Question 1

Why is the Great Salt Lake in Utah so salty?

Accepted Answer

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Question 2

Conversion of productive land to desert is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

Desertification refers to the process by which productive land is transformed into a desert-like landscape. This can be caused by factors such as overgrazing, soil erosion, climate change, and human activities like deforestation and land-use changes. The resulting loss of vegetation, soil fertility, and water availability can have devastating consequences for ecosystems and human communities that depend on these resources for their livelihoods.

Question 3

The Dust Bowl event in 1933 resulted from which natural event?

Accepted Answer

The Dust Bowl event in 1933 resulted from a long-term drought which caused severe dust storms and soil erosion in the Great Plains region of the United States, leading to mass migration and economic devastation.

Question 4

Which statement about desert life is correct?

Accepted Answer

This statement is correct. Animals that live in the desert must be able to retain water and survive extreme temperatures. Reptiles and birds do inhabit deserts, but mammals are also present. The animal life in the desert is not limited to herbivores only, and while many animals are nocturnal to avoid extreme heat, there are diurnal animals as well.

Question 5

What is a desert? Explain how a desert could be formed at one of the poles.

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Question 6

What is desert varnish? How does it form? Why doesn't one find desert varnish in humid climates?

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Question 7

Areas with relatively scarce sand and constantly shifting winds will develop ________ dunes.

Accepted Answer

Star dunes form in environments where wind direction is highly variable, leading to the development of multi-armed dunes that resemble stars. This occurs in areas with limited sand supply and shifting wind directions.

Question 8

Illustrate how a rain-shadow desert might form.

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Question 9

Which of the following hazards could lead to desertification?

Accepted Answer

Desertification refers to the process of degradation of land in arid, semi-arid, or dry sub-humid areas due to various factors such as climatic changes, human activities, and natural disasters. Climate change, such as prolonged droughts and increase in temperatures, can lead to soil degradation, reduced soil moisture, loss of vegetation, and ultimately desertification. Earthquakes, landslides, and flooding can cause severe damage to the land but may not necessarily result in desertification.

Question 10

Label the image below with the name of the type of sand dune shown.

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Question 11

Which of the following human activities will lead to desertification?

Accepted Answer

Diversion of water from an area can lead to desertification by reducing the amount of water available for plants and animals, which can cause them to die and the area to become barren.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT an adaptation of plants that helps them survive in deserts?

Accepted Answer

Thin-skinned seeds that can quickly germinate when it rains is not an adaptation of plants that helps them survive in deserts. This is an adaptation of plants that allows them to quickly take advantage of water availability after a period of drought, rather than surviving in a desert biome.

Question 13

What is the dominant erosional force in deserts: wind or water? Why?

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Question 14

Imagine you are a farmer moving into the Great Plains area after the Dust Bowl of 1933.What can you do to make the land fertile enough for farming again? What can be done to prevent a similar disaster from happening again?

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Question 15

After extensive erosion of a hill in a desert environment,the small remnant surrounded by alluvium-filled basins is known as a(n)________.

Accepted Answer

An inselberg is a small hill or mountain that is surrounded by a plain, and it is left after extensive erosion. Inselbergs are commonly found in desert environments. Option B, hogback, is a steep-sided ridge that is formed by the erosion of tilted rock layers, which is not relevant to the given scenario. Option C, Questa, refers to a dip in a mountain range, which is also not relevant in this case. Option D, mesa, is a flat-topped hill that is created by the weathering and erosion of layered rocks, which does not match the description given in the question.

Question 16

Vegetation in the desert consists of ________.

Accepted Answer

Scattered succulents, such as cacti, with adaptations to obtain and retain as much water as they can, are the typical vegetation found in deserts. It is rare to find extensive grasslands with deep roots or forests of tall, broad-leafed trees in desert regions.

Question 17

Contrast a lag deposit and desert pavement.

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Question 18

Examine the images of the Aral Sea below.What happened and why?

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Question 19

Deserts are defined as regions with minimal precipitation and vegetation that covers no more than 15% of the land surface.How are any plants able to survive in the desert? Describe two different adaptations.

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Question 20

The geometry of sand dunes is NOT strongly influenced by the ________.

Accepted Answer

Sand dunes are primarily formed by wind erosion and deposition. The strength and consistency of wind direction are important factors in shaping dunes, as they control the amount and direction of sand movement. Abundance of sand also plays a role, as areas with a greater supply of sand are more likely to form dunes. However, the timing of the monsoon season is not a major factor in dune formation, so it does not strongly influence their geometry.

Quiz 21: Dry Regions: the Geology of Deserts