Classification of Arid and Semi-Arid Areas: A Case Study in Western Australia

Arid and semi-arid environments present challenges for ecosystems and human activities within them. Climate classifications are one method of understanding the climate of these regions, giving insight on a regional scale according to parameters such as temperature and precipitation. This research qualitatively compares four different climate classification schemes, the Köppen-Trewartha, Guetter-Kutzbach, De Martonne and Erinç schemes, as they apply to a transect across Western Australia. A distinct climatic gradient is found from the wet coast to the dry continental interior, with the most pronounced gradient located near the coast. Strong agreement is found between weather stations and classifications for wet and dry years, indicating that the weather systems on the coast also govern weather inland. Historically wet and dry periods are also identified. Long-term drying trends are found for the coastal regions, which could affect the livelihoods of many people. A long-term drying trend is also evident at Kalgoorlie-Boulder, the most arid, inland town.