A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than 400 millimetres (16 in). A common definition distinguishes between true deserts, which receive less than 250 millimetres (10 in) of average annual precipitation, and semideserts or steppes, which receive between 250 millimetres (10 in) and 400 to 500 millimetres (16 to 20 in).
Deserts can also be described as areas where more water is lost by evapotranspiration than falls as precipitation. In the Köppen climate classification system, deserts are classed as BWh (hot desert) or BWk (temperate desert). In the Thornthwaite climate classification system, deserts would be classified as arid megathermal climates.
Read more about Desert: Definition, Geography, Desert Features, Formation of Hot Deserts, Mineral Resources, Solar Energy Resources, Human Life in Deserts, Deserts On Other Planets
Other articles related to "desert, deserts":
... In March 2011, the earl finished his second 4 Desert race in the Atacama Desert of Chile, considered the driest place on earth ... completion of this race, Shaftesbury was the recipient of the Spirit Award, presented by 4 Desert and Racing the Planet officials ... With completion of this race, he is qualified to participate in the final marathon, The Last Desert, to be held in Antarctica in November 2012 ...
... destination for tourists who are interested in seeing the desert, and a starting point for desert treks by camel, motorcycle, or four-wheel-drive vehicle ... International Festival of the Sahara, a four-day celebration of traditional desert culture ... dog, similar to a greyhound, native to the North African desert.) Douz is home to the Museum of the Sahara, which showcases displays on traditional nomadic desert culture of the Mrazig people who now mostly ...
... planet in the solar system on which deserts have been identified ... more than 5 million km² in area, much larger than deserts on Earth ... The Martian deserts principally consist of dunes in the form of half-moon in flat areas near the permanent polar ice caps in the north of the planet ...
... Lazar and long time friend Gene Huff run Desert Blast, an annual festival for "explodaholics" in the Nevada desert ...
... Atacama – a desert in Chile and Peru, the driest place on Earth La Guajira Desert – a desert in northern Colombia and Venezuela Monte Desert – in Argentina, a smaller desert ...
Famous quotes containing the word desert:
“The desert is not only around the corner,
The desert is squeezed in the tube-train next to you,
The desert is in the heart of your brother.”
—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)
“Only the desert has a fascination—to ride alone—in the sun in the forever unpossessed country—away from man. That is a great temptation.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)
“We black men seem the sole oasis of simple faith and reverence in a dusty desert of dollars and smartness.”
—W.E.B. (William Edward Burghardt)