1.1.4 Dryland Landscapes

• Match the desert type with its latitudinal location:

  Subtropical Deserts ↔️ 15-30° N/S

  Mid-Latitude Deserts ↔️ 30-50° N/S
• High temperatures in dryland landscapes increase evaporation and create water stress
• High evaporation rates reduce the available moisture in dryland environments.


  True
• High salinity in dryland soils is caused by the evaporation of limited moisture.

  True
• Deep and extensive root systems allow dryland plants to access deeper soil moisture.

  True
• Aridity in drylands refers to the lack of consistent precipitation
• Why do dryland soils have low organic matter content?

  Sparse vegetation
• Match the dryland soil characteristic with its description:

  Low Organic Matter ↔️ Sparse vegetation reduces organic input

  Shallow Depth ↔️ Lack of moisture inhibits soil development

  High Salinity ↔️ Evaporation leaves behind accumulated salts

  Calcification ↔️ Calcium carbonate accumulation
• Deep root systems in dryland plants allow them to access deeper soil moisture
• Match the hydrological process with its description in drylands:

  Precipitation ↔️ Infrequent and unpredictable rainfall

  Evaporation ↔️ Rapid loss of surface water

  Surface Water ↔️ Ephemeral streams and seasonal lakes

  Groundwater ↔️ Deep aquifers with limited recharge
• Match the landform with its description in drylands:

  Deserts ↔️ Large, arid regions with sparse vegetation

  Dunes ↔️ Mounds of sand formed by wind

  Wadis ↔️ Dry riverbeds that flow after rare rain

  Playas ↔️ Flat, dry lake beds flooded temporarily

  Pediments ↔️ Gently sloping erosional surfaces
• Human activities in dryland environments can lead to land degradation, desertification, and ecosystem changes.degradation
• Sparse vegetation in dryland landscapes is a direct result of limited water availability.


  True
• Where are mid-latitude deserts typically located?

  30-50° north and south
• How do high temperatures in dryland landscapes affect water stress for plants and animals?

  Increase evaporation
• Plants in dryland landscapes have reduced leaf surface area to minimize water loss through transpiration
• What is a key characteristic of the hydrological cycle in dryland systems?

  Infrequent and unpredictable rainfall
• Why are these adaptations important for plants in dryland landscapes?

  To survive water scarcity
• Wadis are dry riverbeds that only flow after rare rainfall events.


  True
• Match the dryland landform with its description:

  Deserts ↔️ Large, arid regions with sparse vegetation

  Dunes ↔️ Mounds of sand formed by wind erosion

  Wadis ↔️ Dry riverbeds that flow after rain

  Playas ↔️ Flat, dry lake beds flooded temporarily
• Match the human activity with its negative effect in dryland environments:

  Overgrazing ↔️ Depletes vegetation, causes soil erosion

  Deforestation ↔️ Reduces soil cover, decreases moisture retention

  Agriculture ↔️ Leads to soil salinization, depletes water resources

  Mining ↔️ Disturbs surface areas, causes pollution
• Erosional landforms in dryland landscapes are sculpted by wind and water
• What does low and irregular rainfall lead to in dryland landscapes?

  Water scarcity
• Lack of moisture in drylands inhibits deep soil profile development
• Waxy coatings on dryland plant leaves reduce water loss through evaporation
• High evaporation rates in drylands reduce the available moisture
• Order the processes contributing to dryland soil characteristics:

  1️⃣ Low organic matter input

  2️⃣ Shallow depth development

  3️⃣ High salinity accumulation

  4️⃣ Calcification process
• Plants in drylands reduce water loss through transpiration by developing waxy coatings on their leaves.


  True
• What are wadis in dryland hydrological systems?

  Dry riverbeds
• Dunes in drylands are formed by wind erosion and deposition.


  True
• What are the key climatic factors that shape dryland geomorphology?

  Low rainfall, high evaporation
• Aridity in dryland landscapes leads to water scarcity
• Subtropical deserts are located between 15-30° north and south of the equator
• Low and irregular rainfall in dryland regions leads to water scarcity
• What is calcification in dryland soils caused by?

  Calcium carbonate accumulation
• CAM photosynthesis involves opening stomata during the day to reduce water loss.

  False
• Evaporation in drylands is rapid due to high temperatures and low humidity
• What are the primary forces that shape erosional landforms in dryland landscapes?

  Wind and water
• Pediments are gently sloping erosional surfaces at the base of mountains
• What is the typical annual rainfall in dryland landscapes?

  Less than 500mm