Why are deserts formed?

Answer 1

Deserts can be created by:

*Below Freezing Temperatures. If an area is covered by unusable water (snow or ice) for a season or year-round, it is considered a tundra or cold desert (places like Antarctica are tundras). There is no moisture to sustain life.

*Low Rainfall. Some places just don't have very much rainfall, which can create deserts.

*Very High Altitude. High altitude areas can create deserts because of their aridity, low moisture content, and, sometimes, their distance from water.

*Rain Shadow. A "rain shadow" effect occurs when tall mountainous ranges block clouds from reaching an area of land. Air, pushed by the wind, cools and condenses moisture as it goes over the mountain. The air travels across the area and loses its moisture, making it get warm and expand. When it blows across the desert, the warm, desiccated air takes with it any remaining moisture in the desert.

*Sand or Salt. Sand or salt, being naturally dry, can create a desert.

I hope this helps!:)

Answer 2

Deserts may be formed by any of the following:

• Deforestation - when trees are cut down, there are no tree roots to hold the soil in place. This means wind erosion can pick up more good topsoil and take it away. This results in a vicious circle whereby plants cannot regenerate and so more soil is eroded away.
• Deserts may be caused by rain shadows, when mountain ranges prevent clouds from reaching inland. As air from the ocean moves over the mountains, it cools down and moisture condenses, causing precipitation on the windward side. However, by the time the air reaches the lee of the mountains, it is dry because it has lost most of its moisture, meaning no precipitation to encourage plant growth - hence, a desert. Quite simply, mountains can block cloud paths. No clouds leads to lack of rain, which in turn leads to desert.
• High altitude may result in deserts.
• Cold deserts, such as the Antarctic, result from the fact that ice and snow does not melt, meaning there is no opportunity for plants to grow.

Answer 3

• because if there are no deserts there are no diff. plants like cactus.
• because other animals can't live in cold or fine weather others can only live in hot places.
• because if there are cold weather we could go to the deserts.
• because God wants it.

Answer 4

Deserts may be formed by any of several causes.

• Deforestation - when trees are cut down, there are no tree roots to hold the soil in place. This means wind erosion can pick up more good topsoil and take it away. This results in a vicious circle whereby plants cannot regenerate and so more soil is eroded away.
• Deserts may be caused by rain shadows, when mountain ranges prevent clouds from reaching inland. As air from the ocean moves over the mountains, it cools down and moisture condenses, causing precipitation on the windward side. However, by the time the air reaches the lee of the mountains, it is dry because it has lost most of its moisture, meaning no precipitation to encourage plant growth - hence, a desert. Quite simply, mountains can block cloud paths. No clouds leads to lack of rain, which in turn leads to desert.
• High altitude may result in deserts.
• Cold deserts, such as the Antarctic, result from the fact that ice and snow does not melt, meaning there is no opportunity for plants to grow.

Answer 5

The deserts in the world were formed by periods of no rain or moisture. The rainshadow effect is another common way that deserts were formed.