Post by Admin on Jul 25, 2013 10:54:13 GMT
This year's drought was one of New Zealand's most extreme and the worst in nearly 70 years, a study has revealed.
The comparative study, commissioned by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and undertaken by Niwa, found the drought was the worst since that of 1945-46.
It was also one of the most widespread, with only the 1972-73 drought in Wairarapa, Tasman, Otago and Southland coming close in terms of geographical spread.
The study found the cause of the drought was not the prevalent El Nino system, but slow-moving or 'blocking' high pressure systems over the Tasman Sea and New Zealand over summer.
www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10903236