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Introduction to Desert

In this brief introduction, we will discuss the location of deserts, some of their key physical characteristics, flora and fauna, the effect on climate and human use.

Key locations and types of deserts

A desert is a landscape or region receives a very low amount of rainfall less than enough to support plant growth. Deserts are defined as areas with annual rainfall less than 250 millimeters (10 inches) per year or as areas where water is lost through evapotranspiration falls as precipitation. Deserts are part of a series of classification of the regions, on average, each year, have a moisture deficit (ie, potentially can lose more than what you get). Deserts are found where vegetation is sparse and almost non-existent and constitute about one third (33%) of the mass of Earth. This brief introduction should focus on hot deserts. hot deserts are usually a wide range of diurnal and seasonal temperatures, with high daytime temperatures and low nighttime temperatures (due the very low humidity). In the hot deserts in the day temperature may reach 45 ° C/113 ° F or more during the summer and fall to 0 º C/32 º F or lower in winter. dry desert air is not able to block the sun light during the day or trap heat at night.

Thus, during the day most of the heat from the sun reaches the ground, and when the sun sets in the desert cools quickly by the radiation of heat into space. Urban areas in deserts lack large (more than 14 ° C/25 ° F) daily temperature variations, due in part to the effect of urban heat island. Many deserts are formed by the shadows of the rain; mountains blocking the way of precipitation in the desert (on the leeward side of the mountain). Deserts are often composed of sand and rocky surfaces. Sand dunes called ergs and the surfaces of stone called Hamada. Exposures of rocky terrain are typical, and reflect minimal soil development and low density vegetation. The soil is rocky due to the chemical under the weather. The largest hot desert of the Sahara in North Africa, covering nine million kilometers square and 12 countries. Other major hot deserts are the Arabian desert, the Kalahari Desert, Great Victoria Desert, Great Basin Desert and the Syrian desert. Deserts also are classified by their geographical location and climatic characteristics prevailing trade winds, mid-latitude rain shadow, coastal, monsoon, or polar deserts. the former desert areas currently non-arid environments are such paleodeserts Nebraska Sand Dunes. Montane deserts are arid places with a high-rise the most notable example is found north of the Himalayas, particularly in the Ladakh region in Jammu and Kashmir, in the regions of the Kunlun Mountains and the Tibetan Plateau.

many places in this category have elevations exceeding 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) and the thermal regime can hémiboréale. These places owe their profound aridity (the average annual precipitation is often less than 40 mm or 1.5 inches) to be far from the nearest sources of moisture available. Montane deserts are normally cold. deserts form when tall mountain ranges block rain shadow of clouds to reach the areas where the wind goes. As the air moves mountains cools and moisture condenses, causing precipitation on the windward side. When the air reaches the surface in the wind that is dry as aa lost most of moisture, resulting in a desert. The heated air then expands, and blows across the desert. The hot air dried and carries off moisture in the desert. An example of a rain shadow desert of Death Valley, which is in the rain shadow of the mountains of the Pacific Coast of California and the Sierra Nevada.

Key Features physical

Sand covers only about 20 percent of Earth's deserts. Most part of the sand is in sand sheets and sand seas, extensive areas of undulating sand dunes. In general, there are six forms of deserts: a) the mountains and deserts of the basin 2) Hamada deserts, which consist of plateau landforms 3) Reg, which consists of four blocks of rock) ergs which are formed by sand seas 5) watershed located between and 6) Badlands, which are on the margins of arid areas is rich in clay soils most surfaces are desert plains, where wind erosion, removal of fine material by wind, has shown a predominance of loose gravel stones, but with occasional cobbles. Surfaces remaining drylands are composed of exposed rock outcrops, desert soils, and fluvial deposits and alluvial fans, beaches, lakes and oases. Outcrops occur as small mountains surrounded by vast plains of erosion. Several types of dunes exist. Barchan dunes are produced by winds blowing through a flat surface and are crescent-shaped. Longitudinal or seif dunes are dunes that are parallel to a strong wind blowing in a general direction. Transverse dunes turn perpendicular a constant wind direction. Star dunes are star-shaped and have several ridges that extend around a point. Oases are vegetated areas damp springs, wells or irrigation. Many are artificial. Oases are often the only places in the desert cultures that support and permanent housing.

Flora and fauna

Deserts have a reputation for keeping things very well, but the reality in deserts are often very biodiversity, including animals that remain hidden during the day to control body temperature or reduce water demand. Some wild animals as in the Mojave Desert, including brushing mice, cactus mouse gray fox, porcupine, kangaroo rat, coyote, hare and several species of lizards. In the deserts of Australia, we have the Bilby, Erato, with Diablo thorns, Bearded Dragon, Red Kangaroo and Dingo as examples. These animals have adapted to live in deserts are called xerocoles. Many desert animals (and plants) are especially clear to the evolutionary conservation of water and heat tolerance adaptations, so often studied comparative physiology, evolutionary physiology and ecophysiology.

A well-studied example is the specialization of mammalian kidney is indicated by the head desert species. There are many examples of convergent evolution have been identified bodies in the desert, even among Euphorbia cactus, kangaroo rats and gerbils, lizards Phrynosoma and Moloch. Some flora includes shrubs, cactus, Desert Holly, and Brittlebush. Most desert plants are drought or salt, as xerophytic. Some store water in their leaves, roots and stems. Other desert plants have roots primary long-entering the water table if present, or have adapted to the weather from them with great distribution of roots to absorb water from a trace larger. Another adaptation is the development of small spiny leaves which shed less moisture than deciduous leaves a larger area.

Stems and leaves of some plants lower the surface velocity of sand-carrying winds and protect the soil against erosion. Even small fungi and microscopic organisms of plants found on the surface of the soil (soil cryptobiotic called) can be a vital link in preventing erosion and support to other living organisms. Deserts often have a lid that is rare, but very diverse. The giant saguaro cactus of the Sonoran Desert provide nests for desert birds and serve as "trees" of the desert. Saguaro grow slowly but can live to 200 years. When nine years, are about 15 cm (6 inches) tall. After about 75 years, the cacti develop their first branches. A mature saguaro cactus is 15 meters tall and weigh 10 tons. Sonora points and reinforce the general impression that the land of the rich desert cactus. Although cactus often considered characteristics of desert plants, other plants are well adapted to arid environments. They include peas and families sunflower. Cold deserts have grasses and shrubs as dominant vegetation.

Biodiversity Case Study – The Atacama

Atacama is the driest place on earth and is virtually sterile because it is blocked from moisture on both sides by mountains and the Andes Cordillera de la Costa de Chile. The cold current Humboldt and the Pacific anticyclone is essential to maintain the dry climate of Atacama Desert. The average rainfall in the Chilean region of Antofagasta is just 1 mm per year. Some weather stations in the Atacama have never received rain. The evidence suggests that the Atacama desert, could not have had heavy rain 1570-1971. It's so arid that mountains that reach up to 6885 meters (22,590 feet) are completely free of glaciers and, in the south of 25 ° S to 27 ° S, may have been ice free throughout the Quaternary, if the permafrost extends to a height of 4400 meters and is continuous above 5,600 meters.

Some places in the Atacama receive a marine fog known locally as Camanchaca, providing sufficient moisture for hypolithic algae, lichens and cacti, even. But in the region that is in the shade "fog" the crest of the high-shore, which averages 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) meters high and about 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of Antofagasta, the soil has been compared with that of Mars. Because of its supernatural aspect, the Atacama Desert has been used as a location for filming scenes in March. The desert is also and above all in the 2008 James Bond film Quantum of Solace. In 2003, a team of researchers published a report in the journal Science entitled "Mars-land, as in the Atacama Desert in Chile, and the dry limit of microbial life" in which overlap with the tests used by the Viking 1 and Viking 2 to detect life on Mars, and were unable to detect any sign of the Atacama Desert soil. The region may be unique on Earth in this respect and is used by NASA to test instruments for future missions to Mars. Take a closer look at some of the biology of a particular region of Atacama – Sugar Loaf, the proximity of the park.

Pan de Azucar NP is divided into two ecosystems: the coastal desert and desert steppe Taltal Sierra Vicuña Mackenna. There are more than 20 species of cactus in the region, mainly the type Copiapoa the guanaco is the largest mammal found in the park. Other mammals Andean Fox, Chilla fox and the hare Europe. The coastal area is home to seafarers mammals such as sea otters and Sea Lion South America. Among the birds are Peruvian and Humboldt penguins Pelican. Also Gender and reptile species Tropidurus Callopistes inhabit the park.

Human Uses

Mineral resources

Deserts may contain a large amount of mineral resources on its surface. This event also determines the color of minerals. For example, the red number deserts of sand is the result of the occurrence of laterite. . Some deposits are also formed, enhanced or preserved by geologic processes that occur in arid areas as a consequence of climate. Groundwater seeps minerals and redeposited in areas near the water table. This process of leaching of these minerals mineral concentrates can be extracted. Evaporation in the accumulation of minerals in arid lands enriches its lakes. Lake beds known as the beaches can be sources of deposits of minerals formed by evaporation. Water evaporating in closed basins precipitates minerals such as gypsum, salts (including sodium nitrate and sodium chloride), and borates.

The minerals formed in these evaporite deposits depend on the composition and temperature of sea water tank. important resources evaporites occur in the Great Basin desert of the United States, mineral deposits made famous by the teams' 20-mule "who once took a lot of borax in Death Valley to the railroad. Boron, borax and borate evaporites, is an essential ingredient in the manufacture of glass, enamel, agricultural chemicals, water softeners, and pharmaceuticals. Borates are extracted evaporite deposits in Searles Lake, California, and other deserts. The total value of products chemicals that have been produced from Searles Lake is well above U.S. $ Billion in the Atacama Desert in Chile is unique among the deserts of the world as abundance of saline minerals. Sodium nitrate was extracted explosives and fertilizer in the Atacama desert since the mid-19th century. Almost 3 million tons were extracted during World War 1. See our mining group in Chile Mining and Energy www.chronosconsulting.com our Base article on the articles.

minerals valuable situated in arid lands include copper in the United States, Chile, Peru and Iran, iron and lead and zinc ore in Australia, and gold and silver deposits of uranium in Australia and the United States. Nonmetallic minerals and rocks such as beryllium, mica, lithium, clays, pumice and scoria also occur in regions dry. Sodium carbonate, sulfate, borate, nitrate, lithium, bromine, iodine, calcium, strontium compounds come from sediments and near-surface brines formed by evaporation of inland water bodies, often in the recent geologic time. The Green River Formation of Colorado, Wyoming and Utah contains alluvial fan deposits beach and evaporites created in a huge lake whose level fluctuated for millions of years. Important economic deposits in trona, a major source of sodium compounds, and thick layers of shale were created in the arid environment.

Among the most productive oil fields on Earth are found in arid and semiarid Africa and Middle East, although the oil fields were originally formed in shallow marine environments. recent climate change has placed these reservoirs in a arid environment. It is interesting to noted that Ghawar, the largest oil field and the most productive in the world is mainly theEmpty quarter and Al-Dahnadeserts. For more information please check the oil tanks of oil www.chronosoil.com However, others are assumed to be wind and now in wet environments. The "Rotliegend, a deposit of oil in the North Sea, is associated with extensive evaporite deposits. Several large hydrocarbon resources U.S. may come from eolian sands. Ancient alluvial fan sequences may also be hydrocarbon reservoirs.

energy resources solar

Deserts are increasingly seen as sources of solar energy. The Negev Desert and the surrounding region, including the Arava Valley, are the sunniest parts of Israel and part of the land is arable, which explains why it became the center of the solar industry in Israel. David Faiman, a Global Expert Solar Energy, estimates of the energy needs of a country like Israel could be satisfied by the construction of energy solar power plants the Negev. Faiman also believes that the technology exists now to provide all the electricity the world needs 10 percent of the Sahara. Solel nine golf collectors solar in the Mojave Desert in California, which recently signed a contract to build the Mojave Solar Park will be the largest production plant in the world of solar.

Human life in deserts

A desert is a hostile environment, potentially lethal to humans by surprise. In hot deserts, high temperatures cause a rapid loss of water due to sweating, and lack of water sources to replenish can lead to dehydration and death within days. In addition, humans sex is also at risk of heatstroke. Humans can also adapt to sandstorms in some deserts, and not just its adverse effects on respiratory systems and eyes, but also in its potentially harmful effects on equipment such as filters, vehicles and communications equipment. Sandstorms can last for hours, sometimes days. It has survived in the wilderness more difficult humans. However, some cultures were hot deserts home for thousands of years, including Bedouins, Tuaregs and Pueblo.

Modern technology, including advanced irrigation systems, desalination and air conditioning have made deserts much more hospitable. States of the United States and Israel, for example, agriculture in the desert has found widespread use and places like Las Vegas have air conditioning a lot. In cold deserts, hypothermia and frostbite are the risks in-chief, and dehydration in the absence of a heat source to melt ice for drinks. The fall on the ice or the surface layers of ice in the ice water is a particular hazard that requires emergency measures to prevent hypothermia quickly. Hunger is also a danger to low body temperature requires much more energy from food to maintain body heat and movement. As with hot deserts, some people like the Inuit have adapted to the harsh conditions of cold deserts. Most of the traditional life of man in deserts is nomadic. Depends on the desert in search of hot water, and rain uncommon for cattle grazing. In cold deserts, we must find a good hunting and fishing in the shelter of the snow storms and extreme winter, and store enough food for winter. Permanent settlements in the deserts need two types of permanent water and power supplies and housing adequate, or technology and energy sources to supply. Many deserts are flat and featureless, the lack of reference points, or composed of landforms, such as the repetition of the sand dunes or the scattering fields of glacial ice. advanced knowledge or devices are needed to navigate through these landscapes and Inexperienced travelers miss, when the reserves run out after losing. In the sandstorms more or snowstorms can cause visibility is reduced disorientation.

The danger posed by wild animals in the desert has been presented in the accounts of explorers, "but does not cause higher rates of death than other environments such as tropical forests and savannah, and usually not in itself affect the distribution rights. Protection against polar bears may be appropriate in some areas of the Arctic, as you can guard against the poisonous snakes and scorpions in the choice of campsites in some hot deserts. However, it is difficult overstate the importance of deserts in our cultural and historical context. Three of the major world religions Christianity, Islam and Judaism have been initiated and are at the bottom of the desert. The three religions are monotheistic, and today have an enormous geopolitical influence beyond its area of origin, see the articles on Christianity here in staples and Biblon www.biblon.com. Deserts are now an important source Travel and tourist attractions such as Joshua Tree, Death Valley National Park, as well as vital to the film industry.

Deserts are also critical areas of scientific interest. – Specific examples, deep canyons on the western edge of Colorado Desert is associated with the University of California, Riverside is located in the mouth Boyd PL Desertification Research Center Canyon. Get a variety of visiting researchers and students and, in addition to research, to address issues conservation of the environment, such as the destination of the fingers alligator belt. Another middle of the desert created by a biologist with the vision, training and research Gobabeb, is in Namibia, the driest coastal Namib Desert Namib-Naukluft Park since. As an Organization United Nations Environment Programme concluded: " People have lived in deserts for millennia as hunter-gatherers, farmers and breeders, and some people still do today. However, others live in housing estates located in the deserts, or enjoy deserts temporarily for tourism or recreation. Other benefits of mines or other nonrenewable resources. Deserts are a great and probably increasing the global environment and its future will be better supported if it is based on a deep understanding of its structure and function, and influence activities human in the past, present and future. "

Dr Simon Harding

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