Lake Eyre, South Australia, shortly after flooding in January 1984. Lake Eyre is maintained by a large inland drainage system but is mostly a dry salt lake. The flow pattern after flooding is made visible by the contrast between water stemming from the dissolved salt crust and water containing fine silt.

The figures show a variety of flow phenomena in 1.5 m water depth, including vortex formation behind a small sand island.


© J. A. T. Bye, R. A. D. Byron-Scott, T. Maxworthy and R. A. Nunes, reproduced by permission. From EOS 67 (1986), 58-59.
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