Exam 15: The Work of Wind and Deserts

The size of material that is frequently carried as suspended load by wind is ____________________ and ____________________.

____ is the world leader in wind energy production.

A saline, temporary lake in a desert is known as a(n)____________________ lake.

The transformation of formerly productive lands into deserts is called ____________________.

Weathering in the desert occurs primarily by ____ processes.

Determine the wind direction in the accompanying figure. How do you know the wind is flowing in this direction?

Briefly explain why sand is moved by wind before clay and silt during wind erosion.

____________________ convert the kinetic energy in wind into mechanical energy, which can then be used to generate electricity.

Deserts receive less than ______ centimeters of rain per year, on average.

Stones whose polished, pitted, faceted surfaces have been produced by wind erosion are called ____________________.

The primary method of erosion in arid regions is ____.

Historical records indicate wind power has been harnessed by people for about 7,000 years.

Deserts occur at ____ latitudes.

What happens when an air mass rises over a mountain?

All dunes have crests oriented perpendicular to the direction of wind movement.

Air flows from ____.

Surface creep is a common type of mass wasting in deserts.

A(n)____ is an example of an erosional landform found in deserts.

Deserts are the one environment where wind erosion is more important than water erosion.

Why do desert streams rarely reach an ocean? What makes rivers such as the Nile, Colorado, and Rio Grande exceptions to the rule?