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