Why is there no water in the desert? Detailed answer

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Why is there no water in the desert? Detailed answer

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Why is there no water in the desert?

What is a desert? A desert is a region where only special forms of life can exist. In all deserts, there is a lack of moisture, which means that existing life forms had to adapt to do without water.

The amount of precipitation determines the volume and types of plant life in the region. Forests grow where there is sufficient rainfall. Grass cover is common where there is less rainfall. Where there is very little rainfall, only certain plant species characteristic of deserts can grow.

Hot deserts near the equator, such as the Sahara in Africa, are located in the subtropical zone, where the descending air becomes warmer and drier. The land in these areas is very dry, despite the proximity of the ocean. The same can be said about the deserts in northwestern Africa and western Australia.

Deserts located far from the equator are formed due to their remoteness from the oceans and their moist winds and due to the presence of mountains between the desert and the sea. Such mountain ranges trap rain on their seaward slopes, while their back slopes remain arid.

This phenomenon is called the "rain barrier" effect. The deserts of Central Asia are located beyond the barrier of the Himalayan mountains and Tibet.

The deserts of the Great Basin, in the western part of the United States, are protected from rain by mountain ranges such as the Sierra Nevada.

Deserts are very different in appearance. Where there is enough sand, the winds create sand hills, or dunes. There are sandy deserts. Rocky deserts consist mainly of rocky ground, rocks that form fantastic cliffs and hills, as well as uneven plains. Other deserts, such as those in the southwestern United States, are characterized by barren rocks and arid plains. Winds erode the smallest particles of soil, and the gravel that remains on the surface is called "pavement desert".

In most deserts, there are various types of plants and animals. Plants growing in deserts have practically no leaves to reduce the evaporation of moisture from the plant. They may be equipped with spines or spikes to scare away animals. Animals living in deserts can go without water for a long time and get water from plants or in the form of dew.

Author: Likum A.

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