isohyet

Listen
noun
a line on a map connecting points having equal amounts of precipitation during a given time
period or for a particular storm

Draw your finger over the 500 mm isohyet (rainfall line).

What proportion of Australia would be classified as arid or semi-arid?
Describe where the dry areas and wetter areas are.
Average Rainfall (mm)
Location
Sydney

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June July Aug Sep Oct

102.8 116.9 130.3 126.1 121.5 130.6 97.8 81.5 69.4 77.3

Darwin

419

358.1 324.7 101.7

Griffith

29.6

27.8

34.4

Alice Springs

38

42.3

31.9

Nov

Dec

83

77.7

21

1.3

5.4

14.9 69.3 140.4 246.1

33

37.8

37.2

33.2

41

32.5 41.3

28.5

30.7

16.8

19.4

14.4

14.7

9.5

8.3 21.9

26.7

37.5

Australian Deserts Source: AUSLIG Deserts database, 1994.

STATE/TERRITORY
NAME
SIZE (km2) AUSTRALIA ( % )
WA, SA
Great Victoria 348 750
4.5
WA
Great Sandy
267 250
3.5
WA, NT
Tanami
184 500
2.4

NT, QLD, SA
WA
WA
SA, QLD, NSW
SA, QLD, NSW
SA
SA
-

Simpson
Gibson
Little Sandy
Strzelecki
Sturt Stony
Tirari
Pedirka
Total

176 500
156 000
111 500
80 250
29 750
15 250
1 250
1 371 000

QUIZ
Which state/territory has the least rainfall?
Northern Territory
South Australia
Western Australia
What percentage of Australia is classified as arid
or semi-arid?
10%
50%
70%

2.3
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.3
0.2
less than 0.1
18