Question | Answer |
Location of hot desert climate | Between 15and 30 north and south of the equator
Paths of trade winds
Western side land masses near cold currents |
Temperature | 30-50 day and 5 night
Cloudless skies lead to very cold night temps |
Precipitation | Rare less then 100 mm yr
Drought due to dry trade winds
Winds blow over cold currents cold air has little moisture |
Vegetation | Plants widely spaced
Little competition
Deep tap roots in search of water
Spongy interior expands to hold water
Thick waxy skin prevents moisture loss |
Animals | Foxes snake lizards camel |
Occupations | Oasis dwellers
Use fresh water of the oasis to grow crops egg dates cereals and figs
Nomads
Farmers who travel from place to place with animals and live in tents
Oil workers
Discovery of oil = development industry |
Where does the sahal lie | Fringes of Sahara desert |
What happened with the high birth rates? | Growth in population
Demand for food housing fuel |
What is happening to sahal land | Over grazed and cultivated and trees chopped down |
What is happening due to global warming ? | Temps rising leading to drought and soil left bare and exposed |
What are the solutions to the Sahara desertification | Introduce irrigation schemes
Restrict number of animals grazing the land
Plant trees and grasses help bind soil |
What is the Aswan dam project? | River Nile provides Egypt with fresh water there is not enough fresh water for the year |
When built and what does it do with water | Aswan built in 1960s
Holds back water from river Nile in lake Nasser
Much if the lake water is pumped to the near by farmland |
Problems | Because the lakes doesn't flood the farmers Are without the rich alluvial soil they once depended on
90000 ppl left home : lake Nasser flooded when first created
Ancient Egyptian tombs flooded
Surface water evaporated due to high temperatures salt left |
Benefits | Regular fresh water supply to irrigate land
Millions of Egyptians have access to a fresh water supply
Dam provides half of Egypt's hydroelectricity
Transport fishing and tourism benefit
Lake Nasser is also used fish farming and water sports |