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What is reason for the major hot deserts of the world lying in the Western part of the tropical latitude?

Question

What is reason for the major hot deserts of the world lying in the Western part of the tropical latitude?

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Solution

The major hot deserts of the world, such as the Sahara, the Arabian, the Kalahari, and the Australian deserts, are located in the western part of the tropical latitudes due to several reasons:

  1. Cold Ocean Currents: These deserts are located near the western coasts of continents where cold ocean currents prevail. Cold currents lower the temperature of the coastal air, reducing its capacity to hold moisture. This leads to minimal rainfall, creating arid conditions suitable for a desert.

  2. Rain Shadow Effect: Many of these deserts are located on the leeward side (the side sheltered from the wind) of mountain ranges. When moist air approaches a mountain, it rises and cools, causing precipitation on the windward side. By the time the air reaches the leeward side, it has lost most of its moisture, creating a "rain shadow" effect, which contributes to desert conditions.

  3. High Pressure Zones: The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn are areas of high atmospheric pressure, where the air tends to descend. Descending air is dry because as it descends, it warms and its capacity to hold moisture increases, so it doesn't release moisture as rain. This lack of rainfall contributes to desert conditions.

  4. Distance from the Sea: Some of these deserts are located far from the sea, which means they are not influenced by the moderating effect of the sea, leading to extreme temperature conditions – very hot during the day and very cold at night. This makes it difficult for vegetation to grow, contributing to desert conditions.

These factors combine to create the hot, dry conditions that characterize the major deserts of the world.

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