There are numerous types of deserts in the world. They are terrestrial biomes that receive the least amount of rainfall and the highest amount of solar radiation throughout the year. Most of them have very high temperatures, in some cases reaching 60 degrees Celsius at ground level during daylight hours. However, not all deserts in the world have high temperatures. There are also those where low temperatures predominate.
In this article we're going to tell you all about the characteristics of the world's deserts.
Characteristics of a desert
These types of biomes are located between 15 and 35 degrees latitude in both hemispheres. In these regions, air circulation produces low humidity. Most of the world's deserts are associated with orographic precipitation. This type of precipitation occurs when air encounters a high mountain. As an air mass rises up the mountain slope, it cools, and the moisture condenses, generating precipitation in the form of rain. The problem is that the rain is triggered on the mountain itself, and it is crucial that the lower slopes experience low humidity and gradually warm up.
If we look at the world's major mountain ranges, we see that deserts exist on the leeward side due to the conditions we've mentioned. The driest areas in the world are those with high atmospheric pressure that remains almost constant throughout the year. Let's look at some of the world's major deserts and hot regions. The Sahara Desert, the Australian Desert, and the Atacama Desert are some of the most important. These deserts present environmental conditions that are interesting to study, and their relationship to desert climate is perfect for further exploration. In fact, if you're interested in the topic, you can learn more about the driest place on Earth.
Types and ecosystems of the world's deserts
But on that planet there are different types of deserts depending on their characteristics. Let's see what each of them are:
- Mid-latitude continental deserts: They are those who are on the opposite side of the mountain range complaint Lee suffer from drought conditions and high temperatures due to the fact that the precipitations discharge in the mountain area.
- North America desert: these deserts are characterized by high temperatures and very high aridity.
- Coastal deserts: are those that are located near the coast.
- Australian desert: This entire area stands out for having a very high air level.
- Cold subpolar and mountain deserts: these deserts stand out for having low temperatures and a much lower level of biodiversity due to extreme environmental conditions.
- Tropical and subtropical deserts: they have a smaller extension because the tropical climate tends to be prone to creating favorable environments for the development of biodiversity.
Desert ecosystems are characterized by high levels of aridity, resulting in extreme environmental conditions. Some deserts, like the Sahara, receive virtually no rainfall throughout the year. This makes the life forms found in these places almost nonexistent. In other cases, deserts do receive rainfall, but it is very sporadic. This rainfall is usually accompanied by storms.
Deserts with slightly higher rainfall tend to have a greater level of biodiversity. Among the plants found there are drought-resistant shrubs, cacti, and other succulents. Cacti grow in a folded shape, allowing them to expand when they absorb water during rainy periods. Furthermore, annual plants flower more vigorously when rainfall is present. To learn more about these ecosystems, we can investigate how the world's climates interact with them.
As for animals, reptiles and insects have shown remarkable adaptation to arid environments . Most are nocturnal to avoid the high daytime temperatures. Some are also active during the cooler months. Certain ecosystems are located at high altitudes and latitudes, making them exposed to low temperatures during the winter. Examples include the deserts of Nevada and Utah, which are often covered in snow.
Conditions in the world's deserts
We are going to see what are the reasons why there is a great temperature range and a lack of rainfall in these places. Arid environments are usually located in high pressure areas that act as a meteorological boundary between tropical and temperate latitudes. In these areas the movement of air prevails on the surface towards the opposite side of the high pressure areas. This air is supported by other air that descends through higher levels as part of the overall circulation of the Hadley cell.
The air that blows across the world's deserts is characterized by being hot and dry. Near ground level, temperature inversions occur, leading to central high-pressure zones characterized by a lack of human habitation and low rainfall. On the other hand, human activity, particularly in areas with intensive agriculture or deforestation, has a negative impact, causing desertification. Desertification is one of the environmental impacts leading to the loss of fertile soil worldwide and a considerable reduction in biodiversity. To better understand the situation, it is helpful to read about deserts threatened by global warming.
Another reason for these adverse conditions in the desert climate is the presence of low-pressure zones at ground level, generated by high daytime temperatures and clear skies, which lead to areas where temperatures can reach 40 degrees Celsius and higher.
Soils
The soils of the world's deserts show very little weathering and contain no humus. They have a sandy texture, and in some deserts, this is evident in plant growth. This growth provides an accumulation of plant debris at the soil surface and a food source for wildlife. The lack of water filtration and chemical weathering make these soils infertile. Understanding soils in these extreme environments is vital to understanding how species are distributed and how they interact with their environment.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the world's deserts and their characteristics.