Question

What are the two characteristic features of a desert?

Answer 1

Hint: A desert is a barren expanse of terrain with minimal precipitation and, as a result, adverse living conditions for plants and animals. The lack of vegetation exposes the ground's exposed surface to denudation processes.

Complete answer:
Any vast, severely dry expanse of land with scarce vegetation is referred to as a desert. It is one of Earth's primary ecosystem types, sustaining a population of unique plants and animals that have evolved to thrive in the harsh climate.

Desert settings are so arid that they sustain only relatively scant vegetation; trees are rarely present, and shrubs or herbaceous plants offer only a partial ground cover under typical climatic circumstances. Some deserts are nearly barren of vegetation due to extreme aridity. However, this barrenness is thought to be owing in part to the impacts of human disturbance on an already stressed ecosystem, such as extensive livestock grazing.

Desert plants and animals require specific adaptations to thrive in such a severe climate. Plants with tiny or no leaves, water-resistant cuticles, and frequently spines to discourage herbivory are tough and wiry. Annual plants sprout, blossom, and die within a few weeks of rainfall, but long-lived plants persist for years and have extensive root systems.

To live, animals must stay cool and obtain adequate food and water. Many are nocturnal, preferring to spend the day in the shade or underground. They are good at saving water, getting the majority of their needs from food and concentrating their urine. Some creatures go into hibernation for extended periods of time, waiting for the occasional rain to reawaken them.

Two characteristic features of deserts are:
- A desert's climate is either extremely hot and dry or extremely cold and dry.
- There isn't much in the way of vegetation.

Note: Deserts are created by weathering processes, which cause huge temperature differences between day and night to exert strain on the rocks, causing them to break apart. Although rain seldom falls in deserts, there are sporadic downpours that might cause flash flooding.