By: Jonathan Ibias, Amy Lee, Qahir Hirani and Theodora Lo

Where are deserts located?

Deserts are only located in some continents.

These continents are North America, South

America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Hot

deserts are usually between the Tropic of

Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. Cold deserts are

usually located in the polar regions.1.World's driest desert: The Atacama 2.World's oldest desert: The Namib 3.World's largest hot desert: The Sahara 4.World's largest sand dune area: The Empty Quarter 5.World's largest polar desert: Antarctica 6.World's lowest spot: In the Negev Desert 7.World's highest temperature: In the eastern Sahara

What makes the desert an extreme environment?

Desert is an extreme environment because it is a

region that receives very little precipitation and its

vegetation cover is sparse to almost nonexistent.

There are different forms of deserts. Hot deserts

are hot and dry. Cold deserts are covered in snow

or ice, which makes plant life not available. Cold

deserts are too cold to live in like the arctic

deserts.

What technology is used to explore the desert?

Some vehicles used in this environment would be cars and planes. Tools usedin this environment would be compasses and satellites. Also deserts are seenas sources for solar energy. The Negev Desert has become the centre ofthe Israeli solar industry and solar collectors are built in the Mojave Desert ofCalifornia. Modern technology, including advanced irrigation systems and airconditioning have made deserts much more hospitable. In the United Statesand Israel for example, desert farming has found extensive use. Large irrigationprojects transport water for many miles to produce large crops in places like theinterior desert valleys of California, Arizona, Colorado, and Texas in the UnitedStates.

Canadian Contributions

Scientists with Environment Canada and theprovince of B.C. have made effort to conservehabitat in South Okanagan, B.C. for speciesmigrating between the dry grasslands of the B.C.interior and the desert areas of the western UnitedStates. They worked to conserve biodiversity andrestore species at risk in the region.

                                             

 

 

 

More Canadian Contributions

The Canadian Osoyoos Desert Society was

founded in 1991 to preserve the unique

desert of Osoyoos. The desert area protects

plant species at risk. It protects over 100

rare plants and over 300 rare invertebrates

in Canada.

Other Interesting Information

Deserts take up one- fifth of the world.

Hot deserts are hot in the daytime and cool in

the night. Bobcats come out at night. Desert

areas are being threatened by a rapid

population growth. Highest sand dune

recorded is in the Sahara Desert-1410

feet high.

Desert Picture by Amy Lee

Camel

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desertclimatehttp://library.thinkquest.org/6225/jordan1.htmhttp://weathersavvy.com/desert1_OPT.jpghttp://www.calacademy.org/exhibits/africa/exhibit/sahara/tureg/6.htm http://www.naham.org/images/Compass.jpghttp://www.phototravels.net/namibia/ndp2/namib-desert-airp-50.2.jpghttp://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=2008090613934AA9rWSvhttp://www.ec.gc.ca/science/sandenov00/article2_e.html