Book Reviews: Surface Water Resources. Atlas of Australian Resources, Second Series

Summary

This review examines the Atlas of Australian Resources, Second Series, specifically the Surface Water Resources publication issued by the Department of National Development in 1967, comprising a 1:6,000,000 map and a 24-page booklet. The map delineates perennial, seasonal, and ephemeral streams, and employs isopleth lines to classify the country into nine categories of long-term average annual runoff, ranging from <0.05 inches to >60 inches per year, supplemented by discharge histograms for 22 gauging stations. The overall hydrological picture reveals Australia as predominantly arid, with most areas experiencing annual runoff below one inch. The review commends the map's clear colouring and effective information hierarchy, though it notes insufficient subdivision at the lower runoff range. Despite reliance on estimated data—acceptable at this scale—the publication successfully addresses technical challenges in measuring intermittent streamflows and spatial sampling, offering a valuable tool for national water resource planning and setting a precedent for similar initiatives elsewhere.