Hot Deserts Flashcards
How is Aridity a physical characteristic of Hot deserts?
Hot deserts have total annual rainfall below 250 millimetres per year.
This is caused by the dominance of extensive belts of high atmospheric pressure existing at these latitudes.
Sinking air prevents the formation of cloud and rain, resulting in the very dry conditions.
How is Heat a physical characteristic of a hot desert?
Summer temperatures of hot deserts rise well above 40 degrees celsius.
How are landscapes a physical characteristic of Hot deserts?
Most deserts are rocky, desolate places with isolated thorny bushes and cacti.
What is the water like in hot deserts?
The high temperatures and low humiditiy result in very rapid evaporation.
This means that plants and animals have to make the most of the water while it is available.
What are the soils like in hot deserts?
Typically sandy or stony and dry and contain little organic matter due to the infrequent growth of vegetation. Soils are not very fertile.
Why do plants have thick and waxy leaves in hot deserts?
To retain water and reduce water loss through transpiration.
Many plants and shrubs have developed needles rather than leaves, such as cacti
What are roots, leaves and stems called?
Succulents - ways of storing water.
Why do some plants and trees have extensive root networks?
To tap into groundwater deep below the surface.
Why do many plants have rapid life cycles?
It is triggered by occasional rainfall events, which germinates, flowers and sets seed in a matter of days.
Why can rodents hunt during the cool nights in hot deserts?
Have large eyes to help them see in low light conditions.
Why do animals often live in burrows when in hot deserts?
It enables them to stay cool during the daytime.
Why do some animals have large ears in hot deserts?
To enable heat loss to occur.
Why do Hot deserts have low levels of biodiversity?
The low rainfall and lack of available water.
Rich biodiversity does exist in pockets where…
(Hot deserts)
Water is present.
What is desertification?
Quite simply where land turns into desert.
Why is desertification a huge global environmental issue?
Affects vast swathes of land, particularly semi - arid areas. These fragile areas are easily damaged and degraded both by natural factors and human actions.
How is climate change an affect of desertification?
Altering weather patterns, leading to increased aridity, longer droughts, and more frequent and intense extreme weather events that degrade land and vegetation, ultimately transforming fertile areas into deserts.
How is the Population growth a cause of desertification?
An increased population is putting greater pressure on the environment for resources such as wood and water.
How is the Removal of fuelwood a cause of desertification?
It disrupts the natural vegetation cover, leading to soil erosion and reduced soil fertility.
What is Overgrazing?
The practice of grazing too many livestock for too long a period on land unable to recover its vegetation
How is Overgrazing a cause of desertification?
It strips away vegetation, exposing the soil to erosion and reducing its ability to retain moisture
What is Over-cultivation?
The excessive or unsustainable use of farmland, where crops are grown too frequently without allowing the soil to recover.
How is over-cultivation a cause of deforestation?
The soil becomes dry, dusty and infertile.
