Summary of Statistics

Echunga has the lowest annual rainfall of the 3 towns at 808mm annually, due in the most part to the rain shadow from Mt Lofty during NW wind conditions. Whilst Meadows and Bull Creek also suffer the "rain shadow effect" when the N/Westerlies blow, I believe the combination of the more southerly location and the close proximity of the Bull Creek Ranges, work together to give them a higher annual rainfall. 

Echunga													
Highest	143.3	157.8	214.9	215.3	296.2	291.2	284.4	207.6	190.9	169.2	128.6	147.5	1265.6
Lowest 	0	0	0	1	3.3	17.2	22.6	14.1	22.2	7.1	1.8	0	414.2
Mean    27	26.4	31.6	64.5	94.3	110.7	108.5	107.2	89.9	69.5	42.8	34.9	806.9
Median  20.3	16.1	23.4	56.5	85.6	101.3	106.2	102.9	83.1	69	38.1	30.5	782
Number  120	121	121	120	121	121	120	120	120	121	121	121	119

Meadows													
Highest 185.80	172.10	192.80	225.30	279.30	307.50	284.60	212.60	239.20	178.80	169.30	152.20	1505.10
Lowest	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.50	8.40	17.40	18.20	16.90	22.30	6.00	2.70	0.00	453.50
Mean	28.4	27.9	36.6	70.2	99.2	118.9	120.5	114.3	99.1	75.2	47.5	38.0	875.84
Median	20.75	16.50	27.05	63.20	91.80	107.80	120.60	113.05	93.80	71.55	41.80	31.00	860.50
Number 	114	113	114	114	115	115	115	114	114	114	114	114	115

BULL CREEK (MARBLE HILL) Lat 35.250 S Long 138.767 E Ht 215 Metres Opened 1899 Closed 1929			
Highest 117.20	107.70	204.90	190.80	306.30	308.80	234.60	205.10	227.30	215.30	152.50	144.30	1367.50
Lowest	0.00	0.00	1.30	0.00	19.20	17.00	25.00	24.40	17.20	8.80	4.10	0.00	486.30
Mean	23.50	30.49	44.22	61.23	113.61	139.37	124.45	113.04	115.65	73.03	50.35	31.82	910.93
Median	13.75	12.95	21.60	49.15	102.70	136.50	116.10	112.90	111.10	68.80	44.20	22.45	923.90
Number 	30	30	30	30	30	31	31	31	31	31	31	30	31

BULL CREEK  2 Lat 35.233 S Long 138.767 E Ht 250 Metres Opened 1968 Closed 1987		
Highest 132.90	175.80	100.40	191.10	176.20	214.60	251.20	214.80	156.10	170.60	79.00	79.80	1191.70
Lowest	3.00	1.20	1.20	10.00	35.10	33.80	48.10	24.60	41.80	18.90	3.60	12.60	532.30
Mean	38.19	35.17	52.08	76.15	95.25	93.45	118.40	119.27	94.35	80.13	44.72	37.22	889.38
Median	29.70	17.80	57.60	58.95	92.90	93.55	107.50	117.90	87.20	75.30	46.90	32.60	861.30
Number 	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	19	19	19	19	20

Bull Creek Combined								
Highest 132.90	175.80	204.90	191.10	306.30	308.80	251.20	214.80	227.30	215.30	152.50	144.30	1367.50
Lowest	0.00	0.00	1.20	0.00	19.20	17.00	25.00	24.40	17.20	8.80	3.60	0.00	486.30
Mean	29.38	32.36	47.36	67.20	106.26	121.36	122.08	115.48	107.56	75.73	48.21	33.91	895.48
Median	19.95	15.25	36.10	56.25	97.40	125.00	111.40	114.20	96.20	69.95	46.50	29.40	896.90
Number 	50	50	50	50	50	51	51	51	50	50	50	49	51

**Data Source SA Bureau of Meteorology**

Rainfall Averages during the 2 Bull Creek Recording Periods

I was amazed at the difference in the two Bull Creek recording periods : 1899-1929 and 1968-1987. Wondering whether this might have been a "sign of the times", I calculated the averages for both Meadows and Echunga during these same periods. What the results appear to show is that the 30 years from 1899-1929 was a period of generally wetter years, whilst the later time of 1968-1987 seems to have been more moderate in its precipitation levels. Whilst it is not conclusive it supports my theory that weather "cycles" slowly  "up and down" over decades. Just what will the data show us in another 100 or 200 years? While I don't doubt the global climate change due to the effects of human activities, just how severe is the actual effect? Are the figures being interpreted now with such doom and gloom, simply exaggerated because the cycle is "down"? Time will be the only teller............. 

			Echunga		Meadows		Bull Creek
1899-1929 Average	861.7		939.1		910.9
1968-1987 Average	802.2		845.5		889.4
Official Average	809		878	 	895 (Combined)

Graph of Annual Rainfall Averages

			Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Totals
Echunga			27	26.4	31.6	64.5	94.3	110.7	108.5	107.2	89.9	69.5	42.8	34.9	806.9
Meadows			28.4	27.9	36.6	70.2	99.2	118.9	120.5	114.3	99.1	75.2	47.5	38.0	875.84
Bull Creek 1899-1929	23.50	30.49	44.22	61.23	113.61	139.37	124.45	113.04	115.65	73.03	50.35	31.82	910.93
Bull Creek 1968-87	38.19	35.17	52.08	76.15	95.25	93.45	118.40	119.27	94.35	80.13	44.72	37.22	889.38

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