Good rains short lived

Water0

Good rains over southern west Australia and inland NSW and Queensland have raised expectations of a good wheat crop this year, but scientists are worried that dry conditions will return again next year. Most of Australia’s wheat growing areas have received sufficient rainfall to see the wheat seeded and growing before the winter sets in and reasonable spring rains are also expected. The recently discovered Indian Ocean dipole that controls ocean evaporation and, consequently, Australia’s inland rainfall has gone into negative territory causing scientists to predict dry conditions next year. Like the Pacific el Nino, the Indian Ocean dipole is a powerful influence on Australia’s climate. Conditions in both oceans look bad for Australia’s food security.

Indian dipole switching

Analysis of rainfall over wheat belt

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