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Geog: Drylands > 3.4 How Does Human Activity Cause Change Within Dryland Landscape Systems? > Flashcards

3.4 How Does Human Activity Cause Change Within Dryland Landscape Systems? Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the area covered by the Colorado Basin?

A

The Colorado Basin covers 630,000 km².

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2
Q

Which states are included in the Colorado Basin?

A

The Colorado Basin includes most of Arizona and Utah, as well as parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada, New Mexico, and California.

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3
Q

Where does the Colorado River originate and where does it flow to?

A

The Colorado River has its source in the Rocky Mountains and flows to the Gulf of California, 2300 km to the southwest.

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4
Q

What is the climate like in Moab, Utah?

A

The climate at Moab in Utah is typical of much of the Colorado Basin.

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5
Q

What is the mean monthly rainfall in the Colorado Basin?

A

The mean monthly rainfall is 19 mm.

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6
Q

What is the mean monthly potential evapotranspiration (PET) in the Colorado Basin?

A

The mean monthly PET is 119 mm.

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7
Q

What economic development issue has the lower Colorado Basin faced?

A

The problem of aridity and limited water supplies inhibited economic development until the completion of the Hoover Dam in 1936.

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8
Q

What major reservoir was created by the Hoover Dam?

A

The Hoover Dam impounded Lake Mead.

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9
Q

How has the Colorado River’s water supply been divided since 1922?

A

Water supplies have been divided between the seven states in the drainage basin by the Colorado River Compact (CRC).

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10
Q

What percentage of the Colorado River’s water is used for irrigation?

A

90 percent of the water is used for irrigation.

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11
Q

What has caused acute water shortages in the Lower Basin states?

A

Rapid economic and population growth has led to acute water shortages, especially in California and Nevada.

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12
Q

What has contributed to the decline of the snowpack in the Upper Basin?

A

Spring warming has contributed to the decline of the snowpack in the Upper Basin.

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13
Q

What was the impact of the Glen Canyon Dam on flow rates?

A

The Glen Canyon Dam controlled outflows, resulting in daily rather than seasonal fluctuations.

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14
Q

What happened to sediment loads after the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam?

A

Sediment loads downstream of the dam became negligible as all sediments are now trapped in Lake Powell.

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15
Q

How have dryland landscapes been affected by the Glen Canyon Dam?

A

The absence of floods and minimal sediment load have caused sand bars to disappear and debris fans to encroach into the valley.

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16
Q

What is the significance of cryptobiotic crusts in drylands?

A

Cryptobiotic crusts stabilize soils, absorb rainwater, and provide nutrients to plants.

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17
Q

How does tourism impact the environment in southeast Utah?

A

Tourism increases pressure on the fragile dryland landscape system.

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18
Q

What recreational activities have seen significant growth in southeast Utah?

A

Adventure-based recreation, including off-road driving and mountain biking, has seen significant growth.

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19
Q

What are the effects of ATVs on cryptobiotic crusts?

A

ATVs damage cryptobiotic crusts, leading to increased erosion and slow recovery.

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20
Q

What is the largest dune field on the Colorado Plateau?

A

The largest dune field is the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.

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21
Q

How has dust erosion been linked to human activities?

A

Dust storms have become more frequent due to human activities such as farming and mining.

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22
Q

What is the impact of dust blown from the Colorado Plateau?

A

Dust can accumulate on snowfields, causing earlier and faster snowmelt.

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23
Q

What is the trans evaporation process?

A

A process where sand and dust from human activity rises into the air and lands on glaciers, melting them by warming and reducing their albedo.

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24
Q

How much revenue is produced from recreational uses of the Colorado River?

A

$26 billion from recreational uses of the river’s 1,450 miles.

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25
What is the current capacity of Lake Powell?
Lake Powell is at 51% capacity, dropping 1 to 6 inches every day.
26
What is the significance of the Grand Canyon?
The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long and is referred to as 'America's roofless cathedral.'
27
What is the current capacity of Lake Mead?
Lake Mead is at a record low capacity of 39%.
28
What measures is Las Vegas taking regarding water intake?
Las Vegas is building a bathtub drain to prevent using water from dead storage level due to legal restrictions on silting.
29
What agricultural significance does the Colorado River have?
The Colorado River is known as the nation's salad bowl, primarily for lettuce production.
30
What happens if you don't use your allocated water?
You will lose your water allocation according to laws governing water use.
31
What is the temperature in feedlots for cattle agricultural use?
Temperatures can reach up to 128 degrees.
32
Why are farmers growing 5-6 cuttings of Alfalfa?
To avoid losing money, as they export these to Asia, resulting in water loss to Asia.
33
How long has the Colorado River run to the sea?
The Colorado River has run to the sea for 6 million years, but not a drop has run since 1968.
34
What happened to the 20,000 Indians who lived in the delta?
They relied on fishing, but now the river has dried up.
35
What is Minute 319?
An agreement between Mexico and the US where Mexico dedicates water to the delta after irrigation systems broke.
36
What was achieved in Spring 2014 between Mexico and the US?
They worked together to create a pulse of water in the delta, partially restoring the river in that area.
37
What is the impact of climate change on the Colorado River?
High rates of water removal for irrigation and industry, combined with declining natural runoff, could lead to severe shortages by the mid-21st century.
38
What are the positive social consequences of water control projects?
Fresh water supply for desert cities improved living standards- able to use AC. tourism opportunities- lake mead provides tourism, water sports and fishing flood control- communities downstream are less at threat of regular flooding Modern industry has been attracted by hydroelectric power- brings jobs
39
What are the negative social consequences of water control projects?
Displacement of people, loss of sacred Native American sites, and disagreements over water allocation and the increasing population has put resources under a great strain
40
What economic benefits arise from water control projects?
Attraction of high-tech industries- well paid jobs increased agricultural profits- cheap availability of water for irrigation tourism revenue- Las Vegas, 700,000 people visit the hoover dam every year, millions attracted by water sports. Improved communications and infrastructure
41
What are the negative economic consequences of water control projects?
High construction and maintenance costs, loss of silt downstream- farmers have to pay for fertilisers to keep land fertile increased salinity affecting crop yields due to high evaporation rates. This impacts agriculture and the cost of salination is $113 million a year.
42
What are the positive environmental consequences of water control projects?
Creation of new habitats for wildlife- 250 bird species in lake mead national park clean renewable energy from hydroelectric power.
43
What are the negative environmental consequences of water control projects?
Increased salinity- Colorado slat level increases from 200 ppm at its source to 650 ppm at its mouth. 1990- US had to spend $300 million to build a desalination plant in Yuma- only used twice since then. Groundwater has to be used in many areas to increase river levels and follow the Colorado compact- this is unsustainable loss of biodiversity, and destruction of important geological sites.
44
What is the Colorado Compact?
An agreement controlling the amount of water in the Colorado River between seven US states and Mexico.
45
What was the US Supreme Court's decision in 1963 regarding water allocation?
They allocated a percentage of available water rather than a total amount based on previous flow.
46
What is the significance of Lake Mead's bathtub ring?
It marks where the waterline has been previously, indicating a loss of 6 inches per day.
47
How do dams affect sand bar formation?
Dams trap sediment, reducing downstream sediment load and altering deposition and erosion patterns.
48
What is the impact of damming on river discharge?
Damming cuts off flowing water, preventing sediment transport and deposition.
49
How do dams affect emergent landforms?
Dams erode mesas underwater, and when water recedes, these landforms become visible.
50
What changes occur in tributary alluvial fans due to dams?
Less sediment is available for alluvial fan formation, leading to shallower tributaries and disrupted ecosystems.
51
How are canyons formed?
Canyons are formed during pluvial times with abundant water flow, eroding the river walls.
52
What is the impact of dams on sand dune formation?
Dams reduce sediment transport, affecting the deposition necessary for sand dune formation.
53
What attracts tourists to SE Utah?
Activities like rock climbing, photography, hiking, and unique landscapes.
54
What services are required to support tourism in SE Utah?
Transport, security, accommodations, rentals, health services, and restaurants.
55
What is geotourism?
Visiting a place to admire natural beauty and scenery.
56
What is the impact of ORVs on soil?
ORVs cause soil compaction, increased temperatures, reduced infiltration, and loss of vegetation.
57
How do ORVs affect biodiversity?
They can destroy surrounding biodiversity and reduce plant coverage and germinating seeds.
58
What are the consequences of soil erosion from ORVs?
Loss of wildlife habitat, mechanical erosion, and changes in run-off patterns.
59
What health issues can ORU's contribute to?
The dust from ORU's can contribute to health issues for humans and animals.
60
How do ORU's affect plant coverage?
ORU's reduce the amount of plant coverage and germinating seeds within the environment.
61
What impact do ORU's have on nitrogenase activity?
Nitrogenase activity levels can be decreased in cryptobiotic crusts, impacting plants that survive on nitrogen fixing.
62
What is the effect of wind and water erosion caused by ORU's?
Wind and water erosion decreases the underlying topsoil.
63
What percentage of biomass of living organisms can be found underground?
75% of the biomass of living organisms in the area can be found underground.
64
How do ORU's affect animal activity patterns?
Animals can change their activity patterns due to ORU's.
65
What impact do noise levels from ORU's have on wildlife?
Noise levels can affect wildlife hearing, particularly desert Kangaroo rats.
66
How do vehicle tracks created by ORU's affect seed dispersal?
The vehicle tracks create seed beds for exotic weed dispersal.
67
How many people visited Utah in 2019 due to tourism?
1,659,702
68
What did a study funded by the BLM Hall (1980) show?
An 80-90% decrease in vegetal cover that is attributed to ORV use Creates conditions in favour of wind erosion and mass movement
69
How long does the top soil take to form in arid regions like Utah?
5000 years
70
What is an example of snow covered mountains in SW USA?
Snowmass peak
71
What is a negative example of geotourists?
Arches National Park- vandalism by tourists damages landscape: - grafitti, boulder pushing weakens rock
72
Howe much did tourists contribute to the economy of utah in 2015?
Spent $8.17 billion Contributed $1.15 billion
73
What did tourists contribute to the economy in 2016?
146,500 jobs $5.7 billion in wages
74
Example of tourism in Arches National Park?
2010-2019: - 4.8% increase in tourism - only 1575 people visited between 1930-39

Geog: Drylands (6 decks)

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