hot deserts

ooh la la

adaptation

actions taken to adjust to natural events

appropriate technology

technology suited to local people and their environment

aquifer

underground water source

arid

dry with little or no rainfall

commercial farming

growing crops or raising livestock for profit

contour traps

embankments built along contours of slopes to prevent soil from being washed down

evaporation

the process of water changing from liquid to vapour.

extreme temperatures

temperatures that present challenges

fuelwood

wood that is burnt as fuel

irrigation

artificial application of water to the land or soil

johads

man made drinking water source found in the thar desert

nocturnal

active during the night

overcultivation

where the intensive growing of crops exhausts the soil

overgrazing

feeding too many livestock for too long on the land, so it is unable to recover its vegetation

ponding banks

areas of land enclosed by low walls to store water

salinisation

a constant flow of water containing salts combined with high rates of evaporation leading to a build up of salts on the land

soil erosion

removal of topsoil faster than it can be replaced

sustainability

actions that meet the needs of the present without reducing the ability for future generations to meet their needs

tobas

a natural drinking water source found in the thar desert