Thar desert case study Flashcards
Location
On the border between India and Pakistan in Southern Asia
distribution of worlds hot deserts
-found between subtropics between 20 and 30 degrees north and south of the equator
major characteristics of hot deserts
-aridity - dry, less than 250mm rainfall anually
-heat - temps over 40 degrees
-landscapes - dunes, some rocky with thorny bushes
climate of hot deserts
-very little rainfall
-diurnal temperatures, hot in day but cold at night due to little cloud cover
hot deserts inhabitants
-people live in large open tents to keep cool
-head scarves to provide protection from the sun
cactus adaptations
-large spread out roots absorb water soon after rainfall
-needles instead of leaves to reduce surface area and water loss, protection from predators
-spines reflect light to keep it cool
-stem designed to keep water in with waxy layer
camel adaptations
-hump for storing fat for energy
-wide feet for walking on sand and traction
-long eyelashes to keep sand out
-large surface area for heat loss
-dont sweat or urinate often so no water loss
-thick fur on top of body for shade and thin fur everywhere else for heat loss
what is desertification
the process by which land becomes drier and degraded as a result of human activity or climate change
opportunities and challenges - tourism
+large number of tourists go to see Jaisalmer fort and the ancient city
+silk and spice routes ran through Jaisalmer
- no drainage system so water leaks through limestone
-high temperatures
-demand for water
opportunities and challenges - farming and agriculture
+used to be mainlys subsistence farming
+canal has been constructed across desert
-biome under threat as land changed for farming
-soil erosion
-land used for animals is now for crops
-high evaporation rates
opportunities and challenges - energy production
+largest wind turbine farm in India
+Bhalda solar park
-inaccesible
-lack of infrastructure to carry electricity generated
opportunities and challenges - mineral extraction
+limestone and gypsum are found in the desert
+valuable for the building industry
-heat is an issue for workers
-lack of workers and equipment to get there (no roads)
causes of desertification
climate change
overgrazing
population growth
over cultivation (nutrients used up which causes soil erosion)
fuel wood (removal of trees causes soil to be exposed)
reduce desertification - stone lines
-slows water down and spreads it across land
-long lasting, uses local materials
-helps locals grow crops
reduce desertification - tree planting
-tree provides shade to ground, reduces evaporation
-trees bind and stabilise soil, reduces erosion
-equipment is simple and cheap
-local make money by selling crops
