Deserts and Desertification Flashcards
What is Desertification?
The processes by which an area of land and it’s soil becomes degraded and unproductive
What are the mining Opportunities in the Western Desert?
The largest Opencast Copper and Uranium mine is in Ajo Arizona
What socioeconomic opportunities are presented?
Coachella - Music Festival £115m per year
What energy Opportunities are there?
£50m in Oil in Arizona
100,000 Homes
360 Jobs
HEP - Hoover Dam
What tourism Opportunities are there?
- Las Vegas - £9Bn A year
- Grand Canyon
- Lake Mead
- Hoover Dam
What climate challenges are posed in the desert?
45*C temperatures can effect a business’ carrying capacity
What accessibility challenges are posed in the desert?
Lack of roads, remote landscape, low population density
How does the water crisis effect the development of business in the Western Desert?
Aquifers (Underground water) are excessively exploited.
30 million rely on the Colorado river
What is a desert fringe?
The Border of a hot desert
How frequent is drought in Darfur?
1 in 5 years
How many people were killed in Darfur’s conflict?
250,000 Killed
Why is Darfur in Sudan desertified?
War
How many people live in poverty in the Sahel?
50 Million
What are the human causes of deforestation? (3 O’s)
Overcultivation
Overgrazing
Overpopulation
What is appropriate technology?
When technology is used and developed that is suited to the needs, skills, knowledge, resources and wealth of local people in the environment in which they live