Deserts

• Hot desert climate:

  • Very hot with summer daytime temperatures exceeding 40°C
  • Night temperatures can drop below 0°C
  • Very dry with less than 250 mm of rainfall a year
  • Two distinct seasons: summer (35-40°C) and winter (20-30°C)
• Desert soils:

  • Thin, sandy, rocky, and generally grey in colour
  • Very dry, soaking up water quickly when it rains
  • Surface may appear crusty due to lack of rainfall, drawing water up to the surface by evaporation, leaving salts behind
• Plants and animals in hot deserts have adaptations to survive in extreme conditions