Tropical deserts
Starter
How is the Long-eared Jerboa a desert specialist?
Activities
Task One: Location of deserts
- Using the map of global biomes (above) mark onto a blank world map the location of 'Desert'. Ensure that your map has a title and a key. Add to your map the location and names of the deserts from the 'Deserts of the World Map'. Add to your map the location of Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).
Task Two: Climate graph
- Produce a climate graph for Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) either by hand or using Excel. Steps to help you produce a climate graph in Excel can be found below. Rainfall data can be found here and temperature data can be found here.
Task Three: Climate graph analysis
- Answer the following questions, using your climate graph:
- Which is the hottest month?
- What is the mean temperature of the hottest month?
- Which is the coolest month?
- What is the mean temperature of the coolest month?
- What is the annual temperature range?
- Which is the wettest month?
- How much rainfall does the wettest month receive?
- Which is the driest month?
- How much rainfall does the driest month receive?
- Describe and explain the season distribution of temperature and rainfall.
Task Four: Why are deserts so dry?
- Produce revision notes under the following sub-headings:
- Air mass subsidence
- Rain shadows
- Distant moisture sources
- Cold offshore sea-surface temperatures
Task Five: How does fauna and flora adapt to the desert environment?
- How do cacti and kangaroo rats survive in the extreme conditions of the desert?
Review
You should be able to answer this exam question:
Explain why desert areas are hot and dry. You should use labeled diagrams and/or sketch maps in your answer [5 Marks]