Arid Desert

  

Arid Desert

                              

         Gobi Desert

The word Arid means having little or no rain, while the word desert is a place that is seemingly void of life. Arid deserts can be some of the most brutal places on earth for life to survive. Only about ten percent of all the land on earth is desert. They are one of the more extreme biomes on earth and are home to very adaptive animals and plants.

Climate:

A desert in the daytime can hit temperatures from 95ºF up to 120ºF. Being the driest place on earth they often receive on average 5 in of rainfall per year. they are also surprisingly cold. At night they can hit temperatures from 40ºf to below freezing.

Physical Characteristics:

In the desert most of the land consists of large, flat, dry plains that go on for miles. Depending on the desert large piles of eroded rocks called sand dunes can sometimes stretch out for miles on end. Deserts can also have a variety of mountains, plateaus, and canyons. The most abundant sources of life in deserts can be found at oases where water collects and sits there giving plants and animals an easy water source.

                Kalahari Desert Oasis

Flora/Fauna:

In the desert plants and animals have to be tough. Not only do they have to deal with extreme heat and a limited water supply but they also are not promised to run into food all the time. In the desert you can find a wide variety of cacti and small shrubbery like paperbag bush or desert sage. These plants have special adaptations to receive as much water as possible. Some have roots that extend far into the soil to get underground water up to 80ft underground. Others spread their roots out near the surface to catch rain as soon as it falls. Animals tend to adapt in a way to store water and protect themselves from the heat and dryness. Many lizards have special third eyelid called the nictitating membrane that is translucent and keeps the eye moist. Camels can go long periods without water. They produce concentrated urine and dry feces. They also breathe through their noses to reduce the loss of moisture in their bodies.

Environmental Importance:

The desert provides big business for economies. Two-thirds of the world's crude oil comes from desert regions. Without them our modern world would lose a valuable source of energy. Aside from fossil fuels, deserts can also be a great source of solar and wind energy.

         Natural energy project in California