7.4 Causes of desertification in hot deserts

Question 1

What is desertification?

Answer 1

The process of land gradually turning into a desert

Question 2

Why does desertification occur?

Answer 2

➢ When the land is exposed to the weather it is likely to crack and break up
➢ It would be eroded by wind and water
➢ Overgrazing by livestock can strip vegetation and increase the chance of desertification happening

Question 3

What are the main factors that cause desertification?

Answer 3

➢ Soil erosion
➢ Climate change
➢ Population growth
➢ Over-cultivation

Question 4

How does climate change lead to desertification?

Answer 4

➢ Leads to drier climate that erodes the soil faster

Question 5

How does soil erosion lead to desertification?

Answer 5

➢ When the vegetation has been destroyed - it no longer holds the soil together
➢ Therefore starts to become a desert

Question 6

How does population growth lead to desertification?

Answer 6

➢ Can result in land close to existing deserts to be overgrazed
➢ This means there are too many animals to be supported by the limited vegetation
➢ When the vegetation has been destroyed the land will turn to desert

Question 7

How does over-cultivation result in desertification?

Answer 7

The excessive use of farmland to the point where productivity falls due to soil exhaustion or land degradation