Question
Given below is a case study on desertification, Use the case study to answer the
questions that follow.
Africa's deserts are in "spectacular" retreat
The southern Saharan desert is in retreat, making farming viable again in what
were e some of
e of the most arid parts of Africa.
Nor is it just a short-term trend. Analysts say the gradual greening has been
happening since the mid 1980s, though it has gone largely unnoticed. Only
now is the evidence being pieced together.
Desertification is still often viewed as an irreversible process triggered by a
deadly combination of declining rainfall and destructive farming methods. In
August, the UN Environment Programme told the World Summit in
Johannesburg that over 45% of Africa is in the grip of desertification, with the
Sahel worst affected.
But a team of geographers from Britain, Sweden and Denmark has spent the
summer re-examining archived satelite images taken across the Sahel.
Andrew Warren of University College London told New Scientist that the
unpublished analysis shows that vegetation seems to have increased
significantly in the past 15 years, with major regrowth in southern Mauritiana,
northern Bukina Faso, north-western Niger, central Chad, much of Sudan and
parts of Eritrea.
8
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GEOGRAPHY
But there is confusion over why the Sahel is becoming green. Rasmussen
believes the main reason is the increased rainfall since the great droughts of
the early 1970s and 1980s. But farmers have also been adopting better
methods of keeping soil and water on their land.
1.5.1 Explain the term desertification.
(1x2) (2)
1.5.2 What do you understand by the phrase 'the Sahara Desert is in retreat?
(1x2) (2)
1.5.3 State two possible reasons for the retreat of the Sahara Desert that are
mentioned in the case study.
(2x1) (2)
1.5.4 As per the case study, what percentage of Africa is going through
desertification?
(1x1) (1)
1.5.5 In a paragraph of approximately eight lines, discuss the human causes of
(4x2) (8)
desertification.
TOTAL QUESTION 1: 60 MARKS
questions that follow.
Africa's deserts are in "spectacular" retreat
The southern Saharan desert is in retreat, making farming viable again in what
were e some of
e of the most arid parts of Africa.
Nor is it just a short-term trend. Analysts say the gradual greening has been
happening since the mid 1980s, though it has gone largely unnoticed. Only
now is the evidence being pieced together.
Desertification is still often viewed as an irreversible process triggered by a
deadly combination of declining rainfall and destructive farming methods. In
August, the UN Environment Programme told the World Summit in
Johannesburg that over 45% of Africa is in the grip of desertification, with the
Sahel worst affected.
But a team of geographers from Britain, Sweden and Denmark has spent the
summer re-examining archived satelite images taken across the Sahel.
Andrew Warren of University College London told New Scientist that the
unpublished analysis shows that vegetation seems to have increased
significantly in the past 15 years, with major regrowth in southern Mauritiana,
northern Bukina Faso, north-western Niger, central Chad, much of Sudan and
parts of Eritrea.
8
o2019 Valenture Institute AI Rights Reserved (not authorised for commercial use)
AUCT ONLINE
HIGH SCHOOL
GEOGRAPHY
But there is confusion over why the Sahel is becoming green. Rasmussen
believes the main reason is the increased rainfall since the great droughts of
the early 1970s and 1980s. But farmers have also been adopting better
methods of keeping soil and water on their land.
1.5.1 Explain the term desertification.
(1x2) (2)
1.5.2 What do you understand by the phrase 'the Sahara Desert is in retreat?
(1x2) (2)
1.5.3 State two possible reasons for the retreat of the Sahara Desert that are
mentioned in the case study.
(2x1) (2)
1.5.4 As per the case study, what percentage of Africa is going through
desertification?
(1x1) (1)
1.5.5 In a paragraph of approximately eight lines, discuss the human causes of
(4x2) (8)
desertification.
TOTAL QUESTION 1: 60 MARKS
Answers
GPT-4o
### 1.5.1 Explain the term desertification.
Desertification is the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agricultural practices. It involves the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas, primarily due to human activities and climatic variations.
### 1.5.2 What do you understand by the phrase 'the Sahara Desert is in retreat'?
The phrase 'the Sahara Desert is in retreat' means that the boundaries of the desert are shrinking. Areas that were once arid and desert-like are now experiencing an increase in vegetation, making farming viable again. This suggests a reversal in the process of desertification in these regions.
### 1.5.3 State two possible reasons for the retreat of the Sahara Desert that are mentioned in the case study.
1. Increased rainfall since the great droughts of the early 1970s and 1980s.
2. Adoption of better farming methods that help in retaining soil and water on the land.
### 1.5.4 As per the case study, what percentage of Africa is going through desertification?
According to the case study, over 45% of Africa is in the grip of desertification.
### 1.5.5 In a paragraph of approximately eight lines, discuss the human causes of desertification.
Human activities significantly contribute to desertification. Deforestation, driven by the need for fuel and agricultural land, reduces tree cover, which is essential for maintaining soil structure and moisture. Overgrazing by livestock strips vegetation, leaving soil exposed to erosion. Unsustainable agricultural practices, such as inappropriate irrigation and monoculture, deplete soil nutrients and contribute to soil salinization and erosion. Urbanization and industrial activities further destabilize ecosystems by causing pollution and compaction of soil. Additionally, improper land management, including failure to employ crop rotation or terracing, accelerates the degradation of fertile land into desert areas.
---
**TOTAL QUESTION 1: 60 MARKS**
Desertification is the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agricultural practices. It involves the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas, primarily due to human activities and climatic variations.
### 1.5.2 What do you understand by the phrase 'the Sahara Desert is in retreat'?
The phrase 'the Sahara Desert is in retreat' means that the boundaries of the desert are shrinking. Areas that were once arid and desert-like are now experiencing an increase in vegetation, making farming viable again. This suggests a reversal in the process of desertification in these regions.
### 1.5.3 State two possible reasons for the retreat of the Sahara Desert that are mentioned in the case study.
1. Increased rainfall since the great droughts of the early 1970s and 1980s.
2. Adoption of better farming methods that help in retaining soil and water on the land.
### 1.5.4 As per the case study, what percentage of Africa is going through desertification?
According to the case study, over 45% of Africa is in the grip of desertification.
### 1.5.5 In a paragraph of approximately eight lines, discuss the human causes of desertification.
Human activities significantly contribute to desertification. Deforestation, driven by the need for fuel and agricultural land, reduces tree cover, which is essential for maintaining soil structure and moisture. Overgrazing by livestock strips vegetation, leaving soil exposed to erosion. Unsustainable agricultural practices, such as inappropriate irrigation and monoculture, deplete soil nutrients and contribute to soil salinization and erosion. Urbanization and industrial activities further destabilize ecosystems by causing pollution and compaction of soil. Additionally, improper land management, including failure to employ crop rotation or terracing, accelerates the degradation of fertile land into desert areas.
---
**TOTAL QUESTION 1: 60 MARKS**