Editing Great Sandy Desert

{{Short description|Desert in Northern Western Australia}}
{{About|the desert in Australia|the desert in Oregon|High Desert (Oregon)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox valley
| name               = Great Sandy Desert
| native_name        = 
| photo              = Great Sandy Desert, Australia.jpg
| photo_caption      = A satellite image of the dunes in the Great Sandy Desert
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| map_image          = IBRA 6.1 Great Sandy Desert.png
| map_caption        = The [[Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia|IBRA bioregions]], with the Great Sandy Desert in red
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| location           = 
| country            = Australia
| state_type         = [[States and territories of Australia|State/Territory]]
| state              = [[Western Australia]]
| state1             = [[Northern Territory]]
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| area_km2           = 284993
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The '''Great Sandy Desert''' is an [[Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia|interim Australian bioregion]],<ref name="IBRA 5.1">{{Cite journal|author=Environment Australia|author-link=Environment Australia|title=Revision of the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) and Development of Version 5.1 - Summary Report |publisher=[[Department of the Environment and Water Resources]], [[Government of Australia°|Australian Government]] |url=http://www.deh.gov.au/parks/nrs/ibra/version5-1/summary-report/index.html |access-date=2007-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060905215218/http://www.deh.gov.au/parks/nrs/ibra/version5-1/summary-report/index.html |archive-date=2006-09-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="IBRA 6.1">[http://www.deh.gov.au/parks/nrs/ibra/version6-1/index.html IBRA Version 6.1] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060908221444/http://www.deh.gov.au/parks/nrs/ibra/version6-1/index.html |date=2006-09-08 }} data</ref> located in the northeast of [[Western Australia]] straddling the [[Pilbara]] and southern [[Kimberley (Western Australia)|Kimberley]] regions and extending east into the [[Northern Territory]]. It is the second largest desert in Australia after the [[Great Victoria Desert]] and encompasses an area of {{convert|284993|km2|sqmi|0}}.<ref name="Ref_2010">{{cite web|url=http://www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/australian_deserts.html#australian_deserts_size|title=Outback Australia - Australian Deserts|year=2010|access-date=2010-08-30}}</ref><ref name="Ref_2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/publications/series/paper4/gsd.html|title=Department of the Environment WA - Refugia for Biodiversity|year=2009|access-date=2010-08-30}}</ref> The [[Gibson Desert]] lies to the south and the [[Tanami Desert]] lies to the east of the Great Sandy Desert.

==Features==
The Great Sandy Desert contains large [[Erg (landform)|ergs]], often consisting of longitudinal [[dune]]s.{{cn|date=April 2023}}

In the north-east of the desert there is a [[meteorite impact]] crater, the [[Wolfe Creek crater]].{{cn|date=April 2023}}

"[[Fairy circle (arid grass formation)|Fairy circles]]", which are circular patches of land barren of plants, varying between 2{{Convert|2|and|12|m|ft|0}} in diameter and often encircled by a ring of stimulated growth of grass, are found in the western part of the desert, in the Pilbara region. It has not yet been proven what causes these formations, but one theory suggests that they have been built and inhabited by [[Australian harvester termite]]s since the [[Pleistocene]].<ref name=walsh2023>{{cite journal | last1=Walsh | first1=Fiona | last2=Bidu | first2=Gladys Karimarra | last3=Bidu | first3=Ngamaru Karimarra | last4=Evans | first4=Theodore A. | last5=Judson | first5=Thelma Milangka | last6=Kendrick | first6=Peter | last7=Michaels | first7=Alice Nampijinpa | last8=Moore | first8=Danae | last9=Nelson | first9=Matilda | last10=Oldham | first10=Carolyn | last11=Schofield | first11=Josef | last12=Sparrow | first12=Ashley | last13=Taylor | first13=Muuki Karimarra | last14=Taylor | first14=Desmond Purungu| last15=Wayne | first15=Lee Nangala | last16=Williams | first16=Carol Milangka|display-authors=4  | title=First Peoples' knowledge leads scientists to reveal 'fairy circles' and termite linyji are linked in Australia | journal=[[Nature Ecology & Evolution]] | publisher=Nature Publishing Group | date=3 April 2023 | volume=7 | issue=4 | issn=2397-334X | doi=10.1038/s41559-023-01994-1 | pages=610–622 | pmid=37012380 | pmc=10089917 | bibcode=2023NatEE...7..610W }}</ref><ref name=angeloni2023>{{cite web | last=Angeloni | first=Alice | title=Indigenous knowledge leads scientists to reveal 'fairy circles', termites linked  | website=[[ABC News (Australia)]]| date=4 April 2023 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-04/indigenous-knowledge-science-links-termites-fairy-circles/102177938 | access-date=4 April 2023}}</ref>

==Population==
The region is sparsely populated. The main populations consist of [[Aboriginal Australian]] communities and mining centres. The Aboriginal people of the desert fall into two main groups, the [[Martu people|Martu]] in the west and the [[Pintupi]] in the east. Linguistically, they are speakers of multiple [[Western Desert language]]s. Many of these Indigenous people were forcibly removed from their lands during the late 18th, 19th, and the early 20th centuries, to be relocated to other settlements, such as [[Papunya, Northern Territory|Papunya]] in the Northern Territory. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, some of the original inhabitants returned. Young adults, from the Great Sandy Desert region, travel to and work in the Wilurarra Creative programs to maintain and develop their culture, and a greater sense of community.<ref name="Wilurarra Creative">[https://www.wilurarra.com.au Wilurarra Creative]</ref>

==Climate==
Rainfall is low throughout the coast and, especially further north, is strongly seasonal. Areas near the Kimberley have an average rainfall that exceeds {{convert|300|mm|in|abbr=on}}, but can be patchy. Many dry years end with a monsoon cloud mass or a [[tropical cyclone]]. Like many of Australia's deserts, precipitation is high by [[desert]] standards, but with the driest regions recording total rainfall a little below {{convert|250|mm|in|abbr=on}}. The heat of Australia’s ground surface, in turn, creates a massive evaporation cycle, which partially explains the higher-than-normal desert rainfall. This region is one which gives rise to the heat lows, which help drive the NW monsoon. Almost all the rain regionally comes from monsoon thunderstorms, or the occasional tropical cyclone rain depression.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Prosser|first=Robert|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LPeEIEE1TBoC&q=rain+comes+from+monsoon+thunderstorms&pg=PA16|title=Australia|date=2007|publisher=Evans Brothers|isbn=978-0-237-53286-4|language=en}}</ref>

Annually, for most of the area, there are about 20–30 days where thunderstorms form. However, in the north and bordering the Kimberley, 30-40 per year is the average.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Western Australia For Everyone: Great Sandy Desert|url=http://www.australiaforeveryone.com.au/files/wa/great-sandy-desert.html|access-date=2020-12-24|website=www.australiaforeveryone.com.au}}</ref>

Summer daytime temperatures are some of the highest in Australia.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=06JsNnx7eV0C&q=Summer+daytime+temperatures+are+some+of+the+hottest+in+Australia&pg=PA7|title=Year Book Australia|date=1954|publisher=Aust. Bureau of Statistics|language=en}}</ref> Regions further south average {{convert|38|to|42|C|F}}, except when monsoonal cloud cover is active. Several people have died in this region during seasonal flooding, after their vehicles were stuck or broken down on remote dirt roads. Conversely, a few travellers have had their vehicles malfunction during the hottest times of the year, with dehydration, sun exposure and heatstroke being the predominant causes of death.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kte14XIoOCkC&q=monsoonal+cloud++Several+people+have+died+in+this+region&pg=PA734|title=World and Its Peoples: Eastern and Southern Asia|date=2007|publisher=Marshall Cavendish|isbn=978-0-7614-7639-9|language=en}}</ref> Winters are short and warm; temperatures range from {{convert|25|to|30|C|F}}.

Frost does not occur in most of the area. The regions bordering the Gibson Desert in the far southeast may record a light frost or two every year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gibson Desert {{!}} desert, Western Australia, Australia|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Gibson-Desert|access-date=2020-12-24|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref> Away from the coast winter nights can still be chilly in comparison to the warm days.

{{Weather box
|location = Telfer, Western Australia (temperatures, extremes and rain data 1974 - 2013)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 48.1
|Feb record high C = 47.1
|Mar record high C = 45.1
|Apr record high C = 41.2
|May record high C = 38.0
|Jun record high C = 33.9
|Jul record high C = 33.4
|Aug record high C = 36.0
|Sep record high C = 41.3
|Oct record high C = 44.1
|Nov record high C = 46.0
|Dec record high C = 47.5
|year record high C = 48.1
|Jan high C = 40.6
|Feb high C = 38.6
|Mar high C = 37.3
|Apr high C = 34.5
|May high C = 29.1
|Jun high C = 25.3
|Jul high C = 25.3
|Aug high C = 28.4
|Sep high C = 32.7
|Oct high C = 37.0
|Nov high C = 39.4
|Dec high C = 40.2
|year high C = 34.0
|Jan low C = 26.0
|Feb low C = 25.4
|Mar low C = 23.9
|Apr low C = 20.6
|May low C = 15.3
|Jun low C = 11.9
|Jul low C = 10.6
|Aug low C = 12.5
|Sep low C = 16.5
|Oct low C = 20.8
|Nov low C = 23.4
|Dec low C = 25.4
|year low C = 19.4
|Jan record low C = 17.2
|Feb record low C = 17.7
|Mar record low C = 14.4
|Apr record low C = 11.5
|May record low C = 5.6
|Jun record low C = 2.1
|Jul record low C = 3.0
|Aug record low C = 2.5
|Sep record low C = 6.2
|Oct record low C = 10.5
|Nov record low C = 13.0
|Dec record low C = 16.5
|year record low C = 2.1
|rain colour=green
|Jan rain mm = 49.1
|Feb rain mm = 102.7
|Mar rain mm = 77.3
|Apr rain mm = 20.0
|May rain mm = 18.5
|Jun rain mm = 12.1
|Jul rain mm = 13.2
|Aug rain mm = 5.4
|Sep rain mm = 2.5
|Oct rain mm = 2.9
|Nov rain mm = 16.5
|Dec rain mm = 46.9
|year rain mm = 370.4
|Jan precipitation days = 7.5
|Feb precipitation days = 8.7
|Mar precipitation days = 5.9
|Apr precipitation days = 2.8
|May precipitation days = 2.7
|Jun precipitation days = 2.8
|Jul precipitation days = 1.5
|Aug precipitation days = 1.1
|Sep precipitation days = 0.8
|Oct precipitation days = 1.1
|Nov precipitation days = 2.4
|Dec precipitation days = 5.3
|year precipitation days = 42.6
|source 1 = Bureau of Meteorology<ref>{{cite web
  |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_013030_All.shtml|title=Climate statistics for Australian locations - Telfer Aero}}</ref>
|date=May 2013}}

==Economy==
[[Indigenous Australian art|Indigenous art]] is a huge industry in central Australia. Mines, most importantly the [[Telfer mine|Telfer gold mine]] and [[Nifty copper mine]], and cattle stations are found in the far west. Telfer is one of the largest gold mines in Australia. The undeveloped [[Kintyre uranium deposit]] lies south of Telfer.

==Fauna and flora==
The vegetation of the Great Sandy Desert is dominated by [[Triodia (plant genus)|spinifex]].<ref name="eofe">{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.eoearth.org/article/Great_Sandy-Tanami_desert?topic=49597 |title =Great Sandy-Tanami Desert |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Earth |publisher=National Council for Science and the Environment }}</ref>

Animals in the region include [[Australian feral camel|feral camels]] and [[dingo]]es.  Other mammalian inhabitants include [[bilby|bilbies]], [[mulgara]], [[marsupial mole]]s, [[rufous hare-wallaby|rufous hare-wallabies]], and [[red kangaroo]]s. 

Varied types of lizards occur here, such as [[goanna]]s (including the large [[perentie]]), [[thorny devil]]s, and [[bearded dragon]]s.

Some of the bird-life found within the desert include the rare [[Alexandra's parrot]], the [[mulga parrot]] and the [[scarlet-chested parrot]].<ref name="Ref_2009a">{{NatGeo ecoregion|id=aa1304|name=Great Sandy-Tanami desert|access-date=2010-08-30}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Australia|Geography|Environment}}
* [[Carnegie expedition of 1896]]
* [[Deserts of Australia]]
* [[Gary Junction Road]]
* [[List of deserts by area]]
* [[Telfer, Western Australia]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|editor1=Burbidge, A. A.|editor2=McKenzie, N. L.|title=Wildlife of the Great Sandy Desert, Western Australia|location={{WAcity|Perth}}, W.A.|publisher=Western Australian Wildlife Research Centre [and] Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife|date=1983|isbn=0-7244-9307-7}}
*{{cite book|author1=Thackway, R.|author2=Cresswell, I. D.|date=1995|title=An interim biogeographic regionalisation for Australia: a framework for setting priorities in the National Reserves System Cooperative Program|volume=Version 4.0|location=[[Canberra]]|publisher=Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Reserve Systems Unit|isbn=0-642-21371-2 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline}}

{{Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA)}}
{{Deserts}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|20|S|125|E|source:dewiki_region:AU-WA_scale:5000000_type:landmark|display=title}}

[[Category:Great Sandy Desert| ]]
[[Category:Biogeography of the Northern Territory]]
[[Category:Biogeography of Western Australia]]
[[Category:Deserts of the Northern Territory]]
[[Category:Deserts of Western Australia]]
[[Category:Ergs]]
[[Category:Pilbara]]
[[Category:Kimberley (Western Australia)]]