27
Figure 4.5: Average annual rainfall for selected periods: historical record, climate change projection
reference period (1980-1999) and recent period (2000-2008) incorporating the Millennium
drought.
Source: Derived from Bureau of Meteorology
Variation in seasonal rainfall is illustrated in
Figure 4.6
which shows the median (50
th
percentile) and 10
th
and 90
th
percentile seasonal rainfall total (10
th
driest and 10
th
wettest seasons in a 100 year sequence,
respectively) for each station. Summer rainfall is lower than in other seasons and more variable. The 90
th
percentile summer total is typically five to six times the 10
th
percentile total, compared with two to three
times in other seasons. Rainfall patterns in autumn and spring are similar. Even in quite dry years the
Western Adelaide region receives reasonable levels of winter rainfall, with about 100 mm being received
in 10
th
percentile seasons.
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Whole record
1980-1999
2000-2008
Mean annual rainfall (mm)
Adelaide Airport
Saltworks
NorthAdelaide Pooraka Seaton
