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Correlation between rainfall and dust occurrence at mildura, Australia: The difference between local and source area rainfalls
Author(s) -
Yu B.,
Neil D. T.,
Hesse P. P.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
earth surface processes and landforms
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9837
pISSN - 0197-9337
DOI - 10.1002/esp.3290170708
Subject(s) - environmental science , climatology , atmospheric sciences , hydrology (agriculture) , physical geography , geography , geology , geotechnical engineering
In studies of temporal variation in dust activity, rainfall recorded at the same location as the dust events (local rainfall) has commonly been used as a climatic control variable. The main objectives of this note are to test the validity of using local rainfall and to determine the improvement in the relationship between rainfall and dust activity that could be achieved by using regional rainfall in the dust source area. For the period 1960‐1989 at Mildura, Australia, the likely dust source area was identified by analysing wind direction during dust events. It was found that a marked improvement in the correlation between dust activity and antecedent rainfall can be achieved by using the regional source area rainfall rather than local rainfall. The improved correlation suggests that widespread drought is more important than local below‐average rainfall in intensifying dust activity.