Desert climate explained to kids

A desert climate is a climate that receives very little precipitation. Deserts are areas that receive an extremely low amount of rainfall each year. Some deserts receive no rainfall at all! There are two types of deserts: hot and cold. Hot deserts are found in the subtropics, which are the areas of the world between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Cold deserts are found in the polar regions, which are the areas of the world near the North and South Poles. Deserts are dry because they are located in areas where the air is very dry. Dry air cannot hold much water vapor, so it doesn't rain or snow very often in deserts. Deserts are also sunny because they are located in areas that get a lot of sunlight. The sun evaporates any moisture that falls from the atmosphere, so it doesn't rain or snow very often in deserts. Some plants and animals can survive in deserts because they have adapted to the dry conditions. For example, cacti and other succulents store water in their leaves, so they don't need to drink very often. Camels can go long periods of time without drinking because they store water in their hump.