Australia Yearbook - 2001

Chapter 1—Geography and climate 37
Rainfall
The average annual rainfall over Australia from
1900 to 1999 is shown in graph C2.7 along with
an eleven year running mean. The very dry period
following Federation and the above average
rainfall in the 50s and 70s are clearly evident.
Overall, there is a very weak rising trend in
total rainfall during the century, although
individual districts have experienced much
stronger trends, both positive and negative,
as shown in map C2.8.
Rainfall (mm)
900
Rainfall (mm)
800
11 year mean
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
C2.7 Averaged annual mean rainfall (mm) over Australia, 1900–99. The solid line
shows the eleven year running mean
DARWIN
BRISBANE
PERTH
mm/100 yrs
SYDNEY
300 or more
200 – 300
100 – 200
0 – 100
-100 – 0
-200 – -100
-300 – -200
-400 – -300
ADELAIDE
MELBOURNE
HOBART
CANBERRA
C2.8 The spatial pattern of trends in annual mean rainfall over Australia 1900–99 in mm per century. Green
areas have become wetter and brown areas drier.