hot deserts (p1)

Question 1

what is mineral extraction

Answer 1

the removal of solid mineral resources from the earth

Question 2

what is desertification

Answer 2

the process by which land becomes drier and degraded

Question 3

what is overgrazing

Answer 3

grazing too many livestock for too long on the land so it is unable to recover

Question 4

what is over-cultivation

Answer 4

exhausting the soil by over cropping the land

Question 5

what is aridity

Answer 5

an area receiving less than 250mm of rainfall per year

Question 6

3 characteristics of a hot desert

Answer 6

aridity
40+ degrees
towering dunes landscape

Question 7

definition of a desert

Answer 7

an area receiving less than 250mm of rainfall resulting in extreme aridity

Question 8

where do most deserts lay

Answer 8

in general, most lie between tropics of cancer and capricorn

Question 9

why are the worlds located where they are

Answer 9

• air is dry near tropics
• leading to areas of high pressure
• results in no clouds
• therefore hot in the day and cold at night

Question 10

what is soil like in deserts

Answer 10

dry and infertile, lack of organic material

Question 11

how to describe temperatures in deserts

Answer 11

high diurnal range

Question 12

what is interdependence

Answer 12

animals and plants in the same ecosystems relying on each other for survival

Question 13

how do plants affect soil

Answer 13

• roots tie soil together
• intercepts rainfall
• help retain water by providing shade
• provide extra nutrients through dead vegetation and fixing chemical

Question 14

how does soil affect plants

Answer 14

provides nutrients

Question 15

how do humans affect interdependence negatively

Answer 15

• disturb the food chain by over hunting a species
• disrupt soil making it more susceptible to erosion when wet
• trample plants so cant grow

Question 16

how do humans affect interdependence positively

Answer 16

plant more plants to increase food for primary consumers

Question 17

what reduces biodiversity in deserts

Answer 17

• dry conditions
• high temperatures
• short periods of rainfall

Question 18

what are plants that can live in dry conditions called

Answer 18

xerophytes e.g. cactus

Question 19

how are xerophytes adapted

Answer 19

thick, waxy cuticles and shed leaves to reduce transpiration

Question 20

how are fennec foxes adapted to hot temps

Answer 20

• large ears to help dissipate excess heat
• sandy fur reflects heat and insulates them at night time
• kidneys restrict water loss

Question 21

how are peringuey adders adapted to hot temps

Answer 21

move sideways so less than 50% of their body is in contact with sand

Question 22

CS: western desert specifics farming

Answer 22

coachella grows vegetables by absorbing water from aquifers

Question 23

CS: western desert specifics mineral extraction or energy generation

Answer 23

• 100,000 homes from solar, 360 workers
• HEP employed 5000 people
• 25 active oil sites

Question 24

CS: opportunities of tourism in western deserts

Answer 24

• crucial source of income from national parks, busems, culture
• 2 lakes have been built

Question 25

CS: opportunities of farming in western desert

Answer 25

• irrigation
• aquifers produce large fields of lush crops like lemons, peppers and grapes

Question 26

CS: challenges of farming in western desert

Answer 26

• rain and groundwater can seep into permeable layer of an aquifer and become trapped

Question 27

CS: opportunities of min extraction/energy generation in western desert

Answer 27

• rich in minerals that aren’t all exploited
• new solar plants
• HEP plants

Question 28

CS: challenges of min extraction/energy generation in western desert

Answer 28

• conflict over other land use
• uranium used in nuclear power plants
• fossil fuels - drilling for oil

Question 29

challenges of developing in desert areas

Answer 29

• population density
• inaccessibility
• extreme temperatures
• water supply

Question 30

how to overcome high temperatures

Answer 30

• houses have thick walls to keep cool air in day but warm at night
• white washed walls to reflect sun

Question 31

challenges of high temps

Answer 31

• hard work outside
• climate change - only getting hotter
• average temp of 27 degrees
• high rate of evaporation - water shortages

Question 32

challenges of growing population

Answer 32

• not enough water to share

Question 33

challenges of inaccessibility

Answer 33

• low pop density so no surfaced roads
• away from main city

Question 34

how to overcome inaccessibility

Answer 34

• build more roads like route 66
• major cities can be reached by air

Question 35

challenges of water supply

Answer 35

• conflict over colorado useage
• climate change will increase issue - lake mead decrease
• agriculture
• increased demand due to population growth

Question 36

how to overcome water supply

Answer 36

• remove grass from homes
• grow drought resistant crops
• use dams and reservoirs like Hoover dam

Question 37

desertification cycle

Answer 37

• amount of natural veg decreases
• no plants or leaves to intercept
• sun bakes soil and cracks it
• rainwater runs over the surface rather than soaking in the soil
• soil is washed away
• soil degrades losing fertility and structure so cant grow crops

Question 38

causes of desertification

Answer 38

• increase population of semi desert areas
• land farmed more intense
• animals graze at higher stock