Chapter 21 Sections 2 and 3

Climate Regions in SW Asia Desert Desert Semiarid Semiarid Mediterranean Mediterranean Extremely arid – most areas receive less than 18 inches of rainfall per year Extremely arid – most areas receive less than 18 inches of rainfall per year

Deserts Limit Movement Deserts effectively reduce travel and limit human environment interaction Deserts effectively reduce travel and limit human environment interaction Sandy Deserts Sandy Deserts Rub al-Khalil – also known as the “empty quarter” Rub al-Khalil – also known as the “empty quarter” Vast desert approx. the size of Texas on Arabian Peninsula Vast desert approx. the size of Texas on Arabian Peninsula One of largest sandy deserts in world One of largest sandy deserts in world

Other Sandy Deserts An-Nafud Desert An-Nafud Desert Oasis- found in An-Nafud Oasis- found in An-Nafud Area in desert where vegetation is found because water is available usually from underground springs Area in desert where vegetation is found because water is available usually from underground springs Syrian Desert Syrian Desert Separates coast of Israel and Lebanon from Tigris and Euphrates Separates coast of Israel and Lebanon from Tigris and Euphrates

Salt Deserts Mostly formed in Iran due to the rain shadow formed by its high mountains Mostly formed in Iran due to the rain shadow formed by its high mountains When winds evaporate the moisture in the soil, salt remains creating a salt flat When winds evaporate the moisture in the soil, salt remains creating a salt flat

Semi-arid lands/ Well watered coast lands Semi arid areas have warm to hot summers with enough rainfall to support grass and low growing shrubs Semi arid areas have warm to hot summers with enough rainfall to support grass and low growing shrubs Well watered coast lands Well watered coast lands Along the mediterranean coast and across most of Turkey Along the mediterranean coast and across most of Turkey

Human Environment Interaction Dams and Irrigation Systems Dams and Irrigation Systems Modern Water Technology Modern Water Technology Drip irrigation- using small pipes that slowly drip water just above ground to conserve water used for crops Drip irrigation- using small pipes that slowly drip water just above ground to conserve water used for crops Desalinization- removal of salt from ocean water Desalinization- removal of salt from ocean water Fossil water- water pumped from underground aquifers that has been there for a very long period of time Fossil water- water pumped from underground aquifers that has been there for a very long period of time

Oil From the Sand Fields contain about ½ of the petroleum reserves in the world Fields contain about ½ of the petroleum reserves in the world Forming petroleum Forming petroleum Oil and natural gas deposits formed millions of years ago when an ancient sea covered the area of SW Asia Oil and natural gas deposits formed millions of years ago when an ancient sea covered the area of SW Asia Plants and animals lived/died in sea… over time heat and pressure formed into petroleum Plants and animals lived/died in sea… over time heat and pressure formed into petroleum

Petroleum that has not been processed is called crude oil Petroleum that has not been processed is called crude oil Oil pumped from the ground must be moved to a refinery Oil pumped from the ground must be moved to a refinery The job of the refinery is to convert oil into useful products The job of the refinery is to convert oil into useful products