AdvancedExtension@GeoBytes: Drought in Australia

Australia is currently suffering from its worst drought on record. In the Murray Darling Basin (the main irrigation area of Australia) it is reported that unless sufficient rain falls in the next 6-8 weeks there will not be any water allocations for irrigation until May 2008. As the two main rivers supplying the area are at such low levels there will soon only be enough water to meet supplies of drinking water. The drought has already had a massive impact on farmers with milk yields already down and many farmers are facing ruin unless there is significant rainfall soon. This is a threat that is becoming increasingly real with this weeks warning that irrigation to prime farmland will have to be cut unless the rains come soon. Already many rivers have been reduced to a trickle and water restrictions have been put in place in many urban areas.

The current drought in Australia began back in 2002 but it is over the past 6 months that the effects have been felt particularly severely. The increased frequency of El Nino weather patterns causing drought are blamed on global warming and there are few scientists who dispute the role of global warming in causing the recent drought conditions. You can read more about this in this excellent article from the Independent "Australia's epic drought: the situation is grim"

Other online resources linked to the current drought situation in Australia

Amazing (and very worrying!) photographs of the drought situation from the Guardian

A Global Warning from the dust bowl of Australia (The Independent) - which looks at how this is a taste of things to come - not only for Australia but for the world as recent reports articulate with clarity that global warming will bring severe drought to areas around the world.

Drought threatens crop catastrophe, Australian prime minister says (The Guardian)

Australian's warned of water cuts (BBC News website)

Some news stories from earlier in the year:

Howard says water key challenge (BBC News website)

Queensland to drink waste water (warnings in January following the threat to drinking water supplies - BBC News Website)

Meanwhile in Australia a global crisis arrives in the back yard

Video Resources on the drought in Australia

BBC News Website

There are 3 excellent sort videos from the BBC website exploring the issues of the current drought in Australia. You will need a broadband connection to watch these (either in Real player or Windows Media Player). To view go to the BBC website and under search type in Drought+Australia - the links to the videos will appear on the right hand side.

Devastating Drought Down Under (looking at the drought turning farmland to dust - a disaster which some scientists fear is linked to global warming)

Australia Fears over drought (concerns over farmers facing ruin as rivers remain unreplenished)

Queensland drinks waste water (a story from January reporting that People in North East Australia are set to drink recycled water because of severe drought)

You Tube

A number of videos have been posted on YouTube looking at the current drought situation in Australia - they help to bring to life through images just how badly the country is being affected.

An excellent video - looking at the severity of the drought crisis in Australia and in particular how farmers are being affected.