Before we talk about the weather in the desert, it's important that you know the difference between weather and climate. Up to now, all you have read about deserts has to do with the climate. Let's look at the difference!
Weather:
When we use the word weather, we are talking about what is going
on in the atmosphere in a specific place at a specific time. When we describe
the weather of a location, we often give the temperature, describe the
sky (cloudy), and measure the amount of precipitation (rain or snow).
Climate:
Climate is the average weather of a location over a period of time.
If someone says that the Sahara Desert is a hot, dry place, they are talking
about the climate of the desert. What they are saying is that the weather
of the Sahara Desert is hot and dry most of the time.
So, now that you know the difference, let's look at some weather you might find in the deserts of the world!
Rain
If you stay in the desert long enough, you will see rain. It doesn't happen
very often. In fact, some desert areas might go for months or years without
rain. Sometimes, in hot deserts, rain evaporates before it gets to the
ground. When that happens, it's like it didn't rain at all!
The chart below shows an average rainfall each year in each desert. These numbers help geologists describe the climates of these areas. Remember this is the amount of precipitation in the whole desert ... not in just one place!
| Arabian Desert | 4 inches ( about 10 cm) |
| Atacama Desert | 1/2 inch (about 1 cm) |
| Australian Desert | 5-30 inches (about 12-76 cm) |
| Chihuahuan Desert | 3-16 inches (about 8-41 cm) |
| Gobi Desert | <10 inches (about 25 cm) |
| Great Basin Desert | 1/3 - 2 inches (about 1 - 5 cm) |
| Iranian Desert | The exact amount is unknown, however this is a VERY dry desert area. |
| Kalahari Desert | up to 26 inches (about 66 cm) |
| Mojave Desert | 2-6 inches (about 5-15 cm) |
| Namib Desert | <3/4 inch (about 2 cm) |
| Sahara Desert | <4 inches (about 10 cm) |
| Sonoran Desert | 5-12 inches (about 13-31 cm) |
| Takla Makan Desert | <1 1/2 inches (about 4 cm) |
| Thar Desert | <10 inches (about 25 cm) |
| Turkestan Desert | 4-10 inches (about 10-25 cm) |
Clouds
Sometimes it is hard to find a cloud in the desert sky. Clouds are created by moisture in the air. Since there is very little moisture in the desert air, there are very few clouds.
Some deserts, like the Namib Desert, often have fog. The fog that rolls in is created by the moisture of the nearby ocean.
If you live in a place where there are lots of clouds, you may think that a cloudless sky everyday sounds wonderful! However, clouds also stop the heat of the day from escaping into the night sky. If there are no clouds, the night air cools very quickly! This is why daytime temperatures can be so HOT and nighttime temperatures can be so COLD!
Dust
StormsThe dry desert weather helps cause a type of storm that is not seen in other climates ... the dust storm. When these storms hit, they swallow up everything around them in dust and sand. They happen quickly!
Desert areas don't have a lot of plant life and what is growing there is often spread far apart. Because of this, there is nothing to hold soils in their spot. So, high winds really whip up mess of a storm!
Some
dust storms create whirlwinds instead of just blowing dust and sand. When
this happens, the storm is called a dust devil. Dust devils can be very
damaging storms!
In some deserts, dust storms bring with them spectacular lightening storms! Lightening in these storms can be very dangerous, but it is beautiful to watch!
Flash Floods
The land in the desert is baked and dry. When it does rain, there is always the danger of a flash flood. This happens when there is too much rain and it can't soak into the ground.
The rainwater
fills washes, wadis, or playas and overflows into the areas around them.
Often the rushing water carves out new areas to flow. In mountain desert
areas, flash floods can occur from rain that fell (or snow that melted)
miles and miles away!
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Now that you know what kinds of weather can be seen in the desert, it's time to take a look at what's happening right now! Click on the cactus to see your task! Have fun! Hey Kids! Desert Journal #3 is in this notebook task!!! |
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Photos
used with permission: ©2001-2003 The Curriculum Store, Inc. |