Desertification And Climates

Question 1

What is irrigation?

Answer 1

The artificial watering of the land to encourage plant growth and to increase fertility

Question 2

Name one major project to do with desertification?

Answer 2

The Aswan Dam Scheme in the Nile Valley, Egypt

Question 3

What is the Aswan Dam Scheme?

Answer 3

It’s to insure a reliable supply of water, the dam was built in the 1960’s. Lake Nassae is the reservoir behind the dam, the lake water is pumped to farmlands to irrigate crops.

Question 4

What are the problems to the Aswan Dam Scheme?

Answer 4

• Nile floods each year and deposits alluvial mud (which kept the floodplain fertile) now farmers need expensive fertilisers to enrich their soils.
• Land was flooded when Lake Nassar was created, up to 90,000 locals moved.
• The sites of ancient Egyptian tombs were flooded when the lake was created.
• high temperatures cause some of the surface of the water in the lake to Evaporate, this causes a build up in salts in the remaining irrigation water (this poisons land)

Question 5

What are the benefits to the Aswan Dam Scheme?

Answer 5

• The dam is used to provide half of all Egypt’s water supply.
• The Aswan project provided clean water to millions of Egyptians, this helps the prevent the spread of disease and dysentery.
• A regular water supply of water irrigates land in Egypt and Sudan, irrigation has causes Egypt’s agricultural income to increase by 200%

Question 6

What is the location of warm temperate oceanic climates?

Also known as Mediterranean climates

Answer 6

• Between 30° and 40° north and south of the equator.

- On the western side of land masses

Question 7

What is Mediterranean climate like?

Answer 7

• Hot dry summers (30°C), almost no rain in July and August.

- Wet and mild winters (8°C in January) with rainfall from Atlantic depressions