How can a desert can be cold as well as hot?

Answer 1

A desert is defined as a region that receives less than 10 inches (250 mm) of precipitation per year on average. There are cold as well as hot regions that meet that criterion. Temperature is not a defining factor, only precipitation. The Antarctic Desert is bitterly cold but still qualifies as a desert because of very low precipitation.

Answer 2

A desert is defined as a dry, barren area of land, especially one covered with sand. Deserts make up a fifth of the Earth's area, but don't always have to be insanely hot. For example, using the definition as proof, you can have deserts in Antarctica, Greenland, China as well as ones in Africa and California. Deserts can have all types of temperatures!!

Answer 3

Yes, there are cold deserts as well as hot deserts. Some, such as Antarctica, are cold all year long. Others, such as the Gobi Desert and Great Basin Desert, can be quite hot in summer but bitterly cold in winter. Even hot deserts have times during the year when it can be quite chilly, especially at night. Since deserts have little humidity and cloud cover to hold in the heating of the day they quickly lose the heat when the sun sets and can become quite chilly at night.

Answer 4

A desert is not classified by the temperature of the place. It is classified by the amount of rain. For example Antarctica is a desert because it doesn't have a lot of rain.