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Year 10
AQA

Location and physical characteristics of hot deserts

I can describe the location and physical characteristics of hot deserts.

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Year 10
AQA

Location and physical characteristics of hot deserts

I can describe the location and physical characteristics of hot deserts.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Hot desert ecosystems are located at roughly 30°N and 30°S of the Equator.
  2. Hot desert ecosystems have distinctive physical characteristics.
  3. The climate influences other physical characteristics of hot deserts.

Keywords

  • Hot deserts - arid areas experiencing low rainfall, generally below 250 mm/year, and high summer temperatures

  • Biome - a global land area that is characterised by its plants, animals and climate

  • Climate - the average weather conditions of a place over a long period of time, typically 30 years or more

Common misconception

It never rains in hot deserts.

While some deserts are exceptionally dry, a region can experience up to 250 mm of rain each year and still be categorised as a desert.


To help you plan your year 10 geography lesson on: Location and physical characteristics of hot deserts, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

The physical characteristics of deserts can vary significantly: show students a range of desert landscapes and use GIS to explore desert surfaces - from sand dunes to desert pavements.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a biome?
Correct answer: A large area characterised by its distinct climate, vegetation and animal life
A specific type of animal species found in a particular region
A term used to describe the weather patterns of a region
Q2.
Which of these are examples of biomes?
Correct answer: tropical rainforest
small-scale ecosystem
Correct answer: desert
Correct answer: tundra
igneous
Q3.
The imaginary lines around the Earth measuring distance from the Equator are known as line of ...
Correct Answer: latitude
Q4.
Put these biomes in the most likely order; starting at the Equator and moving north or south.
1 - tropical rainforest
2 - savanna (tropical grasslands)
3 - desert
4 - temperate forest
5 - taiga
6 - tundra
Q5.
Which of the following is a characteristic of a hot desert?
abundant water bodies
high levels of biodiversity
Correct answer: sparse vegetation
soils rich in nutrients
Q6.
What is the primary reason for the high temperatures in hot deserts?
Correct answer: Hot deserts are located near the Equator where the Sun's rays are concentrated
Hot deserts are located in places that are closest to the Sun
Hot deserts have a high number of active volcanoes
Hot deserts are located at high altitudes

Exit quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
What is a biotic component of an ecosystem?
Geological processes such as volcanic activity or earthquakes
The non-living elements such as soil, the climate, water, nutrients and sunlight
Correct answer: The living things such as plants, bacteria, fungi and animals
Chemical elements like oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide
Q2.
How much rainfall does a hot desert receive each year?
Correct answer: Less than 250 mm
251-500 mm
501-750 mm
751-1000 mm
1000 mm+
Q3.
Hot deserts are located between which lines of latitude?
At 0° (the Equator)
Between 0° and 15° North and South of the Equator
Correct answer: Between 15° and 30° North and South of the Equator
On the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° North) and Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° South) only
Q4.
Hot deserts are hot because of their location and proximity to the Equator. This latitude effect means the Sun's energy here is more , making it warmer.
Correct Answer: concentrated, focussed
Q5.
Hot deserts are dry because they sit under an area of high pressure. What is high pressure?
Where warm air rises and causes clouds to form, resulting in precipitation
Where atmospheric pressure is lower than normal, leading to stormy weather
Where humidity is high, causing increased rainfall and thunderstorms
Correct answer: Where air is dense and sinks, leading to clear skies and dry weather