The Solid Earth - Chapter 4: Distribution and Causes of Dry Lands

Question 1

What percentage of the earth’s land surface is covered by dry regions?

Answer 1

30

Question 2

Name the two climactic types recognized in desert regions

Answer 2

Desert (arid)

Steppe (semiarid)

Question 3

Semiarid represents a ______ zone that surrounds the desert and separates it from humidty

Answer 3

transition

Question 4

The heart of the low latitude dry climates lie in the vicinities of the _________________

Answer 4

Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn

Question 5

The existence of the dry subtropical realm is primarily the result of the prevailing global distribution of ____ and_____

Answer 5

air pressure

winds

Question 6

When air ____, it is compressed and warm

Answer 6

sinks

Question 7

True or false: air sinking is the condition needed to produce precipitation

Answer 7

False: opposite day

Question 8

True or false: dry lands tend to be ironically positioned very close to oceans

Answer 8

False; opposite day; gotcha

Question 9

The presence of high mountains across the paths of prevailing winds further act to separate these areas from water-bearing ______ air masses

Answer 9

maritime

Question 10

As prevailing winds meet mountain barriers, the air is forced to ____

Answer 10

ascent

Question 11

When air is forced to ascent (rises) it expands and cools, a process that can produce _____ and _____

Answer 11

clouds

precipitation

Question 12

The _____ sides of mountains are often characterized by relatively high precipitation totals while the leeward sides of the mountains are much drier

Answer 12

Windward

Question 13

The dry region that results on the leeward side of a mountain is called a _____ desert

Answer 13

rainshadow

Question 14

True or false: without some larger mountain building episodes, wetter climates would prevail where many dry regions exist today

Answer 14

True