Ghostly green lakes merge in Australian outback after 2 years of heavy rain — Earth from space
A 2024 satellite photo shows a series of ephemeral lakes that merged into a single emerald structure in Australia's Northern Territory, following two years of extreme rainfall.
In Barkly Tableland, within Australia's Northern Territory, a series of ephemeral lakes have merged into a single body of water, as captured in a satellite image taken on October 30, 2024. The largest lake in the merged group is Tarrabool Lake, stretching 90 kilometers across at its widest point, while the smaller lakes—Lake Sylvester, Lake Corella, and Lake Deburgh—consist of three distinct bodies.
These lakes are green due to dense vegetation and algae, with the smaller lakes appearing paler due to increased sediment levels from water overflow. The lakes are called "ephemeral" because they rarely have constant inflow or outflow of water, causing them to dry up during prolonged sunny periods and reappear with heavy rainfall.
However, between 2022 and 2024, the region experienced unusually heavy rainfall, causing the lakes to grow continuously. According to NASA, both the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 rainy seasons were among the top 10 wettest since 1990. The increased rainfall is likely attributed to human-caused climate change. Tarrabool Lake and Lake Sylvester serve as important breeding sites for various bird species, making them significant areas for avian biodiversity.
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