P1: Hot Deserts

Question 1

Semi Arid

Answer 1

area with 250 to 500 milimeters of rainfall per year.

Question 2

Arid

Answer 2

area with less than 250 milimeter of rainfall per year

Question 3

climate

Answer 3

Hot in the day, Cold in the evening due to cloudless skies. Not much rain at all.

Question 4

Soils

Answer 4

Very sandy and rocky, Found one meter deep. Extremely fertile- important nutrients. Lots of Crude Oil.

Question 5

Nutrient Cycle

Answer 5

Soil is the main store, Slow rate of transfer except biomass to litter

Question 6

Location of Western Desert

Answer 6

North America, Western USA , covers 200,000 sq km. California Nevada Arizona and New Mexico.

Question 7

Xerophyt

Answer 7

A species of plant that has adaptations to survive in and environment with little liquid water

Question 8

Spines

Answer 8

Instead of leaves, cacti have these with reduce water loss from transpiration as well as protection the cacti from predators

Question 9

Sparse Vegetation

Answer 9

Vegetation is spread out due to limited rainfall

Question 10

Succulent Plant

Answer 10

have thick fleshy leaves or stems adapted to heat

Question 11

Environmental Challenges for plants

Answer 11

High Temp- plants transpire a lot more
Low Rainfall- all rain very usefull for them
thick waxy cuticle and shedding of leaves to reduce transpiration
Bulk of biomass underground which is cooler

Question 12

Saguaro Cactus

Answer 12

Can hold upto 8000 litres of water
Arms grow after 75 years
Spikes instead of leaves reduce moisture loss and stop animals from eating plant
thick waxy skin reflects suns heat

Question 13

Prickly Pear Cactus

Answer 13

Yellow Flowers
Fleshy Stems Store water
Thick waxy skin reflects some of suns heat

Question 14

Joshua Tree

Answer 14

Rigid leaves covered by waxy surface
hoarding water for long periods
produce seeds quickly during rainfall periods
fire resistant

Question 15

Lizard

Answer 15

Lies facing towards the sun to warm up and looks away form the suns to cool down
shift their colour to regulate body temperature
Looks for food in morning and evening as these times are coolest
Burrows or underground hole to keep cool

Question 16

Red Tail Hawks

Answer 16

wing span of 4 feet gives them strength
learnt to build nests high in the air
great eyesight, spot prey from great distances

Question 17

Kangaroo Rat

Answer 17

Large back feet to leep 9 feet
Small front feet to handle food
Long tail for balance
Big claws to dig holes
Fur great for maintaining heat
Concentrated urine to maintain water

Question 18

WD Tourism

Answer 18

Las Vegas - 30 m tourists
20% of GDP
Hoover Dam -7m tourists
Native indian huts
Joshua Tree national park
Hollywood movies film here

Question 19

Energy

Answer 19

Solar Panals - Sonoran solar project 100,000 homes
Wind - San Gorginio Wind Farm
Hydroelectric - Lake Mead Hoover Dam 1.3 M People
Oil - 25 oil farms In WD 50M dollars per year

Question 20

Agriculture

Answer 20

Lots of sun minerals warmth space
40% of the economy
98% of dates in USA made here

Question 21

Minerals

Answer 21

Gold,Galluium, Manganese
Builds economy with very expensive minerals like gold

Question 22

Carrying Capacity

Answer 22

the maximum population of a species that can be sustained. Low in deserts, becuase low rain and less rivers.

Question 23

population increase

Answer 23

population rapidly increasing, three states in top ten annual population increase.
So many people living of the water of one river
need a great increase in rivers

Question 24

accessability

Answer 24

western desert only has two interstate roads compare
in a space where the uk has 40 airports the wester desert has 7

Question 25

positives of development

Answer 25

lake mead and lake powell give electricity to 2M homes
1.4 M acres of irrigated land
Lakes used for flood control

Question 26

Negatives of Development

Answer 26

the hoover dam was built at the cost of 112 lives and 50 million dollards.
Glen Canyon close to historic sites
Colorado River ecosystem has changed in last 50 years

Question 27

Desertification

Answer 27

the process by which fertile land becomes increasingly arid due to natural processes or human activities

Question 28

eccentricity

Answer 28

The shape of the earths orbit in a 100,000 year cycle

Question 29

Obliquity

Answer 29

the tilt of the earth axis in a 41,000 year cycle

Question 30

Precession

Answer 30

the wobble as the earth spins in a 23000 year cycle

Question 31

Sahel, Precipitation

Answer 31

the amount of rain below average, big loads of rain will wash away soil with nutrients

Question 32

Sahel , Population

Answer 32

Rural population x3 since 1961
Urban popilation x6 since 1961
the more people more resources needed

Question 33

Sahel, Harvested Area

Answer 33

harvested are has increased rapidly as the abundant population has meant more and more people need food

Question 34

causes of desertification

Answer 34

Population increase leads to increased demand for animals for food leads to increased pastoral faming leads to Overgrazing leads to vegetation eaten and trampled.
Population increase leads to increased demand for wood for fuel leads to deforestation
Population Increase leads to increased demand for crops for food leads to overcultivation leads to over - irrigation and over use of aquifers leads to salinisation
All of these above lead to Vegetation removed or unable to grow leads lack of protecion for soil causing erosion leads the coarse nutrient deficient subsoil is exposed leads to desertification

Question 35

The Great Green Wall

Answer 35

8,000 Km long forest
15% complete after 1/2 of alocated time
Will prevent migration, stop refugee camps
created 335,000 jobs
people chop new trees, impossible to police

Question 36

Zai Farming

Answer 36

small pits are dug which keep water, grain and fertiliser planted in each hole
fertiliser attracts termites which breaks up soil

Question 37

Diguettes

Answer 37

rocks used to prevent soil erosion and reduce rainwater flow
helps increase water in area

Question 38

contour ploughing

Answer 38

plough lines are traced across slope contrours
allows rainwater to be kept as moisture in plants

Question 39

providing equipment

Answer 39

different charities such as oxfam , farm africa and self help send aid.