Map courtesy of PIRSA
The map above shows Goyder’s Line, which is defined by Wiki as ‘a boundary line across South Australia corresponding to a rainfall boundary believed to indicate the edge of the area suitable for agriculture. North of Goyder’s Line, the rainfall is not reliable enough, and the land is only suitable for grazing and not cropping.’
A recent review by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and CSIRO suggested that the line could shift as far as Clare Valley by 2070 under the most extreme climate change scenario. However, it is more likely that the line would stay roughly where it is now or move just north of Jamestown.
Read more about George Woodroffe Goyder here.
There’s an article in farmonline.com discussing Goyder’s line and climate change:
Goyder’s Line on the move with climate change
and from ABC Rural: Goyders line could shift to Clare
Many thanks to Luke Walker for alerting me to the story of Goyder’s Line.
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD has worked in industry and government. She is currently researching a novel technique for long-range weather forecasting funded by the B. Macfie Family Foundation.