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Desert Biome
The desert is a biome, a life zone, that varies from others, having its own climate, vegetation, and wildlife. The many physical features and physical attributes separates itself from all other biomes. ...
The desert is defined as an arid area only receiving less than 25cm of precipitation a year with little or no vegetation. ... A desert may in fact have more small rocks, pebbles, and loose gravel on the surface instead. ... The rainfall pattern is not a seasonal one, it can sometimes skip a year all together and can be plentiful (in desert relations) the next. ... Whereas in the Mongolian desert was below freezing for half a year. ... Warm air can hold lots of moisture, so it doesnt rain as much, and a desert is formed. ...
Hot and dry, is your typical desert the one that people most associate deserts with. ... Reptiles are also inhabitants of this desert. ... Plants in this desert include rice grass, buckwheat bush, salt bush, little leaf horse brush, and black sage. ... When rainfall occurs it sometimes produces forceful thunderstorms, because the lack of vegetation and frequently bare rock surface of the desert may result in low infiltration rates with the consequent paradox that rainfall in arid areas is more likely to result in surface runoff (overland flow). These lead to “flash floods,” which may cover the desert within minutes . ... The debris from areas of interior drainage erode from the high lands enter in, and around the desert is slowly shifted by wind and water to lower areas within the desert. ... Overall desert soils tend to be poorly developed, with a high content of mineral particles but little organic matter. ... In addition, the intense evaporation of water from desert soils tends to bring dissolved salts to the surface. ...
Humans are also responsible for the expansion of deserts, through desertification (the advance of desert into non desert areas). ... Careless agricultural practices, overgrazing, overpopulation and the diversion of natural water, combined with natural periods of drought, have greatly expanded the desert realm at the expense of the semi-arid grasslands. The effects of this can be seen along the Sahara desert and in Arabia and Kazakstan today. ... Desertification can be reversed, but the price in water is high; and poorly conceived water schemes only serve to force another region into a desert. ... All ecosystems exist in a delicate balance, and the desert is perhaps the most extreme case. ...
Deserts are vast, interesting biomes, full of history, wildlife, and fascinating topography.
Approximate Word count = 2455
Approximate Pages = 9.8
(250 words per page double spaced)
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