In this deck, we'll explore the extreme environment of hot deserts. This is an optional topic in Paper 1 of your AQA GCSE Geography exam, so make sure to check with your teacher that you are studying it. We will cover the unique climate and characteristics of hot deserts, look at the incredible ways plants and animals have adapted to survive there, and investigate the opportunities and challenges for human development in these arid landscapes.

Hot deserts are mainly found in a belt between 15 and 30 degrees north and south of the equator. These are areas of high atmospheric pressure, where air sinks, meaning very few clouds form and rainfall is extremely low. Famous examples include the Sahara in North Africa, the Arabian Desert, and the Great Victoria Desert in Australia.

The climate in a hot desert is one of extremes. Daytime temperatures can soar to over 40 degrees Celsius, but at night, with no cloud cover to trap the heat, they can plummet to below freezing. This huge difference between day and night temperature is a key characteristic.

Rainfall is the other defining feature. Hot deserts are defined as having less than 250 millimetres of rain per year. And when it does rain, it's often in short, intense, and unreliable downpours.