Living World (Hot Deserts) Flashcards
(168 cards)
1
Q
Define mineral extraction
A
removal of solid mineral resources from earth
2
Q
What is included in mineral extraction?
A
ores
fuels - coal / oil
precious stones
3
Q
Define hot desert
A
high temperatures
low precipitations
4
Q
Define desertification
A
land becomes drier and degraded, due to climate change or human activities
5
Q
Define biodiversity
A
variety of life in world or particular habitat
6
Q
Define overgrazing
A
grazing too many livestock for too long
7
Q
What affect does overgrazing have?
A
vegetation unable to recover
8
Q
Define overcultivation
A
exhausting soil by over cropping land
9
Q
Define appropriate technology
A
suited to needs of local people
10
Q
Define aridity
A
state of being extremely dry
11
Q
Define diurnal temperature
A
maximum and minimum in one day
12
Q
Define irrigated
A
artificially watering of soil - applying controlled amount to land
13
Q
Define xerotypes
A
plants that can survive in arid conditions
14
Q
Define carrying capacity
A
maximum number of people an area of land can support before environmental damage occurs
15
Q
Define water security
A
reliable availability of water for people to live off
16
Q
Where are deserts found?
A
Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer
17
Q
How can deserts be characterized?
A
high pressure systems and hot conditions, less than 250mm of rain
18
Q
Give examples of deserts
A
Sahara
Atacama
Namib
19
Q
What is desert soil like?
A
sandy
stony
dry
little organic matter
shallow
infertile
20
Q
Describe the location of deserts
A
found between 20 and 30 degrees north and south of equator
21
Q
Describe key characteristics of soils in hot desert
A
sandy, rocky soils about 1m deep
lacking organic material
22
Q
Why do soils in desert have white powder on surface?
A
salts drawn to surface by evaporation
23
Q
What is the definition of a desert?
A
an area receiving less than 250mm rain annually
24
Q
Why do deserts have high diurnal temperature range?
A
no cloud cover that covers sun or retains heat over night
25
Why do deserts occur where they do?
sinking air means few clouds
26
What do plants rely on from soil?
nutrients
27
What does soil rely on from plants?
provide shade
intercept precipitation
nutrients from dead vegetation
28
How can humans positively impact interdependence in deserts?
sustainable land management
wilding
afforestation
underground areas
29
How can humans negatively impact interdependence in deserts?
urbanisation
deforesting
footpath erosion
30
How are xerophytes adapted to arid conditions?
shedding leaves and waxy cuticles to reduce transpiration
31
How are xerophytes adapted to high temperatures?
biomass below surface - cooler
32
How are xerophytes adapted to short periods of rain?
bloom suddenly after rainfall to complete life cycle quickly
33
How are desert yellow daisies adapted to dry conditions and high tempteratures?
small linear leaves of needles
waxy cuticle
- reduces evapotranspiration
34
How are prickly pear cacti adapted to dry conditions and competition for nutrients?
shallow roots over large area or tap roots
- make most of sudden rainfall
35
What are tap roots?
run deep in search of water up to 25m
36
How are saguaro cacti adapted to dry conditions, high temperatures and competition for nutrients?
- grows slowly to conserve energy
- store 9 tonnes of water
- vertical pleats - water storage
- lose 82% of water before dying
37
Where are Western Kangaroos found?
Western desert
38
How are Western Kangaroos adapted for desert?
oily skin / don't sweat
little urine
live in burrows in day
get water from food
39
Where are Peringuey Adders found?
Namib desert
40
How are Peringuey adders adapted to desert?
move sideways
- 50% of body in contact with sand
41
Where are fennec foxes found?
Sahara
42
How do the fennec foxes ears help them in desert?
dissipates excess body heat
43
How do fennec foxes kidneys help them in desert?
restrict water loss
- form dew by burrowing also
44
How do fennec foxes thick fur help them in desert?
insulation in cold nights
reflects heat
camouflage
45
How do fennec foxes thick fur on soles help them in desert?
traction on sand
insulation against sand
46
Where are camels found?
Gobi and Sahara
47
How are camels adapted to desert?
week without water
months without food
48
What and why do camels store?
store fat
metabolised for energy
49
What fluctuates in camels' bodies?
body temperature
- conserve water
- not sweating
50
How do camels' wide feet help them in the desert?
walk on sand without sinking
51
How do camels' thick lips help them in the desert?
eat prickly plants without pain
52
How do camels' hairy ears help them in the desert?
hair keeps sand out of ears
53
What is biodiversity like in hot deserts?
low biodiversity
54
Where is biodiversity highest in hot deserts?
ephemeral ponds and rivers
desert margins
55
What species are in hot deserts?
endemic species - unique
56
Where are hot deserts most densely populated?
areas with water
57
How can humans threaten biodiversity in hot deserts?
desertification
58
How can human water use cause desertification in hot deserts?
over using or contaminating water supplies
59
How can human development affect species in hot deserts?
habitats divided by roads
- prevents migrating animals finding food and water
60
Give an example of an animal that migrates long distances for food and water in hot deserts
desert bighorn sheep
61
How does global warming affect hot deserts?
hotter and drier
- forces movement of species OR extinction
62
What does low biodiversity and pressure from development and climate change mean?
biodiversity hotspots created
63
What is dangerous about biodiversity hotspots in hot deserts?
high demand and competition
all risk extinction
64
Give examples of socioeconomic opportunities in hot deserts
tourism
mineral extraction
farming
energy resources
mining
65
What characteristics make hot deserts available for socioeconomic opportunities?
high temepratures
sunlight
low population
unique landscape and culture
66
What is a possible issue for mineral extraction and mining in hot deserts?
overmining can cause reduced resources and damage to environment
67
What is a possible issue for farming in hot deserts?
over farming can cause damage to environment and reduced resources
68
What is a possible issue for tourism in hot deserts?
destruction of natural features
69
What is a possible issue for energy resources in hot deserts?
destruction of natural features and fossil fuels produced
70
What are the three deserts that make up Western Desert?
Mojave
Sonora
Chihuahua
71
Where is the Western Desert?
USA
72
What US states does Western Desert cover?
New Mexico
Arizona
California
Nevada
73
How many people live in Las Vegas?
2 million
74
How many people live in Phoenix?
4.5 million
75
What jobs can urban residents find in hot deserts?
retailing and service industries
76
What jobs can rural residents find in hot deserts?
farming
mineral extraction
energy
tourism
77
What are the opportunities for farming in hot deserts?
high temperatures
sunlight
irrigation
78
What are aquifiers?
large stores of water beneath hot desert regions
79
Give an example of farming in hot deserts
Coachella Valley in California
80
What is produced in Coachella Valley?
vegetables, lemons, peppers, grapes
81
What are the opportunities of mining in hot deserts?
rich in minerals
82
Give examples of minerals in hot deserts
copper
uranium
lead
zinc
coal
83
What are challenges to mining in hot deserts?
land conflict
risk to wildlife
campaigns by Havasupai
contamination of water
84
What land conflict occurs with mining?
tourism and farming
85
How is mining a risk to wildlife?
destructive
- habitats
86
How does mining contaminate water?
minerals enter supplies
- poisoning
87
What did the Havasupai people campaign against?
uranium mining in Grand Canyon, Arizona
88
What is the most important source of income in hot deserts?
tourism
89
Give examples of national parks in hot deserts
Grand Canyon
Joshua Tree National Park
90
Where is heritage and culture celebrated in Western Desert?
Colorado Museum in Parker, Arizona
91
What is the economy of Las Vegas built around?
entertainment
92
How many visitors go to Las Vegas annually?
37 million visitors per year
93
Name the major lakes created in Las Vegas
Lake Mead and Lake Powell
94
How many visitors do Lake Mead and Lake Powell attract annually?
2 million visitors annually
95
What can be done at Lake Mead and Lake Powell?
sailing
power boating
water skiing
fishing
96
Why is solar energy so effective in hot deserts?
high insolation
97
Name a solar project in Western Desert
Sonoran Solar Project
98
What does the Sonoran Solar Project hope to produce?
energy for 100,000 homes
99
How many workers are required for Sonoran Solar Project?
360 workers
100
What can Lake Mead provide?
hydro electric power
101
How many active oil production sites are there in Western Desert?
25 active oil production sites
102
Where are active oil production sites in Western Desert?
on land of Navajo people
103
How does oil production benefit Navajo people?
more than 100 employees
104
How much money does oil production in Western Desert produce?
$50 million
105
What are the challenges to tourism in Western Desert?
population increase in fragile environment
demand for water
106
What are the challenges to farming in Western Desert?
irrigation required
- increase with climate
107
What are the challenges to mineral extraction in Western Desert?
contamination of water downstream
108
How much water are farmers in Colorado allocated?
80% of water
109
How much of economy do farmers make up?
10% of economy
110
What is population distribution in Western desert?
uneven
111
What challenges are created by developing desert areas?
climate change
transport and accessibility
water supply
112
What has caused lack of surfaced roads in Western Desert?
low population density
113
What has been created to deal with transport and accessibility issues in Western Desert?
major highways
114
Name major highways in Western Desert
Route 70
Route 66
115
What do major highways in Western Desert connect?
major cities
116
What does climate change threaten in Western Desert?
water security in region
temperature
117
How is Western predicted to be affected by climate change?
warm faster than world
reduced rainfall
118
What effect will reduced rainfall have on Western Desert/
already naturally scarce areas
119
When were record low levels of water recorded at Lake Mead?
2014
120
How much are temperatures predicted to warm to by 2100?
5 degrees warmer than 1970s
121
What has water supply allowed in Western Desert?
cities to prosper
122
When did Colorado river begin supplying water to Western Desert?
1935
123
When was the Hoover Dam created?
1935
124
What is the Colorado river?
2300 km continental river
125
Where does snowmelt come from in Colorado river?
Rockies and Wind River mountains
126
When does Colorado carry huge volumes of water?
summer time
127
When was Colorado's seasonal volume difference greatest?
1900s - 13 times discharge in summer
128
What temperature is reached in Western Desert in Summer?
50 degrees Celsius
129
What strategies can be used to combat climate change in Western Desert?
white buildings reflect heat
flat rooves collect water
air conditioning
130
What has caused issues in water supply in Western Desert?
decreasing snowfall in Rockies
increasing population
131
Where does Route 70 go through?
Utah
132
Where does Route 66 go through?
Chicago to California
133
What can be done to reduce evaporation of water in Western Desert?
large bodies of water like Lake Mead and Lake Powell
134
What is desertification?
land becomes drier and degraded
135
Why is vegetation vital to protect soil in dry areas?
shade
interception
roots
136
How does shade protect soil in dry areas?
prevents evaporation and being baked hard by sun
137
How does interception protect soil in dry areas?
prevents rainfall washing top soil away
further rainfall
138
How do roots protect soil in dry areas?
binds soil together and prevents wind or water erosion
139
How do physical factors lead to desertification?
climate change
140
How do human factors lead to desertification?
over grazing / cultivation
- soil erosion
141
How does climate change lead to desertification?
temperatures hotter
rainfall less reliable , more variable
142
How does population increase cause desertification?
land farmed intensively
overgrazing
more firewood collected
143
How does intensively farmed land lead to desertification?
farming takes nutrients from soil and removes natural vegetation
144
How does overgrazing lead to desertification?
more vegetation eaten
145
How does collecting firewood lead to desertification?
less forest cover
146
What is the first step in cycle of desertification?
no plants or leaves to intercept rain so soil left exposed
147
What does lack of leaf cover cause?
sun bakes and cracks
148
What does cracked soil mean?
decreased quality
harder to farm
149
If soil is decreased in quality what does this mean?
rainwater runs over surface rather than being soaked up
150
If rainwater runs over surface what does this mean?
soil is degraded
losing fertility and structure
151
If soil is degraded what does this mean?
soil is worn out
harder to farm
152
Where is the Sahel region?
along Great Green Wall
153
What countries does Sahel region cover?
Senegal
Mali
Chad
Sudan
154
What is the Sahel region?
transition zone between
Saharan Desert
Sudanese Savannas
155
What are the causes of population pressure in fringe desert regions?
natural increase
migration
armed conflict
156
How does natural increase lead to population pressure in fringe desert locations?
high fertility occurs due to lack of education and poverty
life expectancy increasing also
157
How does migration lead to population pressure in fringe desert locations?
drought/desertification refugees in other places
carrying capacity exceeded
158
How does armed conflict lead to population pressure in fringe desert locations?
migration and refugees which means carrying capacity exceeded
159
What two factors are most significant in causing desertification?
population growth
climate change
160
How does population growth cause desertification?
overgrazing / overcultivation
- causes of desertification
- increases desertification
161
How does climate change desertification?
increases long term risk
land cleared cannot regenerate
alters local climate
162
Give 3 examples of strategies to reduce risk of desertification
water and soil management
tree planting
appropriate technology
163
What is water and soil management?
constructing low rock walls called bunds so soil is deposited
164
Give an example of water and soil management
Burkina Faso in Sahel
165
How does water and soil management work?
soil carried by water is deposited and this means soil can be cultivated
166
How does tree planting prevent desertification?
prevents soil erosion
provides shade
roots bind soil together
167
What is appropriate technology?
appropriate people, affordability, place and sustainable
168
How does appropriate technology prevent desertification?
alternative cooking devices are more fuel efficient
bunds used to manage water
