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Deserts are defined primarily by low precipitation, sparse vegetation, and resulting ecosystem adaptations.
A desert is a landscape where little precipitation occurs, creating harsh living conditions and leading to distinctive biomes and ecosystems. Because vegetation is sparse, the ground surface is exposed to denudation and erosion, while occasional heavy rain can produce flash floods. Deserts cover about one-third of Earth’s land area and include both hot and cold environments; polar regions with low precipitation are sometimes called “polar deserts” or “cold deserts.” Aridity is central to desert definition and can be described using precipitation amounts and water-balance concepts. Deserts generally receive less than about 250 mm of precipitation per year, while semi-deserts receive roughly 250–500 mm and are often called steppes when grass-covered. Even when potential evapotranspiration is high, actual evapotranspiration may be low if water is unavailable. Deserts can also be classified by temperature (hot vs. cold), precipitation patterns (including hyperarid conditions with very little or no rainfall for long periods), and factors related to desertification and geographic setting (such as rain shadows).
Deserts are defined primarily by low precipitation, sparse vegetation, and resulting ecosystem adaptations.
Aridity is quantified using precipitation thresholds and water-budget ideas (precipitation vs. potential evapotranspiration and water storage).
Deserts can be classified by climate (hot/cold/polar) and by precipitation intensity, including hyperarid and semi-arid (steppe) ranges.
A desert is a region with very low precipitation where living conditions produce unique biomes and ecosystems, and streams typically dry up unless water comes from outside.
Aridity describes the degree of dryness in an area, largely determined by how little precipitation falls relative to evaporation and evapotranspiration demands.
Potential evapotranspiration is the amount of water that could evaporate and be transpired in a region if sufficient water were available.
A water-budget expression compares precipitation (P) with potential evapotranspiration (PE) and surface water storage (S) to assess aridity.
A desert receiving less than about 25 mm of rainfall per year, often with long periods without any rainfall.
A drier-than-forest region receiving roughly 250–500 mm of precipitation per year, often with grass cover and less extreme conditions than true deserts.
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