Definitions
"A long period in which a minuscule amount or no rain falls."
drought
"removing or clearing away the trees from a forest. Deforestation is often done to clear land for farming or ranching."
deforestation
"the gradual wearing away of Earth’s surface by the action of wind, water, ice, and gravity."
erosion
"an isolated spot in a desert where water is found."
oasis
"an area defined by one or more natural or cultural characteristics that set it apart from other areas."
region
"a change in a way of life to suit new conditions."
adaptation
"a geographic region with too little rainfall to support much plant life; also a vegetation zone."
"a high, rock-covered flatland in the Sahara."
hammada
"groups of herders who move with their animals from place to place in search of pasture and water."
pastoral nomads
"the practice of clearing one area for farming for a few years and then moving on to another area when the first has lost its fertility."
shifting agriculture
"dry or lacking rainfall; also a climate or climate zone that is hot and dry all year with very little rain."
"the process by which land becomes more and more dry until it turns into desert."
desertification
"any natural feature of Earth’s surface that has a distinct shape."
landform
"any natural characteristic of Earth’s surface, such as landforms and bodies of water."
physical feature
"the creation and use of tools to meet practical needs; also refers to the tools themselves."
technology
"a crop that is grown to be sold rather than to be consumed by the farmers and their families."
cash crop
"any action that relates to the making, buying, and selling of goods and services."
economic activities
"a large area with a particular kind of scenery."
landscape
"moisture that falls from the sky as rain, snow, sleet, or hail."
precipitation
"steady winds in tropical latitudes that blow toward the equator from the north and south."
trade winds
"the pattern of weather over a long period."
climate
"a great sea of sand with tall sand dunes in the Sahara."
erg
"land that is not well suited for growing crops."
"a gravel-covered desert plain."
reg
"all the plants and trees in an area."
vegetation