Let's begin the exploration of Australia's growing heartlands in Western
Australia, for in this state they grew the fastest during the period that
we can look back, 1972 - 1992.
Use your browser to open each image
in a new window to compare them.
A sample of the expansion of agriculture by clearing native vegetation
near Esperance, Western Australia, during the period October 1978 to January
1991. It shows a typical pattern of expansion at the margins as well as
the loss of native vegetation remnants within the established croplands.
The Difference FCC image also shows landcover changes associated with wildfires
within the natural landcover.
This image is part of a larger scene based on Esperance, Western Australia.
It shows the clearing of native vegetation by the expansion of cultivated
agriculture during the period 1978 - 1991. If you look carefully at all
three FCC images, you will also be able to detect clearing of remnant areas
of native vegetation during this 12 year period. Landcover changes because
of wildfires are also detectable.
My interpretation of the nature of the country, based on the presence of
salt lakes and the sandy (bright) nature of the soil, is that this is borderline
productivity. The expansion of the cultivation is truly marginal, and it
will be interesting to see the changes that have occurred in this area in
another decade.
The full Esperance scene as well as another frontier wheat growing area
in Western Australia, Jackson, is available for your exploration on the
companion CD-ROM.
