Mapping drought declaration areas from 1936 to 1964 for Queensland, Australia

Abstract

Since 1964, maps showing areas of drought declaration in Queensland, Australia were created or updated as drought declarations changed. Prior to 1964, drought declarations were based on railway lines rather than specific areas. By using a railway distance buffer, drought declaration areas based on local government areas could be mapped. A literature review of the history of Queensland drought declarations, enabled mapping of the extent and duration of drought declarations for the period 1936–1964. Analysis of the changes in these areas enabled the duration of each drought episode to be determined. These data and information were then combined with the mapped drought declarations areas (1964–2020) to enable an assessment of drought area and duration in Queensland since 1936. There were 13 drought episodes of differing durations. Calculating the area percentage of Queensland that was drought declared from 1936 to the present (2020) identified an increasing duration of drought declaration. This increase appears to be due to the changes in the administration process to remove a drought declaration area (revocation) which have occurred since 1982.