Geography HL
Geography HL
13
Chapters
193
Notes
Option A - Freshwater – Drainage basins
Option A - Freshwater – Drainage basins
Option B - Oceans & Coastal Margins
Option B - Oceans & Coastal Margins
Option C - Extreme Environments
Option C - Extreme Environments
Option D - Geophysical Hazards
Option D - Geophysical Hazards
Option E - Leisure, Tourism & Sport
Option E - Leisure, Tourism & Sport
Option F - The Geography Of Food & Health
Option F - The Geography Of Food & Health
Option G - Urban Environments
Option G - Urban Environments
Unit 1 - Changing Population
Unit 1 - Changing Population
UNIT 2 - Global Climate - Vulnerability & Resilience
UNIT 2 - Global Climate - Vulnerability & Resilience
Unit 3 - Global Resource Consumption & Security
Unit 3 - Global Resource Consumption & Security
Unit 4 - Power, Places & Networks
Unit 4 - Power, Places & Networks
Unit 5 - Human Development & Diversity
Unit 5 - Human Development & Diversity
Unit 6 - Global Risks & Resilience
Unit 6 - Global Risks & Resilience
IB Resources
Option C - Extreme Environments
Geography HL
Geography HL

Option C - Extreme Environments

Unlocking The Mysteries Of Desertification: Causes, Consequences, And Solutions

Word Count Emoji
637 words
Reading Time Emoji
4 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 16th Oct 2024

Table of content

Desertification - what's the scoop? 🌵

Desertification is like the mean big brother of land degradation, showing up in semi-arid and humid regions, but not bothering arid (desert) areas. It’s a double whammy - there’s a loss in both biological and economic productivity. This tends to happen when climatic variability (especially rainfall) dances with unsustainable human activities.

 

Quick Trivia: Desertification doesn't make deserts bigger; it happens in random patches. For instance, think about the severe droughts in China in the 2000s - they didn't extend the Gobi desert, but the effects were very similar.

Change of color, change of fate 🎨

If the surface cover is removed and the ground becomes lighter, its reflectivity (aka albedo) changes. Imagine swapping your black shirt for a white one on a sunny day - you reflect more heat and absorb less. This reduces convectional heating, which may lead to less rain and more droughts.

Downward spiral - effects of desertification 🌀

When desertification kicks in, it reduces vegetation cover, speeds up soil erosion by wind and water, and decreases the land's carrying capacity (like how many plants or animals it can support). Imagine a nightclub getting overcrowded; it's no longer fun and safe.

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IB Resources
Option C - Extreme Environments
Geography HL
Geography HL

Option C - Extreme Environments

Unlocking The Mysteries Of Desertification: Causes, Consequences, And Solutions

Word Count Emoji
637 words
Reading Time Emoji
4 mins read
Updated at Emoji
Last edited on 16th Oct 2024

Table of content

Desertification - what's the scoop? 🌵

Desertification is like the mean big brother of land degradation, showing up in semi-arid and humid regions, but not bothering arid (desert) areas. It’s a double whammy - there’s a loss in both biological and economic productivity. This tends to happen when climatic variability (especially rainfall) dances with unsustainable human activities.

 

Quick Trivia: Desertification doesn't make deserts bigger; it happens in random patches. For instance, think about the severe droughts in China in the 2000s - they didn't extend the Gobi desert, but the effects were very similar.

Change of color, change of fate 🎨

If the surface cover is removed and the ground becomes lighter, its reflectivity (aka albedo) changes. Imagine swapping your black shirt for a white one on a sunny day - you reflect more heat and absorb less. This reduces convectional heating, which may lead to less rain and more droughts.

Downward spiral - effects of desertification 🌀

When desertification kicks in, it reduces vegetation cover, speeds up soil erosion by wind and water, and decreases the land's carrying capacity (like how many plants or animals it can support). Imagine a nightclub getting overcrowded; it's no longer fun and safe.

Unlock the Full Content! File Is Locked Emoji

Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Geography HL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟