Information on Desert Climates. Deserts represent one-fifth (20%) of the land surface of the world. The majority of deserts are in the Arabian Peninsula, Australia, The Americas, North and South Africa, India and Pakistan. The largest desert is the Sahara, in North Africa, and is about 3,500,000 square miles. Deserts are characterized by extreme heat and dryness, very hot in the daytime and chilly or even cold at night.
The average temperature is 100 degrees during the day and below 50 degrees at night. The wettest desert does not get more than 10 inches of rain a year. A variety of plant and animal species live there, thanks to their power to adapt to the harsh environment. Camels, for example, are able to store large quantities of water in their humps. Animals like rattlesnakes and scorpions spend most of the day underground but come out at night to eat and hunt. Spade foot toads spend 9 months of the year underground. Difference Between Tundra and Desert. Tundras and deserts are both fairly large areas which see very little rain throughout most of the year.
Due to this, these areas are extremely difficult to live on, and can be near uninhabitable at times. A tundra is an extremely cold area which is usually frozen over; deserts, on the other hand, are exactly the opposite, as they are excessively hot and sandy. While temperatures in tundras are shockingly low, high temperatures are a defining characteristic of deserts (particularly during the day time).
Thus, while these regions share some common features (e.g. the amount of rain they get), they are completely different from one another in regards to their severe climate – in fact, they can be said to be polar opposites. Instructions 1 TundraA tundra is the region situated near the polar ice caps, with a cold, dry, windy, and icy climate. Desert Climate. Desert climates. Desert climate. An area that features this climate usually experiences less than 250 mm (10 inches) per year of precipitation and in some years may experience no precipitation at all.
In some instances, an area may experience more than 250 mm of precipitation annually, but is considered a desert climate because the region loses more water via evapotranspiration than falls as precipitation (Tucson, Arizona and Alice Springs, Northern Territory are examples of this). To determine whether a location has an arid climate, the precipitation threshold must first be determined. Hot desert climates[edit] Regions with hot desert climates Hot desert climates are typically found under the subtropical ridge where there is largely unbroken sunshine for the whole year due to the stable descending air and high pressure. Hot desert climates feature hot, typically exceptionally hot, periods of the year. Examples[edit] Cold desert climates[edit] Regions with cold desert climates Mild desert climates[edit] References[edit] Desert Climate by scathing-sanity on deviantART.
Desert Animals. Venomous Snakes - Colorado Desert Sidewinder. Scientific name: Crotalus cerastes laterorepens The average size of a mature Colorado Desert Sidewinder is 1.5 - 2 feet, with some getting as large as 2.5 feet in length. The Colorado Desert Sidewinder looks as if it has horns over its eyes and is sometimes called the horned rattlesnake. These horns are actually upturned scales, and are not truly horns. The body is typically a sandy tan, gray, or cream color and is patterned with dark blotches of brown or grey on the back and sides. There is a dark cheek-stripe on both sides of the head that starts at the eye and runs diagonally down and backwards above the mouthline. The tail often has a few to several rings. The Sidewinder gets its name from the unique sidewinding motion it uses to move. The Colorado Desert Sidewinder has elliptical pupils that look like cat's eyes and like all pit vipers, has a heat-sensing pit between the nostril and eye on each side of its head.
Photo used by permission: © 2003 William Flaxington. Jackrabbits, Jackrabbit Pictures, Jackrabbit Facts. Jackrabbits are actually hares, not rabbits. Hares are larger than rabbits, and they typically have taller hind legs and longer ears. Jackrabbits were named for their ears, which initially caused some people to refer to them as "jackass rabbits. " The writer Mark Twain brought this name to fame by using it in his book of western adventure, Roughing It. The name was later shortened to jackrabbit. There are five species of jackrabbits, all found in central and western North America. They are speedy animals capable of reaching 40 miles (64 kilometers) an hour, and their powerful hind legs can propel them on leaps of more than ten feet (three meters). Black-tailed jackrabbits are common in American deserts, scrublands, and other open spaces, including farms. White-tailed jackrabbits are another common species.
The jackrabbit's breeding prowess is well known. Booming jackrabbit populations can cause problems for farmers, especially in light of the animals' healthy appetite. Grevy's Zebra, Equus grevyi. By Jay Sharp The Grévy’s zebra belongs to the Equidae family, which includes thehorses and donkeys as well as the plains and mountain zebras. The Grévy’s zebra – the first of the zebras to evolve – staked its primary range out of sparse plains and scrublands in the Horn of Africa. Ithas developed finely tuned adaptations to its arid home.
Characteristics The Grévy’s, roughly 25 to 35 percent larger than the plains and mountain species, is one of the odd-toed ungulates—the large grazing and browsing mammals that have an odd number of weight-bearing toes, or hoofs (actually modified toenails), on each foot. Range and Diet The Grévy’s zebra ranges across the hot and arid plains and scrublands of northeastern Kenya and southeastern Ethiopia. By contrast, the plains zebra grazes and browses on the more lush plains and grasslands that run from the Horn of Africa southward along the eastern side of the continent, migrating as much as 700 miles to maintain ready access to water. Perils back to top. Arabian (Dromedary) Camels, Arabian (Dromedary) Camel Pictures, Arabian (Dromedary) Facts. The ancient camel question is: One hump or two? Arabian camels, also known as dromedaries, have only one hump, but they employ it to great effect.
The hump stores up to 80 pounds (36 kilograms) of fat, which a camel can break down into water and energy when sustenance is not available. These humps give camels their legendary ability to travel up to 100 desert miles (161 kilometers) without water. Camels rarely sweat, even in desert temperatures that reach 120°F (49°C), so when they do take in fluids they can conserve them for long periods of time. When camels do refill, however, they soak up water like a sponge. Other adaptations help dromedaries thrive in desert conditions. Arabian camels have been domesticated for approximately 3,500 years and have been long valued as pack animals. Armadillo Lizard | Archies Info. Desert Plants. Cacti images. Sagebrush images. ALOE VERA: Uses, Benefits, Side-effects, Dosage? ALOE VERA (Aloe): Benefits, Uses and Virtues of Aloe Vera? Medicinal properties? Dosage? Side-effects of Aloe Vera? Origins, Composition, Expert opinions, Combination with other plants and more Information on Aloe Vera.
Aloe Vera is one of the most powerful and well-known medicinal plants. Aloe Vera: Medicinal Properties Skin – Burns – Hair - acts effectively against skin aging (very good combination with Acai Berry and Goji Berry) - heals sunburn (avoid exposure to sun after application) - principal remedy for burns - skin repair - participates in the healing of wounds, cuts, abrasions and injuries - protection against skin diseases - eczema, dry skin (synergy with Turmeric and Peppermint) - effectively combats acne (internal and external usage) - pruritis, psoriasis, hives, impetigo, furuncle - fortifies the nails and hair (synergy with Spirulina) - restores shine to hair, skin and nails (synergy with Goji Berry and Acai Berry) - eliminates dandruff (external usage) - general anti-inflammatory.
Joshua Tree in Joshua Tree National Park. Dasylirion wheeleri – Desert Spoon « Horticulture in the Desert. Fact1. Fact2. Fact 3. Fact 4. Facts 5.