Lake Eyre

Submitted: Thursday, Jun 09, 2005 at 16:46

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Roger T

I am leading a scientific expedition across Lake Eyre North in the winter of 2007. I am seeking information about any scientific monitoring work carried out on the Lake surface since the Bonython and Dulhunty expeditions of the 1970s and 1980s. The literature suggests quite a lot of shoreline studues by Magee and others but so far I have not come across any work actually done out on the salt crust of the lake itself in the years when the lake has been dry. I have a number of tasks to perform and want to make sure that non of my work will be duplicating someone elses. The expedition will be on foot and cross the full width of the lake from west to east.

thanks

Roger T

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Reply By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Thursday, Jun 09, 2005 at 17:22

Thursday, Jun 09, 2005 at 17:22

I am not much help as that is way to technical for me. Except a guy towed a sled by hand around lake eyre about 7 years ago and it was featured in Australian Geographic. Also isnt the first part of doing a study like that searching for related papers that have had peer review coz if it isnt in a paper it isnt worth much anyway?

AnswerID: 115090

Follow Up By: Footloose - Thursday, Jun 09, 2005 at 18:06

Thursday, Jun 09, 2005 at 18:06

Davoe, I once spent two years reviewing the literature before submitting a paper. Turns out that there was some stuff just published that wasn't catalogued, and also a well respected academic was about to publish. I was unaware of both.
I agree with your thoughts, but I think it's a fair enough post. Someone here may know of something that has been done. Even if its not been published it may be useful to the exercise.

As long as they let us know if Lassiters Gold is piled up in the middle somewhere :))))

FollowupID: 370855

Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Thursday, Jun 09, 2005 at 21:02

Thursday, Jun 09, 2005 at 21:02

The guy with the sled interested me I mean what do you expect to find nothing - but unless you go how do you know also I found a certain amount of intrest in how much of nothing there was I mean you go out bush and say ahhhh nothing for miles but how many people truy experience absalutly nothing as far as the eye can see. He did come accross a downed light aircraft

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Reply By: Karsten from Big Red Cafe - Friday, Jun 10, 2005 at 10:19

Friday, Jun 10, 2005 at 10:19

Hope for your sake we don't get any floods 06/07.....

AnswerID: 115203

Follow Up By: Ruth from Birdsville Caravan Park - Friday, Jun 10, 2005 at 15:16

Friday, Jun 10, 2005 at 15:16

Hey Karsten - if it does flood - they can always call up an air service on the other side who can fly Ch 7 into assist with writing the story. LOL LOL Hehehe (like last year).

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Follow Up By: Ruth from Birdsville Caravan Park - Friday, Jun 10, 2005 at 15:19

Friday, Jun 10, 2005 at 15:19

Seriously tho, would be interesting down that way - for the last few years it has been wet in the Kallykoopa - way things are going it should dry out tho.

FollowupID: 370995

Reply By: Roger T - Tuesday, Jun 14, 2005 at 09:46

Tuesday, Jun 14, 2005 at 09:46

Thanks for all of you who have replied. I am following up all the scientific literature that should tell me who has been on the lake since the 1980's. The sled expedition probably was the 1982 Bonythion and Krieg trip where they circumabulated the lake in 34 days walking 550km, described in Krieg's book "Walking on Eyre" But they didn't actually cross the lake itself. And people may have done that without publishing anything.
I will also ask Muloorina Station, they are more likely to know than anyone. As you have said once out on the Lake proper there isn't anywhere in Australia like it as the scene is of absolutely nothing, totally, featureless, like the Antarctic. But that is the point. And there are some really weird atmospheric effects out there too.

There is also the matter of permission as NP doesn't allow access except for good reasons. For a real 4WD experience folks try driving down the Cooper from the Birdsville Track. Eric Bonython's book described the trip he did in 1950 in a 2 WD Ute I think.

AnswerID: 115658

Reply By: Mike Wi - Tuesday, Jun 14, 2005 at 11:23

Tuesday, Jun 14, 2005 at 11:23

Hi Roger,
I've sailed on Lake Eyre twice now with Bob Backway ( www.lakeeyreYC.com ) in 2001 and a 400km trip down the flooded Warburton river into Lake Eyre North and return March last year (no we didn't need to be rescued !) . If you contact Bob via his web site I'm sure he can give you lots of information on the Lake and research perfomed. Don't under-estimate how hard it might be to attempt to walk across the lake, even in the driest of conditions. There are many areas where the salt crust is only a thin covering over a seemingly bottomless black and oily ooze. Contact me off list if you want more info.

cheers

Mike

mikewi@mac.com

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/02/1080544690264.html?oneclick=true

AnswerID: 115678