Drylands- Low latitude desert: The Namib Flashcards
1
Q
background facts
A
west coast of southern Africa, 81,000km^2
2
Q
change over time
A
aridity since 5M yrs ago, contemporary landscape evolves slowly
3
Q
past made landscapes
A
inselbergs developed over Ms of yrs when climate was less arid, tafoni on granite inselbergs
4
Q
current behaviour
A
sand creep and saltation more recent, dunes advance 30m/yr
5
Q
landforms
A
barchans, yardangs near Orange River mouth, high dunes in Sossusvlei region up to 300m, wind abrasion in depressions leaves ridges of resistant rock, inselbergs like Spitzkoppe
6
Q
other names places
A
Orange River to Walvis Bay many dunes
7
Q
relevant physical factors
A
11-24C and 23mm rain so low weathering, little fluvial processes, aeolian action dominant, south-easterly trade winds all year
