Desert Ecosystem

Deserts
 desert: any region with low rainfall

World distribution of nonpolar deserts. Most deserts lie in two bands near 30o N and 30oS.
MAJOR TYPES OF
DESERTS

 Tropical Deserts- SAHARA IN AFRICA AND

THAR IN RAJASTHAN,INDIA
 Temperate Deserts-MOJAVE IN SOUTH
CALIFORNIA
 Cold Deserts- GOBI DESERT IN CHINA
Distribution of Deserts
 the location of most deserts is related to
descending air - the equator receives the
sun’s heat more directly than the rest of the
earth, the air warms and rises then moves
both northward and southward to sink near
30oN and 30oS
Distribution of Deserts
(cont.)
 rain shadow: deserts resulting from mountain
ranges - moist air is forced up to pass over a
mountain range, it expands and cools, losing
moisture as it rises, dry air coming down on
the other side of the mountain compresses
and warms, bringing high evaporation with
little or no rainfall to the downwind side of
the range
Distribution of Deserts
(cont.)

 great distance from the ocean: since most

rainfall comes from water evaporated
from the sea, a great distance from the
ocean is another factor that can create
deserts
Characteristics of Deserts
 lack through-flowing streams
 internal drainage - the streams drain
toward landlocked basins instead of
toward the sea
 flash floods - because of the lack of
vegetation, heavy rainfall runs rapidly
over the surface and can create sudden
local floods of high discharge
Characteristics of Deserts
(cont.)
 arroys or dry washes: channels created
by the rapid downcutting by sediment-
laden floodwaters which tend to
produce narrow canyons with vertical
walls and flat, gravel-strewn floors
Sand Dunes

 sand dunes: mounds of loose sand grains

heaped up by the wind, most likely to
develop in areas with strong winds that
generally blow in the same direction
 sand grains found in dunes are commonly
well-sorted and well-rounded because
wind is very selective as it moves
sediment