it's September 2009, and the state of New South Wales in Australia is covered in dust, literally. The experts say it is the worst dust storm in nearly seventy years.1
Why? 2
Why now and not last year, or next year, and why at all?3
No doubt that the lack of rainfall in the inland has a lot to do with it, but this is the driest continent on the planet. Why has there not been more dust storms in the intervening years, between the early 40's and now? What is different?4
Perhaps the wet years in the middle 50's convinced the money makers that irrigation was the answer to a greedy man's prayer and much money was spent setting up ways and means of using every drop of water from the inland river systems to grow grain crops in otherwise unsuitable areas of the rural part of the state. 5
Mother Nature is always changing things to suit her plans, not ours, and there has been a succession of very dry years when the expected rainfall never came. The rivers are now dry, the irrigation systems are idle, but the old native grasses which have held the land together for thousands of years, are gone. 6
Dry, bare ground, powders with the action of feet walking to and from water sources, millions of feet. Cattle, sheep, wild horses and camels, to name the most common owners of those feet. Then, when conditions are just right, the winds come, 60 kilometres an hour or more windspeed lifts the powdered soil and it becomes airborne. Those same winds now carry that dust over a thousand kilometres from the dry inland to the coast, to the City of Sydney. Sydney airport is closed due to minimal visibility, the harbour ferries can't run, and many people with asthma or other breathing related complaints suffer.7
What do we do to prevent it happening again? I don't know, I am just an old man who has seen it all before. After the big dust storms of the 40's, I believe a ban was placed on ploughing land west of a certain line so that the natural grasses could hold back the powdering of large areas of bare ground. I can't comment on how successful that was, but it all changed when the 50's were very wet years with numerous communities being flooded.8
Irrigation was seen as the answer to the inland's problems.9
No one, at that time, seems to have considered that the dry years of the 40's would return again. Those dry came back with a vengeance. The cycle is now complete. What will happen now?10
In the 40's there was little irrigation and when the rains did come the rivers soon filled again. Now there enough irrigation pumps lying unused, to pump the flooding rivers dry again if they were all started up at the same time. 11
I am no expert, just an old man, and I can see no answer unless Mother nature becomes very generous with rainfall over a period of a few years. 12
comments ?
Comments
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Wow, i live in australia but was in england the time this happened. It was amazing to hear that on the news whilst i was in London.
so sad though -
It's always a pleasure to read something you have written.
I like the way that your pieces are informative without being dull. Thanks for sharin and reading my scribbles.
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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Thank you Marta for taking the time to read and comment. Its a couple of weeks now since the big dust storm hit us but, the rain has not yet come and the dust is still with us, only not so thick.
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Very nicely written and well considered.
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I live in a part fo the world where dust is part of everyday lining. many thanks for your visit and comments, much appreciated.
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Hey rbruce,
We've been having a drought here in California for the last three or four years, but no dust storms yet. They are pumping the rivers dry here as well. We used to swim in thew Eel River every year all the way up to September, but now it's nearly dry by July and much too nasty to swim in. They are diverting the water for grapes so they can make wine. I suppose they figure if we're all drunk we won't notice how bad things are. It's getting harder and harder to remain optimistic, when things seem to be getting worse every year.
Steve
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Thanks for your visit Steve. Seem like your Govt is the same as ours. In NSW, our State, we have 23 rivers which do not run the their mouth. We are in the grip of the longest drought in recorded history and still the irrigaters whinge because there is no water. To top it all off the Govt is still charging fixed basic rates for water that doesn't exist. It's a hard life.
Our only chance of getting all the rivers to run again is for Mother Nature to flood the state as she did in the 50's.
I am not very optimistic at all.
Take care
Bob
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Thanks Bob
I've been watching the story of the dust storm in Australia with some interest. It's so nice of you to let us know over here what is really going on. Humans really do some pretty stupid things, don't we?
Trish
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Us humans are governed by the almighty dollar but will pay the real price for our actions one day. Thanks Trish for your visit and comments. I look at it all in a different light to the media, I live with it all the time.
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Brilliant write here and one that explains a lot. We had a massive red dust storm here in victoria around 1982 and it was something to behold alright. A lot of things are detrimental to the land and when one thinks about it, it all began at the beginning of white mans entry. Of course, the land has always had its dry desert and land but it was made worse by our ravaging and raping of what was a natural wonder. Nature takes her time with changes and does things so it does not have a great impact on things, whereas man hoes away and almost spits in natures face. I suppose most are not thinking of the consequences of their actions but I think we have to stop and take notice of the warning sign that are being sent out by nature. This wonderfully written piece gives people something to think about and there is no time like the present to move over and let nature take the reigns. Mother nature has her own agenda and she knows what she is doing. Great read and thank you so much for your sharing with us.
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Dust storms are a part of life out here. We have quite a few small ones that never make the news. They leave a mess in and around the house. Can't keep the fine stuff out. I just hope that Mother Nature makes it rain and rain and rain until all the rivers run again and all the dams are full. Thanks for you ever welcome visit and understanding comments.
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And when the rains return, the money men will pander to the greedy man's wishes ... and nothing will have been learned.
Hi Bob,
A story, as with life, has a beginning, middle and end. I believe I am now entering the 'end' bit of my life (if I already haven't done so), and like yourself, have no answers.
This story hit the newspapers over here in the UK, but the "brilliant" idea of the editors was to show 'pretty' and 'unusual' pictures instead of telling of the harsh realities the dust storm was evoking. I think that sums it all up.
Please excuse my cynicism; it ain't aimed at you my friend
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I, too am cynical, Lawrie. The cycle repeats itself all too often and the never seems to be any movement towards a solution.The money men can't be trusted, the politicians enthusiasm wanes rapidly once the election is over, and the rest of us are expected to wear whatever consequences with a smile and an empty wallet. The news media are only interested in sensationalism. Sadly the poor farmer in central Australia who has just seen all his topsoil blow away now has to either sell his stock, or ship them somewhere where there is food for them to live.
By the way, the Lake Eyre area close to where all this dust came from is actually about 55 feet below sea level.
Thank you for your visit and understanding. Your cynicism is fully understood, my friend.
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Here in the US the big worry is when Walmart
paves the great plains for a parking to service a super store. Just kidding Bob. Recently our southwestern region has been inundated with rain and floods one of those events that come now and then rarely, however, in the fall. The cycle of life is forever changing from Greenland and melting ice To Australia and blowing dust. Who know where it will all end. I liked your piece and still think, if you're not already, you should submit some of your material to the local papers.
Happy trails.
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many thanks for your visit and thoughts David. I think there are parts of the USA which have similar problems to ours. The catch cry of the moment is climate change and all that, but the reality is that Mother nature has been changing the climate for millions of years. We poor little humans better learn to live with the changes, make better use of what resources we are given, or pay the price. I have tried a couple of times to get something in the papers but there seems to be a block somewhere.
No response at all.
Stay well
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