EV203: Arid Landscapes

What is the most important agent of erosion and deposition in a desert?

• Wind

• Heat

• Ice

• Water

Answer explanation

“Running water is by far the most important external agent of landform development in desert geomorphology.” Hess, p.517

In which climate classification can you find a desert?

• Cfa

• BWh

• Am

• Csa

Answer explanation

See pages 18-19 of your atlas.

Where else might you find arid environments?

Select all that apply.

• Leeward side of a mountain

• Antarctica

• BSk climates

• In low pressure zones.

What is an exotic stream?

• A stream with only intermittent flow

• A stream found in rainforests only

• A stream that consistently flows through an arid region

• A stream with tigers

Answer explanation

No, not Joe Exotic.

99% of desert streams are ...

What dangers do ephemeral streams pose?

• They channelize flash floods.

• They are home to dangerous fish.

• None since they are mostly dry

• They are very steep - high competence and capacity.

What causes a lake to become saline?

• Rivers feed them from the oceans (they contain ocean water)

• They form over sedimentary rock high in salt minerals

• The high evaporation rate leaves the remaining water with more dissolved minerals

Which soil orders might be found in an arid landscape?

• Entisols

• Gelisols

• Oxisols

• Aridisols

A dry lake bed that forms in a desert basin is known as a ...

When water flowing through an ephemeral stream channel exits a canyon, a(n) _____ is formed.

• delta

• alluvial fan

• blow out

• mesa

Answer explanation

I'm a big fan...