Y9 Geography - hot deserts

Climate

very hot daytime temperatures (35-50 degrees celcius)

Rainfall

extremely low precipitation (usually <250 mm per year), often with years of drought

Soils

dry, sandy, salty soils with very little organic matter and low fertility

Nutrient cycle

very slow cycling because little vegetation means little litter, so nutrients stay in soil but in small amounts

Plants

plants with adaptations like spines, waxy cuticles, succulents, deep taproots and wide shallow roots

Animals

adapted through nocturnal behaviour, large ears for heat loss, water‑saving kidneys, burrowing, light fur and fat storage in hump

Succulents

Plants that store water in their roots, stems, leaves, or fruit

Shallow roots

Maximise water collection in very infrequent brief waterstorms

Long taproots

To reach groundwater