Water and Deserts

Question 1

Barchan Dune

Answer 1

limited sediment supply. ‘Horns’ point downwind. Migrate rapidly. Unidirectional winds

Question 2

Butte

Answer 2

medium sized cliff and mesa

Question 3

Chimney

Answer 3

cliff and mesa that height greatly exceeds surface area

Question 4

Desert Varnish

Answer 4

Desert varnish is a thin, dark, shiny coating found on rocks in arid (desert) environments.

Question 5

Insolation

Answer 5

amount of solar radiation (sunlight) that reaches Earths surface

Question 6

Longitudinal Dune

Answer 6

bi-directional winds that vary seasonally or diurnally. Minimal vegetation. Most common in deserts. Ridges parallel to mean wind vector. Can extend >20km. Regular spacing

Question 7

Mesa

Answer 7

A mesa is a flat-topped hill or mountain with steep sides, commonly found in arid or semi-arid regions like deserts. Resistant means steep, weak means less slope

Question 8

Rain-Shadow

Answer 8

moist air rides up along mountains, rain forms due to cooling and descends as dry air down leeward side

Question 9

Ventifact

Answer 9

grains in wind often sandblast exposed surfaces, they are stones that have been sandblasted by wind