Chapter 21Chapter 21

Sections 2 and 3Sections 2 and 3

Climate Regions in SW AsiaClimate Regions in SW Asia DesertDesert SemiaridSemiarid MediterraneanMediterranean

Extremely arid – Extremely arid – most areas most areas receive less than receive less than 18 inches of 18 inches of rainfall per yearrainfall per year

Deserts Limit MovementDeserts Limit Movement

Deserts effectively reduce travel and limit Deserts effectively reduce travel and limit human environment interactionhuman environment interaction

Sandy DesertsSandy DesertsRub al-Khalil – also known as the “empty Rub al-Khalil – also known as the “empty

quarter”quarter”Vast desert approx. the size of Texas on Arabian Vast desert approx. the size of Texas on Arabian

PeninsulaPeninsulaOne of largest sandy deserts in worldOne of largest sandy deserts in world

Other Sandy DesertsOther Sandy Deserts

An-Nafud DesertAn-Nafud DesertOasis- found in An-NafudOasis- found in An-NafudArea in desert where vegetation is found Area in desert where vegetation is found

because water is available usually from because water is available usually from underground springsunderground springs

Syrian DesertSyrian DesertSeparates coast of Israel and Lebanon from Separates coast of Israel and Lebanon from

Tigris and EuphratesTigris and Euphrates

Salt DesertsSalt Deserts

Mostly formed in Iran due to the rain Mostly formed in Iran due to the rain shadow formed by its high mountainsshadow formed by its high mountainsWhen winds evaporate the moisture in the When winds evaporate the moisture in the

soil, salt remains creating a soil, salt remains creating a salt flatsalt flat

Semi-arid lands/ Well watered Semi-arid lands/ Well watered coast landscoast lands

Semi arid areas have Semi arid areas have warm to hot summers with warm to hot summers with enough rainfall to support enough rainfall to support grass and low growing grass and low growing shrubsshrubs

Well watered coast landsWell watered coast lands Along the mediterranean Along the mediterranean

coast and across most of coast and across most of TurkeyTurkey

Human Environment InteractionHuman Environment Interaction

Dams and Irrigation SystemsDams and Irrigation SystemsModern Water TechnologyModern Water Technology

Drip irrigation- using small pipes that slowly Drip irrigation- using small pipes that slowly drip water just above ground to conserve drip water just above ground to conserve water used for cropswater used for crops

Desalinization- removal of salt from ocean Desalinization- removal of salt from ocean waterwater

Fossil water- water pumped from underground Fossil water- water pumped from underground aquifers that has been there for a very long aquifers that has been there for a very long period of timeperiod of time

Oil From the SandOil From the Sand

Fields contain about ½ of the petroleum Fields contain about ½ of the petroleum reserves in the worldreserves in the world

Forming petroleumForming petroleumOil and natural gas deposits formed millions of Oil and natural gas deposits formed millions of

years ago when an ancient sea covered the years ago when an ancient sea covered the area of SW Asiaarea of SW Asia

Plants and animals lived/died in sea… over Plants and animals lived/died in sea… over time heat and pressure formed into petroleumtime heat and pressure formed into petroleum

Petroleum that has not been processed is Petroleum that has not been processed is called called crude oilcrude oil

Oil pumped from the ground must be Oil pumped from the ground must be moved to a refinerymoved to a refineryThe job of the refinery is to convert oil into The job of the refinery is to convert oil into

useful productsuseful products