Statistical behaviour of Adelaide's rainfall - Is climate change detectable?

S. Beecham, R. K. Chowdhury

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The South Australian climate is changing towards less rainfall and consequently water security problems will be intensified (IPCC and CSIRO, 2007). In this study we attempted to identify the statistical behaviour of point rainfall measured at the Adelaide airport. Statistical moments, lag1 autocorrelation, the Buishand's Q test for homogeneity, the Mann-Kendall test for trend and wavelet analyses for shift and temporal variability were carried out at fine (< 12 hour) and at coarse (monthly) temporal resolutions. Series of rainfall intensities at finer temporal scales and rainfall depths and proportion dry ratios at monthly scales were accumulated from the high resolution rainfall dataset. Homogeneity of rainfall intensity was found to increase as the temporal scale increases. Both rainfall intensities and monthly rainfall depths were found to be serially correlated. Except for July, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th statistical moments of rainfall intensities decrease as the scale increases. While no statistically significant trends were found at finer and monthly scales using the Mann-Kendall test, there were indications that trends are more likely as the temporal scale increases. Wavelet power spectra also showed this scenario noticeably. At very fine temporal scales (< 1 hour) rainfall intensities have large temporal variability and no trends or shifts in frequency level were detected. At the 12 hour and monthly temporal resolutions, statistically significant changes of dominant frequency level were observed in some months. Interestingly these changes were observed to happen after 1990.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationWorld Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2008
Subtitle of host publicationAhupua'a - Proceedings of the World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2008
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008
Externally publishedYes
EventWorld Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2008: Ahupua'a - Honolulu, HI, United States
Duration: May 12 2008May 16 2008

Publication series

NameWorld Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2008: Ahupua'a - Proceedings of the World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2008
Volume316

Other

OtherWorld Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2008: Ahupua'a
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityHonolulu, HI
Period5/12/085/16/08

Keywords

  • Australia
  • Climatic changes
  • Statistics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
  • Water Science and Technology
  • Pollution

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