Post on 22-Feb-2016
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AUSTRALIAN DESERTS
WHAT IS A DESERT? A desert is defined as a dry, often
sandy region of little rainfall, extreme temperatures, and sparse vegetation.
Not all deserts are hot. Some of the worlds largest deserts, such as The Gobi Desert in Mongolia, reach temperatures of -40 degrees.
AUSTRALIAS DESERTS After Antarctica, Australia is
the driest continent on Earth. About 35% of the land is desert
Australian deserts are found in central and western Australia
Australia’s deserts are ‘hot’ deserts, with extremes of temperature (50° Celsius during the day and below 0° at night)
Rainfall is usually below 130 millimeters or there may be no rain at all.
AUSTRALIAS MAJOR DESERTS
WHAT CAUSES DESERTS IN AUSTRALIA? The Great Dividing Range
This chain of mountains which runs along the east coast from north to south, blocks rainfall and moisture from the Pacific Ocean causing the inland of Australia to be mostly scrubland and desert.
WHY ARE DESERTS IMPORTANT? Deserts can be found on every single continent,
and even though they lack water, they play an important role in helping animals, humans and the environment. Environment for plant & animal species Mineral Wealth Medical application Archeological discoveries Carbon sinks
FAUNA OF THE DESERT Many animals are nocturnal, only
coming out at night to eat. Some animals never drink, getting their
water from seeds and plants. Because of their special adaptations
many animals are vulnerable to changes to their environment.
DESERT VEGETATION As plants lose water through their
leaves, desert plants have small/thin leaves, or are covered in wax/fine hairs or have powdery surfaces.
Plants are the beginning of the food chain and are vital to the health of desert ecosystems.
WHY ARE DESERTS AT RISK? Land clearing, changing climate and
the introduction of exotic plants and animals are endangering this ecosystem.