ANTARCTIC INFLUENCES ON AUSTRALIAN CLIMATE 295 



THE PROBLEM OF RAINFALL FLUCTUATION IN AUSTRALIA 



One of the great problems in south temperate lands is the fore- 

 casting of drought years. In Figure 9 (dealing with Australia) the 

 period 1 908-1 925 is analyzed as regards areas receiving annual rainfall 

 above and below the average. If the chart for 1912 be examined 

 the dotted area shows where all the agriculture occurs and where a 

 very large majority of the sheep and cattle are pastured. Rainfall 



PA CIFI C CEAJSr 



PRESSURE CORRELATION N 



^%^/Ve I \Positm / 5^ \ 



^ _ -T\l^PO 



Cape Evans-«>-, 



'f 



ANTARCTICA 



Fig. 8 — Correlation of Antarctic pressures with those of south temperate lands. (After G. C. Simp- 

 son, ibid., p. 204.) 



in the rest of Australia is of much less direct importance in Australian 

 production. We see, then, that 1910-1911, 1916-1917, 1920-1921, 

 and 1924 have been years of good rainfall in the vital regions of the 

 Commonwealth . 



On the other hand 1912, 1914, 1919, and 1922 have been drought 

 years over much of Australia, though 1914 was the worst period 

 discussed. There is some indication of a recurrence of "rain distribu- 

 tions," as may be seen by examining the three following five-year 

 periods. 



