FUNCTION alloc_period_accumulators (nrot_yrs, nperiods)

	USE period_var_type_def
	USE period_var_tables
	USE period_accumulator_vars

	IMPLICIT NONE

	INTEGER :: alloc_period_accumulators	! Allocate status return
	INTEGER, INTENT (IN) :: nrot_yrs	! Number of rotation years
	INTEGER, INTENT (IN) :: nperiods	! Number of total periods

	INTRINSIC ASSOCIATED		! use to verify status of pointers

	INTEGER :: i			! Local loop variable

	INTEGER :: alloc_status = 0	! Local allocate status return
	INTEGER :: ret_status = 0	! Local allocate status return

	alloc_period_accumulators = 0	! Init return value to zero

	ALLOCATE (yrly_var(Max_yrly_vars), STAT = alloc_status) 
	IF (alloc_status /= 0) THEN
		print *, "Error allocating yrly_var(Max_yrly_vars)"
		ret_status = ret_status + alloc_status
	END IF
	ALLOCATE (monthly_var(Max_monthly_vars), STAT = alloc_status) 
	IF (alloc_status /= 0) THEN
		print *, "Error allocating monthly_var(Max_monthly_vars)"
		ret_status = ret_status + alloc_status
	END IF
	ALLOCATE (hmonth_var(Max_hmonth_vars), STAT = alloc_status) 
	IF (alloc_status /= 0) THEN
		print *, "Error allocating monthly_var(Max_hmonth_vars)"
		ret_status = ret_status + alloc_status
	END IF
	ALLOCATE (period_var(Min_period_vars:Max_period_vars), STAT = alloc_status) 
	IF (alloc_status /= 0) THEN
		print *, "Error allocating period_var(Min_period_vars:Max_period_vars)"
		ret_status = ret_status + alloc_status
	END IF

	! Associate "count" pointers in "tmp accumulator" structures
	DO i=1, Max_yrly_vars
		yrly_var(i)%count => yrly_cntr
		monthly_var(i)%count => monthly_cntr
	END DO

	DO i=1, Max_hmonth_vars
		hmonth_var(i)%count => hmonth_cntr
	END DO

	DO i=Min_period_vars, Max_period_vars
		period_var(i)%count => period_cntr
	END DO

	alloc_period_accumulators = ret_status

END FUNCTION alloc_period_accumulators