Answers to S2 Prelim

Knowledge

1. Sand dunes are crescent-shaped deposits of sand. They are

formed by winds which tend to blow the sand in the same
direction. The two steep edges of the barchan taper
downwind, to leave a rounded gentler slope facing into the
wind. The sand is constantly blown from the front to the back
of the barchan. This means that barchans tend to move
downwind.
2.
 Subsistence farming-they grow food only for themselves
and not for sale
 Sustainable farming-small scale; does no long term
damage to the environment (eg they are not using
chemicals, machinery, cutting down huge areas of land,
etc)
 Hunter gatherer-people who hunt animals (including
fish) and/or collect wild roots, fruits, nuts, honey and
other natural produce from the forests.

3. Amazonia has a very low temperature range, with most

months around 27 C and only a small difference. Arizona has
hotter summers, but winters are cooler, ie there is a greater
temperature range and temperatures are more seasonal.

Understanding

4. Wadis are dried river beds. They can be caused by two

reasons. (1) Sudden downpours of rain can cause temporary
rivers (flash floods) These carve steep sided valleys in the dry
land. Once the rain has gone, the rivers quickly evaporate in
the intense heat. (2) they are the remains of very old river
beds which used to flow when rainfall was heavier.

5. There is heavy rain because there are many rivers and the
Sun is very strong. It warms the ground, which heats the air
above causing it to expand and rise. Water is evaporated from
the rivers and plants. When the air gets to a certain height it
cools and the water vapour condenses. Clouds form and
continue to build up during the afternoon. Rain drops grow
larger and then it rains, usually in heavy downpours. This is
called convectional rain.

6. No seasons because the Amazon Basin is on/near the Equator.

This means that the sun is always overhead and its position
 does not change much over the year-unlike places much
further from the equator.

7. Phoenix is popular because:

 Warm winters, hot summers

 Dry and very sunny (over 4000 hours a year), ie
“healthy” climate
 Plenty of space so houses have gardens; areas are very
attractive
 Amenities like public parks, golfing ideal for retired
people

8. C, as the sun’s rays are most concentrated (so not B or D)

There are no clouds to reflect sun back into space (unlike A)

Applications

9.

 Attract tourists
 Bring money and jobs (eg in the construction phase and
the service phase) into the City
 But
 Use up many km2 of desert-make city even bigger
 Golf courses require millions of gallons of water annually