Desert soils are usually very sandy. If you’ve seen sand storms in movies like “The Mummy” and “Hidalgo,” you’ve seen what happens when big winds blow in the desert. Sandstorms bury animals, plants, and even entire cities. When plants are buried by sand they can’t photosynthesize and die. Buried cryptobiotic soil crusts die too, as do all the grasses, shrubs, and flowers. Cryptobiotic soil crusts hold sand in place so when big winds come they won’t cause catastrophic sandstorms. That’s a good thing! You can see this for yourself by simulating a windstorm.
Step 1: Simulate a windstorm
The BEST place to do this step is outside. If you’re doing this inside BE SURE to place a screen around the back of this experiment. (You can use a large cardboard box and cut out the front.)
Question 1
Using the blow dryer, begin on low speed and aim the blow dryer at the simulated cryptobiotic soil. Record your observations.
Question 2
Now aim the blow dryer, on low speed, at the sand. Record your observations.
Question 3
Turn the blow dryer onto high and aim it toward the sand so that the sand will blow toward the pile of simulated cryptobiotic soil. Record your observations.
Desert soils are usually very sandy. If you’ve seen sand storms in movies like “The Mummy” and “Hidalgo,” you’ve seen what happens when big winds blow in the desert. Sandstorms bury animals, plants, and even entire cities. When plants are buried by sand they can’t photosynthesize and die. Buried cryptobiotic soil crusts die too, as do all the grasses, shrubs, and flowers. Cryptobiotic soil crusts hold sand in place so when big winds come they won’t cause catastrophic sandstorms. That’s a good thing! You can see this for yourself by simulating a windstorm. 
