Geography PYQ 389 of 587 · Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Continents & Landforms · Arid Regions / Deserts

The possibility of a desert on earth is more

  1. ANearby 0° latitude
  2. BNearby 23° latitude
  3. CNearby 50° latitude
  4. DNearby 70° latitude

41st B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1996

Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: (b) Nearby 23° latitude

Explanation

Desert climate is also known as arid climate. Hot deserts are found mostly between 15° and 30° north and south of the Equator. Deserts form in four main geographical situations: (1) High air pressure near 30° latitude: the Sahara and the Australian deserts fall in this group. (2) The western coasts of continents between 20° and 30° latitude, where cold ocean currents cause desert formation: the Arizona, Mexican, Atacama and Namibian deserts come in this group. (3) The rain-shadow areas of mountains: Death Valley (North America), the Patagonian Desert (Argentina) and the Peruvian desert. (4) The interiors of continents, far from moist air: the Gobi (China and Mongolia), the Australian desert and the Great Basin desert (USA).

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