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A desert is a landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions create unique biomes and ecosystems. The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface of the ground to denudation.
Semiarid deserts experience similar conditions to hot deserts, however, the maximum and minimum temperatures tend to be less extreme, and generally range from 10 to 38 °C. Coastal deserts are cooler than hot and semiarid deserts, with average summer temperatures ranging between 13 and 24 °C.
Deserts and xeric (Ancient Greek ξηρός xērós 'dry') shrublands form the largest terrestrial biome, covering 19% of Earth's land surface area. [2] Ecoregions in this habitat type vary greatly in the amount of annual rainfall they receive, usually less than 250 millimetres (10 in) annually except in the margins.
The "North American Desert" is also the term for a large U.S. Level 1 ecoregion (EPA) [1] of the North American Cordillera, in the Deserts and xeric shrublands biome (WWF). The continent's deserts are largely between the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Madre Oriental on the east, and the rain shadow–creating Cascades, Sierra Nevada, Transverse ...
This is a list of the largest deserts in the world by area. It includes all deserts above 50,000 km 2 (19,300 sq mi). Some of Earth's biggest non-polar deserts.
Gulf of Oman desert and semi-desert: Oman, United Arab Emirates: Hobyo grasslands and shrublands: Somalia: Ile Europa and Bassas da India xeric scrub: Bassas da India, Europa: Kalahari xeric savanna: Botswana, Namibia, South Africa: Kaokoveld desert: Angola, Namibia: Madagascar spiny thickets: Madagascar: Madagascar succulent woodlands: Madagascar
One way of mapping terrestrial biomes around the world (except the Antarctic Tundra) A biome (/ ˈ b aɪ. oʊ m /) is a distinct geographical region with specific climate, vegetation, and animal life. It consists of a biological community that has formed in response to its physical environment and regional climate. [1]
The deserts in the interior and south lack any significant summer rains. The desert in western Australia is well explained by the little evaporation of the cold sea current of the West Australian Current, of polar origin, which prevents significant rainfall in the interior of the continent. [3] About 40% of Australia is covered by dunes. [5]