Excess water, what excess water?
This Bureau of Meteorology [www.bom.gov.au] map indicates comparitive changes in rainfall for the periods Jun/May 2005/2006 and Jun/May 2006/2007.
The purple to blue indicates an increase and the red/orange to yellow indicates a decrease.
Note that the Clarence catchment area shows decreased rainfall over a significant percentage of its total area and, no increase in rainfall over any part of the catchment.
It has recently been reported that many creeks and rivers on the North Coast were running dry and, if winter rains fail to materialise, a widespread drought declaration for the North Coast is possible [The Daily Examiner,Grafton NSW,13 June 2007,"Drought fear",p.3]
Labels: climate change, environment, water policy politics
posted by Judith M. Melville at
6:29 pm
4 Comments:
Hi Judith. The problem with this map is that such maps show very different patterns depending on the time horizon. Looking at patterns over the last twelve months, the Northern Rivers has been one of the wetter areas.
I have put a reference to your blog up on my personal blog - http://belshaw.blogspot.com/2007/06/chat-with-friends-2.html. I look forwrad to reading more of your posts.
Jim,
Thankyou for your comment and the link.
The BOM maps in question register difference only, not the actual amount of rain received in a given area.
So these maps do not show that the Lower Clarence had water restrictions imposed for a period in 2004.
Currently Clarence Valley Council has on public exhibition a water policy which will impose permanent Level One water restrictions on the entire Clarence Vallley.
Interesting, Judith. I will do a fuller story drawing on your material including the latest posts.
Jim,
Thankyou for taking an interest in this site.
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