Estimating the Impacts of Pastoral Activities Upon Wind Erosion in the Arid and Semi-arid Rangelands of Eastern Australia

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Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
McTainsh, Grant
Other Supervisors
leys, John
Strong, Craig
Year published
2014
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Wind erosion is widespread across the world’s drylands and includes the arid and semi-arid rangelands of Australia. An estimated 110 Mt of dust is eroded by wind from the Australian land surface each year, most of which originates from the arid and semi-arid rangelands. Livestock production is known to increase the susceptibility of the rangelands to wind erosion, and produce accelerated erosion, by reducing vegetation cover and modifying surface soil stability. Extended episodes of wind erosion have been reportedly caused by overgrazing notably in Australia in the 1940’s and 1960s. However, research is yet to fully understand ...
View more >Wind erosion is widespread across the world’s drylands and includes the arid and semi-arid rangelands of Australia. An estimated 110 Mt of dust is eroded by wind from the Australian land surface each year, most of which originates from the arid and semi-arid rangelands. Livestock production is known to increase the susceptibility of the rangelands to wind erosion, and produce accelerated erosion, by reducing vegetation cover and modifying surface soil stability. Extended episodes of wind erosion have been reportedly caused by overgrazing notably in Australia in the 1940’s and 1960s. However, research is yet to fully understand and quantify the impacts of pastoral activities on the wind erosion of the rangelands. Better understanding of the impact of pastoral managements (e.g. stocking rates, land conditions) on wind erosion and information on how these impacts change through time and space are required. This should offer the possibility to better understand and estimate the impact of pastoral activities on wind erosion and provide information to land managers in order to reduce grazing impacts on wind erosion.
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View more >Wind erosion is widespread across the world’s drylands and includes the arid and semi-arid rangelands of Australia. An estimated 110 Mt of dust is eroded by wind from the Australian land surface each year, most of which originates from the arid and semi-arid rangelands. Livestock production is known to increase the susceptibility of the rangelands to wind erosion, and produce accelerated erosion, by reducing vegetation cover and modifying surface soil stability. Extended episodes of wind erosion have been reportedly caused by overgrazing notably in Australia in the 1940’s and 1960s. However, research is yet to fully understand and quantify the impacts of pastoral activities on the wind erosion of the rangelands. Better understanding of the impact of pastoral managements (e.g. stocking rates, land conditions) on wind erosion and information on how these impacts change through time and space are required. This should offer the possibility to better understand and estimate the impact of pastoral activities on wind erosion and provide information to land managers in order to reduce grazing impacts on wind erosion.
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Thesis Type
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Degree Program
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School
Griffith School of Environment
Copyright Statement
The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise.
Item Access Status
Public
Subject
Wind erosion, Australia
Pastoral managements, Australia