Hot Deserts
Hot deserts are well... hot and also very dry. This affects the plants and animals that can live there. Hot deserts are fragile, interdependent ecosystems. Plants, animals and people have adapted to survive in the harsh conditions. There are development opportunities but also significant challenges. Desertification is a major threat caused by both human and physical factors, but the risk can be reduced.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Climate | 1) There's very little rainfall -- less than 250 mm per year. 2) Rainfall patterns vary -- it might rain once every few years. 3) Temperatures are extreme because of the lack of cloud cover -- it can reach 45 degrees C in the day, then drop below 0 degrees C at night. |
| Soil | 1) A lack of leaf fall limits the soil's fertility. 2) Little rainfall means the soil dries out often. 3) Soil is often shallow with a gravelly texture. |
| Plants | 1) Due to the low rainfall, plant growth is sparse -- the plants that do grow, such as thornbushes and cacti, don't need much water. 2) Plants are usually short (e.g. low shrubs or short woody trees) though cacti can grow fairly tall. 3) Many plants have short life cycles, growing quickly after rain. |
| Animals | 1) Hot deserts contain animals adapted to the harsh environment. 2) Mammals tend to be small and nocturnal, e.g. kangaroo rats. 3) Most birds leave the desert during the harshest conditions but some birds, like roadrunners, can live there all year round. |
| People | 1) Many people living in deserts grow a few crops near natural water sources, usually in the desert fringes. 2) Indigenous people are often nomadic -- they keep travelling to find food and water for their livestock. |