Wilderness test 22.4.25 Flashcards
One reason why the Atacama desert is so dry is because of global atmospheric circulation, why?
Reason 1- Global atmospheric circulation:
. The sun’s beams are most focused on the equator, meaning that it is the hottest there
. When it is hot, air rises
. Once the air rises, it is stripped from its moisture and is very dry
. This dry air falls between 15 and 30 degrees North and South of the equator, which is where the deserts are
. This means there is very little moisture in the air
Another reason why the Atacama desert is so dry is because of the Andes rain shadow effect, why?
Reason 2- Andes rain shadow effect:
. The Atacama desert is located very close to the Andes mountains. The height of the mountains means that precipitation from rain clouds will only fall on the eastern slopes
. The western side, where the Atacama desert is receives barely or completely no rainfall, and there was a period of time where it had not rained there for 500 years
How are deserts used?
. Agriculture (farming) in the desert
. Solar power
. Tourism in the desert - safaris
. Dakar Rally- off road endurance race, like a rally but tougher terrain
. Oil exploration - e.g Saudi Arabia
. Traditional living in the desert - e.g. nomads like the Touareg
. Cities in the desert - e.g Dubai
. The Line in Saudi Arabia- project to create smart city with zero carbon emissions
What are some strategies to survive in cold environments?
CLOTHES-
* a wind proof outer layer
* lots of layers of insulation
* fleeces and thermal suits
* boots
* wooly hats
* tight boots for snow, grippers for ice
FOR MORE EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS-
* strength training
* mental preperation
* practise walking while carrying things
* lots of calories as you will burn a lot of energy
What are the problems with planning an expedition to Antarctica?
. Extreme cold
. Wind chill- body creates layer of warmth around itself but is broken by wind
. Frostbite
. Relief of Antarctica- everywhere you go is uphill
. Strong winds
How do plants and animals adapt to wilderness areas?
Plants- Cacti are a good example. They have water stored in stems, thick waxy skin and spines which protect it from herbivores and radiate heat from the stem
Animals- Penguins:
Their back is black so that they are camouflaged predators from above (sea is dark), and white at bottom so predators from below mistake them for sky.
They have flippers instead of wings to help them swim and small, packed together feathers that make them waterproof.
What is wilderness?
A large natural environment with less than 5 people per km². They can vary from the Sahara desert to Antarctica. They can be beautiful but are very dangerous to live in which is why there are so little people
Why is wilderness important?
-provides safe homeland for protection of hundreds of plant and animal species
-provides natural resources like drinking water, oxygen, and plant pollination
-provides opportunities for scientific research on topics such as climate change and biodiversity
