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In addition to these extreme environmental and climate conditions, most tropical deserts are covered with sand and rocks, and thus too flat and lacking in vegetation to block out the wind. Wind may erode and transport sand, rocks and other materials; these are known as eolian processes.
Apr 19, 2024 · Desert, any large, extremely dry area of land with sparse vegetation. It is one of Earth’s major types of ecosystems, supporting a community of plants and animals specially adapted to the harsh environment.
Besides animals like camels and goats, a variety of desert vegetation is found in oases and along the shores of rivers and lakes. Figs, olives, and oranges thrive in desert oases and have been harvested for centuries.
Most of Earth’s tropical, true desert climates occur between 15° and 30° latitude, at the poleward end of the Hadley cell circulation (see atmosphere). In the Köppen-Geiger-Pohl system, this climate is divided between the tropical desert (BWh) and subtropical desert (part of BWk) subtypes.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Desert Biome: Climate, Precipitation, Location, Seasons, Plants, Animals. Deserts are some of the most widespread yet unexplored biomes. They cover about 1/3 of the earth’s surface and are found in 60 of the world’s nations. The largest hot desert biome (the subtropical Sahara) stretches over 3.5 million square miles or 9 million square ...
Sahara. The Sahara, Morocco. Tour the butte escarpments and vegetative landscape of Arizona desert terrain. Arizona desert landscapes. See all videos for this article. Deserts are varied and variable environments, and it is impossible to arrive at a concise definition that satisfies every case.
Deserts and xeric shrublands are a biome defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature. Deserts and xeric (ancient Greek xērós, “dry") shrublands form the largest terrestrial biome, covering 19% of Earth 's land surface area. [2]
