Deserts

Question 1

Where is the Western desert found

Answer 1

Made up of 3 hot deserts: Nojave, Sohoran and the Chihuahuan desert with area of 200,000km^2. Located in western USA

Question 2

Which states does the desert cover

Answer 2

California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico

Question 3

How is population of the Western desert distributed

Answer 3

Low population and nearly half live in Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas and Henderson

Question 4

Irrigation in Western desert

Answer 4

Applying water to land to supply crops and other plants with necessary water

Question 5

Aquifers in Western desert

Answer 5

Large stores of water beneath some desert regions where permeable rock lies above impermeable rock and water has seeped through and become trapped so wells are dug to bring water to surface meaning crops can be grown e.g. lemons

Question 6

Canals in Western desert

Answer 6

Most canals used for large scale industrialised agriculture

Question 7

Mineral extraction in Western desert

Answer 7

Plan for uranium mining near Grand Canyon was halted as concern for risks in nuclear power plants
Copper mining taken place for centuries but lack of water discouraged large scale mining until underground water was found

Question 8

Solar power in Western desert

Answer 8

Strong insolation in desert regions provides opportunity for solar power. Sonoran solar project in Arizona will produce enough energy for 100,000 homes

Question 9

Hydro electric power in Western desert

Answer 9

Supplies desert with electricity too, powered by water leaving lake Mead. At peak of construction in 30s hoover dam employed 5000 people

Question 10

Fossil fuels in Western desert

Answer 10

People have been drilling for oil in Arizona since 1905

Question 11

Tourism in Western desert

Answer 11

National parks offer experience of wilderness areas e.g Grand Canyon and Joshua tree National park

Question 12

Accessibility in Western desert

Answer 12

Low pop density of less than 1 person/km^2 means part of desert lack surfaced roads so access limited. Even if there are rough tracks the extreme temps make it dangerous if car breaks down

Question 13

Houses adaptation in the desert

Answer 13

Cocopah people lived in earth houses made with wooden frames packed with clay and thatched with grass keeping house cool in day and warm at night
Before A.C houses had flat roofs to collect rain, small to reduce sunlight and keep temps low, white to reflect sunlight

Question 14

Water shortage in western desert

Answer 14

Some old sports pitches have been replaced with fake grass and more people have adopted drought resistant ‘desert landscape’ in their gardens

Question 15

What is desertification

Answer 15

Land degradation resulting from climatic variation and human activities