Drought one of worst on record

A recent study has confirmed this past season's drought as one of the most extreme on record.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has released the results of a comparative study undertaken by Niwa on the 2013 drought, which reveal for some areas it was the worst experienced since 1945- 46.

It was also one of the most widespread. Only the drought of 1972-73, that affected Wairarapa, Tasman, Otago and Southland, comes close to its geographical spread.

Also, in what scientists say is becoming a trend, it was not caused by El Nino but by slow-moving or ''blocking'' high pressure systems over the Tasman Sea and New Zealand during summer.

Calculations of a drought index known as potential evapotranspiration deficit (PED), which measures estimates of soil water content, showed 2013 was the worst drought since 1972, and particularly serious for the North Island.

The areas most affected by the 2012-13 drought were southern Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Central North Island, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, and parts of the north and west of the South Island.

MPI North Island Regions resource policy manager Stuart Anderson said the report provided a solid picture of the drought's extent and severity.

''Anecdotally, we were told the drought was the worst some farmers had experienced, but it is important to have this analysis to understand how dry the regions were compared to previous droughts,'' Mr Anderson said.

Although drought conditions had dissipated with the onset of winter and many farms had started to recover after the good autumn conditions, the economic and social impact of the drought continued to be felt around the country, he said.

''The adverse event declaration of the drought will remain in place until 30 September, which will allow rural communities to get through winter and into early spring,'' Mr Anderson said.

 

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