Deserts and Desertification Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

What is Desertification?

A

The processes by which an area of land and it’s soil becomes degraded and unproductive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the mining Opportunities in the Western Desert?

A

The largest Opencast Copper and Uranium mine is in Ajo Arizona

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What socioeconomic opportunities are presented?

A

Coachella - Music Festival £115m per year

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What energy Opportunities are there?

A

£50m in Oil in Arizona

100,000 Homes

360 Jobs

HEP - Hoover Dam

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What tourism Opportunities are there?

A
  • Las Vegas - £9Bn A year
  • Grand Canyon
  • Lake Mead
  • Hoover Dam
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What climate challenges are posed in the desert?

A

45*C temperatures can effect a business’ carrying capacity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What accessibility challenges are posed in the desert?

A

Lack of roads, remote landscape, low population density

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How does the water crisis effect the development of business in the Western Desert?

A

Aquifers (Underground water) are excessively exploited.

30 million rely on the Colorado river

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is a desert fringe?

A

The Border of a hot desert

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How frequent is drought in Darfur?

A

1 in 5 years

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How many people were killed in Darfur’s conflict?

A

250,000 Killed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Why is Darfur in Sudan desertified?

A

War

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How many people live in poverty in the Sahel?

A

50 Million

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the human causes of deforestation? (3 O’s)

A

Overcultivation
Overgrazing
Overpopulation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is appropriate technology?

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are Bunds?

A

Small stone slopes placed parallel to a slope to prevent surface runoff and to allow interception

Prevents soil erosion

17
Q

What is Aforestation?

(Great Green Wall)

A

Planting a long wall of trees can:
- Protect soil from sun
- Interception
- Shades Crop
- Littered Leaves provide nutrients to soil

18
Q

Give examples of appropriate technology?

A

Solar Stoves
- 3 bricks

19
Q

Where are deserts located?

A

Primarily in the tropics of cancer and capricorn

20
Q

What is a diurnal temperature range?

A

High range of temperatures in one day

21
Q

How have camels adapted to the desert?

A

large fat store for quick release energy

22
Q

How do cacti prevent water loss?

A

The leaves of cactus is modified into spines or needle like leaves to conserve water by minimising transpiration

23
Q

How do cacti prevent predation?

A

Spikes deter predators

24
Q

How do cacti thrive with such low rainfall?

A

Widespread roots maximise water uptake?

25
Q

How many mm of rainfall do deserts see annually?

A

250mm

26
Q

What is the temperature range of the desert?

A

0-50*C

27
Q

What is an Aquifer?

A

Underground water source

28
Q

Why is the Sahel at risk?

A

50 Million Vulnerable people live in the Sahel

29
Q

Where is an example of desertification in the Sahel?

A

Darfur, Sudan

30
Q

How many people died in Darfur in 2003?

A

250,000

31
Q

How frequent is drought in Darfur?

A

1 in 5 years

32
Q

How is conflict-based desertification a cycle in Darfur?

A

People must rebuild their homes after war, each one requires 40 trees - deforestation, soil erosion

33
Q

What is the Great Green Wall?

A

A 8,000km Wall of Trees that shades ground and provides interception to prevent surface runoff

34
Q
A
35
Q

What are the causes of desertification?

A

Population Increase - Increased Footfall and high birth rates

Over Cultivation - Soil Loves Nutrients

Over-Grazing - Cows graze excessively causing land resources to exhaust

36
Q
A