A climate in which the seasonal water surplus does not balance the seasonal water deficiency, leading to an acute shortage of water, is called a ‘dry climate’.We frequently encounter dry climates with regular evaporation, when water molecules exit the Earth’s surface and enter the atmosphere, and transpiration, where water vapor leaves the plant’s leaves. As a result, these two processes are greater than the amount of snow, rain, or even hail, and as a result, the area becomes dry.The weather patterns are such that the summers in dry areas are hot to very hot, with little or no rainfall. Cold Winters during the day can be pleasant or warm, but winter nights can be quite chilly. The air is dusty, there are few clouds, and the sun is quite bright, causing a big glare in your eyes. The temperature varies greatly between day and night. As previously stated, it gets extremely chilly at night and extremely hot during the day. The dry arid areas (desert climate) cover around 12% of the Earth’s surface and are notable for desert flora such as cactus that has evolved to survive in these extremely dry conditions. Arid areas receive less than 11.8 in (300 mm) of rain per year. Plant life in high temperatures or dry seasons seems impossible, but they are adaptable to these conditions very well. Winter daysIf you like to read more about different weather and climate, you can read Brazil climate facts and difference between weather and climate for kids here at Kidadl.Characteristics of Dry WeatherDry climates are very prevalent in the steppes and cold deserts of the world. These are semi-arid and arid areas, with three major characteristics, which are high evaporation, very low precipitation, and temperature swings both seasonally and daily. A climate like this can be found in many places all over the world, but mostly in the regions of Australia, southern South America, North America, Central Africa, and Asia. A dry season has a very hot summer with minimum rainfall, while during the very cold winters, the temperature can range between warmer and colder, with very cold nights. They are characterized by a significant temperature variation between day and night.Dry weather is generated as a result of global air circulation. By understanding the air circulation patterns, the air that is warm rises in the atmosphere and comes into contact with the sunlight. Because of this, the water vapor present in the air gets evaporated. As it rises in the atmosphere, the warm air comes into contact with the cold air at high altitudes. It is then that it begins to descend hundreds of miles from the equator, warming up again as it does so. As the air descends from higher altitudes, it loses more and more water vapor until it reaches this point, resulting in entirely dry air. This explains why the dry climate is dominated by a low-humidity atmosphere.Precipitation: Unpredictable and low precipitation occurs throughout the dry climate types. The areas which encounter the lowest rainfall are the deserts or arid regions, where the average precipitation is about 14 in (35.56 cm) every year. In some desert regions, there is no rainfall all year round. Steppe or semi-arid areas are those regions where the grassland has very short grass with scattered sagebrush or small bushes. The rainfall amount here is a little more than in the deserts, which average about 28 in (71.12 cm) in a year. In general, most of the semi-arid regions witness less than 20 in (50.8 cm) of rainfall every year.Evaporation: One of the major characteristics of dry climate states is that the rate of evaporation will be much higher than the rate of precipitation. Because of this, a climate gets created that results in a lack of ground moisture. This is because the rainfall is at a minimum and the evaporation is at its maximum. Take the example of arid areas of the Middle East, where average rainfall is even less than 7.87 in (20 cm) every year, but the annual rate of evaporation is more than 78.7 in (200 cm), which is 10 times the rate of precipitation. This extreme rate of evaporation leads to the formation of a dry climate with coarse soil, which is not very supportive of green vegetation. In semi-arid areas, a little or small bush vegetation gets supported.Temperature: This is the third very common feature of dry climates. There are variations in the daily and seasonal temperatures. A third common characteristic of dry climates is wide variances in seasonal and daily temperatures. Warm summers, mild nights, and temperate winters characterize deserts, which are typically situated in the rain shadows of mountain ranges. On the other hand, winters in freezing deserts can be brutally cold. Due to the lack of humidity in dry areas, the rays of the sun are more direct, resulting in dramatic daily temperature variations. Highs in the deserts can reach 104 F (40 C) or even more, and winter lows can be well below freezing in some regions.Dry Climate RegionsSemi-arid and arid regions together form 26% of the total area of land on Earth, and deserts make up around 13% of the total land area. Some of the greatest desserts in the world are found in North Africa (Sahara), the Southwestern United States and Mexico (Chihuahua and Sonoran deserts), and Asia (Gobi Desert). The largest semiarid areas of the world can be seen in sagebrush areas and the short-grass plains of the Great Basin, the North American Plains, and the Pampas of South America. Some of the most famous dry deserts in the world are given below.Africa: Sahara Desert, Libyan Desert, Kalahari Desert, and the Namib DesertNorth America: Great Basin Desert, Chihuahuan Desert, Sonoran Desert, Colorado Desert, Yuma Desert, and the Mojave DesertSouth America: Patagonian Desert, Atacama Desert, Asia Desert, Arabian Desert, Rubʿ al-Khali Desert, Gobi Desert, Kyzylkum desert, Takla Makan desert, Karakum desert, Kavir Desert, Syrian Desert, Thar Desert, and Lut desert.Australia: Great Victoria Desert, Great Sandy Desert, Gibson Desert, and the Simpson Desert.Though the growth of vegetation is minimal in desert areas, the type of vegetation available there is very different. The flora and fauna in these areas are very adaptable to the conditions of such extreme weather. There are many species, but some of the most common ones are discussed here.The Nopal Cactus is a plant that has many circular pads, and these pads grow around a thick trunk. These pads are covered with thorns, which are also called their leaves. Because of falling, the difficulty is transpiration. The leaves turn into thorns to avoid maximum loss of water. The smaller the surface area, the lower the rate of perspiration. Apart from that, because of their shape, herbivore animals don’t feed on them. These types of plants need to conserve maximum water in the interior of the plant during the process of photosynthesis. The Saguaro cactus has waxy and smooth skin. It also has a rib that extends from the top to the bottom, alongside the body of the plant. The branches of this tree grow upright and the trunk can become very tall if it is grown in good conditions. The spines of this cactus are about 1.96 in (5 cm) long and can be seen on both the vertical ribs of the plant. Another one is desert clouds, which are wind-driven plants that sprout from their roots. They typically grow swiftly until they reach the size of a plant with thorny blossoms. The spines serve to minimize the region through which water is lost. They are called Estepicursoras and are commonly seen in western films such as The Tumbleweed. They are able to distribute their seeds across the earth because of this bearing.Not just the plants, but the fauna present in these areas is also very specially adapted to the environment of summers around them. They have evolved to survive in these conditions. Speaking of rattlesnakes, there are various rattlesnake species, and the patterns of their feet are similar but with varied colors. The head it has is triangular with a bell at the tail’s end. They have excellent hiding abilities and a carnivorous diet. The thorny devil lizard can be called a large lizard as compared to other species, as it is the size of the hands. This lizard has spines in a cone shape and also has a hump that protects the lizard. Coyotes have brown fur, which is often mixed with gray, black, and white hair. They mainly eat rabbits and various other rodents.Safety Protocol In Dry ClimateCarry Plenty of Water: There should be no doubt about carrying the extra supplies of water. There are no dependable sources of water in the regions of deserts. Looking at the minimum amount, there should be 1 gal (3.78 l) of water per person per day, which is the minimum requirement in the arid regions. When going through a desert, always return when half of the water is consumed. A lot of people try to cover the whole distance and look for water afterward, which proves to be fatal. Always remember to carry extra water in your vehicle as well. Don’t try to save your water too much. If you don’t drink it, it won’t do any good to you.Plan Your Trip Carefully: Always let someone know where you’re going and when you’ll be back. Stick to your plan. Traveling in the desert terrain requires the use of proper maps, like USGS topographic maps that display land contours and specific landmarks. Before hiking cross-country or on poorly defined paths, learn how to utilize a topographic map and a compass. It’s easy to become lost in the desert, where many landmarks and rock formations appear the same.Dress Properly: Layered clothing lowers dehydration and reduces exposure in the summer. A good pair of hiking boots, loose-fitted natural-fiber clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses are all required. Temperatures in the desert can rise above 90 F (32.2 C) and drop below 50 F (10 C) in a single day. Summer temperatures in some areas can exceed 125 F (51.6 C). Temperatures frequently fall below freezing in the winter. Bring extra layers of clothing.Types Of Dry ClimateThere are two dry climate types.Arid regions: A location is classified as arid when there is a severe scarcity of water to the point where it prevents and hinders the development and growth of native plants and animals. Because arid habitats vary in terms of climate, soil, water balance, vegetation, fauna, and human activity, there is no practical description for an arid region besides aridity. Aridity is indicated as p/ETP and is expressed as a function of rainfall and temperature. ETP is an abbreviation for potential evapotranspiration, which takes into consideration solar radiation, wind, and atmospheric humidity.Semi-arid regions: The semi-arid or steppe climate is the second driest climate after the arid climate. The rainfall here is slightly more than 10-20 in (25.4-50.8 cm) a year. This climate is like an intermediate between the arid and humid climate. There are various types of semi-arid climates. Basically, they are divided into two subparts, which are the cold and warm semi-arid. The tropics and subtropics in the 20s and 30s latitudes have hot, semi-arid climates. They are frequently found near tropical savanna climates or on the outskirts of subtropical desert climates.The hot semi-desert climate is distinguished by warm summers and cool winters, as well as fairly low precipitation. Hot semi-arid regions are found primarily in South Asia, Africa, and Australia. They also characterize sections of Europe, especially Spain, as well as areas of North America (Mexico and the southwestern United States) and South America.Cold semi-arid climate zones can be found in the temperate zones or in elevated regions of the subtropical zones. These regions are mostly found in the continental interiors, far from significant bodies of water. This kind of semi-arid climate is distinguished by dry and warm summers that are not as warm as those seen in a hot semi-arid climate.The dry winters in cold semi-arid regions are relatively chilly with some snowfall. Here, people can witness cool summers. The cold semi-arid climate is higher in elevation than the hot semi-arid ones.Temperature changes between night and day are also likely in cold semi-arid areas. Temperature variations are uncommon in hot, semi-arid environments. This kind of semi-arid climate is typical in some parts of Asia and North America, but it can also be found in sections of Africa (south and north Africa), Europe, and parts of South America.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for dry climate, then why not take a look at climate or Wisconsin climate facts?
A climate in which the seasonal water surplus does not balance the seasonal water deficiency, leading to an acute shortage of water, is called a ‘dry climate’.
