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Climate

Seasonal changes in the extent and severity of dryland salinity relate primarily to climatic factors such as rainfall and temperature. The amount of precipitation relative to evaporation and water use by plants is the key factor in determining the volume of groundwater recharge.

In southern NSW, when winter rain soaks into the soil significant amounts of water move past the root zone into the groundwater system. Plant water use and evaporation are limited during this period due to the cold moist conditions.

In northern NSW, excess rainfall moving beyond the root zone into the groundwater system results in recharge in both the summer and winter wet seasons.