Origins of Deserts and Related Concepts

Vocabulary flashcards based on key concepts covered in the 'Origins of Deserts' lecture.

Deserts

Barren lands that receive minimal rainfall and cover approximately 30% of Earth’s land surface.

Coriolis Effect

The apparent curving of a straight-line path due to different rotational speeds of the Earth.

Subtropical Deserts

Deserts created from global patterns of atmospheric circulation that cause moisture to be removed from the air as it migrates towards the equator.

Rain-Shadow Deserts

Deserts formed on the leeward side of a mountain range due to moisture being blocked from crossing over.

Continental Interior Deserts

Desert regions that are dry because they are located far from the sea, preventing adequate moisture supply.

Polar Deserts

Areas that are intensely cold and receive virtually no precipitation.

Wind Transport

The movement of sediment by wind in deserts through processes such as saltation, creep, and suspension.

Saltation

Particles being moved by hopping and skipping along the surface.

Abrasion

Wearing-away of rocks and boulders by the repeated impact of particles carried by the wind.

Deflation

Lowering of ground surface due to the wholesale removal of loose material by wind.

Loess

Finer grained silt and clay particles carried over great distances by wind, typically measuring 0.01 to 0.06 mm in diameter.

Dunes

Mound- or ridge-shaped deposits of windblown sand created by the action of wind.

Desert Pavement

Closely packed layers of coarse pebbles and cobbles that are too large to be moved by the wind.

Barchan Dunes

Crescent-shaped dunes that form in areas with limited sand supply and unidirectional wind.

Playa

A flat area of salt crust typically found in desert regions, usually the remnant of a dry lake bed.

Inselbergs

Isolated hills or mountains that rise abruptly from a plain, commonly found in desert landscapes.