Question

Desert Landscapes on Google Earth file Worksheet Resources Google Earth - Open the 2. Exploring Geology Using Geotours > Q. Desert Landscapes folder. Problem Materials - Check and double-click items associated with each problem to travel to the appropriate location with the prescribed perspective/zoom. Desert Landscapes Geotours Library - Explore additional Geotours in this folder to help answer problems.

Question #1a) [Deserts] - Taklimakan Desert, Tarim Basin, China. Check and double-click the Problem 3 polygon to fly to the Tarim Basin in China. Use the Ruler tool to estimate the longest axis of the Tarim Basin polygon (km). -# in kilometers

Question #1b) [Deserts] - Taklimakan Desert, Tarim Basin, China. Check and double-click the Problem 4 placemark. Why does this north-flowing stream terminate in the middle of the desert, even though the land slopes gently north? (Select one)

-it disappears into a sinkhole

-evaporation and infiltration are too great

-it has been dammed up to create a reservoir

Question #2) [Desert Features] - Guerro Negro, Baja, Mexico. Check and double-click the Problem 5 placemark to fly to a location in Baja, Mexico. Watch the animated GIF image in the placemark, or click on the link in the placemark balloon for the Google Earth Engine website for this same region. Toward what direction did the wind blow to create these dunes? Hint– The tips of these dunes form downwind, making the dunes concave in the downwind direction. (Select one)

-SE

-NW

-NE

-SW

Question #3) [Desert Features] - Ayers Rock, Australia. Check and double-click the placemarks for Problem 6 to fly to Ayers Rock in Australia. Use the Hand tool to determine how high this rock stands above its surroundings (in m, measure the placemarks). -# in meters

Question #3) [Desert Features] - Death Valley, CA. The Problem 9 placemarks highlight depositional features that commonly occur in arid settings where there is an abrupt change in stream/valley gradient. What are the highlighted features? (Select one)

-mesas

-buttes

-alluvial fans

-inselbergs

Answer 1

1 a) The length of the longest axis running from the western end of the Tarim basin to its eastern end is 960 km.

b) The North-flowing basin terminates unexpectedly in the middle of the desert (Taklamakan desert) due to High evaporation and heavy infiltration of the river water in the sands of the Taklamakan.

Explanation- Taklamakan desert occupies the major portion of the Tarim Basin. River passing through the desert often disappears in the middle of the desert due to mix of factors. These includes heavy evaporation of the river water which causes loss of river water and infiltration of the water through the porous sand particles. Moreover, as the river is more dependant on glacial melt water, the river volume is quite loss and hence easily disappears in the desert.