When we hear the word “desert” our imagination immediately imagines hot sands and hellish heat. However, in many deserts the opposite is true; There are also places where the temperature drops to -38°C.
When we think of deserts, we often think of scorching sand dunes and a merciless sun. But deserts can be much more diverse than you think. According to IFLScience, in addition to the famous Sahara and the Great Australian Desert, some of them are known for their cold rather than hot climates.
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Deserts are defined not by temperature but by lack of precipitation. Many of them are very hot indeed, and daytime temperatures can reach an unbearable 54°C. But these same deserts can be surprisingly cold at night due to the lack of moisture and the poor heat storage properties of the sand.
On the other hand, there are deserts that maintain a cool climate regardless of the time of day. Scientists call these “cold deserts.” They are usually found in temperate regions at high altitudes such as plateaus or mountain ranges. These cold deserts are often located far from the coast, which means they lack the moisture that coastal waters bring.
One of the most famous examples is the Gobi Desert, which stretches across northern China and southern Mongolia. Although summers are hot, winter temperatures in the Gobi drop to -38°C. The Gobi’s high latitude and altitude (910 to 1520 meters above sea level) contribute to the maintenance of the icy climate.
The dryness of the Gobi Desert is a result of the shadow effect of rain. To the south, the Himalayan Mountains block moisture-rich clouds from the Indian Ocean. This lack of moisture is the main factor that keeps the Gobi Desert so dry.
Another example is the Patagonian Desert in Argentina. Although summers can be relatively hot, winter temperatures rarely exceed 12°C and average just 3°C.
Even the United States has cold deserts, such as the Great Basin Desert located between the Sierra Nevada and the Wasatch Mountain Range.
Additionally, parts of the Arctic and Antarctica are considered polar deserts. For example, the Antarctic polar desert is technically the largest desert in the world. It receives less than 50 millimeters of precipitation per year, most of which falls in the form of snow or ice crystals.
Polar deserts receive little precipitation because low temperatures cannot hold much water vapor, resulting in low humidity and limited chance of precipitation.
Antarctica as a whole is the driest continent in the world. Some areas, such as the Dry Valleys, have surprisingly not recorded any rainfall for 2 million years. In addition to the extreme cold of the continent, the surrounding mountains also play a role in keeping the continent extraordinarily dry.
Important
It is remarkable that life continues in the Arid Valleys despite the harsh and dry conditions. But don’t expect to see any seals or penguins. The only life forms adapted to thrive here are extremophile lichens, mosses, algae and cyanobacteria, as well as the occasional scientists who explore this extreme environment.
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Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.