FUNCTION alloc_period_vars (nrot_yrs, nperiods)

	USE period_var_type_def
	USE period_var_tables
	USE period_vars

	IMPLICIT NONE

	INTEGER :: alloc_period_vars		! 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, j, m			! Local loop variables

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

	alloc_period_vars = 0	! Init return value

	! Allocate for reporting period counters
	ALLOCATE (yrly_ave_cntr(0:nrot_yrs), STAT = alloc_status) 
	IF (alloc_status /= 0) THEN
		print *, "Error allocating yrly_ave_cntrs(0:nrot_yrs)"
		ret_status = ret_status + alloc_status
	END IF
	ALLOCATE (monthly_ave_cntr(1:12,0:nrot_yrs), STAT = alloc_status) 
	IF (alloc_status /= 0) THEN
		print *, "Error allocating monthly_ave_cntrs(1:12,0:nrot_yrs)"
		ret_status = ret_status + alloc_status
	END IF
	ALLOCATE (hmonth_ave_cntr(1:nrot_yrs*24), STAT = alloc_status) 
	IF (alloc_status /= 0) THEN
		print *, "Error allocating period_ave_cntrs(1:nrot_yrs*24)"
		ret_status = ret_status + alloc_status
	END IF
	ALLOCATE (period_ave_cntr(1:nperiods), STAT = alloc_status) 
	IF (alloc_status /= 0) THEN
		print *, "Error allocating period_ave_cntrs(1:nperiods)"
		ret_status = ret_status + alloc_status
	END IF

	! Allocate for all variables being reported 
	ALLOCATE (yrly_ave(Max_yrly_vars,0:nrot_yrs), STAT = alloc_status) 
	IF (alloc_status /= 0) THEN
		print *, "Error allocating yrly_ave(Max_yrly_vars,0:nrot_yrs)"
		ret_status = ret_status + alloc_status
	END IF
	ALLOCATE (monthly_ave(Max_monthly_vars,1:12,0:nrot_yrs), STAT = alloc_status) 
	IF (alloc_status /= 0) THEN
		print *, "Error allocating monthly_ave(Max_monthly_vars,1:12,0:nrot_yrs)"
		ret_status = ret_status + alloc_status
	END IF
	ALLOCATE (hmonth_ave(Max_hmonth_vars,1:nrot_yrs*24), STAT = alloc_status) 
	IF (alloc_status /= 0) THEN
		print *, "Error allocating hmonth_ave(Max_hmonth_vars,1:nrot_yrs*24)"
		ret_status = ret_status + alloc_status
	END IF

	ALLOCATE (period_ave(Min_period_vars:Max_period_vars,1:nperiods), STAT = alloc_status) 
	IF (alloc_status /= 0) THEN
		print *, "Error allocating period_ave(Min_period_vars:Max_period_vars,1:nperiods)"
		ret_status = ret_status + alloc_status
	END IF

	! Associate "count" pointers in "variable average" structures
	do i=1, Max_yrly_vars
	  do j=0, nrot_yrs
		yrly_ave(i,j)%count => yrly_ave_cntr(j)
	  end do
	  do m=1, 12 !for each month
	    do j=0, nrot_yrs
		monthly_ave(i,m,j)%count => monthly_ave_cntr(m,j)
	    end do
	  end do
	end do

	do i=1, Max_hmonth_vars
	  do j=1, nrot_yrs*24
		hmonth_ave(i,j)%count => hmonth_ave_cntr(j)
	  end do
	end do

	do i=Min_period_vars, Max_period_vars
	  do j=1, nperiods
		period_ave(i,j)%count => period_ave_cntr(j)
	  end do
	end do

	alloc_period_vars = ret_status

END FUNCTION alloc_period_vars