Expert: Walter Hintz - 8/14/2007

Question
Hi, my name is Tyler Hayes.  Now I take my schoolwork very seriously and need to get an edge on this summer project so I can maintain my number 1 rank in the school.  And the biome I chose for my project is desert biome, the hot one, not the cold dessert biome.  Could you provide some precipitation information about the desert biome and what one would pack if they were to visit there?  Now don't start thinking I'm a retard for not Googling the answer because Google is god...but we need to use an Expert as a source so don't give me some lousy answer and a couple links, I need you to actually give some information, aight homie?  Thanks dog.  Its been real.

(this is serious by the way, i really need some info on desert biomes, thanks)


Sincerely yours,

Tyler Hayes  

Answer
Hey Tyler
  I take helping students seriously.
You picked a goody.  Frankly I would have chosen the rain forest and the again I have spent some time in the jungle.
 The hot deserts lie at about 30 degrees latitude N and S. Temperature are extreme because low humidity means heat is not trapped. Therefore in the Sahara and Atacama (Chile) maximum temperature range from 43 to 40 C and minimums from 29 to 35 C. So if you go there you should light clothes to cover you (sun) and something for evening wear.  You must of course pack sufficient water.
 As to precipitation, a desert is defined as an area with less then 50 cm of rainfall annually.  The Sahara and Atacama average less than 1.5 cm per year.  In fact there are areas of the Atacama where it has not rained in 10 years.
 Your question is somewhat general.  If you have some specifics to discuss get back to me.
walt