Author Question: What are some ways that sand dunes can be stabilized? What will be an ideal ... (Read 94 times)

panfilo · **on:** Jul 15, 2018

What are some ways that sand dunes can be stabilized? What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

How does the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) relate to deserts? What will be an ideal response?

jointhecircus · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 15, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Methods used to stabilize sand dunes include barriers, tree lines and other wind breaks, planting plants,
oil, or in some cases paving. The Chinese have even used straw barrier mats along rail lines. In
general, the approach is either to deprive the dune of its mobilizing wind or to immobilize the sand
grains themselves

Answer to Question 2

Trade winds converging toward the equator feed atmospheric upwelling that rises and moves into the
northern and southern hemispheres. The upwelling is the result of more efficient heating of the Earth
by the Sun in equatorial areas, which produces a warm low-pressure air mass. This area is called the
ITCZ or intertropical convergence zone. The high-level airflow away from the equator eventually
cools and sinks back to Earth at about 30 degrees north and south of the equator as a cool, dry highpressure
air mass. This explains the concentration of deserts at these latitudes.