Hot deserts

Question 1

average temperature

Answer 1

35-45 degrees c

Question 2

winter temperature

Answer 2

20-30 degrees c

Question 3

annual rainfall

Answer 3

to be a desert, annual rainfall must be less than 250mm

Question 4

diurnal range size

Answer 4

large-can drop by up to 30 degrees c

Question 5

what is flash flooding?

Answer 5

during the day, the ground gets very hot and heats the air above it; this air rises, cools and then condenses which forms cumulonimbus clouds which cause violent thunderstorms. The sudden rainfall runs off the ground as it is too hard to absorb the rain. This causes flooding.

Question 6

what is the soil like?

Answer 6

little or no organic content whatsoever and is just made up of rock and sand. where water is closer to the surface (low lying areas) the soil is saline, reducing plant growth.

Question 7

explain salinisation

Answer 7

Salinisation occurs when the water in soils evaporates in high temperatures, drawing salts from the soil to the surface. These salts are toxic to many plants and make the land unusable.

Question 8

saguaro cacti adaptations

Answer 8

• thick, waxy skin that reflects heat and reduces water loss
• needles protect from animals and prevent evapotranspiration
• fleshy stem stores water
• long roots reach limited nutrients
• no or small leaves reduce loss of moisture
• domed/circular shape to conserve water
• jagged surface so it can expand to absorb water
• long, tap-like roots to reach water table
• ephemeral

Question 9

what does xerophytic mean?

Answer 9

adaptations in plants that allow them to survive in a dry climate

Question 10

succulent definition

Answer 10

a plant that stores water in its leaves, stems or roots

Question 11

how do short life cycles help plants in hot deserts?

Answer 11

a plant or seed could remain dormant until the rain comes

Question 12

location of hot deserts

Answer 12

between 15 and 30 degrees north and south of the equator in the tropics of capricorn and cancer

Question 13

why are hot deserts located where they are?

Answer 13

they are in a zone of subsiding or sinking air. air that rises due to the intense heat at the equator divides to flow north and south. it then begins to sink between 15 and 30 degrees, having lost so much of its heat. this sinking air creates a zone of high pressure; as the air is sinking, no clouds can form and so the areas are very dry.

Question 14

kalahari squirrel adaptations

Answer 14

has a bushy tail which fluffs out to create a natural parasol to protect its body form the sun

Question 15

fennec fox adaptations

Answer 15

thick fur on the soles of its feet to insulate against hot sand

Question 16

camel adaptations

Answer 16

• long eyelashes, thick eyebrows and slit like nostrils to avoid loose sand
• a hump that stores fat for nourishment when food is scarce
• thick wool on back for shade and thin fur everywhere else to allow easy heat loss
• sandy colour=camouflage
• concentrated urine prevents water loss
• Large, flat feet to spread their weight on the sand.

Question 17

hot deserts found in countries such as…

Answer 17

Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Chile, Somalia etc.

Question 18

What does ephemeral mean?

Answer 18

Looks dead when there is a lack of water. Desert bloom when it rains.