Deserts
Deserts are characterized by low rainfall. There are four different types of deserts: arid, semi-arid (steppe), coastal, and cold. Due to the lack of water in the air, which makes it so that less water leeches nutrients from the soil, most deserts have fertile soils.
This is an interactive map of the major deserts of the world. Click on the circles to see the name. Click on the red octagon to clear all names.
This is an interactive map of the major deserts of the world. Click on the circles to see the name. Click on the red octagon to clear all names.
Arid Deserts
Arid deserts have average temperatures of 38°C(100.4°F) in the day and -4°C(24.8°F) in the night with it being higher in the summer months, and with an average yearly rainfall of about 250 mm (millimeters and not centimeters) peaking in the winter months. To make it even drier, more water evaporates than comes down. Rain usually falls in short bursts of a lot of rain followed by a period of no rain. The soil is mostly gravely rocks. Arid deserts usually are located on or near the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. When the majority of people think of deserts, they think of this type of desert.
Semi-Arid Deserts (Steppe)
Semi-arid deserts, or steppes, are like arid deserts, but with a bit more water with an average yearly rainfall about 400 mm. These deserts have an average temperature of 30°C(86°F) and 10°C(50°F) in the night. Due the higher humidity, there is more water in the air to hold heat resulting in lower drops in temperature during the night. The soil in these deserts, unlike arid deserts, are a mix of gravel-like rocks and sand with a fairly low salt concentration. They are usually located around or near arid deserts. The ones on the side closer to the equator have no seasons, but the ones further can have colder winters.
This is a map of all the semi-arid deserts. The light orange areas have colder winters.
Coastal Deserts
Coastal deserts are a lot colder than the two previous types of deserts. They have summer temperatures of 13°C - 24°C (55.4°F - 77.2°F) and winter temperatures of below 5°C (41°F). Average annual precipitation is about 110 mm, but it retains much more water than arid deserts. These deserts have fine soil with moderate salt content. Coastal deserts are always near coastlines.
Cold Deserts
Cold deserts. Think of Antarctica or northern North America (Alaska, Greenland, etc) and you've got it. With average winter temperatures around freezing and summer temperatures 25°C (45°F) more, it's obviously the coldest type of desert around. Snow snow snow. Ya won't see quite a bit of it here as the average yearly precipitation is around 200 mm, but in the winter months, ya might see a tiny bit. Oh yea, if ya want to be a farmer there, be sure to bring your own dirt because the soil there is all sandy and salty; definitely not good for growing.