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Great Victoria Desert: Area Description

The Great Victoria Desert is a region of sandy hills stretching from western South Australia to southeastern Western Australia. It has an approximate length of 725 kilometers and an average elevation of 230 meters. The climate is arid with potential evaporation far in excess of precipitation. Dry seasons average eight months in length and the mean annual rainfall ranges from 180 to 200 millimeters. The primary fire sustaining vegetation is spinifex, a perennial grass unique to Australia.

In the Great Victoria Desert, which lies within the heart of Australia's outback, wildfires are a dominant factor in the desert ecosystem. The Great Victoria Desert is an arid environment in which there exists enough vegetation to support regular wildfires. These fires are usually started by lightning strikes from thunderstorms during the summer months and they can burn for several weeks. The fires spread unpredictably, missing occasional isolated patches of vegetation or even large tracts of vegetation. There are several factors which influence the frequency, extent, and geometry of the fires:

  • temperature
  • precipitation
  • wind conditions
  • plant biomass
  • plant spatial distribution
  • and natural firebreaks


Understanding the fire behavior is the major focus of this research and it includes determining the status of the vegetation prior to burn, the amount of regrowth after a burn, and how long it takes the vegetation to recover until it is suitable for burn.

    

The images above depict the arid environment of the Great Victoria Desert. To the left, you can notice the red soil which is typical and large mulga trees line the horizon. The image on the right is an area of mature spinifex, which serves as an excellent fuel for wildfires.


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Last Modified: Wed Apr 14, 1999
CSR/TSGC Team Web