Deserts

• deserts cover approximately 20% of the land surface of the Earth. The climate of deserts is dominated by low precipitation, generally below 250 mm a year
• generally occur in a band around the world between 15-30 degrees north and south latitude
• low water availability and the absence of vegetation are the reason for the very slow soil development. As a consequence immature/virgin soils like lithosoles or syrosemes are developed
• life has developed astonishing survival strategies to make use of alternative water sources