Alice Springs
October 2007

GWA Chairman Donald Burfitt-Dons recently did a trip into the Simpson Desert in Central Australia to see what effect the expansion of the Hadley Cells was having on the arid regions lying along the affected latitudes.

With a view to devising a program to offset and reduce the reradiation of the expanding deserts in countries such as Australia and those in the North African Continent, Central Australia was considered to be ideal for a case study.

Working with Mr.Christopher Materne, Pastoral Officer with the Northern Government Primary Industries Unit situated in the Arid Zone Research Centre just south of Alice Springs and with the helpful cooperation of Dr.Peter Saville, Head of Department, a visit was paid to the department’s 500 square kilometre research property. The Chairman was able to see at first hand the range of ground cover which flora had achieved in various areas depending on the variables of water, soil quality and stocking levels.

Having access to advice from the scientists on the ground proved to be of immense value in providing a better understanding of what was possible in an area with an annual rainfall of about 20 inches per year, right on the threshold of that definition of what constitutes a desert area.

With Australia in the midst of a drought which is said to be the severest for the last 100 years, the country has a vested interest in any measures which would reduce further desertification.