Case Study Mojave Flashcards
1
Q
where is the Mojave desert
A
- south west of the USA
- California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona
- 124000km2
2
Q
what is the physical geography of the Mojave desert like?
A
- highest elevation is over 3000m
- lowest point is 86m below sea level
3
Q
what is the climate like in the Mojave desert
A
- rainfall is less that 140mm
- summer has temperatures of 50 degrees
- winter has temperatures c of -7 degrees
- strong winds
4
Q
what is the drainage like in the Mojave desert
A
- small number of exogenous rivers, Colorado river
5
Q
what is the settlements like in the Mojave desert?
A
- sparsely populated with a few large cities like Las Vegas, with a population of 2 million
6
Q
what is the landscape of the Mojave desert
A
- granitic mountain range is subject to weathering
> thermal fracture leading to granular disintegration and exfoliation of the crystalline rocks
7
Q
what is the alluvial fan in the Mojave desert?
A
- Lucy Gray Fan: alluvial fan
>north of Mojave National preserve
8
Q
what is the inselberg and pediment in the Mojave desert?
A
- Cima Dome: pediment and inselberg
>isolated rounded granite inselbergs
> due to erosion and weathering
9
Q
what is the sand dunes in the Mojave?
A
- Kelso Dunes
> mix of mobile and stabilised dunes
> tallest is 200, above the desert floor
9
Q
what is the playa in the Mojave desert?
A
- Soda Lake: playa
> largest playa, 150 km2
> west of the Mojave national preserve
> clays and muds are washed into the basin by the Mojave river and spring
> during summer, salt crusts develop
> during the winter, storms increase the discharge into the lake
