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AQA Geography > Living World (Hot Deserts) > Flashcards

Living World (Hot Deserts) Flashcards

1
Q

Define mineral extraction

A

removal of solid mineral resources from earth

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2
Q

What is included in mineral extraction?

A

ores
fuels - coal / oil
precious stones

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3
Q

Define hot desert

A

high temperatures
low precipitations

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4
Q

Define desertification

A

land becomes drier and degraded, due to climate change or human activities

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5
Q

Define biodiversity

A

variety of life in world or particular habitat

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6
Q

Define overgrazing

A

grazing too many livestock for too long

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7
Q

What affect does overgrazing have?

A

vegetation unable to recover

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8
Q

Define overcultivation

A

exhausting soil by over cropping land

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9
Q

Define appropriate technology

A

suited to needs of local people

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10
Q

Define aridity

A

state of being extremely dry

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11
Q

Define diurnal temperature

A

maximum and minimum in one day

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12
Q

Define irrigated

A

artificially watering of soil - applying controlled amount to land

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13
Q

Define xerotypes

A

plants that can survive in arid conditions

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14
Q

Define carrying capacity

A

maximum number of people an area of land can support before environmental damage occurs

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15
Q

Define water security

A

reliable availability of water for people to live off

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16
Q

Where are deserts found?

A

Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer

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17
Q

How can deserts be characterized?

A

high pressure systems and hot conditions, less than 250mm of rain

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18
Q

Give examples of deserts

A

Sahara
Atacama
Namib

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19
Q

What is desert soil like?

A

sandy
stony
dry
little organic matter
shallow
infertile

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20
Q

Describe the location of deserts

A

found between 20 and 30 degrees north and south of equator

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21
Q

Describe key characteristics of soils in hot desert

A

sandy, rocky soils about 1m deep
lacking organic material

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22
Q

Why do soils in desert have white powder on surface?

A

salts drawn to surface by evaporation

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23
Q

What is the definition of a desert?

A

an area receiving less than 250mm rain annually

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24
Q

Why do deserts have high diurnal temperature range?

A

no cloud cover that covers sun or retains heat over night

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25
Q

Why do deserts occur where they do?

A

sinking air means few clouds

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26
Q

What do plants rely on from soil?

A

nutrients

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27
Q

What does soil rely on from plants?

A

provide shade
intercept precipitation
nutrients from dead vegetation

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28
Q

How can humans positively impact interdependence in deserts?

A

sustainable land management
wilding
afforestation
underground areas

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29
Q

How can humans negatively impact interdependence in deserts?

A

urbanisation
deforesting
footpath erosion

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30
Q

How are xerophytes adapted to arid conditions?

A

shedding leaves and waxy cuticles to reduce transpiration

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31
Q

How are xerophytes adapted to high temperatures?

A

biomass below surface - cooler

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32
Q

How are xerophytes adapted to short periods of rain?

A

bloom suddenly after rainfall to complete life cycle quickly

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33
Q

How are desert yellow daisies adapted to dry conditions and high tempteratures?

A

small linear leaves of needles
waxy cuticle
- reduces evapotranspiration

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34
Q

How are prickly pear cacti adapted to dry conditions and competition for nutrients?

A

shallow roots over large area or tap roots
- make most of sudden rainfall

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35
Q

What are tap roots?

A

run deep in search of water up to 25m

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36
Q

How are saguaro cacti adapted to dry conditions, high temperatures and competition for nutrients?

A
  • grows slowly to conserve energy
  • store 9 tonnes of water
  • vertical pleats - water storage
  • lose 82% of water before dying
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37
Q

Where are Western Kangaroos found?

A

Western desert

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38
Q

How are Western Kangaroos adapted for desert?

A

oily skin / don’t sweat
little urine
live in burrows in day
get water from food

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39
Q

Where are Peringuey Adders found?

A

Namib desert

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40
Q

How are Peringuey adders adapted to desert?

A

move sideways
- 50% of body in contact with sand

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41
Q

Where are fennec foxes found?

A

Sahara

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42
Q

How do the fennec foxes ears help them in desert?

A

dissipates excess body heat

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43
Q

How do fennec foxes kidneys help them in desert?

A

restrict water loss
- form dew by burrowing also

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44
Q

How do fennec foxes thick fur help them in desert?

A

insulation in cold nights
reflects heat
camouflage

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45
Q

How do fennec foxes thick fur on soles help them in desert?

A

traction on sand
insulation against sand

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46
Q

Where are camels found?

A

Gobi and Sahara

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47
Q

How are camels adapted to desert?

A

week without water
months without food

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48
Q

What and why do camels store?

A

store fat
metabolised for energy

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49
Q

What fluctuates in camels’ bodies?

A

body temperature
- conserve water
- not sweating

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50
Q

How do camels’ wide feet help them in the desert?

A

walk on sand without sinking

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51
Q

How do camels’ thick lips help them in the desert?

A

eat prickly plants without pain

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52
Q

How do camels’ hairy ears help them in the desert?

A

hair keeps sand out of ears

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53
Q

What is biodiversity like in hot deserts?

A

low biodiversity

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54
Q

Where is biodiversity highest in hot deserts?

A

ephemeral ponds and rivers
desert margins

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55
Q

What species are in hot deserts?

A

endemic species - unique

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56
Q

Where are hot deserts most densely populated?

A

areas with water

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57
Q

How can humans threaten biodiversity in hot deserts?

A

desertification

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58
Q

How can human water use cause desertification in hot deserts?

A

over using or contaminating water supplies

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59
Q

How can human development affect species in hot deserts?

A

habitats divided by roads
- prevents migrating animals finding food and water

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60
Q

Give an example of an animal that migrates long distances for food and water in hot deserts

A

desert bighorn sheep

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61
Q

How does global warming affect hot deserts?

A

hotter and drier
- forces movement of species OR extinction

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62
Q

What does low biodiversity and pressure from development and climate change mean?

A

biodiversity hotspots created

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63
Q

What is dangerous about biodiversity hotspots in hot deserts?

A

high demand and competition
all risk extinction

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64
Q

Give examples of socioeconomic opportunities in hot deserts

A

tourism
mineral extraction
farming
energy resources
mining

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65
Q

What characteristics make hot deserts available for socioeconomic opportunities?

A

high temepratures
sunlight
low population
unique landscape and culture

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66
Q

What is a possible issue for mineral extraction and mining in hot deserts?

A

overmining can cause reduced resources and damage to environment

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67
Q

What is a possible issue for farming in hot deserts?

A

over farming can cause damage to environment and reduced resources

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68
Q

What is a possible issue for tourism in hot deserts?

A

destruction of natural features

69
Q

What is a possible issue for energy resources in hot deserts?

A

destruction of natural features and fossil fuels produced

70
Q

What are the three deserts that make up Western Desert?

A

Mojave
Sonora
Chihuahua

71
Q

Where is the Western Desert?

72
Q

What US states does Western Desert cover?

A

New Mexico
Arizona
California
Nevada

73
Q

How many people live in Las Vegas?

74
Q

How many people live in Phoenix?

A

4.5 million

75
Q

What jobs can urban residents find in hot deserts?

A

retailing and service industries

76
Q

What jobs can rural residents find in hot deserts?

A

farming
mineral extraction
energy
tourism

77
Q

What are the opportunities for farming in hot deserts?

A

high temperatures
sunlight
irrigation

78
Q

What are aquifiers?

A

large stores of water beneath hot desert regions

79
Q

Give an example of farming in hot deserts

A

Coachella Valley in California

80
Q

What is produced in Coachella Valley?

A

vegetables, lemons, peppers, grapes

81
Q

What are the opportunities of mining in hot deserts?

A

rich in minerals

82
Q

Give examples of minerals in hot deserts

A

copper
uranium
lead
zinc
coal

83
Q

What are challenges to mining in hot deserts?

A

land conflict
risk to wildlife
campaigns by Havasupai
contamination of water

84
Q

What land conflict occurs with mining?

A

tourism and farming

85
Q

How is mining a risk to wildlife?

A

destructive
- habitats

86
Q

How does mining contaminate water?

A

minerals enter supplies
- poisoning

87
Q

What did the Havasupai people campaign against?

A

uranium mining in Grand Canyon, Arizona

88
Q

What is the most important source of income in hot deserts?

89
Q

Give examples of national parks in hot deserts

A

Grand Canyon
Joshua Tree National Park

90
Q

Where is heritage and culture celebrated in Western Desert?

A

Colorado Museum in Parker, Arizona

91
Q

What is the economy of Las Vegas built around?

A

entertainment

92
Q

How many visitors go to Las Vegas annually?

A

37 million visitors per year

93
Q

Name the major lakes created in Las Vegas

A

Lake Mead and Lake Powell

94
Q

How many visitors do Lake Mead and Lake Powell attract annually?

A

2 million visitors annually

95
Q

What can be done at Lake Mead and Lake Powell?

A

sailing
power boating
water skiing
fishing

96
Q

Why is solar energy so effective in hot deserts?

A

high insolation

97
Q

Name a solar project in Western Desert

A

Sonoran Solar Project

98
Q

What does the Sonoran Solar Project hope to produce?

A

energy for 100,000 homes

99
Q

How many workers are required for Sonoran Solar Project?

A

360 workers

100
Q

What can Lake Mead provide?

A

hydro electric power

101
Q

How many active oil production sites are there in Western Desert?

A

25 active oil production sites

102
Q

Where are active oil production sites in Western Desert?

A

on land of Navajo people

103
Q

How does oil production benefit Navajo people?

A

more than 100 employees

104
Q

How much money does oil production in Western Desert produce?

A

$50 million

105
Q

What are the challenges to tourism in Western Desert?

A

population increase in fragile environment
demand for water

106
Q

What are the challenges to farming in Western Desert?

A

irrigation required
- increase with climate

107
Q

What are the challenges to mineral extraction in Western Desert?

A

contamination of water downstream

108
Q

How much water are farmers in Colorado allocated?

A

80% of water

109
Q

How much of economy do farmers make up?

A

10% of economy

110
Q

What is population distribution in Western desert?

111
Q

What challenges are created by developing desert areas?

A

climate change
transport and accessibility
water supply

112
Q

What has caused lack of surfaced roads in Western Desert?

A

low population density

113
Q

What has been created to deal with transport and accessibility issues in Western Desert?

A

major highways

114
Q

Name major highways in Western Desert

A

Route 70
Route 66

115
Q

What do major highways in Western Desert connect?

A

major cities

116
Q

What does climate change threaten in Western Desert?

A

water security in region
temperature

117
Q

How is Western predicted to be affected by climate change?

A

warm faster than world
reduced rainfall

118
Q

What effect will reduced rainfall have on Western Desert/

A

already naturally scarce areas

119
Q

When were record low levels of water recorded at Lake Mead?

120
Q

How much are temperatures predicted to warm to by 2100?

A

5 degrees warmer than 1970s

121
Q

What has water supply allowed in Western Desert?

A

cities to prosper

122
Q

When did Colorado river begin supplying water to Western Desert?

123
Q

When was the Hoover Dam created?

124
Q

What is the Colorado river?

A

2300 km continental river

125
Q

Where does snowmelt come from in Colorado river?

A

Rockies and Wind River mountains

126
Q

When does Colorado carry huge volumes of water?

A

summer time

127
Q

When was Colorado’s seasonal volume difference greatest?

A

1900s - 13 times discharge in summer

128
Q

What temperature is reached in Western Desert in Summer?

A

50 degrees Celsius

129
Q

What strategies can be used to combat climate change in Western Desert?

A

white buildings reflect heat
flat rooves collect water
air conditioning

130
Q

What has caused issues in water supply in Western Desert?

A

decreasing snowfall in Rockies
increasing population

131
Q

Where does Route 70 go through?

132
Q

Where does Route 66 go through?

A

Chicago to California

133
Q

What can be done to reduce evaporation of water in Western Desert?

A

large bodies of water like Lake Mead and Lake Powell

134
Q

What is desertification?

A

land becomes drier and degraded

135
Q

Why is vegetation vital to protect soil in dry areas?

A

shade
interception
roots

136
Q

How does shade protect soil in dry areas?

A

prevents evaporation and being baked hard by sun

137
Q

How does interception protect soil in dry areas?

A

prevents rainfall washing top soil away
further rainfall

138
Q

How do roots protect soil in dry areas?

A

binds soil together and prevents wind or water erosion

139
Q

How do physical factors lead to desertification?

A

climate change

140
Q

How do human factors lead to desertification?

A

over grazing / cultivation
- soil erosion

141
Q

How does climate change lead to desertification?

A

temperatures hotter
rainfall less reliable , more variable

142
Q

How does population increase cause desertification?

A

land farmed intensively
overgrazing
more firewood collected

143
Q

How does intensively farmed land lead to desertification?

A

farming takes nutrients from soil and removes natural vegetation

144
Q

How does overgrazing lead to desertification?

A

more vegetation eaten

145
Q

How does collecting firewood lead to desertification?

A

less forest cover

146
Q

What is the first step in cycle of desertification?

A

no plants or leaves to intercept rain so soil left exposed

147
Q

What does lack of leaf cover cause?

A

sun bakes and cracks

148
Q

What does cracked soil mean?

A

decreased quality
harder to farm

149
Q

If soil is decreased in quality what does this mean?

A

rainwater runs over surface rather than being soaked up

150
Q

If rainwater runs over surface what does this mean?

A

soil is degraded
losing fertility and structure

151
Q

If soil is degraded what does this mean?

A

soil is worn out
harder to farm

152
Q

Where is the Sahel region?

A

along Great Green Wall

153
Q

What countries does Sahel region cover?

A

Senegal
Mali
Chad
Sudan

154
Q

What is the Sahel region?

A

transition zone between
Saharan Desert
Sudanese Savannas

155
Q

What are the causes of population pressure in fringe desert regions?

A

natural increase
migration
armed conflict

156
Q

How does natural increase lead to population pressure in fringe desert locations?

A

high fertility occurs due to lack of education and poverty
life expectancy increasing also

157
Q

How does migration lead to population pressure in fringe desert locations?

A

drought/desertification refugees in other places
carrying capacity exceeded

158
Q

How does armed conflict lead to population pressure in fringe desert locations?

A

migration and refugees which means carrying capacity exceeded

159
Q

What two factors are most significant in causing desertification?

A

population growth
climate change

160
Q

How does population growth cause desertification?

A

overgrazing / overcultivation
- causes of desertification
- increases desertification

161
Q

How does climate change desertification?

A

increases long term risk
land cleared cannot regenerate
alters local climate

162
Q

Give 3 examples of strategies to reduce risk of desertification

A

water and soil management
tree planting
appropriate technology

163
Q

What is water and soil management?

A

constructing low rock walls called bunds so soil is deposited

164
Q

Give an example of water and soil management

A

Burkina Faso in Sahel

165
Q

How does water and soil management work?

A

soil carried by water is deposited and this means soil can be cultivated

166
Q

How does tree planting prevent desertification?

A

prevents soil erosion
provides shade
roots bind soil together

167
Q

What is appropriate technology?

A

appropriate people, affordability, place and sustainable

168
Q

How does appropriate technology prevent desertification?

A

alternative cooking devices are more fuel efficient
bunds used to manage water

AQA Geography (13 decks)

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