Western Australia
Western Australia is the largest state of Australia, occupying the western regions of the Australian continent. With an area of more than 2 500 000 sq km, a 12 500 km coastline, and spanning 2 400km from north to south. The majority of people live in and around Perth. (australias. guide, 2020) I want people to better understand Western Australia, especially for its physical features, geographic borders, significant landforms, soil fertility and composition, Susceptibility to Erosion, Natural Resource Availability, and future outlook.
Climate
The northern and southern parts of Western Australia experience contrasting climates. The north has a tropical climate, while the south has a Mediterranean climate.
The weather in the region is influenced by the movement of an anticyclone. In winter, this system moves northward, resulting in clear skies, sunny days, and easterly winds in the tropics. During summer, the anticyclonic belt moves far south. Westerly winds and cold fronts bring cool weather, clouds and rain. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2023, December 21).
Precipitation distribution varies widely across Western Australia. The highest annual rainfall occurs in extreme north and southwest regions where mean annual rainfall exceeds 55 inches. In stark contrast are some arid pockets receiving less than six inches annually. (Map of Australia, 2023, August 11).
Borders
The state is bounded to the north by the Timor Sea, to the northwest and west by the Indian Ocean, and to the south by the portion of the Indian Ocean commonly called the Southern Ocean (or Antarctic Ocean) in Australia. To the east lie the deserts of the Northern Territory and South Australia. The borders of Western Australia demarcate the jurisdictional boundaries within which the state government has authority. This includes matters such as law enforcement, public services, infrastructure development, and resource management. The state government is responsible for making decisions and policies that affect the residents within these borders. (Bolton, G. C., Fox, C., & Conacher, A. J., 2023, December 21).
Landforms
Great Sandy Desert, arid wasteland of northern Western Australia that is Australia’s second largest desert. The desert covers an area of approximately 284,993 square kilometers and was formed primarily through wind erosion and deposition. The region experiences strong westerly winds that carry sand particles from the nearby shoreline and deposit them in the interior areas. Over time, these sand deposits accumulate to form sand dunes that can reach heights of up to 200 meters. (Powell, A. W., & Taylor, J., 2023, December 25).
Hamersley Range, mountains in the Pilbara region, known for its red-colored rocks.
The formation of the Hamersley Range began billions of years ago during the Precambrian era when the region was covered by ancient oceans. At that time, large amounts of iron-rich minerals settled on the ocean floor, forming layers over millions of years. These sediments gradually accumulate to form sedimentary rocks.
Hamersley Range has undergone further erosion and weathering over millions of years, shaping the landscape we see today. Erosion by wind, water, and other natural forces continues to modify the range, resulting in its present-day appearance. (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica., 1998, July 20).
Soil Fertility and Composition
Western Australia covers a vast area with a wide range of soil types. Many areas of the south-west of the state are characterised by soils with sandy surfaces ranging from deeps sands to sands over clays, and soils dominated by ironstone gravels. Soils in the northern parts of the state, although variable, are often characterised by oxides of iron giving them a characteristic red colour. (Government of Western Australia, 2022).
In general, the soils of Western Australia are relatively infertile due to low levels of nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen. This is due to a combination of factors, including low rainfall, high temperatures, and nutrient-poor parent materials. Sustainable management of the soil resource is therefore essential to the continued viability of the Western Australian agricultural industry.
Climate in south-western Australia is Mediterranean, with hot dry summers and agriculture relying heavily on winter rain. Dry-land cereal cropping, mixed with sheep and beef farming is predominant in the northern, central, great southern and south eastern agricultural regions. Higher winter rainfall and sufficient ground water supplies in the South-West region allows irrigation of pastures for dairy and beef, fruit, and vineyards for both table and wine grapes. (Soilquality.org.au., 2023).
Erosion-prone areas
Water erosion occurs when water flowing over the land surface moves soil particles downslope. Water erosion is a natural process, but is accelerated under agriculture, especially on cropped land. The averaged annual direct cost of water erosion to dryland farming in Western Australia is estimated to be $10 million, but the costs are much higher in years of severe summer storms.
In agricultural areas, fields that have been over-grazed, over-cultivated, or have poor soil management practices are also at risk of water erosion. This can lead to loss of topsoil, reduced soil fertility, and even desertification in extreme cases. (Government of Western Australia, 2023).
Natural resources
Mining accounts for about one-fourth of the Western Australian GDP, although it employs a relatively small portion of the workforce. With more than 270 operating mines, Western Australia is a leading supplier of many commodities including alumina, diamonds, iron ore and mineral sands, – monazite; ilmenite; rutile/synruite and zircon.
The economic impact of resource extraction in Western Australia is huge. The mining industry makes a significant contribution to the state's economy, creating jobs and driving economic growth.
However, resource extraction also brings environmental challenges. Mining operations can lead to habitat destruction, soil erosion and water pollution. To mitigate these impacts, mining companies must conduct environmental impact assessments, implement recovery plans, and adhere to strict environmental standards to ensure responsible resource extraction. (Encyclopedia Britannica., 2023, December 21).
Potential threats and sustainable development
The Earth is undergoing changes in its environment and has been doing so for millions of years. Everyone will be affected by climate change.
Western Australia is not immune. Western Australia has already experienced many extreme climate change events - bushfires, floods and extreme weather patterns - with devastating environmental and medical impacts. Rising temperatures and air pollution are among the most worrying consequences of climate change for Western Australians. These can have adverse effects on agriculture, natural ecosystems and human well-being. (Teasdale, N., & Panegyres, P. K., 2023).
Western Australia is rich in renewable energy resources, including solar, wind and wave power. The Government of Western Australia has raised the issue of transforming energy production in its "Climate Change for Western Australia - The Issues Paper". Making the case that investing in renewable energy infrastructure can reduce dependence on fossil fuels, mitigate the effects of climate change, and create jobs in renewable energy. (Bloch, M., 2019, September 8).
References
1. Bolton, G. C., Conacher, A. J., & Fox, C. (2023, December 21). Western Australia | Flag, Facts, maps, & Points of interest. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Western-Australia#/media/1/640548/32986
2. Australias. guide. (2020). Western Australia Facts | Western Australia. https://www.australias.guide/wa/facts/
3. Encyclopedia Britannica. (2023, December 21). Western Australia | Flag, Facts, maps, & Points of interest. https://www.britannica.com/place/Western-Australia/Climate
4. ResearchGate. (2014). Average annual temperatures in Australia, showing states, territories,. . . https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Average-annual-temperatures-in-Australia-showing-states-territories-and-their-capital_fig1_232319271
5. Bureau of Meteorology. (2018, June). Western Australian rainfall totals (in millimetres). https:// www.bom.gov.au/climate/
6. Map of Australia. (2023, August 11). Geography of Western Australia: Landscapes, Climate, & more.https://mapofaustralia.com/western-australia/western-australia-geography/
7. Conacher, A. J., Fox, C., & Bolton, G. C. (2023, December 21). Western Australia | Flag, Facts, maps, & Points of interest. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Western-Australia#/media/1/640548/145485
8. Bolton, G. C., Fox, C., & Conacher, A. J. (2023, December 21). Western Australia | Flag, Facts, maps, & Points of interest. Encyclopedia Britannica.https://www.britannica.com/place/Western-Australia
9. Powell, A. W., & Taylor, J. (2023, December 25). Northern Territory | History, Map, flag, Population, capital, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica.https://www.britannica.com/place/Northern-Territory
10. Fine Art America. (2020). Sandy desert #2. http://fineartamerica.com/featured/2-sandy-desert-mothaibaphoto-prints.html
11. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). Hamersley range | Gorges, Pilbara, outback. Encyclopedia Britannica.https://www.britannica.com/place/Hamersley-Range
12. GTP iCommerce P/L - http://www.gtp-icommerce.com/. (2005). Hamersley Range, Pilbara - Wilderness photography - Western Australia - Pilbara Region - - B J K - Images of Western Australia. Copyright 2005-2024. https://www.bjk.com.au/showProduct/Wilderness+Photography+-+Western+Australia/Pilbara+Region/KR12/Hamersley+Range,+Pilbara
13. Government of Western Australia. (2022). Identifying WA soils. Agriculture and Food. https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/climate-land-water/soils/identifying-wa-soils#:~:text=Western%20Australia%20covers%20a%20vast%20area%20with%20a,over%20clays%2C%20and%20soils%20dominated%20by%20ironstone%20gravels.
14. Soilquality.org.au. (2023). Western Australia. https://www.soilquality.org.au/au/wa
15. Government of Western Australia. (2021). Soil classification in Western Australia. Agriculture and Food. https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/identifying-wa-soils/soil-classification-western-australia
16. Government of Western Australia. (2021). Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia. https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/water-erosion/repairing-gully-erosion-western-australia
17. Government of Western Australia. (2023). Water erosion in the south-west of Western Australia. Agriculture and Food.https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/water-erosion/water-erosion-south-west-western-australia
18. Encyclopedia Britannica. (2023, December 21). Western Australia | Flag, Facts, maps, & Points of interest. https://www.britannica.com/place/Western-Australia/Economy
19. Newslocker. (2015, November 1). Western Australia’s mining boom ebbs along with China’s economy - Los Angeles Times. https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/profession/mining/western-australias-mining-boom-ebbs-along-with-chinas-economy-los-angeles-times/
20. Teasdale, N., & Panegyres, P. K. (2023). Climate change in Western Australia and its impact on human health.The Journal of Climate Change and Health,12,100243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joclim.2023.100243
21. Bloch, M. (2019, September 8).Climate Change and Energy in Western Australia – Issues Paper. Solar Quotes Blog.https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/climate-energy-wa-mb1206/
