News in Science

Rain transforms dry lake into outback oasis

Earth image This is a rare image of water in Lake Frome, a usually dry salt pan in the arid South Australian outback.

Lake Frome is located east of the Gammon Ranges near Arkaroola Village, about 600 kilometres north of Adelaide.

The image, taken on 12 February, shows the lake partially filled with water following recent rains.

When dry, Lake Frome is one of the whitest salt lakes in the southern hemisphere.

However, following heavy rains the lake can reach up to 100 kilometres long, and 40 kilometres wide.

When it rains, numerous usually dry creek beds feed the lake with brackish water from the Northern Flinders Ranges to the west, or the Strzelecki Creek from the north.

The area is part of the Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park, a haven to many rare and endangered plants and animals.

The region's traditional owners are the Adnyamathanha people who tell how the Rainbow Serpent Akurra emptied Lake Frome when he drank the waters of the Arkaroola Creek, which flows into Lake Frome.

The image was taken by the European Space Agency's Proba-V satellite which is designed to study the Earth's land cover and vegetation growth from its 820-kilometre-high orbit, covering the entire planet every two days.