Clipbank - Geography:What causes desertification?

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	Learning Path: Geography


	What causes desertification?

Starter Main Plenary Extension


	Learning Objective To understand the theory of global warming What to do? Watch the clip Droughts: man-made disasters? Use the information and images from the clip to create a diagram showing the theory of global warming. Use the following labels: The Earth Heat from the Sun Infrared rays Atmosphere Carbon dioxide Now watch the clip Saharan desertification I: ancient habitat What caused the desertification of the Sahara desert over the centuries? Dr. Mark Mulligan says that one definition of desertification is a reduction in the ability of the land to sustain life - especially plants. He goes on to say that changing the plants on the surface of the Earth changes the climate. So climate change reduces the number of plants, and reducing the number of plants causes climate change. Complete the following sentences: Desertification is a type of climate change. Climate change can be caused by physical processes such as ... Climate change can also be caused by human processes such as ... Learning Objective To understand the physical and human processes that have contributed to desertification over time What to do? Watch the clip Spanish desertification: agricultural decline Complete graph 1 on the worksheet Desertification over time to represent how the ability of the land to sustain life has changed over time in Spain. Watch the clip American desertification: intensive farming Complete graph 2 on the worksheet Desertification over time to represent how the ability of the land to sustain life has changed over time in America. Do you notice any trends in the graphs you have drawn? If desertification has occurred throughout history, why do you think there is increasing concern about climate change? Learning Objective To consider the human causes and effects of desertification. What to do? The World Day to Combat Desertification has been observed since 1995 on 17th June. Find out more about the day and look carefully at the logo. Logos for campaigns to tackle climate change often use symbols of nature, the colour green or blue, and focus on the damage to plants and animals. Desertification has a huge impact on the lives of people. Watch the clip Saharan desertification II: modern disaster Design a logo that you think could be used for a desertification awareness campaign that focusses on the need to change human behaviour and prevent human suffering. Learning Objective To evaluate your own water use What to do? As droughts become more frequent, desertification increases, and there is an ever-increasing population relying on water supplies, water shortages become more of a risk. Watch the clip Living without a water supply Write down all your everyday actions that directly or indirectly use water. How you could make small changes to decrease the amount of water you use? Droughts: man-made disasters? Goto start Rewind Play Forward Fullscreen Mute Show/hide video Download this video CONTENT 4