1. Australian Drought 1982-1983 Julie Dunbar Kali Brocklehurst Classification category: Atmospheric

2. Consequences/ Aftermath Exceeded $3 billion in damages Many sheep were in great danger of starvation & drowning Bush fires from the drought killed 72 people and left 8000 homeless 70% of kangaroo populations in commercial shooting zones died Death of livestock resulted in a massive job loss in rural areas February 8 th 1983 dust storm hits Melbourne and sent soil all the way to New Zealand

4. Potential Natural Hazards Faced by Australia Bush fires Floods Severe storms Earthquakes Landslides

5. Population/Death & Injury 1982 population of Australia was 15 million 180 fires across Victoria and South Australia that resulted in 75 deaths due to dry air/areas

6. 6 Factors FREQUENCY: Droughts are likely to occur in Australia quite often and they expect to get a bad drought once every 18 years. DURATION: The drought lasted 12 months; from February of 1982 to February of 1983 EXTENT: Victoria, South Australia and most of Southeast Australia were effected SPEED OF ONSET: The drought built slowly, leaving Australia hot and dry for a long period of time, the worst period was January and February of 1983 because the land had been so dry for so long.

7. 6 Factors Cont’ SPATIAL DISPERSION: Events such as drought are expected to occur in Australia because it is hot/dry to begin with, also because of the natural fluctuations in the climate cycle. TEMPORAL SPACING: These sort of hazards occur within a cycle in Australia because the climate change happens in a cycle which takes the moisture from that area.

10. Bibliography http://library.thinkquest.org/20901/australia.htm http://library.thinkquest.org/20901/australia.htm http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/environ/dro ught1982-83.shtml http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/environ/dro ught1982-83.shtml http://www.atmos.washington.edu/gcg/RT N/Figures/adrought.html http://www.atmos.washington.edu/gcg/RT N/Figures/adrought.html http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/art icles/naturaldisasters/ http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/art icles/naturaldisasters/