Exploring Extreme Climates: Deserts Around the World
Discover the fascinating world of extreme climates, from Ireland's temperate weather to the harsh conditions of deserts. Learn about the unique flora, fauna, and people adapted to living in hot, arid environments. Explore how desert plants and animals thrive, and delve into the lifestyles of those who call these harsh landscapes home.
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Presentation Transcript
Extreme climates Ireland has a temperate climate. It rarely experiences extreme weather conditions. However, some countries have an extremely hot or cold climate. The flora and fauna in these places are adapted to living in harsh conditions. So too are the people there.
Deserts Deserts are regions with an arid climate. They are the driest places on Earth, receiving less than 25 cm of rainfall per year.
Deserts Many deserts are hot during the day, but cool at night due to the lack of cloud cover. There is very little moisture in the air, so clouds rarely form. The Sahara Desert in North Africa is almost as large as the USA!
Desert plants The most common desert plants are cacti and succulents. They are adapted to survive without much water. When it rains, they store water in their stems.
Desert plants They grow slowly to conserve water and food. They have deep roots that are spread out to absorb water. Cacti are common in the Atacama Desert in South America.
Desert animals Deserts animals are adapted to survive in the desert heat. Desert predators hunt at night when it is cooler, and sleep in the shade during the day to conserve energy. Camels can drink around 100 litres at one time, and then go up to seven months without drinking water again. This happens in the Judean Desert of Israel.
Desert people People who live in the desert often paint their house white to reflect the sun s rays and keep the interior as cool as possible. They also avoid physical work during the hottest hours of the day, around noon.
The Bedouin The Bedouin are a nomadic people who travel the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East. They live in tents, which they insulate with animal hair to keep them cool during the day and warm at night.
Polar climates Both Antarctica and the Arctic have a polar climate. The plants and animals in polar regions experience freezing temperatures, gale-force winds, snowstorms and little daylight in winter.
Polar climates The polar climate is too harsh for most plant species. The soil lacks nutrients because it is too cold for organic material to break down. Moss, lichens and algae are adapted to these conditions.
Polar plants Moss can grow in the poorest of soil. Lichens can grow on bare rock, and algae can grow in cold water and on ice. In southern regions of the Arctic, low shrubs can grow in sheltered spots between rocks.
Arctic animals Animals such as the polar bear and Arctic fox live in the Arctic. They have thick fur and a layer of body fat beneath their skin to insulate their bodies. The polar bear hunts seals on large ice sheets.
Arctic animals The Arctic fox does not live near the sea, so it hunts small rodents found inland.
Humans in the Arctic Humans have adapted to life in the Arctic in the past. The Inuit traditionally wore clothing made from animal skins and furs to keep warm. They gathered edible seaweed, and hunted animals such as polar bears and seals.
Humans in the arctic They travelled on snowmobiles or dog sleds while hunting, and built igloos for shelter. Many of these customs are still practised today.
Tropical monsoon climates Some countries have a tropical monsoon climate. This is a hot, dry climate with heavy seasonal rainfall. India is an example of a country with this climate. India experiences a hot, dry season that lasts from March to May.
Tropical monsoon climates This is followed by a monsoon season with heavy rainfall from June to September. Then, there is a mostly dry period from October to December, and a cool, dry season from January to February.
Tropical monsoon plants Many of the trees in India are deciduous. They shed their leaves during the hot, dry season to prevent water loss through their leaves. They have long roots to tap water sources deep under the ground.
Tropical monsoon plants Their leaves regrow quickly during the monsoon season. The rain brings much-needed nutrients to the soil after at least six months of little rainfall. This helps plants to flourish fast.
Tropical monsoon animals Thailand s Asian elephants are adapted to the country s tropical monsoon climate. They prefer to live on grassy plains at the edge of jungles. During the hot, dry season, they frequently walk long distances to river valleys in search of water. They return to their preferred habitat once the monsoon season starts.
Tropical monsoon insects Insects such as mosquitoes thrive in the monsoon season because they breed in stagnant water, such as that found in puddles.
Effects of monsoon season The monsoon season has both positive and negative effects on people. Crops can be planted and wells are filled for the months ahead.
Effects of monsoon season Water is used to generate hydroelectricity to power homes and factories. However, heavy rainfall can also cause landslides and flash flooding, and flood water can spread diseases.
Illustrations Shutterstock Beehive
