Untitled Document Arid Landforms I. Climatic setting A. Potential evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation.
Deficits are chronic.
When rainfall does occur, it is often convective in nature. Heavy rain showers of brief duration. Vegetation and soils A. Sparse shrub cover means soil surface is exposed to rain splash. This compacts surface pore space and inhibits infiltration. Thus, surface runoff after heavy rains can be substantial and rapid.