Deserts

Deserts

Desert zones

Desert zones (in yellow)
Source: wikipedia.org

Characterisatics

  • Location
    • between 15° and 35° latitude
  • Maximal precipitation
    • 125 mm a year (0 - 2 humid months)
  • Temperature
    • daily fluctuation up to 50°C
  • Types
    • sand-, stone- & rocky desert

The 3 largest deserts

Sahara

Live meteogram - El Aaiún (27.14°N / -13.16°E)

Surface: 9 mio. km²

The climate is extremely dry and hot. The trade winds, which brings little precipitation, blows almost continuously during the whole year. The only long-term river is the Nile which crosses the Sahara in the east. The extreme temperatures during the day, that may rise up to 60°C and have high variations amounting up to 30°C between day and night, contribute, among other things, to the formation of the desert. At night, in winter, temperatures up to -10°C can be recorded. The average amount of precipitation in the Sahara is approx. 45.5 mm. Nevertheless, rainless years may also occur.

Gobi

Live meteogram - Saynshand (44.89°N / 110.14°E)

Surface: 1.2 mio. km²

The climate of the Gobi is continental, with extremely low temperatures in winter and hot summers. The differences in temperature between day and night sway strongly throughout the year, because of the lack of water and vegetation. During the winter months, the thermometre may fall below −40°C. Even though the south-east monsoon reaches the steppe, the area only measures 30 to 200 mm of precipitaion per year and is therefore marked as dryness. Although winters are cold, they remain dry. Furthermore, sandstorms and blizzards may occur even in spring and early summer.

Rub' al Khali

Live meteogram - As Sulayyil (20.46°N / 45.57°E)

Surface: 0.8 mio. km²

The precipitation amounts less than 50 mm per year. Hence, the desert is classed as hyperarid. The temperatures of this tropical desert can sway between the freezing point at night up to 60°C during the day. In spite of the hard conditions, the sandy desert shows its own ecological system. Thus, spiders, rodents and, even if few, botanical species may be found.

More deserts

Asia

Desert Location Size (mio. km²)
Gobi China, Mongolia 1,2
Rub' al Khali Saudi-Arabia 0,8
Taklamakan China 0,4
Gobi Desert, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China<br />Author: Junming

Australia

Desert Location Size (mio. km²)
Great Sandy Western Australia 0.52
Gibson Western Australia 0.33
Simpson Southern Australia 0.25
Gibson desert

Africa

Desert Location Size (mio. km²)
Sahara North Africa 9
Lybian North Africa (part of the Sahara) 2
Kalahari Botswana, Namibia and South Africa 1
Kalahari in Namibia<br />Author: Elmar Thiel

Americas

Desert Location Size (mio. km²)
Atacama Argentina, Chile, Peru 0.4
Sonora USA, Mexico 0.16
Mojave USA 0.0389
Mojave Desert scene in Joshua Tree National Park