Some errors about two Aussie deserts on another website by incorrect pictures

Submitted: Monday, Jan 30, 2012 at 21:38

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equinox

A website goes on to portray the 10 largest deserts in the world.

http://www.mostoftheworld.com/largest-desert.html

How erroneous!!!

Great Sandy Desert

Great Victoria Desert

Those taking this websites advice better get additional advice I think.

Cheers
Alan

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Reply By: Mick O - Monday, Jan 30, 2012 at 21:45

Monday, Jan 30, 2012 at 21:45

Nice word that...erroneous! From my recollection, I think their Patagonian photo is somewhat erroneous as well!

Hope to visit this one later in the year.

Carcross Desert - Yukon

;-)

''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

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Follow Up By: equinox - Monday, Jan 30, 2012 at 22:34

Monday, Jan 30, 2012 at 22:34

That looks like a real bucket list desert there Mick!!!

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Reply By: Rick (S.A.) - Monday, Jan 30, 2012 at 22:01

Monday, Jan 30, 2012 at 22:01

Well,

this poses a magnificent question: what is a desert?

Can I perhaps phrase this another way and ask the EO community

" How do you define an Australian desert ? "

Bear in mind that what one person may nominate may not meet the criteria established by another, so if you define an Australian desert maybe you should rattle off your list following on from your definition.

Let's have fun!

Cheers

Rick

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Follow Up By: equinox - Monday, Jan 30, 2012 at 22:33

Monday, Jan 30, 2012 at 22:33

Hi Rick,

I think the correct definition is a place where the evaporation rate is higher than the rainfall rate.

Gibson Desert to me:

Low scrub, occasional trees, plenty of firewood
Low surface water, rockholes and freshwater lakes very rare
Flat bedrock and minimal outcrops, most outcrops have signs of Aboriginal habitat
Extreme lack of birdlife, and roos though they will congregate at water. Reptiles abound.
Hot in summer. Winter nice during day cold at night.
Fridge good but can food OK

Add Sandy Ridges to line 3 for Great Sandy Desert.
Add sand to line 3 and higher and more trees on line 1 for Great Victoria Desert

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Alan

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Follow Up By: Rick (S.A.) - Monday, Jan 30, 2012 at 22:52

Monday, Jan 30, 2012 at 22:52

Nice.

I like it because it's your definition & not a pure scientific answer (nothing wrong with pure science either) backed up with a vegetative description.

Although it could be said that in parts the Gibson has large trees also (I'm thinking of Allocasurinas/desert oaks, especially in that wonderful region at the western end of the Rawlinson's heading to the von der Linden lakes, just west of Lake Christopher.)

I'll tell you my favourite desert later on..... if I can narrow it down to one.......

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Follow Up By: equinox - Monday, Jan 30, 2012 at 23:04

Monday, Jan 30, 2012 at 23:04

That's where I caught up with Mick O and the rest of the GDEC crew in 2010, they came from the east, me the west, near the lakes we camped...yes there are some parts with more trees than others!!

Image Could Not Be Found

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Follow Up By: Member - shane c5 - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 19:47

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 19:47

Aren't deserts wonderful places.

My understanding is that from a scientific point of view, a desert is any area where the annual rainfall is less than 500mm/yr.

Will check this tomorrow with one of my lecturers and get back to you.
shane c5

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Follow Up By: Member - Corrugate75 - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 21:30

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 21:30

G'day,
Southern Australia defines low rainfall farming (non irrigated cropping) as below 350mm, medium rainfall as 350 to 450mm and high rainfall zone as over 450mm.
We farm in 425mm annual and it is considered a reliable (profitable?!!) area, so I hope sub 500mm is not a desert!
Hope someone can clarify this?
Cheers
Corrugate

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Reply By: Gramps - Monday, Jan 30, 2012 at 22:22

Monday, Jan 30, 2012 at 22:22

Bottom right hand corner as part of copyright etc

"ProSense theme created by Dosh Dosh and The Wrong Advices. "

They got the last part right :)

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Follow Up By: equinox - Monday, Jan 30, 2012 at 22:35

Monday, Jan 30, 2012 at 22:35

haha you're right

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Reply By: Life Member - Phil B (WA) - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 14:16

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 14:16

Gee Alan

I think you've done it again.

Those foreigners from over east will start to realise that our deserts aren't like the Sahara and will come over here in droves and spoil our fun - lol.

cheers

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Follow Up By: equinox - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 15:45

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 15:45

yeah I'm the exploroz tourist broker.

They're already here mate, however all they do is drive around in circles, not quite sure where they will go next, maybe we should tell them :))

Once that desert they have over there wears out from overuse there will be more of them as well.

As long as we don't reveal the location of all our secret waterholes and tracks I don't really think they will bother us too much!!!

:))

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Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 17:17

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 17:17

Yep, its erroneous - forgot the two Polar deserts.

Here's wikipedia's list:
1 Antarctic Desert (Antarctica) 13,829,430 sq km
2 Sahara Desert (Africa) 9,100,000+
3 Arctic Desert (Arctic) 2,600,000+
4 Arabian Desert (Middle East) 2,330,000
5 Gobi Desert (Asia) 1,300,000
6 Kalahari Desert (Africa) 900,000
7 Patagonian Desert (South America) 670,000
8 Great Victoria Desert (Australia) 647,000
9 Syrian Desert (Middle East) 520,000
10 Great Basin Desert (North America) 492,000

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Follow Up By: equinox - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 22:37

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 22:37

Well Phil I guess it always pays to back up your research.
Mind you I don't think too many people would take this site as gospel hey...

Never heard of the polar deserts, and it's a brave man who quotes wikipedia - however there may be some truth to it!!!!

All The Best...

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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 23:39

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 23:39

I've been to Antarctica - yep, its a polar desert.
Its the driest and windiest continent on earth! Fits your definition perfectly.

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Reply By: Rick (S.A.) - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 18:41

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 18:41

Hi All,

Here's a handy reference:

STATE/TERRITORY NAME SIZE (km2) AUSTRALIA ( % )

WA, SA Great Victoria 348 750 4.5
WA Great Sandy 267 250 3.5
WA, NT Tanami 184 500 2.4
NT, QLD, SA Simpson 176 500 2.3
WA Gibson 156 000 2.0
WA Little Sandy 111 500 1.5
SA, QLD, NSW Strzelecki 80 250 1.0
SA, QLD, NSW Sturt Stony 29 750 0.3
SA Tirari 15 250 0.2
SA Pedirka 1 250 less than 0.1
- Total 1 371 000 18

Source: Geoscience Australia Deserts database, 1994.

Isn't it interesting that the Wikipedia (see Phil G's post) list has the Great Victoria desert at 647,000 sq km. Phil, you're a GVD man, I reckon. Can you get help us from your knowledge base?

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Follow Up By: Rick (S.A.) - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 18:46

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 18:46

sorry, table I prepared before submitting did not come through on the post.

The last figure is the size percentage of the Australian continent.

For example the top line reads:

in WA & SA is the Great Victoria Desert of 348,750 square kilometres; it is 4.5% of the Australian continent landmass

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