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GEOGRAPHY > LIVING WORLD- hot deserts > Flashcards

LIVING WORLD- hot deserts Flashcards

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1
Q

case study:

A
  • Western desert USA
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2
Q

what is mineral extraction?

A
  • the removal of solid mineral resources from the earth
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3
Q

what are hot deserts?

A
  • parts of the world that have high average temperatures and very low precipitation
  • an area receiving less that 250mm of rainfall resulting in extreme aridity
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4
Q

what is desertification?

A
  • the process of which land becomes drier and degraded, as a result of climate change, human activities or both
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5
Q

what is overgrazing?

A
  • the grazing of too many livestock for too long on the land, so it is unable to recover its vegetation
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6
Q

what is over- cultivation?

A
  • exhausting the soil by over-cropping the land
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7
Q

what is appropriate technology?

A
  • technology suited to the needs of local people that combines cheap materials and is environmentally friendly
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8
Q

what is soil erosion?

A
  • the removal of topsoil faster than it can be replaced, due to natural (water and wind), animal and human activity
  • most fertile soil
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9
Q

what is aridity?

A
  • the state or quality of being extremely dry
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10
Q

what are xerophytes?

A
  • plants that can survive extremely dry conditions
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11
Q

what is irrigation?

A
  • the process of applying controlled amounts of water to the ground
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12
Q

location of deserts:

A
  • found between 15 and 35 degrees north and south of the equator
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13
Q

how are desserts formed?

A
  • in the Hadley cell
  • most insolation at the equator
  • heats the ground
  • hot air rises and then cools and condenses at the equator so it rains
  • cold air sinks above deserts and condenses heat in rainforests
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14
Q

explain the location of hot deserts:

A
  • air is sinking near the tropics
  • leading to areas of high pressure
  • resulting in no clouds
  • temperature is therefore high during the day and colder at night
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15
Q

what is soil like in a hot desert?

A
  • dry and not very fertile
  • due to a lack of rainfall and sparse vegetation
  • little decomposing matter to enrich the soil
  • the nutrients that are present decay rapidly due to high temps
  • only few plants can survive- drought resistant cacti
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16
Q

how can humans negatively impact interdependence?

A
  • flocks of animals eat plants
  • less plants mean less food for primary consumers
  • less plants means soil will erode away, no protection from rainfall/wind means that there will be lots of evaporation from water
  • less soil means plants cannot grow
  • meaning no food or animals so they have to move to a new plot of land
  • process repeats
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17
Q

leave adaptations in hot deserts:

A
  • desert yellow daisy
  • small, linear, hairy leaves
  • adapt to dry conditions and high temps
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18
Q

root adaptations in hot deserts:

A
  • prickly pear cactus
  • some have shallow roots that spread over a large area
  • some have deep roots (up to 25m)
  • adapt to dry conditions, high temps and competition for nutrients
19
Q

how does the Saguaro cactus adapt to hot deserts?

A
  • grows very slowly to conserve energy
  • can store up to 9 tonnes of water
  • body is made of vertical pleats that expand to allow greater storage
  • can lose 82% of its water before dying of dehydration
20
Q

how is a camel adapted to hot deserts?

A
  • can go a week or more without water
  • can last several months without food
  • can drink 32 gallons of water in one drinking session
  • store fat in their hump- can be metabolised for energy
  • body temperature fluctuates- allows camels to conserve water
  • feet are wide so they can walk on sand without sinking in
  • thick lips- can eat prickly plants
21
Q

how is the Peringney Adder adapted to hot desert conditions?

A
  • move sideways- less than 50% of body in contact with hot sand
22
Q

what states does the Western Desert cover?

A
  • Texas, Utah, New Mexico, California, Arizona
23
Q

energy opportunity in the Western Desert:

A
  • Sonoran Solar project in Arizona which will supply energy to up to 100,000 homes
  • 360 workers needed to help build it
  • Hoover dam employed 5000 people
24
Q

tourism opportunity in the Western Desert:

A
  • Lake Mead, Lake Powell- waterspouts
  • Las Vegas attracts 37 million tourists a year
25
Q

challenges of tourism in the Western Desert:

A
  • disrupts habitats of animals in Lake Powell+Mead
  • Grand Canyon can become eroded
  • More CO2 emissions as the desert is so far away
26
Q

why does farming happen in the Western Desert?

A
  • happens due to high temperatures and sunlight
  • aquifers- large stores of water beneath hot desert regions
27
Q

examples of farming in the Western Desert:

A
  • aquifer based farming in California’s Coachella valley, produces lush crops of vegetables lemons, peppers, grapes (and in turn a wine industry)
28
Q

issues with farming in the Western Desert:

A
  • for irrigation water has to be available- Las Vegas is running out of water
29
Q

why does mineral extraction or energy generation happen in the Western Desert?

A
  • strong insolation provides for brilliant solar power farms
  • Western Desert is rich in minerals- copper, uranium, lead, zinc and coal
30
Q

what is mined in the Sonoran desert?

A

copper

31
Q

What is the dam called in Lake Mead?

A
  • Hoover Dam
32
Q

challenges with mineral extraction/ energy generation:

A
  • mineral extraction- conflicts with other land uses such as farming
  • environmental concerns with drilling
33
Q

how many motorways are there in the Western Desert?

A
  • 2
  • route 70 through Utah
  • Route 66 which connects Chicago with California (through the Western Desert)
  • very INACCESSIBLE
34
Q

challenges with water supply in the Western Desert:

A
  • water is evaporating
  • can’t get water from the Colorado River (2300km long)
  • have to store water underground
35
Q

issues with climate change n the Western Desert:

A
  • average temp is 27 degrees celsius
  • in the summer it can reach 50 degrees celsius
  • farmers cant work outside
  • plants+ animals have to cope
36
Q

issues with population in the Western Desert:

A
  • decreases in rural areas and increasing in cities- not enough space
  • not enough opportunities in rural areas
37
Q

what is causing decertification?

A
  • climate change- forcing people out of desert fringes
  • resulting in overpopulation as people are starting to live longer
  • results in overgrazing
  • results in overcultivation
38
Q

how to reduce the risk of desertification:

A
  • water and soil management
  • tree planting
  • use of appropriate technology
39
Q

what is water and soil management?

A
  • low rock walls called bunds constructed along contour lines, interrupting downslope low of surface water
40
Q

example of where water and soil management is being used:

A
  • Sahel- Burkina Faso
  • Middle East- Jordan
41
Q

concept of tree planting:

A
  • acts as an umbrella, protecting the soil from rain
  • provide shade for seedlings
  • roots help to bind soil together
42
Q

examples of tree planting:

A
  • That Desert, India- plant Prosopis Cineraria
  • African Union- great green wall- Southern Edge of the Sahara Desert
43
Q

concept of appropriate technology:

A
  • alternative cooking devices- small amounts of charcoal
  • low walls
44
Q

example of appropriate technology:

A
  • charities such as Practical Actich

GEOGRAPHY (8 decks)

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