Deserts: Hot and Cold

Deserts are unique ecosystems characterized by extreme temperatures and limited precipitation, which can vary dramatically between hot and cold climates. Hot deserts, such as the Sahara, experience scorching daytime temperatures that can exceed 120°F (49°C) and minimal rainfall, often less than 10 inches annually.

In contrast, cold deserts, like the Gobi, endure frigid winters where temperatures can plummet below freezing, yet they too receive scant rainfall. Both types of deserts have adapted flora and fauna that exhibit remarkable resilience, including cacti and camels in hot deserts, and hardy shrubs and specialized mammals in cold deserts.