What are the main features of a desert? Explain in detail in the context of both hot and cold deserts. Grade 7, XSEED, lesson - Life in the deserts, PQ 10
Answers
Answer:
Hot Desert Cold Desert
It refers to a desert with extremely hot climate. It refers to a desert with extremely cold climate.
Hot deserts are found in the tropical and sub-tropical regions (western coasts of continents). Cold deserts are mostly found in temperate regions at higher latitudes.
It has a sandy soil. It has sand, ice or snow covered land.
It is red or orange in colour. It generally appears gray.
Precipitation levels are generally lower than cold deserts. They tend to have higher precipitation levels than hot deserts.
Evaporation is higher than precipitation in hot deserts. Precipitation is higher than evaporation in cold deserts.
Commonly found animals include fennec foxes, dung beetles, bactrian camels, sidewinder snakes, Mexican coyotes etc. Commonly found animals include foxes, jackrabbits, kangaroo rats, pocket mice, badger etc.
Vegetation is very rare and mostly includes ground-hugging shrubs and short woody trees. Vegetation is scattered with needle like leaves.