CONCEPT 7-2 149
Figure 7-11 Climate graphs showing typical variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue) in tropi-
cal, temperate, and cold deserts. Top photo: a popular (but destructive) SUV rodeo in United Arab Emirates (tropical
desert). Center photo: saguaro cactus in the U.S. state of Arizona (temperate desert). Bottom photo: a Bactrian
camel in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert (cold desert). Question: What month of the year has the highest temperature
and the lowest rainfall for each of the three types of deserts?
Cold desert30
20
10
0
–10
–20
–30
–40Mean monthly temperature (∞
C)350300
250200
150100
500Mean monthly precipitation (mm)Freezing pointTropical desert350
300
250200
150100
50030
20
10
0
–10
–20
–30
–40Mean monthly temperature (∞
C)Mean monthly precipitation (mm)Freezing pointTemperate desert30
20
10
0
–10
–20
–30
–40Mean monthly temperature (∞
C)350300
250
200150
10050
0Mean monthly precipitation (mm)Freezing pointMonthJ F MAM J J A S O N DMonthJ FMAMJ J ASONDMonthJ FMAMJ J ASONDSuperStockOldrich Karasek/Peter Arnold, Inc.John Kieffer/Peter Arnold, Inc.