Hot deserts
LO: understand that hot deserts have a range of distinctive
characteristics.
Key words – location, interdependence, adaptation and
biodiversity.
Use the following link – online textbook -
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=j-bRCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT227&lpg=
PT227&dq=USA+western+desert+region+development+opportunities&so
urce=bl&ots=UdCpaOWefX&sig=egSEWjA8HeUmo2ks3zLibuelH3M&h
l=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiutsaV887UAhVqIcAKHZf6CycQ6AEIKDA
B#v=onepage&q=USA%20western%20desert%20region%20development%
20opportunities&f=false
You might have to copy and paste the above link
Location
Using the map describe the global location of hot deserts.
What causes the desert?
The Hadley Cell (diagram to
the left) illustrates how hot
deserts are formed – explain
this process using
geographic terminology.
Hot desert climate
The climate graph to the left
highlights the typical climate
of a hot desert environment.
Using the graph provide the
following data:
* Hottest and coldest months
* The temperature range
* Wettest and driest months
* Annual rainfall
Soil type - Pedocal
Pedocal - it is a
class of soil which
forms in semi-arid
and arid regions.
Has low soil
organic matter
with only a thin
topsoil (A horizon).
Biodiversity – plant
adaptation
How have plants adapted to
the hot desert environment.
Use the image to the left and
the textbook (pg 84).
Key terms – dry conditions,
high temperatures, short
periods of rainfall.
Watch the following
YouTube video and take
notes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl
bpYeuVKpI
Biodiversity – animal adaptation
Using the diagrams below and the textbook (pg 85) explain
how animals have adapted to this harsh environment.
Interdependence that exists
in the hot desert environment
• Links between the
different parts of the food
web – biotic and abiotic.
• The role of vegetation in
stabilising sandy soils –
plants stop the soils from
being blown away by the
wind (desertification).
• Increasing unsustainable
use in the deserts –
threatens the
interdependence.
• Fragility of deserts affects
the biodiversity.
Development opportunities in the Western
Desert
Location
Using the maps and the textbook
(pg 86) describe the location of the
Western desert in the USA.
In your answer you will need to
include the names of the different
desert which make up this region
and the states they are located
within.
The next slide contains
another map of the desert
region
Western Desert’s development opportunities
Discuss each of
the bullet points
• Farming
• Mineral extraction
• Energy
• Tourism
Las Vegas – built in the desert – attracts
37 million tourists a year.
Population distribution
Describe population
distribution in the Western
Desert (refer to the map).
Using the textbook (pg88)
explain why this uneven
development has occurred?
Development challenges in the Western Desert
Adapting to the hot desert How have people adapted to the climate – before air
environment has been a challenge to conditioning and improved water supplies houses needed:
settlers this is due to the high flat roofs, small to reduce sunlight keeps temps down,
temperatures (50C) in the Mojave whitewashed walls.
Desert’s Death Valley – this is the the
survival limit of the plants an the
absence of people reflects the low
carrying capacity of the land.
Accessibility – this area lacks surfaced
roads due to the low population
densities 1 person per square km. The
extreme temperatures make this a
dangerous place to travel. However –
improvements have been make:
(a) Railway moved in(1900s) – the
choice of sites for situation has
influenced the growth of future key
settlements.
(b) Better roads were laid in the 1900s.
(c) Major cities can now be reached by
air.
The Western Desert – water crisis
The following webpage provides detailed information regarding the Colorado
River - http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zcrrr82/revision
Watch the following
YouTube clips part 1 and 2 -
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=BE1RbFJTZdI &
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=JAHHu6tbtow
Use the following four slides to
assess the water crisis in this
sensitive environment.
The Colorado River
The Colorado River is located in South-West Colorado River Aqueduct (CRA): This is 389km
USA and North-West Mexico. It is over 2,300km of tunnels, pipes and canals taking water from
and has its source in the Rocky Mountains and the Colorado River to California. The water is
its mouth in the Gulf of California. Its drainage taken from the Parker Dam and is pumped up
basin covers an area of 640,000km2. The over the Rockies ending up at Los Angeles.
Colorado River and its tributaries pass through Work on the project began in 1933 and water was
the US states of; Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, first pumped in 1939. On average 1.5km3 of water
California, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. is pumped through the aqueduct each year.
The climate across the river basin is very varied, Central Arizona Project (CAP): This is 541km
in the Rockies temperatures can fall to -50 diversion canal. The canal was designed to
degrees Celsius an experience precipitation in provide water for irrigation of 405,000 hectares
excess of 1000mm, whereas some areas in the (1.85 trillion litres a year) and for domestic use in
Mojave Desert can experience temperatures of cities like Phoenix and Tuscon. Construction of
nearly 50 degrees Celsius and precipitation as the project began in 1973 and it was completed in
low as 15mm. 1993. The canal starts at Lake Havasu and
eventually finishes at Tucson. The scheme cost
About 12.7 million people live within the about $4 billion to build.
drainage basin of the Colorado River, although
some people outside the drainage basin California State Water Project (SWP): The
(especially in California) use water from the project aimed to provide water for 23 million
Colorado River. In total it is estimated that about people and 6.6 million MWh of electricity to
40 million rely on the river for domestic, people living in Southern California. The project
agricultural, industrial and energy needs. began in the 1950's.
To cope with the massive demand, the Colorado
River has become one of the most managed
river's in the world. The river has over 29 major
dams built along its and hundreds of miles of
artificial canals. The Hoover Dam was one of the
first major dams built along the river (and
certainly the most famous), it was completed in
Environmental & management strategies
It is impossible to manage a river so much and not In an attempt to reduce environmental damage
create some environmental problems. Problems while allowing continued economic and
include: population growth, a number of management
strategies have been implemented and/or
suggested, including:
The Colorado River used to carry about 90
million tonnes of sediment (alluvium) a year Reduced leakage: It is estimated that 25% of all
down to its mouth. However, the majority of this water is currently lost through leaking pipes and
now gets trapped behind dams, damaging the canals.
delta and wetland ecosystem at the river's mouth. Recycling Water: Using more grey water in
domestic homes.
Sewage Treatment: Recycling industrial and
Salinity in the lower Colorado has increased domestic waste more efficiently.
changing the ecosystem. Domestic Conservation: Improving education and
introducing things like half flush toilets.
The number of fish shrimps and sea mammals Drip Irrigation: Use more efficient irrigation
have all reduced around the mouth of the river. techniques.
Changing Crops: Growing crops or varieties that
Evaporation rates have increased behind the need less water.
river's many dams. About 15% of water is Metering and Pricing: Increasing the price of water
evaporated. and metering its use.
Cloud seeding: Using chemicals to create artificial
rain has been talked about.
The deep water in the reservoirs behind the dams Desalination: With the Pacific Ocean on
has reduced the temperature of the river in many California's door step the technology of
areas. desalination could be improved.
Groundwater: Increase extraction of groundwater
supplies.
Impacts on particular groups:
Californian farmers
There are conflicting views about the Colorado river
because the dam can be used for water irrigation in
large quantities however building a dam will cause
flooding in surrounding areas, this could be bad for
farmers because then crops will die. As well as that the
water in dam appears to be running out so it won’t be
long before all the water is gone and they need to
think of another way of getting water for irrigation.
Native Americans
Their home may be destroyed in the making of this
dam and it would also ruin the view because you are
putting up a man-made dam that looks obtrusive.
However, the advantage of the dam is that it can
regulate enough water all year around for people
living in these areas that would otherwise find it
difficult to obtain water.
Irrigating the desert – causing problems
Californian urban dwellers
It provides enough water for their golf courses and
gardens. That could help with urbanisation the dam
can also produce hydroelectric power. The problem is
hat droughts could occur and because the water is
running out they need to find an alternative method
of getting water.
Mexican farmers
The dam will provide water for farming as well as
domestic use. It could however cause floods that could
ruin all the plants and crop. The water can also be
difficult to distribute o maybe they won’t get as much
as they need compared to other groups of people.
Desert fringes and desertification
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=j-bRCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT244&lpg=PT244&dq=desert+fringes+and+desertification&source=bl&ots=UdCpbNUdbS&sig=U-SOe7oq4Pgp
TDrGriLewv78PVc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiCq5K6utHUAhXpJ8AKHVIiAEsQ6AEITzAK#v=onepage&q=desert%20fringes%20and%20desertification&f=false
Desertification is –
(a) the processes by which an area becomes a
desert.
(b) the rapid depletion of plant life and the
loss of topsoil at boundaries and in semiarid
regions, usually caused by a combination of
drought and the overexploitation of grasses
and other vegetation by people.
What are the causes:
Overcultivation: the land is continually used for
crops and does not have time to recover eventually
al the nutrients are depleted (taken out) and the
ground eventually turns to dust.
Overgrazing: In some areas animals have eaten all
the vegetation leaving bare soil.
Deforestation: Cutting down trees leaves soil open
to erosion by wind and rain.
Climate Change: Decrease in rainfall and rise in
temperatures causes vegetation to die
What are the links between desertification and natural
climate change? (pages 92-93)
Watch the following YouTube
clips –
(a) https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=tDWS6AzEk
E0
(b) https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=c-MYQYKQ
XhI
(c) https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=aUC8xYIJR-Q
(d) https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=tYGo6X94kE
U
Case study BBC -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geograph
y/water_rivers/drought_rev3.shtml
Human causes
Physical causes
Tackling desertification (read page 96-97)
A number of solutions have been suggested to
solve the problem of soil degradation and
desertification including:
A giant shelter break (the Green Wall) – see article
to the right
Population control
Finding alternatives to firewood e.g. solar cookers
Improved farming techniques e.g. reduced grazing
numbers
• Great Green Wall to stop Sahel
desertification
The wall envisioned by 11 African countries on the
southern border of the Sahara, and their
international partners, is aimed at limiting the
desertification of the Sahel zone
The Sahel zone is the transition between the
Sahara in the north and the African savannas in
the south, and includes parts of Burkina Faso,
Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali,
Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan.
