An analysis of the effect of topography on rainfall in the Taieri catchment area, Otago

Abstract

In an area of 2500 square miles, consisting of the Taieri Catchment basin and adjoining areas, there are only 37 rain gauges for which there are records for more than four years. Since the topography is varied, it is difficult to estimate rainfall in ungauged parts of the catchment. This study examines the effects of four topographic factors, altitude, position, exposure and aspect on the variation in measured rainfall, explains these effects in climatological and meteorological terms, and provides the basis of a method for estimating the rainfall on ungauged areas.