ARID REGIONS

Arid Regions in Australia

Table of Contents

1.Introduction3

1.1 New South Wales3

1.2Purpose of the study4

2.Background4

2.1 Causes of aridity5

3.Presentation of options6

3.1Isotope applications6

3.2Use of Furrows as Rainwater Storage Areas7

4.Requirements7

5.Comparison of the options8

5.1Isotopes8

5.2 Use of Furrows as Rainwater Storage Areas9

6.Conclusion9

7.Recommendations10

Introduction

1.1 New South Wales

New South Wales falls in a semi-arid or semi-arid climate. However, the eastern part of the temperate climate from humid subtropical to the central coast, the south coast of Sydney and the sea. Snow is cold weather in the Southeast / highland climate, the cold weather is cool all year round, winter snow. Inland, the climate becomes semi-arid, which is a country's western desert climate.

The weather in the southern part of the state is generally hot in summer, cool winter season in the south of the definition. The most popular New South Wales climate zone, north-western part of the state, the season is not yet in the north, summers are hot and rainy, cool and dry in winter can be defined. The coldest region is snow-capped mountains where snow and frost for a long duration in the winter. (Miller, et al., 2005)

Rainfall has changed state. Far North, the West by at least a year less than 180 mm, 600 mm, while the eastern region to 1,200 mm of rainfall received. (Walter, et al., 2002)

To cater this problem of shortage of waters, measures should be taken in order to store water. There are several methods available for this very purpose. The methods that will be discussed in this study include Isotope applications, Use of Topographic Depressions as Rainfall Harvesting Areas and Use of Furrows as Rainwater Storage Areas. These methods can be employed effectively for the proper storage of water. Moreover, through the use of these methods, the shortages of water can be met and this water can be used for several purposes such as, for agriculture, for animals, for daily use etc.

Purpose of the study

The purpose of this report is to compare and recommend water provision methods for the region.

Background

In the arid environment is very diverse way of land, soil, animals, plants, water balance, and human activities. Because of this diversity, there is no specific definition of arid environments can be drawn. However, a binding element, all the arid region is drought.

There are three species in arid regions:

In the hyper-arid areas (drought index 0.03), including the land areas without vegetation, a few scattered shrubs exception. Often it is a true nomadic practice. Annual precipitation is low, less than 100 millimeters of rainfall.

Arid zone (arid index 0.03-0.20) is characterized by animal husbandry, except with irrigated agriculture. In most cases, the local vegetation is sparse, as the annual and perennial grasses and other herbaceous plants and shrubs and small trees composition. High rainfall variability is seen between 100 and 300 mm in the annual amount.

Semi-arid areas (arid index 0.20-0.50) to support production level of more or less continuous rain-fed agriculture. Sedentary livestock production also occurred. As the representative of the original vegetation, such as grasses and grass-like plants, specialty, and semi-shrubs, shrubs and tree ...