Details Title: Deserts Description: all about deserts Total Flash Cards: 22 Created: 05/05/2008 00:58:47		New Users: To study from this flashcard set, or to create your own your own study flash cards, REGISTER HERE. Existing Users: CLICK HERE. Additional Geology Flashcards
Cards in this set: Term Less than 250mm (10 inches) of precipitation Lacking in vegetation Cannot support a large population Definition defines a desert Term Subtropical Definition This type of desert is centered around 30 degrees N and S latitude, controlled by air circulation, and is geographically extensive Term Continental Interior Definition this type of desert is far from sources of moisture Term Rainshadow Definition this type of desert is where mountain ranges cause barrier to flow of moisture Term Coastal Definition this type of desert has cool, dry air that blows in from the ocean and evaporation occurs as it warms Term Polar Definition this type of desert has cold air that holds little moisture and the precipitation that does fall remains as ice for 1000's of years Term Examples of Subtropical deserts Definition Sahara and Great Australian Term Example of a Continental Interior desert Definition Gobi Term Examples of Rainshadow deserts Definition Cascades and Sierra Nevada Term Examples of Coastal deserts Definition coasts of Chile and Peru Term Examples of Polar deserts Definition Greenland and Antarctica Term Barchan Definition this dune type has limited sand and steady winds in one direction Term Longitudinal or Linear Definition this dune type has limited sand and strong converging winds Term Star Definition this dune type has scarce sand and varying wind directions Term Transverse Definition this dune type has abundant sand and moderate winds Term Parabolic Definition this dune type has abundant sand and strong offshore winds Term Sand supply Wind velocity and variability of wind direction Surface over which dune moves Definition factors that the type of dune that develops is dependent on Term Surface creeps Saltations Suspensions Loess Definition sediments transported by wind Term Surface Creeps Definition particles too large to be lifted, moved by impacts with saltating sediments Term Saltations Definition particles that bounce along the surface Term Suspensions Definition small grains carried by turbulant winds Term Loess Definition wind-blown silts and clays derived from nearby deserts or from glacial rock flour