Unit 1B - Hot Deserts

How much rainfall is there per year in a desert?

Less than 25cm

What is the average daytime temperature of a desert?

38 degrees Celsius

Where do humans in deserts usually get water from?

Underground wells

What are dormant seeds?

Seeds that are dormant for months or years and then 'germinate' when there is rainfall in the desert

What are succulent plants?

Plants that store water

Where do camels store water?

In their bloodstream

What is the biggest difference between a jackrabbit and a normal rabbit?

Jackrabbits have large ears

Why is it advantageous for desert animals like camels to have large, flat feet?

To avoid sinking in the sand

How big is the Sahara desert?

9.2 million km squared

Which country is the biggest exporter of phosphate in the world?

Morocco

What does Niger's part of the Sahara desert contain lots of?

Uranium

What % of Algeria's GDP comes from oil?

20%

What are the causes of desertification?

Removal of fuel wood, over-cultivation, soil erosion, overgrazing, population growth and climate change

What type of irrigation uses less water and therefore reduces soil erosion?

Drip irrigation

How can desertification be reduced?

Soil management, water management, tree planting, technology

What is an example of a cheap way of stopping sand entering plant crops?

Fences

What is desertification?

When land degrades to become more like a desert

What can be used to add extra nutrients to the soil and therefore reduce desertification?

Compost

How deep can a velvet mesquite's roots go?

Up to 10 metres

Finish the sentence: Dust storms in the Sahara can reach speeds of up to _________ mph

50

What % has the population of Egypt increased by in the last 25 years?

300%

By 2030, what % of Algeria's energy is expected to come from renewable sources?

40%

In the past 100 years, how far has the Sahara desert expanded Southwards?

Over 250km

What % of the world's population have had to cope with the threat of desertification?

20%

What are two examples of plants that don't need much water to grow?

Lentils and olives

What is an example of a nocturnal mammal in the Sahara desert?

Sand cat

What has happened to the population of the Earth in the last century?

It has quadrupled