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Australia Basin Notes

by Matthew Perry last modified 22-05-2006 17:45

The continent down under was challenging in many parts due to the low rainfall, high percentage of internally draining systems, low relief and lack of channelization for many river systems.


General Notes

The majority (maybe even the vast majority) of Australia is internally draining. Large parts of western australia have no stream channels and most rainfall is either caught by the native vegetation or seeps into groundwater. A good overview can be found at http://www.regional.org.au/au/asa/2003/i/4/williams.htm


Specific Locations

  • POINT (115.37 -29.83): Perth Area. Many of these systems drain to small lakes within a few km of the coast but do not drain directly to the ocean.
  • POINT (125.23 -32.52): south-western coast: This entire section of coast is devoid of any discernable stream outlets. We decided, therefore, to call them internally draining even though many of the coast areas, according to the model, drain to the coast.
  • POINT (146.13 -42.79): central tasmania: upland lake system that drains to two distinct basins, draining to opposite sides of the island.
  • POINT(142.28 -15.92): northern australia: This point represents one of many alluvial deltas that starts developing very far inland creating a vast series of interconnected, braided deltas making precise pour point delineation impossible. The solution involved following only what appeared to be the largest, most established channel based on interpretation of auxillary data and ignoring the interconnected streams.
  • POINT (152.60 -31.91): east coast of aus: Multiple pour points for single river. Some drains north to Pelican Bay, some south to Luthrie Bay. Solution same as above.
  • POINT (115.84 -29.75): Yarra Yarra Lake: "water collected from infrequent rains beyond Yalgoo travel along a chain of salt lakes to finally end here, evaporating in Summer leaving a shimmering expanse of salt." From http://www.carnamah.wa.gov.au/tourism/carnamah/yarra_yarra.html


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