Deserts and Desertification Flashcards
What is Desertification?
The processes by which an area of land and it’s soil becomes degraded and unproductive
What are the mining Opportunities in the Western Desert?
The largest Opencast Copper and Uranium mine is in Ajo Arizona
What socioeconomic opportunities are presented?
Coachella - Music Festival £115m per year
What energy Opportunities are there?
£50m in Oil in Arizona
100,000 Homes
360 Jobs
HEP - Hoover Dam
What tourism Opportunities are there?
- Las Vegas - £9Bn A year
- Grand Canyon
- Lake Mead
- Hoover Dam
What climate challenges are posed in the desert?
45*C temperatures can effect a business’ carrying capacity
What accessibility challenges are posed in the desert?
Lack of roads, remote landscape, low population density
How does the water crisis effect the development of business in the Western Desert?
Aquifers (Underground water) are excessively exploited.
30 million rely on the Colorado river
What is a desert fringe?
The Border of a hot desert
How frequent is drought in Darfur?
1 in 5 years
How many people were killed in Darfur’s conflict?
250,000 Killed
Why is Darfur in Sudan desertified?
War
How many people live in poverty in the Sahel?
50 Million
What are the human causes of deforestation? (3 O’s)
Overcultivation
Overgrazing
Overpopulation
What is appropriate technology?
When technology is used and developed that is suited to the needs, skills, knowledge, resources and wealth of local people in the environment in which they live
What are Bunds?
Small stone slopes placed parallel to a slope to prevent surface runoff and to allow interception
Prevents soil erosion
What is Aforestation?
(Great Green Wall)
Planting a long wall of trees can:
- Protect soil from sun
- Interception
- Shades Crop
- Littered Leaves provide nutrients to soil
Give examples of appropriate technology?
Solar Stoves
- 3 bricks
Where are deserts located?
Primarily in the tropics of cancer and capricorn
What is a diurnal temperature range?
High range of temperatures in one day
How have camels adapted to the desert?
large fat store for quick release energy
How do cacti prevent water loss?
The leaves of cactus is modified into spines or needle like leaves to conserve water by minimising transpiration
How do cacti prevent predation?
Spikes deter predators
How do cacti thrive with such low rainfall?
Widespread roots maximise water uptake?
How many mm of rainfall do deserts see annually?
250mm
What is the temperature range of the desert?
0-50*C
What is an Aquifer?
Underground water source
Why is the Sahel at risk?
50 Million Vulnerable people live in the Sahel
Where is an example of desertification in the Sahel?
Darfur, Sudan
How many people died in Darfur in 2003?
250,000
How frequent is drought in Darfur?
1 in 5 years
How is conflict-based desertification a cycle in Darfur?
People must rebuild their homes after war, each one requires 40 trees - deforestation, soil erosion
What is the Great Green Wall?
A 8,000km Wall of Trees that shades ground and provides interception to prevent surface runoff
What are the causes of desertification?
Population Increase - Increased Footfall and high birth rates
Over Cultivation - Soil Loves Nutrients
Over-Grazing - Cows graze excessively causing land resources to exhaust
