what classifies a desert
One of the characteristics of deserts is that they have large temperature fluctuations due to the lack of humidity. Daytime and nighttime temperatures may vary by over 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 deg C). (Keep that in mind if you're packing for a trip to the desert!). Deserts are not necessarily hot.Antarctica classifies as a desert because of the small amount of precipitation it receives. In fact, over one-third of the land masses on our planet are considered to be deserts.Sand covers only about 20 percent of deserts, with a variety of soils, bare rock, and even ice constituting the other desert bottoms.ne of the characteristics of deserts is that they have large temperature fluctuations due to the lack of humidity. Daytime and nighttime temperatures may vary by over 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 deg C). (Keep that in mind if you're packing for a trip to the desert!). Deserts are not necessarily hot.