How are the boundaries of our deserts determined?
Submitted: Thursday, Mar 07, 2013 at 16:30
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Member - Duncan W (WA)
Just looking at my maps and Google Earth and was wondering how the boundaries between the various deserts are determined? It's not so bad when you get a single desert that is not bounded by an other, but when you get all desert regions melding it is somewhat confusing. Eg GVD & Gibson, Gibson & the Little and Great Sandy Deserts to name a couple.
Reply By: Member - Andrew & Jen - Thursday, Mar 07, 2013 at 18:19
Thursday, Mar 07, 2013 at 18:19
Hullo Dunc
The Hema "Australia's Great Desert Tracks Atlas and Guide" devotes the whole of Chapter One to this topic - What is a desert, Naming and misnaming our deserts, Australian Deserts - and introduction, etc
By all accounts, it is not straightforward, nor agreed upon :-)
I found it most interesting
Cheers
Andrew
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Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Thursday, Mar 07, 2013 at 19:48
Thursday, Mar 07, 2013 at 19:48
Thanks for the info Andrew I'll
check that out.
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Reply By: Life Member - Phil B (WA) - Thursday, Mar 07, 2013 at 18:56
Thursday, Mar 07, 2013 at 18:56
Hi Dunc
I think the WA deserts are so named on the plants that grow there. Dr J Beard when he did his botanical surveys 1964-81 '... set standards for understanding regional floristic zones and biogeographical areas for the whole state'.
See
Beard
cheers
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Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Thursday, Mar 07, 2013 at 19:52
Thursday, Mar 07, 2013 at 19:52
Hi Phil, you could be right about that. I was also thinking along the lines of soil types as
well. Thing is that when many of the deserts were named there wasn't the luxury of aerial surveys or features such as roads which could provide convenient boundaries.
I'll give you a call when I have a spare half hour or so.
FollowupID:
783200
Reply By: equinox - Thursday, Mar 07, 2013 at 19:50
Thursday, Mar 07, 2013 at 19:50
Hi Dunc,
Check out this site:
http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/nrs/science/bioregion-framework/ibra/index.html
It may be of assistance.
Cheers
Alan
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Follow Up By: Member - Duncan W (WA) - Thursday, Mar 07, 2013 at 21:33
Thursday, Mar 07, 2013 at 21:33
That's an interesting site Alan, thanks very much.
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Follow Up By: Member - TLC 001 - Thursday, Mar 07, 2013 at 22:05
Thursday, Mar 07, 2013 at 22:05
Thanks Alan and Duncan,
This why I love this
forum!
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Follow Up By: Member - Broodie H3 - Friday, Mar 08, 2013 at 02:01
Friday, Mar 08, 2013 at 02:01
I know this is off topic but where is shiddi poole, liked the Photo, but I have never heard of Shiddi poole
Broodie h3
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Follow Up By: equinox - Friday, Mar 08, 2013 at 02:19
Friday, Mar 08, 2013 at 02:19
Hi Broodie,
Shiddi
Pool, south west of
Halls Creek
Map
Shiddi Pool
See me blog
Unfinished Business for a trip report.
Great country.
Cheers
Alan
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Follow Up By: Member - Broodie H3 - Friday, Mar 08, 2013 at 05:49
Friday, Mar 08, 2013 at 05:49
Thank you for the info and what a great trip you had just wish I had been one of your party. We Lived in
Wyndham for a few years and know of a lot of the
places that you mentioned but we had not heard of Shiddi poole, now I know thank you very much for sharing a great trip.
Broodie H3
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783234