factors other than rainfall.^[1]

Drought-affected fields in the Victorian countryside

Droughts in the 19th century

• 1803 Drought in NSW that produced severe crop failures.
• 1809 Beginning of an unusually severe drought in NSW that continued until 1811.
• 1813-15 Severe drought in NSW that prompted searches for new pastures.
• 1826-29 Severe drought in NSW that caused Lake George to dry up and the Darling River to cease flowing.^[4]

Since 1860, when adequate meteorological recording commenced, the most severe droughts have occurred commonly at intervals of 11 to 14 years. Major droughts that were recorded later in the 19th century include:

• 1829 Major drought in Western Australia with very little water available.^[5]

• 1835 and 1838 Sydney and NSW receive 25% less rain than usual. Severe drought in Northam and York areas of Western Australia.
• 1838-39 Droughts in South Australia and Western Australia
• 1839 Severe drought in the west and north of Spencer Gulf, South Australia.
• 1846 Severe drought converted the interior and far north of South Australia into an arid desert.
• 1849 Sydney received about 27 inches less rain than normal.
• 1850 Severe drought, with big losses of livestock across inland New South Wales (NSW) and around the western rivers region.
• 1864 - 66 (and 1868). The little data available indicates that this drought period was rather severe in Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.
• 1877 All States affected by severe drought, with disastrous losses in Queensland. In Western Australia many native trees died, swamps dried up and crops failed.
• 1880 to 1886 Drought in Victoria (northern areas and Gippsland); New South Wales (mainly northern wheat belt, Northern Tablelands and south coast); Queensland (1881–86, in south-east with breaks - otherwise mainly in coastal areas, the central highlands and central interior in 1883-86); and South Australia (1884–86, mainly in agricultural areas).
• 1888 Extremely dry in Victoria (northern areas and Gippsland); Tasmania (1887-89 in the south); New South Wales had the driest year since records began; Queensland (1888–89) had a very severe drought, with much native scrub dying and native animals perishing; South Australia had one of its most severe droughts; and Western Australia (central agricultural areas) lost many sheep.^[6]

Drought in the 20th century

During the severe, Australia wide, 1902 Federation Drought the total sheep population dropped to fewer than 54,000,000 from a total of 106,000,000 sheep in 1891 and cattle numbers fell by more than 40 per cent. It was 1925 before the sheep numbers reached the hundred-million mark again.

At the time of Federation, Australia suffered a major drought. There had been a number of years of below average rainfall across most of Australia before the drought. During the drought the wheat crop was "all but lost" and the Darling River was dry at Bourke, New South Wales for over a year from April 1902 to May 1903. There was concern about Sydney's water supply.^[7] In the 1911-1915 period, Australia suffered a major drought which resulted in the failure of the 1914 wheat crop.^[8]

During 1918 to 1920 a severe drought was experienced by Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Northern Territory (Darwin-Daly Waters area and central Australia), Western Australia (Fortescue area), Victoria, and Tasmania.

During World War II, eastern Australia suffered dry conditions which lasted from 1937 through to 1947 with little respite.^[9] The end of the drought coincided with the 1946-47 Ashes series, it rained in all 25 matches played by the tourists, including two tropical rainstorms during the First Test at Brisbane and another in the Second Test at Sydney.^[10] From 1965-68 eastern Australia was again greatly affected by drought. Conditions had been dry over the centre of the continent since 1957, but spread elsewhere during the summer of 1964/1965. This drought contributed to the 1967 Tasmanian fires in which 62 people died in one day and 1,400 homes were lost.^[11] The drought in 1982-83 is regarded as the worst of the twentieth century for short-term rainfall deficiencies of up to one year and their overall impact. There were severe dust storms in north-western Victoria and severe bushfires in south-east Australia in February 1983 with 75 people killed.^[12] This El-Nino related drought ended in March when a monsoon depression became an extratropical low and swept across Australia's interior and on to the south-east in mid to late March.

A very severe drought occurred in the second half of 1991^[13] which intensified in 1994 and 1995 to become the worst on record in Queensland.^[14] This drought was influenced by a strong El Nino weather pattern and associated with high temperatures in July and August 1995, the fifth continuous year of drought in parts of Queensland. According to Primary Industries Minister, Ed Casey, "the drought affected region stretched in a 200 km to 300 km wide strip from Stanthorpe to Charters Towers".^[15] So few wheat and barley crops survived, about half the usual for that year, that grains had to be imported from other states.^[16]

In June 1994, more than 10 towns had lost irrigation systems and some areas had gone five years without decent rainfall.^[15]

A part of the upper Darling River system collapsed during this drought. By October 1994, the Condamine River was exhausted, reverting to a series of ponds. Across the state more than 13,000 properties, totaling 40% of Queensland was drought declared.^[17] The flow past Goondiwindi was the lowest since 1940. Cotton farms near Moree and Narrabri had been allocated no water for irrigation which resulted in a major loss of production.^[17] The town of Warwick was particularly affected.

Drought in the 21st century

Main article: 2000s Australian drought

Around 2000 Australia was prone to wet weather brought on by La Niña influenced weather patterns.

Green drought, caused by insufficient rain after a long dry period, November 2002

Then from 2003 a long, severe drought, again the worst on record^[18] was experienced in many parts of Australia.

Rainfall deficiencies in 2006

As of November 2006, the late-winter to mid-spring rainfalls had failed. The average rainfall in the state of South Australia was the lowest since 1900. Across Victoria and the Murray-Darling Basin the season was the second driest since 1900. New South Wales' rainfall was boosted by above normal falls along the north coast of the state, however the state average rainfall for the season is the third driest since 1900. The situation has been worsened by temperatures being the highest on record since the 1950s.^[19][20]

Responses during 2006 and 2007

The current drought has changed the way Australia treats its water resources. Because of the long-term effects of the drought now showing, many state governments are attempting to "drought-proof" their states with more permanent solutions.

Australia in the past hundred years has relied solely on water from dams for agriculture and consumption.^{[citation needed]} Now schemes like grey-water water-recycling, government rebates for home-owners to install water tanks, and tougher restrictions on industries have come into effect.

The citizens of Toowoomba voted on, and rejected, a referendum on using recycled sewerage water. However, after the referendum Toowoomba began using recycled sewerage water as no other feasible alternative was available.^{[citation needed]} Brisbane is set to be supplied via larger dams, a pipeline and possibly also recycling. A desalination project has been initiated on the Gold Coast, Queensland, but plans for a similar project in Sydney were halted after public opposition and the discovery of underground aquifers. In November 2006 Perth completed a seawater desalination plant that will supply the city with 17% of its needs.^[21] Likewise, the Victorian Government is also in the process of building one of the world's largest desalination plants. When complete, it will be capable of producing up to a third of Melbourne's water needs.^[22]

Dairy producers have been hit particularly hard by the drought that has swept much of Australia. And 2004 was a particularly bleak year in the sector, as a drought-caused drop in production sent revenue in the industry down by 4.5%.^[23]

Most Australian mainland capital cities are facing a major water crisis with less than 50% of water storages remaining. For example, Melbourne has had rain up to 90% below the average for September and October 2006, compounding the problem of extremely low rainfall from the preceding winter months.^{[citation needed]} Melbourne has been experiencing high temperatures throughout October causing the evaporation of water in dams and reservoirs, which has resulted in their levels falling by around 0.1% a day. As a result of all these factors Melbourne is now on tighter water restrictions and as of July 2009, water levels in its dams are at a mere 27% of capacity.^[24]

Agricultural production has been affected. Australia's cotton production has dropped, with the smallest area planted in 20 years, a 66% reduction compared to five years ago (considered a "normal" year). The crop has been half its usual size for three of the past five years. Water use by the industry fell by 37% between 2000/01 and 2004/05, due mainly to drought.^[25] In the order of 20 cotton communities and 10,000 people directly employed by the cotton industry are impacted by the drought. The main areas affected are in New South Wales: Menindee where the area under production has reduced by 100%, Bourke has reduced the area under production by 99%, Walgett has reduced the area under production by 95%, the Macquarie River has reduced the area under production by 74% and the Gwydir River has reduced the area under production by 60%. In Queensland the worse affected areas are Biloela which has reduced the area under production by 100%, at Dirranbandi there has been a 91% reduction, Central Highlands has reduced the area under production by 82% and Darling Downs has reduced the area under production by 78%. Bourke has only had adequate water for one cotton crop in the last five years.^[26]

Stock feed is also becoming scarce and farmers are finding it difficult to feed cattle and sheep.^{[citation needed]}

Predictions and observations for 2007-2008

Dry paddocks in the Riverina region during the 2007 drought

Cattle on a sand island in the Murrumbidgee River which is normally underwater but due to low rainfall in the catchment during 2008 has meant water releases from the dams have been reduced.

In early 2007, senior weather forecasters predicted that the drought would ease along the east coast with a return to average rainfall from late February 2007. Forecasters believed that the El Niño effect that had been rampant during 2006 and 2007 had ended.^[27] Heavy rainfall in June and July, particularly in coastal regions of New South Wales and in Victoria's Gippsland region, together with tentative forecasts of a La Niña event, brought hope that the drought may have ended.^[28]

The Prime Minister at the time, John Howard, announced on 19 April 2007 that unless there was substantial rain in the next six weeks no water would be allocated to irrigators in the Murray-Darling basin for the coming year. The result of this would have directly affected the 50,000 farmers and the economy.^[29] Electricity shortages may also have occurred if the Snowy Mountains Scheme had been forced to shut down its hydroelectric generators.^[30]

However, in August 2007, the Darling River flowed again after nearly a year of no flows.^[31] Inflows into the Murray-Darling Basin in the winter of 2007 were amongst the lowest on record though marginally better than those of the winter of 2006 which had been the driest on record.

The drought in Sydney eased around April 2008, when Sydney's main water catchments reached 65 percent, 25 per cent fuller than it was at the same time the previous year.^{[32] [33]}

However Victoria remained drought affected, with Melbourne's water supplies dipping to around 30% by July 2008.^[34]

In June 2008 it became known that an expert panel had warned of long term, maybe irreversible, severe ecological damage for the whole Murray-Darling basin if it did not receive sufficient water by October of that year.^[35]

In Tasmania drought conditions worsened in 2008, with many areas reporting no significant rainfall for three years.^[36]

Continuation into 2009-2010

2009

In 2009, drought conditions in South East Australia continued, after one of the driest summers for the region. Melbourne had had Stage 3a water restrictions from 1 April 2007, and narrowly avoided Stage 4 restrictions, with the minimum storage level of around 25.8% ^[37] remaining above the threshold of 25% for enacting Stage 4. Many towns in Victoria were close to running out of water, with some of the few Victorian towns without water restrictions being in the East Gippsland water area, where reservoir levels were above 80%.

2010

The 2010 Victorian storms in March did little to help Melbourne's storage levels, but steady winter rains, and the 2010 Victorian floods in September, caused storage levels to remain above about 32.7%,^[38] rising to over 46% in September and 51% by late November.

2010 has seen Australia officially record its wettest spring on record due to a moderate to strong La Nina developing over the region. Water restrictions were reduced to stage 3 on 2 April, and stage 2 on 1 September.^[39] 2010 has also seen Melbourne reach average annual rainfall since 1996,^[40] and its wettest spring since 1993.^[41]

The drought in Queensland has mostly eased with Brisbane recording very heavy rain in May 2009, and premier Anna Bligh announcing that South East Queensland was no longer experiencing drought.^[42] Brisbane's dams are now at full capacity with the state in general experiencing its wettest spring on record.

The drought in New South Wales has also eased. In the beginning of 2010 the percentage of the state in drought was pushing 70%. As of December 2010, the entire state is officially out of drought, with the entire state recording its wettest spring on record. Several rivers, including rivers in the outback have flooded several times, and many dams are now overflowing, including the Burrendong, Burrinjuck and Pindari Dams. Canberra's dams are now above 90%.

Despite Western Australia experiencing its fifth wettest spring on record, the South West, Gascoyne and Pilbara regions of Western Australia's drought has intensified, with the region experiencing its driest year on records, with Perth's dams registering it's lowest inflows on record with the city itself likely to register its third-driest year on record, along with the hottest spring on record.^[43] Prospects for a wetter than average summer, however, look likely for the state, along with the rest of Australia.^[44]

Drought and population levels in Australia

The Australian environmental movement organisation, Sustainable Population Australia, have contended that as the driest inhabited continent, Australia cannot continue to sustain its current rate of population growth without becoming overpopulated. SPA also argues that climate change will lead to a deterioration of natural ecosystems through increased temperatures, extreme weather events and less rainfall in the southern part of the continent, thus reducing its capacity to sustain a large population even further.^[45] In response to this, there are several movements and campaigns around the country which are advocating for environmental action.

The UK-based Population Matters, (formerly known as the Optimum Population Trust), supports the view that Australia is overpopulated, and believes that to maintain the current standard of living in Australia, the optimum population is 10 million (rather than the present 20.86 million), or 21 million with a reduced standard of living.^[46]

See also

Australia portal

• Climate change in Australia
• Deserts of Australia
• Extreme weather
• Federation Drought
• List of reservoirs and dams in Australia
• Peak water
• Water restrictions in Australia

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Drought". Climate Glossary. Bureau of Meteorology. 2006. http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/glossary/drought.shtml. Retrieved 2006-11-13. 
2. ^ Tapper, Nigel. & Hurry, Lynn. (1993) Australia's Weather Patterns: An Introductory Guide. Pages 51 -57. Dellasta. ISBN 1-875627-14-6
3. ^ "Our Natural Resources at a Glance - Climate". Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia). 2006. http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/92603/nrm_at_a_glance.pdf. Retrieved 2006-11-13. 
4. ^ Shaw, John H., Collins Australian Encyclopedia, Collins, Sydney, 1984, ISBN 0-00-217315-8
5. ^ "Chisholm, Alec H.". The Australian Encyclopaedia. 3. Sydney: Halstead Press. 1963. pp. 291. 
6. ^ "Chisholm, Alec H.". The Australian Encyclopaedia. 3. Sydney: Halstead Press. 1963. pp. 288. 
7. ^ "The "Federation Drought", 1895-1902". Climate Education. Bureau of Meteorology. 1999. http://www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/c20thc/drought1.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-13. 
8. ^ "The 1914-15 drought". Climate Education. Bureau of Meteorology. 1999. http://www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/c20thc/drought2.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-13. 
9. ^ "The World War II droughts 1937-45". Climate Education. Bureau of Meteorology. 1999. http://www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/c20thc/drought3.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-13. 
10. ^ pp179-180, Clif Cary, Cricket Controversy, Test matches in Australia 1946-47, T. Werner Laurie Ltd, 1948
11. ^ "The 1965-68 drought". Climate Education. Bureau of Meteorology. 1999. http://www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/c20thc/drought6.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-13. 
12. ^ "Short but sharp - The 1982-83 droughts". Climate Education. Bureau of Meteorology. http://www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/c20thc/drought4.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-13. 
13. ^ Rankin, Robert. (1992) Secrets of the Scenic Rim. Rankin Publishers ISBN 0-9592418-3-3 (page 151)
14. ^ Collie, Gordon (26 August 1995). "Worst drought of century cripples farmers". The Courier-Mail: p. 14. 
15. ^ ^{a b} Collie, Gordon. Water crisis threatens towns. The Courier Mail p. 3. 3 June 1995
16. ^ Coleman, Matthew (30 August 1995). "Crops worth $50m lost". 
17. ^ ^{a b} Collie, Gordon. Dry tears of despair. The Courier-Mail. p. 29. 22 October 1994.
18. ^ "Rural News 03/09/2003: Worst drought on record". ABC. 3 September 2003. http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/stories/s938242.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-17. 
19. ^ "Statement on Drought for the 3, 6, and 10-month periods ending 31 October 2006 - Drought intensifies over eastern and southern Australia as spring rains fail". Drought Statements (National Climate Centre, Bureau of Meteorology). 2006-11-03. http://www.bom.gov.au/announcements/media_releases/climate/drought/20061103.shtml. Retrieved 2006-11-13. 
20. ^ Australian Drought and Climate Change, retrieved on 7 June 2007.
21. ^ Perth Seawater Desalination Plant
22. ^ http://www.ourwater.vic.gov.au/programs/desalination
23. ^ Dairy farmers face tough times
24. ^ http://www.conservewater.melbournewater.com.au/content/storage.asp
25. ^ ABS Water Account Australia 2004/05 figures quoted by Water and Cotton Fact Sheet of 13 February 2007 retrieved 5 March 2007 from Cotton Australia
26. ^ Water and Cotton Fact Sheet of 13 February 2007 retrieved 5 March 2007 from Cotton Australia
27. ^ Barlow, Karen (2007-02-22). "El Nino declared over". Water (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). http://www.abc.net.au/water/stories/s1853868.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-23. "The Bureau of Meteorology has declared that the El Nino which has made the drought so much worse for the past year or so has passed. A senior climatologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, Grant Beard, says it's time to be optimistic about drought-breaking rains, although the drought is far from over yet." 
28. ^ "Is the drought over?". Sydney Radio ABC 702 (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 2007-06-28. Archived from the original on 2007-12-25. http://web.archive.org/web/20071225080656/http://www.abc.net.au/sydney/stories/s1964939.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-23. 
29. ^ "Murray water crisis sparks ban". Specials: Drought (Sydney Morning Herald). 19 April 2007. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/murray-water-crisis-sparks-ban/2007/04/19/1176696961892.html. Retrieved 2007-10-23.  and Coorey, Phillip (2007-04-20). "For millions the water will stop midyear". Specials: Drought (Sydney Morning Herald). http://www.smh.com.au/news/scorchedearth/pm-urges-all-to-pray-for-rain/2007/04/19/1176697003182.html. Retrieved 2007-10-23. "The Prime Minister said yesterday that unless there is substantial rain within a month, there would be no water allocations for irrigation or environmental flows from 2 July. "We should all pray for rain," he said." 
30. ^ "Drought puts pressure on electricity". The Age. 19 May 2007. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/drought-threat-to-power-supply/2007/05/19/1179497318748.html. Retrieved 2007-10-23. 
31. ^ Clarke, Sarah (2007-08-28). "Darling flow a mixed blessing". Water (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). http://www.abc.net.au/water/stories/s2017548.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-23. 
32. ^ "More of NSW moves out of drought". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 February 2008. http://www.smh.com.au/news/water/more-of-nsw-moves-out-of-drought/2008/02/09/1202234214539.html. 
33. ^ "It's going to rain for months: forecaster". The Sydney Morning Herald. 10 February 2008. http://www.smh.com.au/news/water/the-forecast-for-the-next-twomonths/2008/02/09/1202234227091.html. 
34. ^ Melbourne Water, water report
35. ^ BBC News: Australian rivers face disaster
36. ^ "Bureau says Tassie drought worsening". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 October 2008. http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/200810/s2387386.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-10. 
37. ^ Weekly Water Report, 19 June 2009
38. ^ Weekly Water report, 4 July 2010
39. ^ State government eases Melbourne's water restrictions, The Age
40. ^ Melbourne gets average rainfall for first time in 14 years, ABC Online
41. ^ Melbourne's wettest spring in 17 years, Weatherzone
42. ^ Drought over in SE Qld, ABC News, 20 May 2009
43. ^ http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/special-features/wa-rivers-running-dry/story-e6frg19l-1225958473823 WA rivers running dry, Perth Now
44. ^ http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201011/s3073876.htm http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201011/s3073876.htm, ABC Rural
45. ^ population.org.au :: Sustainable Population Australia
46. ^ Optimum Population Trust

External links

• Drought
• Drought in Australia on Australian Bureau of Statistics
• Drought in Australia on Bureau of Meteorology