Known for their hot climates and low precipitation, deserts are known to be one of the most difficult environments for any plants and animals to thrive in. However, different types of deserts are found throughout the world, all in the same 30° to 50° range from the equator. One of these variations is the semiarid desert. These deserts are primarily found in the western states of the United States, Europe and Northern Asia. Semiarid deserts have two seasons, summer and winter. Similar to the hot and dry deserts, the semiarid desert has an average temperature of 23° C during the summer, though it can reach to up to 38° C during the day and 10° C in the evening. During the winter, temperatures can reach as low as -3° C. Average rainfall is very low, at 2-4 cm a year. Although rainfall is minimal, dew accumulates on vegetation during the night which can equal and sometimes surpass the annual rainfall amount. The terrain is comprised of relatively flat land with large rocky mountains in the surrounding areas, the soil is composed of fine sand on the surface followed by loose rock beneath which lacks in vital nutrients needed to grow large vegetation such as trees, leaving vegetation to smaller trees, shrubs and well protected cacti, the shade from these used by the animals as protection from the scorching sun. With little vegetation to provide an abundance of food, animals are present but scares compared to the size of the land. Animals are relatively small such as lizards, snakes and small insects.
Recent comments