arid climate
Parched regional conditions
An arid climate receives very little precipitation—typically less than ten inches annually—resulting in dry conditions that support limited vegetation.
Deserts and semi-deserts have arid climates.
The term appears in geography, ecology, and climate science: Plants in arid climates have adapted to conserve water.
Phoenix has an arid climate with mild winters.
- sand dunesWind-sculpted sediment formations
- desertTo leave behind completely
- Death ValleyBelow-sea-level California desert
- water scarcityInsufficient freshwater for demand
- water holeNatural animal drinking source
desertification · parched earth · oasis · drought · dry spell · rain shadow · barren terrain · sparse vegetation · irrigation systems · evaporation · scorching sun · temperature extremes · rainwater harvesting · adobe · xerophyte · arroyo · cracked soil · soil erosion
- desert climatedry heat, extreme heat, scorching heat, desert heat, hot summers
- Droughtwater shortage, dry spell, dry spells, no rain, low rainfall
- Arabian ecologycamels, desert ecosystem, desert plants, dunes, gazelles
- Australian Weatherheatwave, bushfire, cyclone, dust storm, drought
- Desert culturesBedouin, nomads, oases, camels, tents
- Egyptian DesertSahara, dunes, oases, sandstorms, wadis