Climate change and desertification (Level 1)

The main causes of desertification today are land use and deforestation. Research findings however show, that climate change can accellerate desertification. Climate change is expected not only to result in more hurricanes and floods but also in more and longer drought periods. Some of the causes of desertification also enhance climate change. In this quiz you will learn more about the linkages of climate change and desertification.

Please don't hesitate to solve the quiz by guessing! You will find more hints and links in the answers. You can solve the quiz as often as you like.

: Three answers are correct.
: One answer ist correct.

Linktipps: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Die IYDD,United Nations Convention To Combat Desertification(UNCCD)
Geoscience Online zum Thema Wüstenbildung und Desertifikation

1	What are the interlinkages between climate change and desertification?

	Climate change (z.B. increasing temperatures, longer droughts) can enhance desertification.
	Desertification (e.g. due to deforestation) can enhance climate change.
	Climate change is the main cause of desertification.
	Climate change and desertification partly have the same causes.

2	Climate change has a particularly strong impact on areas, which are already dry. How high is the temperature rise expected by the IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change)?

	0 - 1.1 °C
	2.0 - 2.5 °C
	1.4 - 4.5 °C
	1.4 - 5.8 °C

3	In which deserts do we expect highest increase in temperature? A B C D

	A) In the Sahara.
	B) In the Savanna.
	C) In the edaphic deserts in Iceland.
	D) In the ice deserts of the Arctic region.

4	In many deserts nights are particularly cold while the day temperatures are particularly high. What are the causes of this strong fluctuations?

	Above deserts there are usually less clouds.
	The water content in the soils and air is lower.
	Desert soils are less dark than other soils and thus take up more energy than lighter soil.
	Loose sand act as an insulation.