Terrestrial total water storage dynamics of Australia's recent dry and wet events

摘要: Australia recently experienced a long-term continental drought (“big dry”, 2001–2009) followed by an anomalous wet two-year period wet”, 2010–2011). Despite the significance of two extreme events, continental-wide information regarding effects high and low precipitation conditions on hydrological components, stress recovery is not available. In this paper, we use terrestrial total water storage changes (ATWS) from Gravity Recovery Climate Experiment (GRACE) data Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) spanning 2002 to 2013, where ATWS represents main source available for human consumption, agriculture natural ecosystems. We rely combination temporal trend analysis spatial statistics methods in order evaluate (TWS) dynamics relationship between TWS rainfall during “big dry” wet” events. Here report occurrence cycle intensification study which exhibited strong variations: areas (the northern northeast regions) got wetter while dry west interior continent) became drier. By contrast, southeastern over time showed sudden responses both Our results constitute step beyond quantifying droughts/anomalous years that solely data. This work demonstrates ability observations as significant indicator system performance hydroclimatic events also important tool understanding regional patterns availability.