Deserts are defined as areas that receive less than 25cm of precipitation per year. They are characterized by high temperatures, low rainfall, and climatic factors such as high pressure systems, cold ocean currents, and mountain ranges that create rain shadows. Plants and animals in deserts have adapted to survive the harsh conditions through mechanisms like storing water, long roots, short lifecycles, burrowing, nocturnal behavior, and hibernation. Camels are an example of a desert-adapted species.

2. DESERTS
• DESERTS ARE HOT DURING THE DAY AND COLD AT NIGHT. ANIMALS AND
PLANTS THAT LIVE IN DESERTS HAVE ADAPTED TO SURVIVE IN THESE HARSH
CONDITIONS.
• DESERTS ARE DEFINED AS AREAS RECEIVE LESS THAN 25CM OF A
PRECIPITATION A YEAR.
• HOT DESSERTS OCCUR BETWEEN 15* AND 35*N/S.

3. LOCATION

5. CLIMATE
• DESERTS HAVE EXTREME TEMPERATURES. DURING THE DAY THE
TEMPERATURE MAY REACH 50°C, WHEN AT NIGHT IT MAY FALL TO BELOW
0°C. DESERTS HAVE LESS THAN 250 MM OF RAINFALL PER YEAR. THE RAIN
CAN BE UNRELIABLE. MOST DESERTS ARE FOUND BETWEEN 20° AND 35°
NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR.

6. CLIMOGRAPH
Climograph
characterized by
High temperature
Low rainfall

7. CLIMATIC FACTORS
• THERE ARE THREE FACTORS WHICH FORM DESERT AREAS:
1.THE PRESENCE OF HIGH PRESSURE, CREATING CLOUD-FREE
CONDITIONS
2.COLD OCEAN CURRENTS
3.MOUNTAIN RANGES TO CREATE RAIN SHADOWS

8. VEGETATION
• PLANTS AND ANIMALS NEED TO COPE WITH THE DRY CONDITIONS.
COMPARED TO OTHER BIOMES, DESERTS HAVE LIMITED NUMBERS OF
PLANTS AND ANIMALS THAT ARE ABLE TO SURVIVE.
• SOME PLANTS ARE SUCCULENTS AND STORE THE WATER IN LEAVES, STEMS
OR ROOTS. ONE EXAMPLE IS THE CACTUS.
• OTHER WAYS PLANTS TOLERATE THE DRY CONDITIONS INCLUDE:
• LONG ROOTS TO TAP INTO THE WATER DEEP UNDERGROUND
• SHORT LIFE CYCLES - A PLANT OR SEED COULD REMAIN DORMANT UNTIL
THE RAINS COME

9. ADAPTATIONS

10. VEGETATION

11. ANIMAL SURVIVAL
• SOME MAY BURROW TO ESCAPE THE HEAT.
• NOCTURNAL ANIMALS SLEEP DURING THE DAY, SHELTERING TO HELP
PREVENT DEHYDRATION.
• ANIMALS MAY HIBERNATE DURING TEMPERATURE HIGHS OR LOWS.

12. CAMELS- DESERT ADAPTED SPECIE