Desert climate: what is, characteristics, temperature, flora and fauna

The desert climate is a type of climate characterized by The shortage of rainfall and extreme temperaturesboth high and low, during the day and night. Desert climates are characterized by their low humidity and little vegetationwith predominance of rocky landscapes, sand dunes and little fertile soils. The lack of clouds and moisture in the air allows the heat of the sun to dissipate quickly during the night, resulting in a wide variation of temperature between day and night.

Despite the extreme conditions, Life has developed impressive adaptations to survive In these hostile environments. Plants such as cactus and xerophilic bushes have deep roots and tissues that allow them to preserve water. Animals have also evolved to resist the lack of water, such as camelids in Africa and Asia, which can store water in their humps.

In addition to its impact on flora and fauna, desert climate also influences human activities and the daily life of people who inhabit these regions. The Drinking water shortage And the need to develop efficient irrigation techniques are important challenges for communities that live in these areas. In these places, agriculture and livestock can be difficult to maintain due to lack of rainfall and soil quality.

We advise you to read these other articles about the types of deserts and the desert ecosystem: characteristics, flora and fauna.

This climate is typically in regions near the tropicswhere evaporation far exceeds rainfall, leaving an arid and dry landscape. Thus, the alocalization of desert climates covers significant areas on several continents. In North America, they extend throughout the southwest of the United States, including parts of California, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico. In South America, they can be found in northern Chile, western Peru and parts of Argentina. In Africa, large extensions of Sahara, as well as parts of Namibia and Botswana, have a desert climate. In Asia, the Gobi desert and parts of Saudi Arabia and Iran also exhibit this type of weather.

The characteristics of desert climate go beyond low precipitation and extreme temperatures. These are some of the main characteristics:

• Low moisture: One of the most prominent features of desert climate is low atmospheric humidity.
• Scarce precipitation: Deserts receive very little rain throughout the year. In some cases, it can rain less than 250 millimeters a year, and in many deserts, precipitation is even more scarce. In this other post you can read about why it does not rain in the desert.
• Extreme temperature variations: During the day, temperatures can be scorching, easily exceeding 40 ° C or more, due to intense direct solar radiation. However, during the night, temperatures can fall dramatically, sometimes below zero, due to the lack of clouds that retain heat.
• Daily thermal amplitude: The difference between day and night temperatures, known as daily thermal amplitude, can be significant in deserts.
• Intense solar radiation: Solar radiation in deserts is high due to the lack of clouds and the clean and dry atmosphere.
• Strong winds: In many deserts, winds can be strong and constant.
• Diverse landscapes: Although deserts are commonly thought of as vast sand extensions, they can also include rocky, saline or stony landscapes. Depending on factors such as geology and topography, deserts can have a variety of relief forms and physical characteristics.

Here you can know the biotic and abiotic factors of the desert.

The desert climate flora has evolved to survive in extremely arid conditions and with fluctuating temperatures. Despite the challenges, some plants have developed notable adaptations that allow them to prosper in this hostile environment. Some of the adaptations of the flora that inhabit these places are:

• Succulent plants: Many desert plants are succulent, which means they have the ability to store water in their tissues. Cactus are an emblematic example of this type of plants, with their ability to store large amounts of water in their fleshy stems and leaves. Here you can read about the types of succulent plants.
• Deep roots: To access groundwater, many desert plants have developed deep roots that can extend considerably in search of moisture. Thanks to the roots they can survive for prolonged drought periods.
• Reduced or absent sheet: To reduce the loss of water through perspiration, many desert plants have small leaves or even completely lack them. Instead, they can have green stems that perform photosynthesis, as in the case of cactus.
• Hass and protective waxes: Some desert plants develop a layer of hairs or waxes on their surfaces to reduce water loss by evaporation and protect themselves from intense solar radiation.
• Short growth cycles: To make the most of the favorable conditions, some desert plants have short growth cycles, which allows them to germinate, grow, flourish and produce seeds quickly after the rains.
• Adaptations to salinity: In coastal or saline deserts, some plants have developed adaptations to tolerate high salinity levels in the soil. These plants, called halophytes, can filter the salt of the water or accumulate it in their tissues without suffering damage. We advise you to read this other post about plants adaptations: types and examples.
• Protection strategies: In addition to physical adaptations, some desert plants use protection strategies, such as thorns or toxins, to defend against herbivores and reduce water loss due to perspiration.

Some examples of desert climate plants are The agave, aloe, acacia, biznaga, cassavathe candlestick cactus, the Joshua tree, the cactus organ, etc. In this article you can find more information about desert plants.

The fauna of the desert climate is composed of a variety of species adapted to survive in extreme conditions of aridity, high temperatures and shortage of resources. These adaptations include physical, behavioral and physiological characteristics that allow them to make the most of available resources and avoid dehydration.

These are some of the adaptations and examples of fauna found in the deserts:

• Night species: Many desert animals are nocturnal, which means they are more active during the night when temperatures are cooler. An example is the desert fox or fennec, which goes out to hunt its food mainly at night.
• Ability to keep water: Desert animals have developed various adaptations to conserve water in their bodies. Some have specialized organs to store water, such as camels, which can survive long periods without drinking thanks to their humps, which store fat and not water, as they usually believe.
• Activity reduction: During the hottest periods of the day, many desert animals reduce their activity and seek refuge in underground burrows or under the shadow of rocks to avoid thermal stress and dehydration.
• Skin and fur adaptations: Some desert animals have thick skin or scales covered to protect themselves from the sun and reduce the loss of water by evaporation. Others have clear or reflective fur that helps reflect solar radiation.
• Specialized Diet: The shortage of resources in deserts has led many species to develop specialized diets that allow them to make the most of available foods. Some feed on succulent plants, such as desert herbivores, while others are carnivorous or feed on carrion.
• Mobility: Many desert animals are nomads or migratory, which allows them to move in search of food and water based on seasonal availability.

Some fauna examples found in deserts include The Bactrian camel and the dromedary In Asia and Africa, The coyote and the armadillo In North America, The Jerbo and the Fennec In the Sahara or Sahara desert, and The red kangaroo and the Emú In Australia. In this link you can learn more about the animals of the Sahara desert.

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