The Desert BiomeThe Desert Biome*Less than 15 inches of *Less than 15 inches of

rain annually.rain annually.

*Generally has some *Generally has some types of trees, shrubs, types of trees, shrubs,

and grasses.and grasses.

*Vegetation adapts to *Vegetation adapts to survive the dry season.survive the dry season.

*May have a short rainy *May have a short rainy season.season.

*Due to the classification of deserts *Due to the classification of deserts being areas that get less than 15 being areas that get less than 15 inches of rain, we can see a great inches of rain, we can see a great range in differences between certain range in differences between certain deserts.deserts.

*Tucson receives about 13 inches of rain *Tucson receives about 13 inches of rain a year, classifying it as a desert biome, a year, classifying it as a desert biome, but 13 inches of rain is vastly different but 13 inches of rain is vastly different than a desert such as the Sahara, than a desert such as the Sahara, which receives 3 inches or less of rain which receives 3 inches or less of rain a year.a year.

Deserts of AfricaDeserts of Africa*There are three deserts in *There are three deserts in

Africa including the Africa including the Sahara, the Kalahari, and Sahara, the Kalahari, and the Namib.the Namib.

*The Sahara stretches over *The Sahara stretches over eleven Northern African eleven Northern African countries.countries.

*The Kalahari is located in *The Kalahari is located in Southern African countries Southern African countries such as Botswana, South such as Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Africa, Namibia, Angola, and Zambia.and Zambia.

*The Namib is located along *The Namib is located along the coastline of the the coastline of the Southeastern African Southeastern African country of Namibia.country of Namibia.

*The Sahara and the Kalahari deserts grow about 100 miles closer to each other each year due to desertification and erosion.

The Kalahari DesertThe Kalahari Desert*Yearly rainfall averages 5 *Yearly rainfall averages 5

inches.inches.*Latitude of 20-28 degrees *Latitude of 20-28 degrees

SouthSouth*Elevation of 3,000 feet.*Elevation of 3,000 feet.*Vegetation consists of dry *Vegetation consists of dry

grasslands, and shrubby grasslands, and shrubby acacia trees, which thrive acacia trees, which thrive during the summer rainy during the summer rainy season.season.

*Animals include hyenas, *Animals include hyenas, lions, meerkats, many lions, meerkats, many species of antelope, and species of antelope, and many types of birds and many types of birds and reptiles.reptiles.

The Sahara DesertThe Sahara Desert

*Averages 3 inches of rain a year.*Averages 3 inches of rain a year.*35-15 degrees North latitude.*35-15 degrees North latitude.*1,000 square miles.*1,000 square miles.*Average elevation from 1,300-1,600 feet. *Average elevation from 1,300-1,600 feet. *Temperatures range daily from 130 degrees *Temperatures range daily from 130 degrees

Fahrenheit during the day and below freezing Fahrenheit during the day and below freezing temperatures at night.temperatures at night.

*Most of the Sahara is sparse and not much *Most of the Sahara is sparse and not much vegetation grows, except for some grasses and vegetation grows, except for some grasses and shrubs, which have adapted to the high heat.shrubs, which have adapted to the high heat.

*The animal population of the Sahara is limited, but *The animal population of the Sahara is limited, but includes gazelles, ostriches, and jackals.includes gazelles, ostriches, and jackals.

The Namib DesertThe Namib Desert*Unpredictable rainfall which *Unpredictable rainfall which

ranges from 5mm to 85 mm.ranges from 5mm to 85 mm.

*About 23 degrees South latitude*About 23 degrees South latitude

*Elevation of 3,000 feet.*Elevation of 3,000 feet.

*64% of the Namib desert is *64% of the Namib desert is savannah, dry woodlands and savannah, dry woodlands and forests make up 20%, and forests make up 20%, and desert vegetation such as desert vegetation such as acacia trees makes up 16% of acacia trees makes up 16% of the Namib.the Namib.

*The animals in the Namib are *The animals in the Namib are mostly made up of reptiles mostly made up of reptiles including the web footed including the web footed gecko, and other animals that gecko, and other animals that dwell in the Namib include dwell in the Namib include jackals, and elephants.jackals, and elephants.

Deserts of AsiaDeserts of Asia• There are many deserts in Asia. Three of the most prominent There are many deserts in Asia. Three of the most prominent

deserts include the Gobi, the Taklamakan, and the Karakum. deserts include the Gobi, the Taklamakan, and the Karakum. • Gobi: Located in Northern parts of China and into Southern Gobi: Located in Northern parts of China and into Southern

Mongolia.Mongolia.• Taklamakan: Located in Southeastern China.Taklamakan: Located in Southeastern China.• Karakum: Located in TurkmenistanKarakum: Located in Turkmenistan

The Gobi Desert•Latitude is 40-50 degrees North.

•Considered a “rain shadow desert” due to the Himalayas blocking most of the rain clouds from entering it.

•Average annual rainfall at only about 7.6 inches.

•Positioned on a plateau, giving it elevation ranging from about 3000-5000 ft. above sea level.

•Due to this higher elevation it is often a cold desert, and it’s not uncommon for there to be frost or even snow on its dunes.

•Vegetation is rare except for near riverbeds, where there are various shrubs such as the saxaul, and other salt tolerant plants.

•Host to various animals including snow leapords, the highly endangered Gobi Bear, and the wild camel.

The Taklamakan DesertThe Taklamakan Desert• Literally translates to “go in Literally translates to “go in

and never come out” due to and never come out” due to it’s vastness and lack of water.it’s vastness and lack of water.

• Sparse vegetation, besides in Sparse vegetation, besides in depressions among sand depressions among sand dunes where the groundwater dunes where the groundwater is not as deep from the is not as deep from the surface. Here thickets of surface. Here thickets of tamarisks, nitre bushes, and tamarisks, nitre bushes, and reeds can be found.reeds can be found.

• Sparse animal life as well, with Sparse animal life as well, with herds of gazelles found in herds of gazelles found in open spaces, and wild boars in open spaces, and wild boars in river valley thickets. river valley thickets. Carnivores include wolves and Carnivores include wolves and foxes.foxes.

• Latitudes are from 55-60 Latitudes are from 55-60 degrees N.degrees N.

The Karakum DesertThe Karakum Desert• Occupies about 70 percent of the Occupies about 70 percent of the

area of Turkmenistan.area of Turkmenistan.• Varied vegetation, consisting of Varied vegetation, consisting of

mainly grass, small shrubs, mainly grass, small shrubs, bushes and trees. The most bushes and trees. The most common of the bushes being the common of the bushes being the Astragalus, Calligonum, and Astragalus, Calligonum, and Saltwort. This vegetation is used Saltwort. This vegetation is used as hay in winter by camels, as hay in winter by camels, sheep, and goats.sheep, and goats.

• Animals species are greatly Animals species are greatly varied. There are many insects varied. There are many insects including ants, termites, beetles, including ants, termites, beetles, spiders, and more. There are also spiders, and more. There are also various lizards, snakes, and various lizards, snakes, and turtles. There are many species of turtles. There are many species of birds as well, the most common birds as well, the most common being the skylarks.being the skylarks.

• Annual rainfall varies from 2.75-6 Annual rainfall varies from 2.75-6 inches.inches.

North American DesertsNorth American Deserts

The Great BasinThe Great Basin The largest desert The largest desert

in North America, in North America, located primarily located primarily in the northern in the northern three-quarters of three-quarters of Nevada, western Nevada, western and southern and southern Utah, to the Utah, to the southern third of southern third of Idaho and the Idaho and the southeastern southeastern corner of Oregon.corner of Oregon.

The Great BasinThe Great Basin

Elevations of at least 3000ft but Elevations of at least 3000ft but generally higher in the 4000 to generally higher in the 4000 to 6500ft range6500ft range

Precipitation of the area is 7 – 12 Precipitation of the area is 7 – 12 inches annuallyinches annually

Great Basin VegetationGreat Basin Vegetation

Great Basin vegetation is low and Great Basin vegetation is low and homogeneous, often with a single homogeneous, often with a single dominant species of bush for miles.dominant species of bush for miles.

Sagebrush is the indicator species of Sagebrush is the indicator species of this desert.this desert.

Great Basin animalsGreat Basin animals

There are many There are many animals in the animals in the great basin great basin including bighorn including bighorn sheep, kit fox, sheep, kit fox, coyote, skunk, coyote, skunk, black-tailed black-tailed jackrabbit, ground jackrabbit, ground squirrels, kangaroo squirrels, kangaroo rat and many rat and many species of mice.species of mice.

Mojave desertMojave desert The transition area from the hot Sonoran The transition area from the hot Sonoran

Desert to the cooler and higher Great Basin Desert to the cooler and higher Great Basin is called the Mojave Desert. This arid region is called the Mojave Desert. This arid region of southeastern California and portions of of southeastern California and portions of Nevada, Arizona and Utah, occupies more Nevada, Arizona and Utah, occupies more than 25,000 square miles and is located than 25,000 square miles and is located between 34 and 38°N latitudes.between 34 and 38°N latitudes.

The Mojave is a rainshadow desert with The Mojave is a rainshadow desert with elevations between 3000 and 6000 feet, elevations between 3000 and 6000 feet, though Death Valley national park includes though Death Valley national park includes the lowest point in the united states, 282 the lowest point in the united states, 282 feet below sea level at Badwater. feet below sea level at Badwater.

Mojave VegetationMojave Vegetation

The Mojave Desert has about 200 The Mojave Desert has about 200 endemic plant species found in endemic plant species found in neither of the adjacent deserts. neither of the adjacent deserts. Prominent plants include Desert Prominent plants include Desert Spanish Bayonet, a narrow leafed Spanish Bayonet, a narrow leafed yucca, Creosote bush and Blackbush. yucca, Creosote bush and Blackbush.

There are very few trees with a There are very few trees with a notable exception in the Joshua-tree notable exception in the Joshua-tree which is the prime indicator of which is the prime indicator of Mojave desert vegetation.Mojave desert vegetation.

Mojave AnimalsMojave Animals

The Mojave is The Mojave is home to many home to many animals including animals including cougars, coyotes, cougars, coyotes, Gila monsters, Gila monsters, humming birds, humming birds, Tarantulas and Tarantulas and Mojave green Mojave green rattlesnakes to rattlesnakes to name a few.name a few.

The Sonoran DesertThe Sonoran Desert

The Sonoran Desert is an arid region The Sonoran Desert is an arid region covering 120,000 square miles in covering 120,000 square miles in southwestern Arizona and southeastern southwestern Arizona and southeastern California , as well as most of Baja California California , as well as most of Baja California and the western half of the state of Sonora, and the western half of the state of Sonora, Mexico. Mexico.

The Sonoran Desert is a subtropical desert The Sonoran Desert is a subtropical desert receiving most of its moisture during the receiving most of its moisture during the Monsoon season, but also gets a good Monsoon season, but also gets a good amount of moisture from the winter rains amount of moisture from the winter rains giving the Sonoran two distinct and giving the Sonoran two distinct and substantial rainy seasons. substantial rainy seasons.

The Sonoran and Mojave The Sonoran and Mojave

Sonoran Animals and Sonoran Animals and VegetationVegetation

The Sonoran Desert includes 60 The Sonoran Desert includes 60 mammal species, 350 bird species, mammal species, 350 bird species, 20 amphibian species, 100+ reptile 20 amphibian species, 100+ reptile species, 30 native fish species, and species, 30 native fish species, and more than 2000 native plant species. more than 2000 native plant species. The Sonoran Desert is also home to The Sonoran Desert is also home to Jaguars and the Saguaro cactus.Jaguars and the Saguaro cactus.

The Chihuahuan DesertThe Chihuahuan Desert

The Chihuahuan is the second largest The Chihuahuan is the second largest desert in North America and lies desert in North America and lies primarily in the Mexican states of primarily in the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Zacatecas, and Chihuahua, Coahuila, Zacatecas, and San Luis Potosi with a small northern San Luis Potosi with a small northern portion extending into Arizona and New portion extending into Arizona and New Mexico. Rainfall of the Chihuahuan Mexico. Rainfall of the Chihuahuan averages between 8 and 12 inches and averages between 8 and 12 inches and is primarily in the summer.is primarily in the summer.

The Chihuahuan desertThe Chihuahuan desert

Chihuahuan VegetationChihuahuan Vegetation

The Chihuahuan desert is a shrub The Chihuahuan desert is a shrub desert with Tarbush being the desert with Tarbush being the dominant shrub. Yuccas and Agaves, dominant shrub. Yuccas and Agaves, growing with grasses and often growing with grasses and often Creosote Bushes, give this desert its Creosote Bushes, give this desert its characteristic appearance. characteristic appearance.

Chihuahuan AnimalsChihuahuan Animals

Animals of the Animals of the Chihuahuan desert Chihuahuan desert include the Kit fox, include the Kit fox, Cactus Mouse, Cactus Mouse, Cactus Wren, Cactus Wren, Greater Greater Roadrunner, and Roadrunner, and the Tiger the Tiger Salamander.Salamander.