Browsing: Desert

A desert is a barren area of landscape where little precipitation occurs and consequently, living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life. The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface of the ground to the processes of denudation. About one-third of the Earth’s land surface is arid or semi-arid. This includes much of the polar regions where little precipitation occurs and which are sometimes called “cold deserts”. Deserts can be classified by their geographical location and dominant weather pattern as trade wind, mid-latitude, rain shadow, coastal, monsoon, or polar deserts. The fauna and flora of a desert ecosystem have adapted to survive harsh conditions, with specialized behaviors and reproductive systems that help them survive in extreme environments. The vegetation, when present, is highly adapted to conserve water, often featuring small, thick leaves and spiny structures.