AĀ desertĀ is a barren area ofĀ landscapeĀ where littleĀ precipitationĀ occurs and, consequently, living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life.
The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface of the ground to the processes ofĀ denudation.
About one-third of the land surface of the Earth isĀ aridĀ orĀ semi-arid.
This includes much of theĀ polar regions, where little precipitation occurs, and which are sometimes calledĀ polar desertsĀ or “cold deserts”.
Deserts can be classified by the amount of precipitation that falls, by the temperature that prevails, by the causes of desertification or by their geographical location.
Last Updated on 18 hours by pinc