Desert

          The desert is a very interesting biome.  In Saudi Arabia it’s called “Rub’ al Khali.” In China the desert is  called “Takla Makan.”

          There are 2 types of deserts; hot deserts receive their precipitation as rain.  Cold deserts receive their precipitation as snow.

          Air temperature in the desert rises quickly during the day and falls quickly at night.  Average temperature is 75 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.  The humidity is very low: 10 to 20 percent.  Deserts average less than 10 inches of rain per year. 

           The soil in a desert is usually sandy, salty, crumbly, and/or very rocky.  The topsoil in a desert consists mainly of  pebbles.  The desert has a very low biomass (If you don’t know what biomass is refer to “Tropical Rain Forest”). 

          The common plants in a desert are: cacti, yucca, mesquite, sagebrush, saltbush, creosote bush, and many other annuals.  Most plants are adapted to little water.