In the dry lands of central Australia, rainfall is rare and
unpredictable, resulting in a unique ecosystem which transforms in
response to irregular climate changes, rather than the steady march of
the seasons. A special issue of Austral Ecology, Greening
of arid Australia, explores these decadal-scale changes,
from sudden
flooding, to the impact on desert
mammals and bird
life.
Together the papers highlight the need for a system of climate
monitoring, at local and continental scales, which can anticipate large
rainfall and predict the consequences. For example, when sudden rainfall
results in a blooming of plant productivity, this may increase the risk
of wild bush fires.
