Hot Deserts

What are some animal adaptations to temperature in a desert?

Avoiding Heat:

Rattlesnakes are crepuscular meaning they are only active during the morning and evening.

Meerkats live in burrows which provide shade.

Dissipating Heat:

Scorpions are light in colour so can reflect the energy from the sun.

Lizards have gaping mouths which can cause heat loss.

What are some animal adaptations to water in deserts?

Acquiring Water:

Owls gain water from their prey.

Kangaroos gain water from metabolic processes.

Retaining Water:

Cactus Mice have special organs which reduce water loss.

Camels can close their nostrils to retain moisture.

What are two types of desert plants?

Annual Plants - Plants that grow and reproduce in one year (Arizona Poppy).

Perennial Plants - Plants that grow and reproduce every year for multiple years.

What are the 3 types of Perennial Plants?

Woody Plants - Plants which drop their leaves to hibernate until there is rainfall (Bursage).

Non-Woody Plants - Lightly coloured plants which reflect solar radiation and have long shallow roots (Desert Marigold).

Succulent Plants - Plants with fleshy stems and branches to store water (cactus).

What are 4 development opportunities in the Sahara?

Farming - Irrigation is used to grow crops for commercial agriculture.

Energy - There are ideal conditions for solar farming by harvesting the bright sunlight.

Mineral Extraction - Lots of reserve for many ores and minerals.

Tourism - Many tourists visit for numerous activities (like camel riding) which cities can take advantage of.

What are some development challenges in the Sahara?

Extreme Temperatures - It can be too hot for tourists and make physical work very hard.

Inaccessibility - It is remote so services is difficult and transport of resources is long.

Limited Water Supply - Providing water for workers and irrigation is a challenge.

What is desertification?

The degradation of land, making it drier and less productive. It happens at the borders of deserts and places of high water stress.

It occurs when vegetation dies or is removed. Exposed soil is removed by natural causes and nutrients are lost. It then becomes sandy, dusty or bare rock.

What are the main causes of Desertification?

Climate Change :

Rainfall - There is limited rainfall so plants often die.

Temperature - Increased global temperatures mean water evaporates from the land.

Human Activities:

Population growth - This leads to pressure on the land leading to deforestation and overgrazing.

Over-Cultivation - Crops are planted too much in the same area so the nutrient in the soil are used up.

What are some solutions to desertification?

Water Management - Grow crops that need little water and using drip irrigation.

Tree Planting - Used as windbreaks to stop wind erosion and stabilise the soil.

Appropriate Technology - Using cheap, sustainable materials for local people to reduce some human causes of desertification.

What is the Green Wall?

A long wide wall in the Sahara going across 11 countries.

It’s a project used to stop desertification by planting trees and plants to bring back the natural area.

It is also used by locals to harvest food.