The Desert Biome, Survival Adaptations and Strategies of Annual Plant Species

Abstract

In general, deserts and arid zones are areas where the evaporation rates are higher than the annual amount of precipitation. The more extreme the desert area, the lower the annual precipitation and the higher the evaporation rates. According to Thornthwaite (1948), the ‘moisture regions’ of the world are dependent on the moisture index (Im), which is dependent on (s) water surplus, (d) water deficiency and (n) the water need:$$\operatorname{I} _m = \left( {100s - 60d} \right)/n.$$