1. What Is a Desert? What Are Some Common Characteristics Among Deserts? (Pp. 61)

Deserts Desert features are usually not on the provincial exam, but these are some elements that I have seen on past provincial exams!

1. What is a desert? What are some common characteristics among deserts? (pp. 61) ______PPT LESS THAN PRECIPITATION. SPARSE VEGETATION DUE TO LACK OF VEGETATION, STRONG WINDS BLOW DAILY AS CONVECTION CURRENTS ARE CREATED BY THE EXTREME HEARTING OF THE SUN, AND FLASH FLOODS

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Factors Contributing to Deserts (Define and provide a visual for each) (pp.61) Latitude : ____HIGH PRESSURE DRY Mountain Barriers: ______WINDWARD SIDE PPT-LEEWARD SIDE DRYT______

Ocean Influence: _____WARM AIR MEETS COLD OVER SEA-PPT TAKES PLACE, WHEN AIR MOVES ON LAND IT IS TOO DRY______

Wind Erosion in Deserts (pp. 62 and pp. 63) Define the following erosional processes and provide a diagram for each. \Abrasion: _____ Erosion of bedrock caused by rock particles that are carried by water, waves, wind, or glacial ice is known as abrasion (B) which is also known as corrasion.______Suspension : ______MOVEMENT OF PARTICLES SUSPENDED IN AIR (REMEMBER RIVERS?)______Saltation : ______saltation is the movement of rock fragments by bouncing or hopping along the earth's surface by running water or wind.______Deflation: __ is a gradual lowering of the desert floor due to wind erosion. ______Corrosion is the dissolving of soluble minerals by water in streams or waves; common in humid areas underlain by limestone rocks. Water Erosion in Deserts Define the following term and provide a diagram for it. (see Desert diagram below as well!) Alluvial Fan: when the water reaches the flat land at the base of a mountain, the velocity of the flow diminishes And deposition takes place in a fan shaped feature ______Features associated with Deserts

Loess: __ __wind blown dust______\______

Playa and Playa Lake: ______desert lake______

Label the diagram below and give a quick definition only for the boxes with numbers: 1) ____Erg-shifting sand dunes

______2) _plateau-an area of high level ground in a desert______

3) _Mesa-flat table toped feature______

4) Butte-smaller than mesas due to erosion____

______5) __Wadi-the dry ditches that channel water out to the desert floor and contain water only during

flash floods______6) ___bolson-desert basin (lowland) filled with debris

______7) ___bajada-large alluvial fans______

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