Deserts
Global Environments
Program Support Notes by:
Brigid Brignell BA, BSc, Grad Cert
Multimedia
Produced by:
VEA Pty Ltd
Commissioning Editor:
Sandra Frerichs BEd, MEd
Executive Producers:
Edwina Baden-Powell BA, CVP
Sandra Frerichs BEd, MEd
© Video Education Australasia Pty Ltd 2012
Reproducing these support notes
You may download and print one copy of these
support notes from our website for your reference.
Further copying or printing must be reported to
CAL as per the Copyright Act 1968.
Deserts
Global Environments
For Teachers
Introduction
Every continent has deserts – they occupy more area of the surface of our planet than any other type
of landscape. They occur in all climatic zones including the hottest and coldest locations on Earth.
This program takes an in-depth look at deserts around the world, examining why they exist and the
different climate drivers at work in their formation. Physical characteristics and processes occurring
within them are explored. It also covers human life in deserts and the various ways in which people
adapt to living in a dry environment, and the human impact on fragile desert ecosystems. It features a
range of imagery of different deserts around the world and uses graphics to clearly explain some of
the natural processes at work. An excellent resource for middle to upper level students of geography,
environmental studies and allied disciplines, this program enhances learners’ understanding of one of
the planet’s harshest environments.
Timeline
00:00:00
00:02:27
00:05:54
00:09:09
00:13:00
00:17:13
00:18:04
The Earth's deserts
Why deserts exist - climate drivers
Deserts: characteristics and processes
Human life in the desert
Human impact in the desert
Credits
End of program
Related Titles
Drought in Australia
Australia’s Diverse Environments – Natural and Human
Australian Relationships with Nature 1 – Pre –1850
Australian Relationships with Nature 2 - 1850 – Present Day
Recommended Resources
• http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/desert-profile/
• http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Previousproducts/1301.0Feature%20Article22006?open
document&tabname=Summary&prodno=1301.0&issue=2006&num=&view
• http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/label/desert/ for a printable map of world deserts, which
students can label.
• http://geology.com/records/largest-desert.shtml
• http://school.dustwatch.edu.au/
• http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/deserts/
• http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/cmis/eval/curriculum/pathfinders/deserts/
• http://www.neok12.com/Deserts.htm
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You may download and print one copy of these support notes from our website for your reference.
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Deserts
Global Environments
Student Worksheet
Initiate Prior Learning
1. Write down a list of all the deserts you can think of and the country/continent on which they are
found.
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2. What do you think are the main characteristics of a desert?
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3. Why might someone choose to live in a desert?
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4. Have you ever lived in or visited a desert region? Why were you there (e.g. tourism, parents were
working there)? How did the environment affect your activities?
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5. Find out the official definition of a desert.
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© Video Education Australasia Pty Ltd 2012
Reproducing these support notes
You may download and print one copy of these support notes from our website for your reference.
Further copying or printing must be reported to CAL as per the Copyright Act 1968.
Deserts
Global Environments
Active Viewing Guide
The Earth’s deserts
1. What are the two types of dry climates where deserts are formed?
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2. When describing places such as a desert, what does the term ‘water deficiency’ mean?
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3. a) Where is the largest desert on Earth?
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b) Explain why it is classified as a desert.
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Why deserts exist – climate drivers
4. Explain how deserts form in each of the three following zones:
a) polar region
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b) mid latitudes
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4
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Deserts
Global Environments
c) low latitudes
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5. Explain, using a diagram, how the rain shadow effect contributes to the formation of a desert.
Deserts: characteristics and processes
6. Deserts are more than just sand dunes. Name four other landforms that can be found in deserts.
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7. What are the four main environmental factors that shape the characteristics of a desert?
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You may download and print one copy of these support notes from our website for your reference.
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Deserts
Global Environments
8. Describe how geomorphic processes can shape a desert.
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Human life in the desert
9. How have Indigenous Australians adapted their way of life to living in desert conditions?
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10. How have advances in technology affected the lives of people living in desert regions?
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11. Suggest a reason why so many mining settlements are inhabited by fly-in, fly-out workers.
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Human impact in the desert
12. How does the United Nations define desertification?
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© Video Education Australasia Pty Ltd 2012
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You may download and print one copy of these support notes from our website for your reference.
Further copying or printing must be reported to CAL as per the Copyright Act 1968.
Deserts
Global Environments
13. a) Give two factors that led to the dust storms in the US and Canada in the 1930s.
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b) What can we learn from these dust storms? Suggest some ways that similar catastrophes
could be avoided in the future.
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14. a) Why do you think that places like the Arctic and Antarctica have been used in the past for
waste disposal?
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b) What do you think of the practice?
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Reproducing these support notes
You may download and print one copy of these support notes from our website for your reference.
Further copying or printing must be reported to CAL as per the Copyright Act 1968.
Deserts
Global Environments
Extension Activities
1. Choose one of the deserts mentioned in this program and do some further research. Produce a
tourism information brochure for the selected desert. The brochure must include a map showing its
location within the country/continent it is found and a climate graph. The brochure needs to feature
four reasons (e.g. attractions, activities or cultural significance) for a tourist to visit the desert. For
each tourist attraction or activity you must provide a detailed written description of what tourists will
experience – describe the views, the sounds, and the smells – taking care to write in a manner that
will encourage tourists. Also provide sketches or photographs. The brochure needs to conclude
with a written summary of the geographic significance of the area.
2. Research an indigenous group who live in a desert area, such as Kalahari Bushmen, Aboriginal
Australians, the Tuaregs of the Western Sahara or Inuits of the Arctic regions. Prepare a
presentation about the traditional way of life of the indigenous group, including their settlements
patterns, food and water sources, clothing, and any other particular adaptations to their lifestyle
that are influenced by the environment around them (e.g. seasonal calendars, hunting practices).
3. The definition of desertification is regarded as controversial, despite widespread acceptance of the
United Nations definition. Research the different definitions that have been proposed and why this
controversy exists. Write a persuasive essay, which puts forward what you think is the best
definition and why it is better than others.
4. Most people are unaware that the Arctic and Antarctica are classified as deserts. Write an article
for your school newsletter, explaining to other students and their families the atmospheric, biotic,
geomorphic and hydrologic processes that combine to make the Arctic and Antarctica the largest
deserts on Earth.
5. Deserts are much more than just sand and rocks. Select one of the following topics and find out
how it relates to deserts. Prepare a multimedia presentation for your class on a lesser known
aspect of desert environments.
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fossils
mining and mineral resources
renewable energy projects
oases
desert lakes, such as Lake Eyre
desert storms
unique flora and fauna (choose one or two interesting examples)
Köppen climate classification
yardangs, ergs and hamada landforms
deserts on other planets
6. Prepare a class debate on one of the following topics.
• Deserts should be used as dumping grounds for nuclear waste disposal.
• We should reclaim land for agriculture to feed our growing populations by watering the deserts.
• If 70% of Australia is arid to semi-arid, should Australians be surprised by drought?
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Further copying or printing must be reported to CAL as per the Copyright Act 1968.
Deserts
Global Environments
Suggested Student Responses
Active Viewing Guide
The Earth’s deserts
1. What are the two types of dry climates where deserts are formed?
Arid regions
Semi-arid regions
2. When describing places such as a desert, what does the term ‘water deficiency’ mean?
Water deficiency is when more water is lost through evaporation than is gained through
rainfall.
3. a) Where is the largest desert on Earth?
Antarctica
b) Explain why it is classified as a desert.
It is very cold and there is very little rainfall; most of its moisture is frozen solid.
Why deserts exist – climate drivers
4. Explain how deserts form in each of the three following zones:
a) polar region
Polar highs are areas of high atmospheric pressure located around the Earth’s poles.
These regions receive very little solar radiation – as a result, the cold, dense air sinks,
causing the high pressure. This means that air temperatures are cold so most fresh
water is locked up as ice.
b) mid latitudes
These desert regions are located inland, a long way from the sea and/or they are found
on the leeward side of mountain ranges, so receive much lower rainfall than areas on the
windward side – it’s often called the rain shadow effect.
c) low latitudes
The equator receives more solar radiation than anywhere else on the planet. Therefore,
temperatures are high and the warm air rises. The rising air is very humid, thus
equatorial rainfall is high. When the air cools, it becomes dense and dry and sinks back
to earth. This occurs both north and south of the equator, around the Tropics of Cancer
and Capricorn. They are areas of high pressure and are associated with lots of sunshine
and little rainfall.
5. Explain, using a diagram, how the rain shadow effect contributes to the formation of a desert.
Answers will vary but should show that the moist air coming from the west is pushed
upwards by the mountains, where it forms clouds and rains. The air that passes over the
mountains is much drier as a result, which creates desert conditions on the eastern side of
the mountains.
Deserts: characteristics and processes
6. Deserts are more than just sand dunes. Name four other landforms that can be found in deserts.
Answers will vary but should include any 4 relevant answers such as: mountains, gorges,
canyons, rocky outcrops, vast flat plains, salt or clay pans, or dry lakes.
9
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You may download and print one copy of these support notes from our website for your reference.
Further copying or printing must be reported to CAL as per the Copyright Act 1968.
Deserts
Global Environments
7. What are the four main environmental factors that shape the characteristics of a desert?
Climate
Geology
Altitude
Underground water
8. Describe how geomorphic processes can shape a desert.
Wind systems play a prominent role in deserts by eroding and relocating soil, dust and
sand. The finer, more nutrient-rich particles of soil can be moved huge distances away from
the desert, but the coarser, heavier sands move smaller distances, within the desert.
Human life in the desert
9. How have Indigenous Australians adapted their way of life to living in desert conditions?
Their traditional way of life has typically involved moving from place to place, within their
tribal lands, according to the availability of food and water. Their clothing was traditionally
minimal.
10. How have advances in technology affected the lives of people living in desert regions?
Social contact is much easier; the telephone and internet allow easy communication across
the globe. Technology also increases access to education, training and access to business,
government and other services. Technology advances have also changed transport options
for desert dwellers.
11. Suggest a reason why so many mining settlements are inhabited by fly-in, fly-out workers.
Answer will vary but may include reference to the lack of services to be found out in the
desert, including things like housing, food, entertainment, etc. It is easier (cheaper) to fly
workers back to larger towns and cities, than setting these things up near mines.
Human impact in the desert
12. How does the United Nations define desertification?
Land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors,
including climatic variations and human activities.
13. a) Give two factors that led to the dust storms in the US and Canada in the 1930s.
Answer will vary but should include two factors from: extreme and prolonged drought,
poor farming practices, deep ploughing of the virgin topsoil of the Great Plains, removal
of native grasses, erosion by wind.
b) What can we learn from these dust storms? Suggest some ways that similar catastrophes
could be avoided in the future.
Answers will vary but may include revegetation of cleared areas, changed farming
practices, relocating agricultural areas.
14. a) Why do you think that places like the Arctic and Antarctica have been used in the past for
waste disposal?
Answers will vary but may include: nobody living there to complain, under-used regions
that could be made ‘useful’.
b) What do you think of the practice?
Answers will vary.
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© Video Education Australasia Pty Ltd 2012
Reproducing these support notes
You may download and print one copy of these support notes from our website for your reference.
Further copying or printing must be reported to CAL as per the Copyright Act 1968.