Rain - or no rain.

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Originally Posted by rick130

Same here JD. (snip)
oh, and there's nbeen a (voluntary) ban on irrigation for at least three months out of our little river (which flows into the Hunter) which a few irrigators have been disregarding. It's causing a few tensions....

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Our not so little river has had no water in it for three years, apart from a couple of flushes after thunderstorms upstream. There are suspicions that this may have something to do with some people about 20km upstream with irrigation bores near the river, but I don't think they have much effect on it - its just the drought. In the past it has often dried up to a trickle, and even stops flowing - but up to now there have always been waterholes, and its only stopped flowing for a few weeks at most.

John

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Originally Posted by VladTepes

(snip)


On another angle - exactly what defines a drought here (eg weeks without rain or whatever) as opposed to the UK ? It's probably a drought over there if it doesn't rain every six minutes.

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I don't think there is any exact definition, but anywhere a drought is considered to be happening when there is a substantial excess of evaporation over precipitation that continues for a lot longer than normal, resulting in the soil and subsoil moisture levels falling well below their long term averages for a prolonged period. Note that the terms "substantial", "well" and "prolonged" are not defined!
I suppose it is a drought when it is enough drier than normal to affect things like crops and water supplies, but for much of Australia the rainfall is so variable that we don't think there is a drought until there has been a shortage for at least a year, whereas in the UK the rainfall is so regular that even a couple of weeks without much rain can cause a crisis situation with some town water supplies, as well as farm activities. And monsoonal areas may be very dry in the dry season, but there is no drought until the monsoon fails to arrive.
John

A water tank would be great if it rained. I grew up on a farm and I know a little bit about tanks, trouble is in Bisbane you cannot fit enough tanks to keep a family going on a 450 square m block of land with a house on it. Also there would not be enough roof area to catch what would be needed. And another problem, it has not rained for yonks :( .

Sorry to hear of your plight rural folk.
I feel somewhat guilty.
You see I am a QUEENSLANDER living in melbourne :mad:
For the last 3-4 years every time it gets cold (april - nov) or rains (pick a random time but it will still be cold) I have prayed for global warming and the heat it brings.
I just feel my selfish wish has impacted on others.
Apologies.

Ralph

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Originally Posted by Ralph1Malph

You see I am a QUEENSLANDER living in melbourne :mad:

Ralph

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Me too:spudnikwaving:

According to tonights news - the last 3 months in Sydney has been the driest in the last 52 years.

I've had 277mm this year 192 of which fell in Jan/Feb.

Martyn

Same here in mid west WA, where 48mil minus from this time last year. All our seed /fert is still in bags,but I will bite the bullet and dry seed next week.