Life and Evolution of the Desert - Annotated Bibliography Example

El-Baz, Farouk. “Origin and Evolution of the Desert.” Interdisciplinary Science Reviews, vol. 13, no. 4, 1988, pp.331-347.

The main summary highlights the evolution of a desert. Fundamentally, the article explains a misconception about the origin and the existence of desert. For example, it has been mentioned that the desert is man-made. Additionally, the author insists that the desert is a part of the nature and it exists not only on Earth but also on Mars. Moreover, a lack of sufficient rain has been identified as the main cause behind the emergence of deserts in different parts of world. Also, the author also insists that this basic understanding and knowledge of such factors enable humans to find reasons behind the current state of deserts.

The author has not used the primary research for substantiating his claim about the findings. For example, the satellite images from the sky have been used to support the perspectives mentioned in the study. For example, the author insists that the underground water exists in the attached images. This shows that the author has only used his personal knowledge and understanding relating to the work and the findings mentioned in the paper. In this regard, it is relevant to insist that the primary research could have included samples from different deserts and their scientific analysis would have positively affected the findings. At the same time, this would have enabled the author to conclude whether all deserts have similar natural features or they have different climatic features, natural factors and other aspects, differentiating one desert from other desert area.

The study has considerably improved the basic knowledge about desert. For any beginner, this piece of research offers a considerable support by putting more light on the basic features and origin of deserts in different parts of the world. At the same time, this also provides information relating to groundwater and its significance relating to deserts.

El-Saied, Al-Baraa, El-Ghamry, Abass, Khafagi, A. Om-Mohammad, Powell, Owen, and Bediar, Ramadan. “Floristic diversity and vegetation analysis of Siwa Oasis: An ancient agro-ecosystem in Egypt’s Western Desert.” Annals of Agricultural Science, vol. 60, no.2, 2015, pp. 361-372.

The paper highlights a relationship between Egypt’s Western Desert and irrigation systems operating in these areas of the world. The main findings include that the authors selected 132 sites representing the flora of Siwa Oasis agro-ecosystem and around 154 species were documented and around 52 species were cultivated. At the same time, this study attempts to highlight whether the cosmopolitan species are cultivable in arid regions especially in deserts.

The authors have not provided any concrete findings relating to their experiments at the Siwa Oasis. Although the authors have collected various and different species, yet they do not provide any important finding relating to their basic premise. In this regard, it is relevant to insist that the authors have not been able to ascertain whether such climatic conditions support the cosmopolitan species and their natural growth as well.

This study changes my perception about deserts and their relationship with the natural environment. Fundamentally, it is assumed that an arid piece of land, such as desert, does not allow growth of any vegetation as it does not have any capacity to hold water or provide a congenial natural environment essential for their existence and continued growth. On the contrary, the findings of this study have considerably changed the understanding about this concept. Based on this situation, it can be easily understood that the deserts also provide some sort of environment to vegetation.

Gober, Particia. “Desert urbanization and challenges of water sustainability.” Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, vol. 2, 2010, pp.144-150.

Desert urbanization challenges represent the main theme of the paper. The author mentions that urban areas located in desert areas face a grave danger of water shortages. This is mainly caused by the global climate change and rise in the global warming as well. In order to assess the severity of such challenges, the author evaluates various causes and factors adding fuel to the fire of water shortages especially in the arid countries and regions of the world. At the same time, the paper puts light on the relationship between water and energy as both are highly significant for life and its existence in the arid regions. For this objective, the author collects the relevant data from Portland, Phoenix, and California for highlighting the impact of water and energy relationship in these states.

The paper highlights water and energy relationships. This point clearly indicates that the importance of water with regard to arid regions cannot be undermined under any circumstances. Additionally, the paper points out the major challenges which are being faced the urban areas in the deserts. In this regard, it is relevant to insist that the author has not specifically evaluated any particular arid land instead he has used data from many deserts. And, the collected and used data is of secondary nature, clearly indicating that the author has relied on the findings of the sources used in the study.

Knowing the energy relationship with water in desert areas considerably increases the importance of this study. In order words, this study attempts to highlight that how urban life could be made sustainable in the arid regions by providing solutions to the challenges which are being faced by the people living in deserts.

Hadwan, Morshed, and Alkholidi, Abdulsalam. “Solar power energy solutions for Yemeni rural villages and desert communities.” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 57, 2016, pp.838-849.

Energy and desert life interaction has been focused in the paper. The paper highlights that the energy is of crucial importance for the rural Yemeni villages and desert communities. And, it also indicates that all aspects of life, such as education, health, culture, and other social aspects, considerably rely on the availability of energy resources. Additionally, the paper points out energy poverty, and other types of poverty are directly or indirectly associated with the absence of energy. For this objective, solar energy for desert communities is of central importance for improving their living standard.

The paper represents a case study. In it, the primary objective is to assess the impact of energy poverty on the people living in the rural and desert areas of Yemen. However, the paper has not pointed out the relationship between desert life and awareness of energy factors. More clearly, how people perceive the importance of energy requirements and their own efforts for improving their lives has not been included in the paper. Additionally, the paper represents a sociological perspective because it has more focused on social factors and their importance in the rural and desert communities of Yemen.

The paper changes perceptions relating to desert living. This case study clearly highlights that it is possible to live in the desert areas but this is only possible when it is supported by the provision of the basic necessities, such as health, education, and electricity.

Halmy, W.A. Marwa, Gessler, E., Paul, Hicke, A.Heffrey and Salem, B. Boshra. “Land use/land cover change detection and prediction in the north-western coastal desert of Egypt using Markov-CA.” Applied Geography, vol. 30, 2015, pp. 101-112.

This study highlights the changing patterns in land usage and land change in north-western coastal desert of Egypt. The prime objective is to predict the future changes relating to land usage and land change in the specified area. For this objective, the authors used the Markov-CA model for extracting the relevant findings. The collected sample included desert landscape for 1988, 1999, and 2011. At the same time, the projected changes were also considered while deliberating on the findings. The study highlighted that more urbanization, cropland expansion and growth in residential areas is possible till 2023.

The study’s findings cannot be generalized. For example, the study findings are only specific to Egypt’s deserts. Because of different terrain, and other social, economic, and environmental factors, it is difficult to say that the same predictions are applicable to other deserts. At the same time, the authors have used one model (Markov-CA) and the findings are mainly provided and supported by this model. Under this situation, it is difficult to indicate that the same findings would also be generated by the other models related with the study.

It is positive and encouraging to know that such findings are highly motivational. Generally, it is assumed that deserts are inhabitable but such findings contradict this perspective strongly. Additionally, they also indicate that the expansion in urbanization is also possible, clearly highlighting that deserts are supporting human life and their presence as well.

Varghese, Nisha, and Singh, P. Naveen. “ Linkages between land use changes, desertification and human development in the Thar Desert Region of India.” Land Use Policy, vol. 51, 2016, pp.18-25.

Agriculture increases desertification is the main theme of this paper. In the arid regions of India, population is growing rapidly. And, the situation becomes worse when people are not appropriately literate. Considerably, this creates a gap and that causes a rise in the agricultural activities in the region. This situation directly increases the speed of desertification in the region. Additionally, the author has used data from various districts which are mostly situated in the desert area, known as Thar.

This journal article clearly highlights that the human activity is also responsible for desertification. For example, humans consume food for living and this is only possible if they produce more food by utilizing more agricultural land. And for the cultivable land, forest cover has been reduced in the region. In other words, the author is indicating that the decrease in the forest and increase in the agricultural land have directly or indirectly increased desertification in the area.

This is a highly informative article. The study highlights that how humans are directly responsible for increasing the extent of deserts in the world. More importantly, increase in population is causing more desertification as mentioned in the article. And, this increase seriously harms to overall environment and human living on this planet.