We know that there are many types of climates on the planet, depending on the different characteristics of each one of them. Today we are going to talk about him Dry weatherThis type of climate has an average annual rainfall that is lower than the evaporation and transpiration that occurs during the same period. That is, the amount of water entering the ecosystem is less than the amount lost. Furthermore, since the air is very dry, there are few clouds, and the sun's rays are very intense.
In this article we are going to tell you all the characteristics, variables and importance of the dry climate.
Key features
In dry climates, summers are very hot and it rarely rains. On the other hand, during the winter, temperatures can be somewhat cooler or warmer, but the nights are always cold. They are primarily characterized by a large temperature difference between day and night. Dry climates are generated as a result of global air circulation. According to the circulation pattern, we know that warmer air tends to rise in the atmosphere and is encouraged by sunlightDuring the heating process, the air loses some of its water vapor.
As warm air rises, it encounters other, cooler layers at higher altitudes. It then descends hundreds of kilometers from the equator and warms up again as it descends. As the air descends from higher altitudes, it loses more and more water vapor until it becomes completely dry. This is why a dry climate is dominated by air with little humidity.
There are other factors that also collaborate in the generation of areas with a dry climate. For example, the highest mountains are responsible for blocking the winds that are loaded with moisture from this sea. By having a high altitude, the mountains force the air to riseAs the air rises, it cools and causes rain to fall on the slopes. Once the clouds have discharged all the water, the remaining air will have very low humidity. This reinforces the dryness of deserts and steppes.
It is quite common for a high mountain range to be followed by a large area where the climate is predominantly dry. If you would like to learn more about extreme conditions, you can read about the drier summers.
Meteorological variables of the dry climate
Let's see what are the meteorological variables that predominate in dry weather:
- Low rainfallWe know that the main characteristic of a dry climate is its low and infrequent rainfall. In arid or semi-desert areas, rainfall levels are as low as about 35 centimeters per year. Some deserts have years in which they don't receive a drop of rain. On the other hand, steppes receive slightly more rain, but they don't have rainfall above 50 centimeters per year. The amount of rain that falls in these areas only serves to maintain the scattered grasses and shrubs. There is no tree-like vegetation that can sustain them. The predominant vegetation is grasses and bushes.
- Large extensions: Another characteristic of dry climates is that the regions where they are found tend to occupy large areas. The arid and semi-arid regions of the world constitute approximately 26% of the entire Earth's surface. This is how we know that dry climates occur in very large areas. In these environments, plants and animals have adapted to live with very low rainfall, dry winds, and high temperatures year-round. If you are interested in vegetation adaptation, you can consult the influence of precipitation.
- Increased evaporationAs mentioned before, dry climates are characterized by having less precipitation than evaporates and is transpired by plants. In the most arid regions of the Middle East, annual precipitation averages 20 centimeters, while annual evaporation and transpiration rates exceed 200 centimeters. This extreme evaporation contributes to dry, thick soils with sparse vegetation.
- Extreme temperatures: The wide temperature variation occurs both seasonally and daily. Since the sun's rays are more direct in these areas, the temperature fluctuations between day and night are extreme. We know that deserts have very hot summers, while the nights are cool and the winters are mild. On the other hand, cold deserts have winters that can be extremely cold, with temperatures even dropping below freezing. If you want to learn more about the recorded temperatures, you can visit the article on temperature records in Spain.
Flora and vegetation of the dry climate
As we've mentioned, there are plants and animals that have had to adapt to these more extreme conditions in order to survive. Let's analyze the predominant flora and vegetation in the dry climate. Some of the most abundant species in these areas are:
- Nopal cactus: is a plant composed of numerous circular pads growing on a thick, round trunk. All the pads are covered in spines, which are its leaves. These leaves have this shape to reduce surface area and decrease transpiration. It also helps protect the plant from herbivores that feed on it. It needs to be able to retain as much water as possible inside without losing much through transpiration, while also carrying out the process of photosynthesis.
- Saguaro cactus: it is a cactus whose skin is smooth and waxy and has a kind of rib that extends from the top to the bottom along the entire plant. Its branches grow upright and the trunk can become tall and grow in good conditions. Its spines are 5 cm long and are located on each of the vertical ribs.
- Desert clouds: These are plants that detach themselves from their roots and are carried by the wind. They tend to grow quite quickly until they can become plants with thorny flowers. The thorns serve to reduce the surface area through which they lose water. They are known as steppe plants and are the typical plants seen in Western movies, such as tumbleweeds. Thanks to this rolling, they are able to spread their seeds across the ground.
Fauna
The fauna has created various adaptations throughout evolution to be able to survive in these environments. Let's see which are the main species and their characteristics:
- Rattlesnake: There are numerous species of rattlesnakes, and their foot patterns are the same but with different colors. They have a triangular head and a rattle at the end of their tail. They are good camouflagers and are carnivorous.
- Thorny devil: It's a lizard the size of a hand. It has cone-shaped spines and a hump that serves as protection.
- Coyote: their fur is brown and mixed with brown, gray or black hairs. They feed mainly on rabbits and other rodents.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the dry climate and its characteristics.