Notes - How are deserts formed?

Study the diagrams and explain how deserts are formed

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A desert forms when there has been a shortage of rain for a long time. Hot deserts are
found around and within the tropical regions, mostly around the Tropic of Cancer and Trpic
of Capricorn. Characteristics of hot deserts are:

• Hot season for most of the year

• Average annual( yearly) rainfall below 250 mm
• Large daily range of temperature upto 50.C during the day to below 0.C at night. This
is called Daily or Diurnal range of temperature
• Clear skies all day and night
• Sandy dry soils with very little nutrients or organic matter

1. Tropical Deserts [Hint Convection currents and winds]

Fig 1

a) Due to the heat of the sun which is overhead at the equator, land is warmed up and warm ,
moist air rises as convection currents. The rising air cools and condenses to give heavy
rainfall in the equatorial regions
 b) As the air travels north and south in the upper altitude towards each tropic, it cools and
begin to sink. Cool dry air descends at the tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. As it
cannot give any rainfall, it forms areas of hot deserts
c) For ex. Sahara desert in the northern hemisphere and Namib Desert in the southern
hemisphere ( see diagram Fig 2)

Fig. 2

Note: Deserts ae mostly found in the western edge of the continents because the prevailing winds
in the tropical regions blow from the east across land. They cannot pick up any moisture from the
sea and create extremely dry environments. Ex; Mohave Desert , Sahara , Arabian , Thar, Namib in
S Africa and West Australian desert

2 Relief Deserts [Hint Mountain ]

A Rain Shadow Precipitation tends to be lower on the leeward side of a mountain range than on
the windward side. For ex; Atacama Desert

3 Coastal deserts [ Cold Currents ]

Some deserts are found on the western edges of continents. They are caused by
cold ocean currents, which run along the coast. They cool the air and make it harder for the
air to hold moisture. Most moisture falls as rain before it reaches the land, creating coastal
deserts eg the Namib Desert in Africa.

Go to page 1,2 & 3[ leave page 4& 5] of the bbc bitesize website below and
page 22 – 23 of textbook
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What is meant by diurnal range of temperature?

Give 5 plant or animals adaptations. [Hint dormant plants , nocturnal

Species, burrow in the sand animals that store water
RAINFOREST BIOME
Answer the following questions : Hints to answers are given

1. Why do many plants have big broad leaves ?[ think about sunlight ]

2. Why do leaves have pointed tips? [