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South-west drought linked to snowfall

Scientists have discovered a link between drought in the south-west of Western Australia and increased snowfall in Antarctica.

Doctor Tas van Ommen from the Australian Antarctic Division says there is a pattern of atmospheric circulation that moves moist warm air from the Tasman Sea, near New Zealand, to East Antarctica.

Dr van Ommen says the same pattern is part of a larger flow recirculating dry, cool air from Antarctica to the south of Western Australia.

"So, what's happened is we're getting more air being driven southwards from the Tasman Sea region onto coastal Antarctica and at the same time that same pattern is driving cold, dry air north to Western Australia."

"It's that cold, dry air that's actually interfering with the normal winter rainfall and we believe responsible for at least part of the drought."

Dr van Ommen says modelling shows the dry spell over WA is set to continue.

"My colleagues at CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteoroloy have been commenting on our work and the opinion I've heard them put is that they are predicting sustained drought. We want to help make sure that they are getting those projections right."

- ABC

© ABC 2010

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