Deserts: Classifications

Classification of Deserts:

Deserts are regions that receive very little rainfall and have a high evaporation rate. They cover about one-fifth of the Earth's land surface and can have different climates, vegetation and wildlife. There are several ways to classify deserts based on their geographical location, dominant weather pattern, temperature and moisture.

The most common classification system divides deserts into five types: subtropical, coastal, rain shadow, interior and polar. 

  •  Subtropical deserts are located in the tropics, where hot and dry air masses create high pressure zones that prevent cloud formation and precipitation. Examples of subtropical deserts are the Sahara, the Arabian and the Kalahari.
  •  Coastal deserts are found along the western coasts of continents, where cold ocean currents create stable and dry air masses that move inland. Examples of coastal deserts are the Atacama, the Namib and the Baja California.
  •  Rain shadow deserts are formed on the leeward side of mountain ranges, where moist air masses lose their moisture as they rise and cool over the mountains, leaving dry air to descend on the other side. Examples of rain shadow deserts are the Great Basin, the Gobi and the Patagonia.
  •  Interior deserts are located far from any source of moisture, such as oceans or large lakes. They have low rainfall and high temperature variations between day and night. Examples of interior deserts are the Taklamakan, the Karakum and the Great Victoria.
  •  Polar deserts are found in the polar regions, where low temperatures and high winds create dry and frozen conditions. They have very little precipitation, mostly in the form of snow or ice. Examples of polar deserts are Antarctica and Greenland

 Location of Deserts:

Deserts are where they are in the world because of the global atmospheric circulation, which creates zones of high and low pressure that affect the rainfall patterns of different regions. Most of the world's deserts are located near 30 degrees north and south of the equator, where the air is dry and sinks due to atmospheric circulation patterns. However, this is not the only factor that determines where deserts are located. Other factors include mountain ranges, ocean currents, and climate change. Some deserts are also found on the western coasts of continents, where cold ocean currents create dry winds that blow over the land.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Universe: Origin & Constituents

Image
The Universe is a gigantic area of space and the whole lot that is found within it containing entire Matter, Energy, Clusters, Galaxies, Stars, Asteroids, Planets, and Living Creatures. It includes all that can be observed by telescopes as well as other scientific tools; besides, all other objects and phenomenon that we cannot detect directly like dark matter, dark energy, non-material etc...  It is estimated that the universe emerged somewhat around 14 billion years ago because of cosmological incident called as Big Bang. From that moment on, new galaxies, stars and other cosmic objects are being created and expanded continously.  Multiverse: Here briefly like to mention a speculative concept in cosmology and theoretical physics known as Multiverse that suggests the existence of multiple universes or domains, each with potentially different physical laws, constants, or conditions. These separate universes may exist alongside or parallel to our own.  The idea of a multiverse arises fro
Read more

CELL: FUNCTIONS

Image
The functions of cells Cells perform a variety of functions that are essential for the survival and reproduction of living organisms. Some of the main functions of cells are: -  Metabolism : The  sum of all the chemical reactions  that take place in the cell  to convert or use energy . Metabolism includes  catabolism , which is the  breakdown of molecules to release energy ; and  anabolism , which is the  synthesis of molecules to store or use energy . -  Growth : The  increase in size or number  of cells. Growth can be achieved by  cell enlargement or cell division .  Cell division  is the process by which a  cell splits into two identical daughter cells . There are two types of cell division:  mitosis , which  produces two diploid (2n) cells that are genetically identical to the parent cell ; and  meiosis , which  produces four haploid (n) cells that are genetically different from the parent cell and each other . -  Differentiation : The  process  by which a  cell changes its structu
Read more

Earth: Hydrosphere

Image
The hydrosphere is the term used to describe all the water on Earth, in any form. A planet's hydrosphere can be liquid, vapor, or ice . The hydrosphere includes water that is on the surface of the planet , underground , and in the air .  It includes oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, glaciers, ice caps, snow, groundwater, clouds, and water vapor. The hydrosphere covers about 71% of the Earth's surface and contains about 97% of the Earth's water . Some of the factors that affect the hydrosphere are precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, runoff, infiltration, percolation, melting, freezing, erosion, sedimentation, pollution, and climate change. Water Cycle The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle , is the continuous movement of water between the Earth's surface and the atmosphere . The water cycle is essential for life on Earth, as it regulates the climate , distributes freshwater , and shapes the landscape. The water cycle has four main stages: evaporation, con
Read more