Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Secular Variation in Rainfall Intensity and Temperature in Eastern Australia

Yi-Ru Chen Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Search for other papers by Yi-Ru Chen in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Bofu Yu Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Search for other papers by Bofu Yu in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
Graham Jenkins Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Search for other papers by Graham Jenkins in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
Print Publication:
01 Aug 2013
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JHM-D-12-0110.1
Page(s):
1356–1363
Restricted access

Abstract

It is generally assumed that rainfall intensity will increase with temperature increase, irrespective of the underlying changes to the average rainfall. This study documents and investigates long-term trends in rainfall intensities, annual rainfall, and mean maximum and minimum temperatures using the Mann–Kendall trend test for nine sites in eastern Australia. Relationships between rainfall intensities at various durations and 1) annual rainfall and 2) the mean maximum and minimum temperatures were investigated. The results showed that the mean minimum temperature has increased significantly at eight out of the nine sites in eastern Australia. Changes in annual rainfall are likely to be associated with changes in rainfall intensity at the long duration of 48 h. Overall, changes in rainfall intensity at short durations (<1 h) positively correlate with changes in the mean maximum temperature, but there is no significant correlation with the mean minimum temperature and annual rainfall. Additionally, changes in rainfall intensity at longer durations (≥1 h) positively correlate with changes in the mean annual rainfall, but not with either mean maximum or minimum temperatures for the nine sites investigated.

Corresponding author address: Yi-Ru Chen, Griffith University, Parklands Dr., Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia. E-mail: yi-ru.chen@griffith.edu.au

Abstract

It is generally assumed that rainfall intensity will increase with temperature increase, irrespective of the underlying changes to the average rainfall. This study documents and investigates long-term trends in rainfall intensities, annual rainfall, and mean maximum and minimum temperatures using the Mann–Kendall trend test for nine sites in eastern Australia. Relationships between rainfall intensities at various durations and 1) annual rainfall and 2) the mean maximum and minimum temperatures were investigated. The results showed that the mean minimum temperature has increased significantly at eight out of the nine sites in eastern Australia. Changes in annual rainfall are likely to be associated with changes in rainfall intensity at the long duration of 48 h. Overall, changes in rainfall intensity at short durations (<1 h) positively correlate with changes in the mean maximum temperature, but there is no significant correlation with the mean minimum temperature and annual rainfall. Additionally, changes in rainfall intensity at longer durations (≥1 h) positively correlate with changes in the mean annual rainfall, but not with either mean maximum or minimum temperatures for the nine sites investigated.

Corresponding author address: Yi-Ru Chen, Griffith University, Parklands Dr., Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia. E-mail: yi-ru.chen@griffith.edu.au
Save
Cover Journal of Hydrometeorology
Journal of Hydrometeorology

  • Alexander, L. V., and Coauthors, 2006: Global observed changes in daily climate extremes of temperature and precipitation. J. Geophys. Res., 111, D05109, doi:10.1029/2005JD006290.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Biggs, E. M., and Atkinson P. M. , 2011: A characterisation of climate variability and trends in hydrological extremes in the Severn Uplands. Int. J. Climatol., 31, 1634–1652.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Cannarozzo, M., Noto L. V. , and Viola F. , 2006: Spatial distribution of rainfall trends in Sicily (1921–2000). Phys. Chem. Earth, 31, 1201–1211.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Canterford, R. P., Pescod N. R. , Pearce H. J. , and Turner L. H. , 2001: Design intensity–frequency–duration rainfall. Australian Rainfall and Runoff, D. H. Pilgrim, Ed., Institution of Engineers, 13–40.

  • Fujibe, F., Yamazaki N. , Katsuyama M. , and Kobayashi K. , 2005: The increasing trend of intense precipitation in Japan based on four-hourly data for a hundred year. SOLA, 1, 41–44.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Groisman, P. Y., Knight R. W. , Easterling D. R. , Karl T. R. , Hegerl G. C. , and Razuvaev V. N. , 2005: Trends in intense precipitation in the climate record. J. Climate, 18, 1326–1350.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hamed, K. H., 2008: Trend detection in hydrologic data: The Mann–Kendall trend test under the scaling hypothesis. J. Hydrol., 349, 350–363.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hamed, K. H., and Rao A. R. , 1998: A modified Mann–Kendall trend test for autocorrelated data. J. Hydrol., 204, 182–196.

  • Hardwick Jones, R., Westra S. , and Sharma A. , 2010: Observed relationships between extreme sub-daily precipitation, surface temperature, and relative humidity. Geophys. Res. Lett., 37, L22805, doi:10.1029/2010GL045081.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Harvey, S., de Hoedt G. , and Ernst J. , 2000: Objective classification of Australian climates. Aust. Meteor. Mag., 49, 87–96.

  • Haylock, M., and Nicholls N. , 2000: Trends in extreme rainfall indices for an updated high quality data set for Australia, 1910–1998. Int. J. Climatol., 20, 1533–1541.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Jakob, D., Karoly D. J. , and Seed A. , 2011a: Non-stationarity in daily and sub-daily intense rainfall—Part 1: Sydney, Australia. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 11, 2263–2271.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Jakob, D., Karoly D. J. , and Seed A. , 2011b: Non-stationarity in daily and sub-daily intense rainfall—Part 2: Regional assessment for sites in south-east Australia. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 11, 2273–2284.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Krishnakumar, K. N., Prasada Rao G. S. L. H. V. , and Gopakumar C. S. , 2009: Rainfall trends in twentieth century over Kerala, India. Atmos. Environ., 43, 1940–1944.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Lenderink, G., and van Meijgaard E. , 2008: Increase in hourly precipitation extremes beyond expectations from temperature changes. Nat. Geosci., 1, 511–514.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Li, J., Feng J. , and Li Y. , 2011: A possible cause of decreasing summer rainfall in northeast Australia. Int. J. Climatol., 32, 995–1005.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Mann, H., 1945: Nonparametric tests against trend. Econometrica, 13, 245–259.

  • Nicholls, N., 2003: Continued anomalous warming in Australia. Geophys. Res. Lett., 30, 1370, doi:10.1029/2003GL017037.

  • Nicholls, N., and Kariko A. , 1993: East Australian rainfall events: Interannual variations, trends, and relationships with the Southern Oscillation. J. Climate, 6, 1141–1152.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Nicholls, N., Lavery B. , Frederiksen C. , Drosdowsky W. , and Torok S. , 1996: Recent apparent changes in relationships between the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and Australian rainfall and temperature. Geophys. Res. Lett., 23, 3357–3360.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Serrano, A., Mateos V. L. , and Garcia J. A. , 1999: Trend analysis of monthly precipitation over the Iberian Peninsula for the period 1921–1995. Phys. Chem. Earth, 24B, 85–90.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Takeuchi, K., 1984: Annual maximum series and partial-duration series—Evaluation of Langbein's formula and Chow's discussion. J. Hydrol., 68, 275–284.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Trenberth, K. E., 1998: Atmospheric moisture residence times and cycling: Implications for rainfall rates and climate change. Climatic Change, 39, 667–694.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Trenberth, K. E., 1999: Conceptual framework for changes of extremes of the hydrological cycle with climate change. Climatic Change, 42, 327–339.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Trenberth, K. E., Dai A. , Rasmussen R. M. , and Parsons D. B. , 2003: The changing character of precipitation. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 84, 1205–1217.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Yu, B., and Neil D. T. , 1991: Global warming and regional rainfall: The difference between average and high intensity rainfalls. Int. J. Climatol., 11, 653–661.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Yu, B., and Neil D. T. , 1993: Long-term variations in regional rainfall in the south-west of Western Australia and the difference between average and high intensity rainfalls. Int. J. Climatol., 13, 77–88.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 161 0 0
Full Text Views 1243 877 32
PDF Downloads 179 58 3