WfHC - cover page (not to be used with pre-printed report ... - CSIRO

Average Monthly Rainfall (mm)_
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300
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150
100
50
0
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
Figure 44. Average monthly rainfall at Oriners Station and nearby stations with longer records
of rainfall and temperature.
Daily rainfall totals during major rain events at Oriners typically range between 60 and 120
mm, but more extreme events can occur (Figure 45). Convective storm rainfall totals,
intensity, kinetic energy, and erosivity (r-factors) are moderately high for this region of
Australia (Stewart 1993; Yu 1998; Lu and Yu 2002; Shellberg 2011; Shellberg, Brooks et al.
2012). These factors are important from both surface soil erosion and floodplain inundation
perspectives. If soils are bare at the end of the long dry season from either grazing or fire
burning, the effective kinetic energy for soil erosion can be enhanced during the early wet
season. Early wet season rains can also result in more soil erosion because new grass
vegetation is still in its early phases of growth. Major overbank flooding from monsoonal
runoff usually occurs later in the wet season after considerable seasonal vegetation growth.
This vegetation protection can result in less soil erosion from direct rainfall and overbank
sheet flow. However, major floods still can cause substantial bank and gully erosion in
defined channels, especially along the edges of floodplains and channels where breaks in
slope and erodible soils can enhance the potential for gully erosion (Shellberg 2011;
Shellberg, Brooks et al. 2012).
Working Knowledge at Oriners Station, Cape York
Oriners (1963-1970)
Dixie (1970-1974; 1988-2004)
Oriners and Dixie Combined (1963-1970; 1970-1974; 1988-2004)
Koolatah (1921-2011)
Musgrave (1887-1929; 1948-1978; 1984-2011)
Musgrave Monthly Mean Maximum Temperature
Musgrave Monthly Mean Minimum Temperature
45
40
35
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25
20
15
10
5
0
Monthly Mean Temperature (C)_
132