Trey - Desert
The rainshadow effect causes ____.
Natural desert formation
Why does the desert soil tend to be rich in minerals but poor in organic material?
because of leaching - when rainwater moves through the soil and carries minerals deeper into the soil, also because it is so dry there are not many plants or organic material
the transformation of semiarid land into deserts
desertification
Leaching _____.
increases the mineral content
How would the relatively small size of desert animals be an advantage in such a warm climate?
it would be easier to burrow during the hottest parts of the day
Rainwater moving through the soil carries materials deeper into the soil in a process called
leaching
The common characteristic of all deserts is _____.
low annual rainfall
desert belt : tropics as ____.
middle latitude : equatorial
animals that are active at night and sleep during the day are called
nocturnal
lower layer of soil on desert floor
pavement
The spines of desert plants _____.
provide protection
plants such as cacti, which have thick, water-filled tissues
succulents
precipitation : desert as ____.
temperature : tundra
Desertification is caused by ____.
temperature variations
What is meant by the pavement of a desert?
the lower level of soil on the desert floor, made of mostly hard-baked sand and bare rock particles
How do semiarid regions differ from deserts?
the semiarid regions have enough rainfall to support grasses
What is the role of mountains in the formation of deserts?
when the air blows across mountains it drops its moisture, the dry air allows the moisture to evaporate from the soil
