Drought, Desertification, and Sahel Region
How can a lack of rainfall and/or water deficit cause drought
and desertification?
The Sahel is located in the southern region of
the Sahara desert, Africa. Look at the following
pictures. In pairs discuss where you think the
Sahel is located.
Many countries experience a pronounced wet and dry season.
If the rains fail during one year, the result for crops, animals
and people can be disastrous.
The most vulnerable are desert margins and tropical interiors
where the average rainfall amounts are low and the rainy
season is short.
The rain when it does fall is torrential which give it insufficient
time to infiltrate into the ground.
Instead, surface runoff causes flash floods and water is lost to
the local community.
The Sahel regions are areas which experience
desertification.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/zqwnvcw
Annotate the cartoon strip to explain the
causes of desertification.
Why does the Sahel suffer from desertification?
Why does the Sahel suffer from desertification?
DESERTIFICATION
Increase in population
Increase in cattle
Deforestation for fire wood
Grassland grazed more intensively
Roots no longer hold soil together
Roots may be eaten as well as grass
Leaves no longer protect soil from weather
Less vegetation means less protection from
weather
Loose top soil blown away by wind
(Soil Erosion)
=
Loose top soil blown away by wind
(Soil Erosion)
=
DESERTIFICATION
Crops are unable to grow, people are unable to
feed cattle
Lack of vegetation means soil loses its
protective cover and contains less humus and
moisture.
People travel further to find water and food.
As the ground cracks and dries up the ground
subsides.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mUhtFe2A
pE
Expanding Deserts Consume Farmland
Reducing the demand for water by;
Education; use less water in washing, showers
use of “bog hogs”.
Restrictions; hose pipe bans, swimming pools
closed at times of shortage.
Water saving store rainwater, repair old pipes.
Increasing the supply of water by;
Construction, dams and reservoirs
Extraction from aquifers identify new underground
sources of water.
Desalination, use the sun’s energy to evaporate
sea water.
Cloud seeding
Add certain chemicals to encourage cloud
formation and produce precipitation.
Planting trees and shrubs to create a “green
belt” along the fringe or edge of the desertified
area.
Constructing stone lines to try to capture what
moisture becomes available.
Fencing off areas to prevent overgrazing and to
allow vegetation to grow.
Water management schemes to allow water for
irrigation.
Causes and effects of drought, desertification, and the Sahel region in Africa. Learn how lack of rainfall, water deficit, and human activities contribute to these environmental challenges, leading to soil erosion, loss of vegetation, and desert encroachment. Understand the impact on agriculture, communities, and wildlife, and discover ways to mitigate desertification through sustainable practices.
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Presentation Transcript
How can a lack of rainfall and/or water deficit cause drought and desertification? DESERTIFICATION.
THE SAHEL THE SAHEL The Sahel is located in the southern region of the Sahara desert, Africa. Look at the following pictures. In pairs discuss where you think the Sahel is located.
WATER DEFICIT; LICS Many countries experience a pronounced wet and dry season. If the rains fail during one year, the result for crops, animals and people can be disastrous. The most vulnerable are desert margins and tropical interiors where the average rainfall amounts are low and the rainy season is short. The rain when it does fall is torrential which give it insufficient time to infiltrate into the ground. Instead, surface runoff causes flash floods and water is lost to the local community.
The Sahel regions are areas which experience desertification.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/zqwnvcw Annotate the cartoon strip to explain the causes of desertification.
Why does the Sahel suffer from desertification? Why does the Sahel suffer from desertification? DESERTIFICATION DESERTIFICATION Increase in cattle Increase in population Deforestation for fire wood Grassland grazed more intensively Roots no longer hold soil together Roots may be eaten as well as grass Less vegetation means less protection from weather Leaves no longer protect soil from weather Loose top soil blown away by wind Loose top soil blown away by wind (Soil Erosion) (Soil Erosion) = = DESERTIFICATION DESERTIFICATION
IMPACT ON HUMAN ACTIVITY Crops are unable to grow, people are unable to feed cattle Lack of vegetation means soil loses its protective cover and contains less humus and moisture. People travel further to find water and food. As the ground cracks and dries up the ground subsides.
WATCH THIS VIDEO; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mUhtFe2A pE Expanding Deserts Consume Farmland
MANAGEMENT OF DROUGHT AND DESERTIFICATION. Reducing the demand for water by; Reducing the demand for water by; Education; use less water in washing, showers use of bog hogs . Restrictions; hose pipe bans, swimming pools closed at times of shortage. Water saving store rainwater, repair old pipes.
MANAGEMENT OF DROUGHT AND DESERTIFICATION. Increasing the supply of water by; Increasing the supply of water by; Construction, dams and reservoirs Extraction from aquifers identify new underground sources of water. Desalination, use the sun s energy to evaporate sea water. Cloud seeding Add certain chemicals to encourage cloud formation and produce precipitation.
MANAGEMENT OF DROUGHT AND DESERTIFICATION. Planting trees and shrubs to create a green belt along the fringe or edge of the desertified area. Constructing stone lines to try to capture what moisture becomes available. Fencing off areas to prevent overgrazing and to allow vegetation to grow. Water management schemes to allow water for irrigation.
