Arabian Desert (Arabi Desert)
Deserts
A satellite image of the Arabian Desert by NASA World Wind
Countries	Jordan,  Iraq,  Kuwait ,  Oman,  Qatar,  Saudi Arabia ,  United Arab Emirates,  Yemen
Landmarks	Al-Nafūd, Al-Sabʿatayn Dunes, Āl Wahībah Dunes, Rubʿ al-Khali
Highest point	Mount Al-Nabī Shuʿayb 12,336 ft (3,760 m)
- coordinates	18°16′2″N 42°22′5″E / 18.26722°N 42.36806°E / 18.26722; 42.36806
Length	2,100 km (1,305 mi), E/W
Width	1,100 km (684 mi), N/S
Area	2,330,000 km2 (899,618 sq mi)
Biome	Desert

Map of the Arabian Desert. Ecoregions as delineated by the WWF. Satellite image from NASA. The yellow line encloses the ecoregion called "Arabian Desert and East Sahero-Arabian xeric shrublands",^[1] and two smaller, closely related ecoregions called "Persian Gulf desert and semi-desert"^[2] and "Red Sea Nubo-Sindian tropical desert and semi-desert".^[3] National boundaries are shown in black.

The Arabian Desert is located in Western Asia. It is a vast desert wilderness stretching from Yemen to the Persian Gulf and Oman to Jordan and Iraq. It occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula, with an area of 2,330,000 square kilometers (900,000 sq mi). At its centre is the Rub'al-Khali, one of the largest continuous bodies of sand in the world. Gazelles, oryx, sand cats, and spiny-tailed lizards are just some of the desert-adapted species that survive in this extreme environment, which features everything from red dunes to deadly quicksand. The climate is extremely dry, and temperatures oscillate between extreme heat and seasonal night time freezes. It is part of the Deserts and xeric shrublands biome and the Palearctic ecozone. This ecoregion holds little biodiversity, although a few endemic plants grow here. Many species, such as the striped hyena, jackal and honey badger have become extinct in this area due to hunting, human encroachment and habitat destruction. Other species have been successfully re-introduced, such as the sand gazelle, and are protected at a number of reserves. Overgrazing by livestock, off-road driving, and human destruction of habitat are the main threats to this desert ecoregion.

Geology and geography[link]

Detailed geological features :

• A corridor of sandy terrain known as the ad-Dahna desert connects the large an-Nafud desert (65,000 km² or 40,389 square mile) in the north of Saudi Arabia to the Rub' al-Khali in the south-east.
• the Tuwaiq escarpment is a region of 800 km (500 mi) arc of limestone cliffs, plateaux, and canyons.
• Brackish salt flats: the quicksands of Umm al Samim
• The Wahiba sands of Oman : an isolated sand sea bordering the east coast
• The Rub' al-Khali^[4] desert is a sedimentary basin elongated on a southwest to northeast axis across the Arabian shelf. At an altitude of 1,000 metres (3,300 ft), the rock landscapes yield the place to the ar-Ruba' Al-Khali, vast wide of sand of the Arabian desert, whose extreme southern point crosses the centre of Yemen. The sand overlies gravel or gypsum plains and the dunes reach maximum heights of up to 250 m (820 ft). The sands are predominantly silicates, composed of 80 to 90% of quartz and the remainder feldspar, whose iron oxide-coated grains color the sands in orange, purple, and red.

Ecology and natural resources[link]

Some resources are oil, natural gas, phosphates, and sulfur.

The Rub'al-Khali has very limited floristic diversity. There are only 37 species, 20 recorded in the main body of the sands and 17 around the outer margins. Among these 37 species, only one or two are endemic. Vegetation is very diffuse but fairly evenly distributed, with some interruptions of near sterile dunes.
Some typical plants are

• Calligonum crinitum on dune slopes
• Cornulaca arabica (saltbush)
• Cyperus conglomeratus.

Other widespread species are

• Dipterygium glaucum
• Limeum arabicum
• Zygophyllum mandavillei (Mandaville 1986).

Very little trees may be found except at the outer margin (typically Acacia ehrenbergiana and Prosopis cineraria).
Other species are a woody perennial Calligonum comosum and annual herbs such as Danthonia forskallii

Political borders[link]

The desert is mostly in Saudi Arabia, extending into the surrounding countries of Egypt (Sinai), southern Iraq and southern Jordan. The Arabian desert is bordered by 5 countries. Bordering the Persian Gulf, there is an extension into Qatar and, further east, the region covers almost all of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Rub'al-Khali crosses over from Saudi Arabia into western Oman and eastern Yemen

People, language and cultures[link]

The area is home to several different people, languages and cultures, with Islam as the predominant faith. The major ethnic group in the region are the Arabs, with Arabic as their primary language.

Ecological threats[link]

• Overgrazing by camels and goats, with increased herd size, and a more sedentary lifestyle amongst the Bedouin
• Human destruction of habitat
• Agricultural projects
• Oil and gas production
• War and its impacts

Oil spills[link]

This ecoregion was the victim of a massive economic-environmental challenge: the sabotage of Kuwait oil facilities that caused vast oil spills and the release of toxins into the atmosphere in the 1990s.

In January 1991 during the Gulf War, Iraqi forces released about 1.7 million m³ (11 million barrels) of oil from storage tanks and tankers directly into the Persian Gulf. In February, they also destroyed 1,164 Kuwaiti oil wells. It took nine months to extinguish these oil fires. These oil spills contaminated 1,000 km (620 mi) of Persian Gulf coast.

The result of the pollution was the death of thousands of water birds and serious damage to the Persian Gulf's aquatic ecosystem, particularly shrimp, sea turtles, dugongs, whales, dolphins and fish.

The damaged wells also released 10 million m³ (60 million barrels) of oil into the desert and formed lakes (total surface of 49 square kilometres) which contaminated soil and ground water.

Military activity[link]

Weaponry used by the US during the Gulf War also poses a huge risk to the environmental stability of the area. Tank columns in the desert plains may disrupt the fragile stability that exists. In 1991, the movement of US tanks over the desert damaged the top protective layer of the desert soil. As a result, a sand dune was released and has started slowly moving downhill.^[5] Some people fear that this dune could ultimately reach Kuwait City.^[5] Another concern is related to the use of toxic depleted uranium munitions by the A-10 "Warthog". Some detractors claim the ammunition to be a cancer risk and a source of water contamination. In 1991, the U.S. and NATO dropped nearly 300 tons of depleted uranium on Iraqi targets. The splinters resulting from the explosion contaminated the surrounding soil.

Conservation[link]

The conservation status of the desert is critical/endangered, with species including the white oryx and sand gazelle threatened and striped hyaenas, jackals and honey badgers already extinct.

No formal protected areas exist but a number of protected areas are planned for Abu Dhabi.

References[link]

Al Di Meola
Al Di Meola
Background information
Birth name	Al Laurence Dimeola
Born	(1954-07-22) July 22, 1954 (age 57) Jersey City, New Jersey United States
Genres	Jazz fusion, Latin jazz, world fusion
Occupations	Musician, songwriter, producer
Instruments	Guitar, keyboards, drums, cello, vocals, percussion
Years active	1974–present
Labels	Columbia, Telarc, TomatoMilestone, Di Meola/Inakustik, Valiana Records
Associated acts	Return to Forever
Website	www.AlDiMeola.com
Notable instruments
Gibson Les Paul PRS McCarty PRS Al Di Meola

Al Di Meola (born Al Laurence Dimeola, July 22, 1954, in Jersey City, New Jersey) is an acclaimed American jazz fusion and Latin jazz guitarist, composer, and record producer of Italian origin. With a musical career that has spanned more than three decades, he has become respected as one of the most influential guitarists in jazz to date. Albums such as Friday Night in San Francisco have earned him both artistic and commercial success ^[1] with a solid fan base throughout the world.^[2]

Di Meola grew up in Bergenfield, New Jersey, and attended Bergenfield High School.^[3] He is now a resident of Bergen County, New Jersey.^[4]

Career[link]

In 1971, he enrolled in the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1974 he joined Chick Corea's band, Return to Forever, and played with the band until a major lineup shift in 1976.

Di Meola went on to explore a variety of styles, but is most noted for his Latin-influenced jazz fusion works. He is a four-time winner as Best Jazz Guitarist in Guitar Player Magazine's Reader Poll.

Guitar historian Robert Lynch states: "In the history of the electric guitar, no one figure has done more to advance the instrument in a purely technical manner than Mr. Di Meola. His total command of the various styles and scales is simply mind-boggling. I feel privileged to have been able to study his work all these years."^[5]

Di Meola with Return to Forever, 1974

In addition to a prolific solo career, he has engaged in successful collaborations with bassist Stanley Clarke, keyboardist Jan Hammer, violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, and guitarists John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía. He also guested on "Allergies" from Paul Simon's Hearts and Bones'" album (1983).

In the beginning of his career, as evidenced on his first solo album Land of the Midnight Sun (1976), Di Meola was noted for his technical mastery and extremely fast, complex guitar solos and compositions. But even on his early albums, he had begun to explore Mediterranean cultures and acoustic genres like flamenco. Good examples are "Mediterranean Sundance" and "Lady of Rome, Sister of Brazil" from the Elegant Gypsy album (1977). His early albums were very influential among rock and jazz guitarists alike. Di Meola continued to explore Latin music within the jazz fusion genre on albums like Casino and Splendido Hotel. He exhibited a more subtle touch on acoustic numbers like "Fantasia Suite for Two Guitars" from the Casino album, and on the best-selling live album with McLaughlin and de Lucia, Friday Night in San Francisco. The latter album became one of the most popular live albums for acoustic guitar ever recorded and was sold more than two million times worldwide.^[6] In 1980, he also toured with fellow Latin rocker Carlos Santana.

With Scenario, he explored the electronic side of jazz in a collaboration with Jan Hammer (later of Miami Vice theme fame). Beginning with this change, he further expanded his horizons with the acoustic album Cielo e Terra. He began to incorporate guitars and synthesizers on albums such as Soaring Through a Dream. By the 1990s, Di Meola recorded albums closer to World music and modern Latin styles than jazz.

John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, and Paco de Lucía

He has continued to tour, playing in smaller venues like The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia, and House of Blues in Las Vegas, Nevada. Recent concerts have included a sampling of his newer material (an engaging mix of acoustic, "distorted acoustic music", and guitar/synthesizer with a looser format than the songs on the early solo albums) along with a selection of electric guitar numbers from the early albums. Di Meola often closes out shows with an energetic rendition of one of his most challenging pieces, "Race with Devil on Spanish Highway", from the Elegant Gypsy album. Even in technical showcases like this, he combines blindingly fast scalar runs with subtle, dazzling rhythms, and melodic phrases. Because of his early recordings, Di Meola became arguably the most important pioneer of shred guitar,^{[citation needed]} influencing guitarists such as Yngwie Malmsteen (with whom he appeared on keyboardist Derek Sherinian's solo album Black Utopia in 2003), Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi with his speed runs as a child and Dream Theater's John Petrucci.^[7] However, in most cases after the early 1980s, Di Meola has largely distanced himself from this approach. In various interviews, Di Meola has stated that his reason for stepping away from the electric guitar is due to hearing damage (manifested as tinnitus) from years of playing at excessive volumes;^[8] the acoustic guitar does not aggravate his condition.

But in 2006 he rediscovered his love of the electric guitar,^[9] and the DVD of his concert at the Leverkusen Jazz Festival 2006 bears the subtitle Return to Electric Guitar.^[10]

Discography[link]

Solo works[link]

• Land of the Midnight Sun (1976)
• Elegant Gypsy (1977)
• Casino (1978)
• Splendido Hotel (1980)
• Electric Rendezvous (1982)
• Scenario (1983)
• Cielo e Terra (1985)
• Soaring Through a Dream (1985)
• Tirami Su (1987)
• Kiss My Axe (1991)
• World Sinfonia (1991)
• Heart Of The Immigrants (1993)
• Orange and Blue (1994)
• Di Meola Plays Piazzolla (1996)
• The Infinite Desire (1998)
• Christmas: Winter Nights (1999)
• World Sinfonía III - The Grande Passion (2000)
• Flesh on Flesh (2002)
• Al Di Meola Revisited (2003)
• Vocal Rendezvous (2006)
• Consequence of Chaos (2006)
• Diabolic Inventions And Seduction For Solo Guitar (2007)
• Pursuit of Radical Rhapsody (March 2011) ^[6]

Collaborations[link]

• Venusian Summer (1975) Lenny White, Al Di Meola, Larry Coryell
• Go (1976) with Go Stomu Yamash'ta, Steve Winwood, Al Di Meola
• Go Live From Paris (1976) with Go Stomu Yamash'ta, Steve Winwood, Al Di Meola
• Go Too (1977) with Go
• Friday Night in San Francisco (1980) with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía
• Tour De Force – Live (1982) with Jan Hammer, Anthony Jackson, and Steve Gadd
• Passion, Grace and Fire (1983) with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía
• Latin (1987) with George Dalaras
• Super Guitar Trio And Friends (1990) with Larry Coryell and Biréli Lagrène
• Rite Of Strings (1995) with Stanley Clarke and Jean-Luc Ponty
• Dance of Fire (1995) - Aziza Mustafa Zadeh
• The Guitar Trio (1996) with John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía
• Winter Nights (1999) - Roman Hrynkiv
• Inspiration - Colors & Reflections (2000) Aziza Mustafa Zadeh
• Nylon & Steel (2001) Manuel Barrueco
• The Running Roads (2001) with George Dalaras
• Black Utopia (2003) with Derek Sherinian
• Cosmopolitan Life (2005) with Leonid Agutin
• Midsummer Night In Sardinia (2005) with Andrea Parodi
• Mária (Égi szerelem) (2007) with Miklos Malek and Eszter Horgas
• The NYC Session: Beautiful Love (2007) with Eddie Gomez, Billy Drummond and Yutaka Kobayashi
• Ő és Carmen (He and Carmen) (2008) with Eszter Horgas

As Producer

• Magic Touch (1985) Stanley Jordan

Return to Forever albums featuring Al Di Meola[link]

• Where Have I Known You Before (1974, Polydor)
• No Mystery (1975, Polydor)
• Romantic Warrior (1976, Columbia)
• Returns (2009, Eagle (Fontana))

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Al Di Meola

• Al Di Meola Official Web Site