Most deserts, particularly the world's hot deserts, are located along specific latitudinal bands on Earth.
The Primary Desert Locations
According to geographical data, a significant concentration of the world's hot deserts is found in areas between 15° and 30° north or south of the equator.
Why are Deserts Found in These Regions?
The location of deserts in these subtropical zones is primarily due to global atmospheric circulation patterns.
- Rising Air at the Equator: Intense solar heat at the equator causes air to warm and rise.
- Flowing North and South: This rising air then divides and flows towards the north and south poles at high altitudes.
- Subsiding Air: As this air moves away from the equator, it cools and sinks back towards the Earth's surface around the 15° to 30° latitude marks in both hemispheres.
- Dry Conditions: Sinking air compresses and warms, which prevents cloud formation and precipitation. This creates stable, dry conditions conducive to desert environments.
This process, part of the Hadley Cell circulation, is a key reason why major deserts like the Sahara, Arabian Desert, and the deserts of Australia are found in these specific belts.
Examples of Deserts in these Belts
| Hemisphere | Approximate Latitudes | Examples of Deserts |
|---|---|---|
| Northern | 15° to 30° North | Sahara Desert, Arabian Desert |
| Southern | 15° to 30° South | Great Victoria Desert (Australia), Atacama Desert (partially) |
While this describes the location of hot deserts, other types of deserts exist, such as cold deserts (like the Gobi Desert or polar deserts), which are located in different regions due to different climate-forming factors. However, when people refer to "most deserts," they often mean the vast, hot deserts located within these subtropical belts.
Understanding these global circulation patterns helps explain the distribution of deserts across the planet, concentrating many of the largest and hottest deserts in these specific latitudes.
