Winds and Deserts

 

Terms to learn:

desert                  exotic stream      playa               deflation
abrasion             alluvial fan            star                   barchan
transverse        longitudinal          parabolic      desert pavement

                                                                          

Topic outline:

1. Distribution of deserts
2. Characteristic of deserts
   1. Internal drainage
      1. exotic streams
      2. playas
   2. Weathering
3. Aeolian (wind) processes
   1. Erosion
      1. deflation
      2. abrasion
   2. Transportation
   3. Deposition
      1. sand dunes - shape
4. Desert landscapes
   1. Basin and Range
      1. alluvial fan
      2. playa
      3. bajada
   2. Mesa and Scarp
      1. plateau, mesa, butte, pinnacle

 

Interesting places to visit:

Good general info: http://www.ontheline.org.uk/explore/nature/deserts/deserts.htm

 

More general info: http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/deserts/

 

Virtual field trip: http://wdgdst68.dupage.k12.il.us/jefferson/projects/project2/project2.htm

 

When you are finished with this topic, you should be able to answer the following questions:

1. What are the methods by which wind erodes material?
2. How do sand dunes migrate?
3. How is desert pavement formed?
4. What factors contribute to the shape and arrangement of sand dunes?
5. What are some of the features that you would likely find in a Basin and Range desert landscape?  in a Mesa and Scarp landscape?