(a) Hot Desert Climate
Location: Found within latitude 15°— 30°North and South of the Equator. It is mostly common in the Western side of continents. Examples are North Africa (Sahara desertss); Arabia (Arabian desert), Iran (Iranian desert); Southern Africa (Namib and Kalahari deserts); Australia (Great Australian desert); South America (Atacama desert). Hot desert can as well be located on plateaux such as Gobi, and Turkestan, Patagonia desert
Characteristics
(i) High temperature of about 50° — 77°C.
(ii) Annual range of temperature is about 11°C
(iii) It is rainless or arid Annual rainfall is low and less than 250mm
(v) High evaporation ratio due to high temperature
(vi) Relative humidity is low and about 30%
(vii) Mostly affected by the currents e.g Canary cold current affecting the Sahara desert.
(viii) Solar radiation and sunshine hours are high throughout the year.
(ix) Rainfall is convectional, hence sudden and violent
(x) Clear sky
(xi) Soil is sandy, rocky or stony
Vegetation
(1) The existence of sparse and scanty vegetation.
(2) Examples are grasses, shrubs and herbs
(3) Most plants are drought-resistant (Xerophytes)
(4) Example of plants are Acacia, Date palm, Cactus
Some plants are salt tolerant (Halophytes)
(6) Plants usually possess long root to tap water from the underground
(7) Some plants have thick succulent stems to conserve water
(8) Small, waxy, leathery, hairy / needle leaves to reduce transpiration.
Human Activity
(i) Food gathering, especially of fruits and nuts
(ii) Hunting for wild animals
(iii) Pastoral farming Crop cultivation particularly of grains with irrigation e.g millet, sorghum,
(v) Trading and mining also exist.