Deserts and Landforms.

Question 1

Name a desert in North America.

Answer 1

Mojave.

Question 2

Name a desert in South America.

Answer 2

Atacama.

Question 3

Name 3 deserts in Africa.

Answer 3

Sahara, Namib, Kalahari.

Question 4

Name a desert in Asia.

Answer 4

Arabian and/or Thar.

Question 5

Name a desert in Oceania.

Answer 5

Australian desert.

Question 6

Describe the distribution of worlds hot deserts. (3)

Answer 6

• They are usually found between the latitudes 15˚-35˚ north and south of the equator.
• Located close to tropics.
• Found on the west side of continents.

Question 7

A desert is a place with less than ____mm of rainfall yearly.

Answer 7

250.

Question 8

What is the Sahara’s annual precipitation?

Question 9

What’s the Sahara’s annual average temperature?

Answer 9

30˚C.

Question 10

In the hottest months temperatures can exceed ___ degrees Celsius.

Answer 10

50.

Question 11

What is the diurnal temperature range?

Answer 11

37.5˚C to -0.5˚C.

Question 12

Name and explain 2 reasons for why deserts are dry.

Answer 12

1. High pressure; there is high pressure at the tropics where deserts are located. This means the air is sinking therefore clouds can’t form.
2. Trade winds.
3. Rain shadow effect; When moist air from the sea reaches a mountain range it is forced to rise. As it rises it cools and condensation occurs forming relief rain on the windward side of the mountain.
4. Continental Isolation.
5. Cold ocean currents.

Question 13

What are 2 reasons deserts are hot.

Answer 13

• DIFFERENTIAL HEATING:
  Their location along the tropics is close proximity to the equator. At the equator the sun is directly overhead therefore the suns rays are more concentrated heating up a smaller area.
• LACK OF CLOUD:
  All of the suns rays hit the ground.

Question 14

Name and describe 3 cactus adaptations.

Answer 14

• Spikes instead of leaves; less water is lost.
• Widespread shallow roots; to absorb maximum water after rainfall.
• Deep roots; reach to underground water stores.
• Pleated body; enables the cactus to expand and store water for long dry periods.
• Thick waxy body; prevent water loss.

Question 15

What’s a salt pan and how is it formed?

Answer 15

Is a dried out salt lake with a crusty salt surface full of salt and other minerals, the minerals reflect off the suns rays and usually appear as white.

Question 16

How do indigenous people use the desert? (3)

Answer 16

• The bedouin are nomadic pastoralists; they herd animals and migrate yearly to find fresh vegetation and water.
• A lot of them are beginning to abandon this way of life and are starting to settle in one place.

Question 17

How do the bedouin overcome dryness in the desert?

Answer 17

Any 2 from:

• They follow mosquitos and some birds because they only live near water.
• They scare off elephants also looking for water.
• They turn over stones in the morning to collect dew.

Question 18

How do the bedouin overcome heat in the desert?

Answer 18

• They wear loose fitting woollen clothes.

- They live in tents to shelter from the cold and wind at night (they’re also easy to move around).

Question 19

How do multinational companies use the desert?

Answer 19

• BP oil drilling in Algeria.
• Solar power.
• Film production.

Question 20

What are impacts and causes of desertification?

Answer 20

Causes:

• Over grazing.
• Human activity and over population.

Impacts:

• Drought.
• Fertile soil being blown away.

Question 21

What is afforestation?

Answer 21

Planting more trees.

Question 22

What are sustainable alternatives for desert use?

Answer 22

• Ecotourism.

- Solar power.