Deserts Flashcards
Cool air sinks and warms up =
Dry Weather (high air pressure)
Warm air rises and cools off =
Rain or snow (low air pressure)
The Earth’s dry zones
Polar High Subpolar Low Subtropical high Equatorial low Subtropical high Subpolar Low Polar High
Formed by global air circulation, can MOVE as climate changes
Subtropical Deserts
Most common type of desert on Earth today
Subtropical Deserts
Formed by global air circulation, can VANISH as climate changes
Polar Deserts
As they weaken, our winter weather changes
Polar Deserts
Mountains force air to rise in order to cross
Orographic Effect
The rising side is in Rain Shadow Deserts are:
Rainy
Sinking side of Rain Shadow Deserts:
Rain Shadow
Most common deserts in the western US
Rain Shadow Deserts
Centers of large continents are far from oceans
Interior Deserts
Air loses most of its moisture before it ever gets there
Interior Deserts
Cold ocean currents don’t evaporate enough to make rain, just fog
Coastal Deserts
This gives California a mind dry climate (but also makes it prone to droughts)
Coastal Deserts
In dry regions, wind-blown sand and silt can carve rocks into shapes called:
Ventifacts
The wind leaves behind large pebbles, which accumulate to form a stony:
Desert Pavement
The wind leaves behind large pebbles, which accumulate to form a stony desert pavement. This is called:
Deflation
WInd-blown sand forms large dunes in some parts of deserts (not all)
Wind Deposition
When thunderstorms form in the desert, they make wind instead of rain. When they pick up lots of sand and silt, they form a
Haboob
Areas near deserts are at risk of becoming deserts in the future as climate changes
Desertification
Grazing and farming make this worse
Desertification
