HOT DESERTS

• Factors influencing the hot desert climate

  • High pressure all year which means the air is descending and warming so precipitation does not occur because the air is not rising
  • Prevailing winds are often from over land masses which means they contain little moisture
  • Some deserts are in a rain shadow so there is little rainfall
  • Cold ocean currents on the west side of continents may reduce summer temperatures due to the cooling effect of the ocean
• adaptations of plants:

  • thick stems - store water
  • shallow roots - near the surface to catch whatever rain falls
  • long roots - reach water deep underground
  • small leaves - small surface area reduces water loss
• adaptations of animals:

  • CAMEL: 2 sets of eyelashes and nostrils keep the sand out. they also store fat in their humps to survive long periods without food/water
  • NOCTURNAL: to avoid daytime heat