It covers a vast area of the southwestern part of the United States and some of Mexico. This desert is divided into four major parts. The Great Basin Desert, the Mojave Desert, the Sonoran Desert and the Chihuahuan Desert. In the desert, temperatures get very hot during the day and very cool at night. Some areas may reach temperatures as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit at the peak of the day.
Wind is another factor of desert life.
Strong winds often blow in the desert. Sand dunes take shape as a result of these winds. Believe it or not, water plays a major role in the desert climate. Flash flooding occurs often because the sun bakes the ground over time and when a storm comes along, it may dump a major amount of water causing serious run-off. These sudden floods change the shape of a desert on a whim.