Hamada is another name for

Analyze the question: The question asks which type of desert "Hamada" refers to. This is a term from physical geography (desert landforms).

Explain the concept: Deserts are classified by their surface type, and many have local Arabic names:

• Erg (sand sea): sandy desert, with dunes
• Reg (serir): stony desert, covered with gravel and pebbles
• Hamada: rocky desert, with bare rock surfaces, plateaus and outcrops, where wind has removed the loose sand and dust
• Cold desert: e.g. the polar regions or Gobi, which are defined by temperature and not by surface type

Step-by-step solution:

1. "Hamada" is a Saharan term for desert areas with exposed bedrock.
2. Wind erosion (deflation) blows away the fine particles and leaves behind bare, rocky plateaus.
3. This is different from a Reg, which is a plain covered with small stones and gravel (stony desert).
4. It is also different from an Erg, which is sandy.
5. So Hamada matches rocky desert.

Answer: C. rocky desert

Exam tip: Remember the pairing "H for Hard rock": Hamada = Hard rocky surface. Also: Erg = Extensive sand, Reg = Rubble and gravel.