By Terrance Carter Ms.Post

  A desert is a area that loses more moisture than it gains. Lack of vegetation and rainfall are indicators, but not the standard.  A desert looks sandy, sometimes it has tree’s or cactus's and is stony. Desert

  Many deserts are formed by rain shadows; mountains blocking the path of precipitation to the desert (on the lee side of the mountain). Deserts are often composed of sand and rocky surfaces. Sand dunes called ergs and stony surfaces called Hamada surfaces compose a minority of desert surfaces. Exposures of rocky terrain are typical, and reflect minimal soil development and sparseness of vegetation. The soil is rocky because of the low chemical weathering.

  Many deserts are found in bands along 30 degrees latitude north and 30 degrees latitude south (between the red lines on the map).  Some deserts located by mountains and are caused by the "rain shadow" effect. As air moves up over a mountain range, it gets cold and loses the ability to hold moisture -- so it rains or snows. When the air moves down the other side of the mountain, it gets warmer. Warm air can hold lots of moisture, so it doesn't rain as much, and a desert is formed. Desert’s Location

 Plants that live on Deserts