Summary
So let's summarize ...
We've seen in this unit that climate - as well as climate change - is an important factor in human livelihoods, and has been for thousands of years. While life in the Sahara desert is extremely difficult, this region is not as desolate or uninhabitable as one might expect. Ancient water from oases provides the opportunity to grow crops and sustain livestock for the millions of people who spend all or part of their lives in the desert. In turn, people have an effect on their environment, and in the fragile desert ecosystem most human activities lead to a decrease in vegetation and hence an increase in the amount of terrain classified as desert. Even the building of a highway, which is so vital for transport of goods and communication, often leads to rapid local expansion of the desert far more quickly than would occur through climate change.
Deliverables
REMINDER: The following items are due by the end of this lesson (see the Calendar tab in ANGEL for specific due dates). Detailed information about the assignments and submission directions are included in this lesson.
- Discussion Forum: Climate of Africa, Part III
- Assignment: Climate Change Project, Part B
