Other
Scientific paper
Feb 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009georl..3604706u&link_type=abstract
Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 36, Issue 4, CiteID L04706
Other
40
Atmospheric Processes: Climate Change And Variability (1616, 1635, 3309, 4215, 4513), Geographic Location: Indian Ocean, Geographic Location: Australia, Hydrology: Drought
Scientific paper
Since 1995, a large region of Australia has been gripped by the most severe drought in living memory, the so-called ``Big Dry''. The ramifications for affected regions are dire, with acute water shortages for rural and metropolitan areas, record agricultural losses, the drying-out of two of Australia's major river systems and far-reaching ecosystem damage. Yet the drought's origins have remained elusive. For Southeast Australia, we show here that the ``Big Dry'' and other iconic 20th Century droughts, including the Federation Drought (1895-1902) and World War II drought (1937-1945), are driven by Indian Ocean variability, not Pacific Ocean conditions as traditionally assumed. Specifically, a conspicuous absence of Indian Ocean temperature conditions conducive to enhanced tropical moisture transport has deprived southeastern Australia of its normal rainfall quota. In the case of the ``Big Dry'', its unprecedented intensity is also related to recent higher temperatures.
England Matthew H.
Gupta Alexander Sen
McIntosh Peter C.
Meyers Gary A.
Pook Michael J.
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