Over one-fifth of the vegetation of the Earth is covered with the barren field, either be it in an extremely mild or certainly lower level of temperature. This barren field is commonly known as a desert.
On average, there are two types of desert in the Earth’s vegetation. The hot desert and the cold desert are the broad category. Both of these deserts have very harsh climatic conditions which they are categorized based on their temperature.
Key Takeaways
- Hot deserts experience high temperatures and low precipitation, leading to dry, sandy, and rocky landscapes.
- Cold deserts have low temperatures and low precipitation, with landscapes consisting of rocks, gravel, and ice.
- Both deserts support unique plant and animal adaptations, with species evolving to survive extreme conditions.
Hot Desert vs Cold Desert
Hot deserts are characterized by high-temperature rates during the day and relatively mild temperature rates at night. Cold deserts have colder temperatures overall, with less extreme temperature fluctuations and changes. Hot deserts have more plant and animal life than cold deserts.
The hot deserts have high temperatures, barren fields with low precipitation, with relatively minimum habitat of flora and fauna.
The range of the geographical representation of this desert varies from 15 to 30 degrees north and south of the equator, mainly found in tropical and subtropical regions.
The cold deserts are found in low-temperature acquiring regions. These types of geographical locations can be easily found in regions with higher altitudes, like hilly regions of Greenland, the Antarctic, etc.
The temperature range of this type of desert consists of mildly warm summers and extremely cool winters with extreme snowfalls. The span of the winter weather tends to be longer for the cold desert regions.
The common range includes -2 to 4 degree Celsius for the fall weather and 21-26 degree Celsius in the spring weather.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Hot Desert | Cold Desert |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | This desert comprises of very high temperature. | This desert comprises of very cold temperature. |
| Geography | These are found in the tropical and sub-tropical districts. | These are found in low temperature regions at higher altitude level. |
| Resemblance | The desert looks like an orange field covered with sandy soil. | The desert looks like grey field covered with ice. |
| Rainfall | The rainfall level is low and evaporation level is high. | The rainfall level is high compared to evaporation level. |
| Fauna | Foxes, dung beetles, camels etc. | Polar bear, dear etc. |
What is Hot Desert?
The hot deserts have high temperatures, barren fields with low precipitation, with relatively minimum habitat of flora and fauna.
The range of the geographical representation of this desert varies from 15 -30 degrees north and south of the equator, mainly found in tropical and subtropical regions.
The annual rainfall in this kind of desert is relatively lower, i.e., below 250 mm, because of which the temperature tends to be extremely warm and dry.
Relatively higher numbers of hot deserts have lower water intake or water availability because of the harsh windy weather they possess. The most extreme temperature in a hot desert, by and large, remaining parts, is more than 40 degrees Celsius.
The temperature in a hot desert does not go below 40 degrees Celsius, and the maximum temperature which came into notice was 57.77 degrees Celsius.
The vegetation of hot deserts is, for the most part, ‘xerophytic’ or dry season safe. It incorporates prickly plants, bushes, acacia, and wiry grasses. The fauna includes Foxes, dung beetles, camels, etc. All of these animals are capable of surviving such extremely hot weather conditions.
Some famous hot deserts are the Sahara Desert, the Great Australian Desert, the Arabian Desert, etc.
What is Cold Desert?
The cold deserts are found in low-temperature acquiring regions. These types of geographical locations can be easily found in regions with higher altitudes, like hilly regions of Greenland, Antarctic, etc.
The temperature range of this type of desert consists of mildly warm summers and extremely cool winters with extreme snowfalls.
The span of the winter weather tends to be longer for the cold desert regions. The common range includes -2 to 4 degree Celsius for the fall weather and 21-26 degree Celsius in the spring weather.
The annual rainfall is relatively higher in the cold desert, due to which the landscape has extremely heavy snowfall.
Vegetation is dispersed with needle-like leaves to retain the maximum water capacity. The creatures found in chilly deserts incorporate foxes, rabbits, and so forth, the fauna consists of Deer, kit foxes, and coyotes, polar bears, etc.
Main Differences Between Hot Desert and Cold Desert
- The hot desert comprises very high temperatures. The cold desert comprises very cold temperatures.
- The hot desert is found in tropical and sub-tropical districts, whereas these are found in low-temperature regions at higher altitude levels.
- The hot desert looks like an orange field covered with sandy soil, whereas the cold desert looks like a grey field covered with ice.
- The vegetation of hot deserts is for the most part ‘xerophytic’ or dry season safe. It incorporates the prickly plants, bushes, acacia and wiry grasses. While, the vegetation in the cold desert is dispersed with needle like leaves to retain maximum water capacity.
- The rainfall level is low and evaporation level is high for the hot desert and the rainfall level is high compared to evaporation level for the cold desert.
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1034/j.1600-0722.2002.21364.x
- http://journals.researchub.org/index.php/JSSHR/article/view/964
Last Updated : 19 July, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
The high-temperature levels and low precipitation in hot deserts result in a uniquely arid environment that shapes the flora and fauna found there.
Absolutely, the extreme heat and dryness of hot deserts require remarkable adaptations for survival.
The xerophytic vegetation and desert-dwelling animals in hot deserts showcase nature’s resilience even in the harshest conditions.
The distinct appearances and climatic features of hot and cold deserts reflect the diverse habitats that have evolved based on their unique environmental conditions.
Indeed, the visual and ecological contrasts between hot and cold deserts are captivating subjects for scientific inquiry and exploration.
The comparison between hot and cold deserts in terms of temperature, geography, and vegetation highlights the diversity of arid landscapes and the life they support.
Indeed, the contrasts between hot and cold deserts demonstrate the adaptability of living organisms to extreme environmental conditions.
The distinctive characteristics of hot and cold deserts, from temperature patterns to plant and animal adaptations, underscore the complexity of these ecosystems.
The temperature and precipitation differences in hot and cold deserts contribute to the unique ecological niches they provide for various species.
Absolutely, it’s remarkable how life persists in such challenging environments through specialized strategies.
The geographical distribution of hot and cold deserts plays a significant role in their climate and ecological characteristics, making them distinct ecosystems.
Absolutely, the impact of latitude and altitude on desert formation and features is a fascinating aspect of their study.
The varying vegetation and fauna in hot and cold deserts reflect the unique adaptations of life forms to harsh and contrasting environmental conditions.
The ability of organisms to thrive in desert environments through specialized traits and behaviors is a testament to the adaptability of life.
Indeed, the survival strategies of plants and animals in extreme environments highlight the resilience of life on Earth.
The stark differences between hot and cold deserts in terms of temperature, precipitation, and landscapes are truly fascinating to study and understand.
The unique behaviors and physical characteristics of desert-dwelling species reflect their ability to thrive in such challenging conditions.
I agree, the adaptations of life in extreme environments offer valuable insights into ecological resilience.
Deserts are fascinating ecosystems due to the harsh climatic conditions and the unique adaptations of the flora and fauna that inhabit them.
Absolutely, the survival strategies of plants and animals in deserts are truly remarkable.
The geographical distribution and ecological characteristics of hot and cold deserts offer valuable insights into the adaptability and resilience of life forms in extreme environments.
Absolutely, the study of deserts provides a wealth of information about the challenges and opportunities of life in arid landscapes.
The distinctive rainfall patterns and temperature ranges between hot and cold deserts contribute to their individual characteristics and ecological functions.
Absolutely, understanding the climatic differences between these deserts provides valuable insights into ecosystem dynamics.