What makes a Desert a desert?

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Who Smarted?" - Episode: What Makes a Desert a Desert?
Release Date: March 19, 2025
Host/Author: Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media

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Introduction to Deserts

The episode kicks off with the hosts, Adam Tex Davis and Robert Maroon, embarking on a desert adventure. Adam humorously sets the stage for their exploration, addressing the common misconception between "deserts" and "desserts."

Adam Tex Davis [00:33]: "We're in a desert. This is an episode on deserts. What did you expect? Oh, wait a second. Did you think this was an episode on desserts?"

Robert chimes in with a playful mix-up, emphasizing the focus on deserts over desserts.

Robert Maroon [00:46]: "I may have gotten my dates mixed up. Deserts, right? Also exciting, albeit less tasty."

Defining Deserts and Their Global Distribution

Adam begins by highlighting the prevalence of deserts across all seven continents, dispelling the notion that deserts are exclusive to certain regions.

Adam Tex Davis [01:11]: "That leaves three. North America, South America and Antarctica. Do any of those have deserts? Yep. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that every continent has at least one desert."

Key Facts:

• Australia is the world's driest inhabited continent, with nearly a third of its landmass classified as desert.
• 20% of Earth's land is covered by deserts.

Desert Landscapes: More Than Just Sand

Robert and Adam delve into the diverse terrains of deserts, challenging the stereotypical image of vast sand dunes.

Robert Maroon [05:23]: "Chances are you're thinking of a big sandy place with heaps of sand dunes. Aye, but guess what? Most deserts ain't like that. That's right."

Key Insights:

• Only 20% of deserts are primarily sandy.
• The majority feature rocky, gravelly, or salty soils.
• Sand dunes are present in only 10% of all deserts.

Flora of the Desert: Diverse and Adaptive

The conversation shifts to the plant life thriving in arid environments, highlighting the variety beyond cacti.

Robert Maroon [06:05]: "There are actually thousands of different types of desert plants. There's heaps of wildflowers, bushes, grasses and yucca plants like the famous Joshua tree."

Adaptations:

• Cacti store water in their stems.
• Mesquite grass curls up its leaves to conserve moisture.

Climate and Precipitation: What Defines a Desert

Adam poses a question on the amount of rainfall necessary for an area to be classified as a desert, leading to an informative discussion on precipitation levels.

Adam Tex Davis [06:50]: "How little rainfall per year must a region get to be called a desert? A less than 30 inches or 76 cm, B less than 10 inches or 25 cm or C deserts get no rain at all."

Correct Answer: B) Less than 10 inches (25 cm) of rain annually.

Notable Point:

• Atacama Desert in Chile: Receives only 2 millimeters of rain each year, with some areas experiencing virtually no rainfall.

Fauna of the Desert: Survival in Harsh Conditions

The hosts explore the diverse animal life adapted to desert environments, emphasizing the concept of xericorrs—organisms thriving in arid conditions.

Adam Tex Davis [08:12]: "Robert Maroon: 'There’s life everywhere in the desert.'"

Adaptations Discussed:

• Camels: Utilize humps to produce water internally.

  Robert Maroon [09:47]: "Camels make water with those big humps. Camel humps contain fat full of hydrogen molecules. When camels breathe, oxygen from the air combines with hydrogen. Hydrogen in the humps to make H2O."

• Nocturnal Behavior: Many desert animals hunt or are active during cooler nighttime hours.

• Burrowing: Animals like foxes dig burrows for protection and moisture collection.

Water Sources in the Desert: Oases and Groundwater

Adam and Robert discuss how water is sourced and utilized in desert regions, introducing the concept of oases.

Adam Tex Davis [10:39]: "Do you know what they're called? Is it an island, a bubbler or an oasis? The answer of course is an oasis."

Key Points:

• Groundwater: Precipitation seeps into the ground, remaining for thousands of years and sometimes emerging as oases.
• Oases: Vital for supporting plant and animal life, often serving as hubs for human settlements.

Human Settlements and Water Challenges in Deserts

The conversation shifts to human habitation in deserts, highlighting the reliance on groundwater and the challenges posed by limited water replenishment.

Robert Maroon [15:59]: "These cities survive off groundwater, but there's a little problem with that. There's only so much water in the ground, and with so little rain, it doesn't get refilled quickly."

Issues Discussed:

• Overuse of Groundwater: With increasing populations, water reserves are depleting faster than they can be replenished.
• Climate Change: Exacerbates water scarcity, making desert living increasingly difficult.

Formation of Deserts: Multiple Mechanisms

Adam presents a true or false question about desert formation, leading to a detailed explanation of the various factors contributing to desert creation.

Adam Tex Davis [16:24]: "True or false? All deserts form the same way. The answer is false."

Factors in Desert Formation:

1. Atmospheric Circulation: At the equator, rising hot air prevents cloud formation, leading to arid conditions as air moves away from the equator.
2. Rain Shadow Effect: Mountains block moisture-laden winds, causing the leeward side to become dry.
3. Continental Interiors: Areas far from oceans lose their moisture before reaching inland regions.
4. Polar Deserts: Extremely cold areas like Antarctica receive minimal precipitation, classifying them as deserts despite the ice coverage.

The Largest Desert: Antarctica

The hosts reveal that Antarctica holds the title for the largest desert, challenging common perceptions that associate deserts solely with sand and heat.

Robert Maroon [17:48]: "Now we're talking. This place is cold all year round. There's actually a good amount of water here, but it's in ice sheets and glaciers. There's very little rain or snowfall, which is why it's called a desert."

Characteristics:

• Size: Largest desert in the world.
• Climate: Extremely cold with minimal precipitation.
• Life: Sparse, mainly concentrated along the shores with species like penguins.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Adam and Robert wrap up the episode by reflecting on the fascinating diversity and adaptability of deserts, both in terms of natural ecosystems and human societies. They reiterate the importance of understanding and conserving desert environments amid growing human and climatic pressures.

Adam Tex Davis [18:12]: "As much as I love penguins, I think I prefer hot deserts."

Robert Maroon [18:16]: "Same. I like my deserts hot and my desserts cold."

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Adam Tex Davis [00:33]: "We're in a desert. This is an episode on deserts. What did you expect? Oh, wait a second. Did you think this was an episode on desserts?"

• Robert Maroon [05:23]: "Chances are you're thinking of a big sandy place with heaps of sand dunes. Aye, but guess what? Most deserts ain't like that."

• Robert Maroon [09:47]: "Camels make water with those big humps. Camel humps contain fat full of hydrogen molecules. When camels breathe, oxygen from the air combines with hydrogen. Hydrogen in the humps to make H2O."

• Robert Maroon [15:59]: "These cities survive off groundwater, but there's a little problem with that. There's only so much water in the ground, and with so little rain, it doesn't get refilled quickly."

• Robert Maroon [17:48]: "Now we're talking. This place is cold all year round. There's actually a good amount of water here, but it's in ice sheets and glaciers."

Key Takeaways

• Deserts are Ubiquitous: Every continent, including Antarctica, hosts desert regions.

• Diversity of Landscapes: Deserts encompass a variety of terrains beyond sand, including rocky, gravelly, and salty environments.

• Adaptation is Crucial: Flora and fauna in deserts exhibit remarkable adaptations to survive extreme aridity and temperature fluctuations.

• Water is Precious: Limited water sources like groundwater and oases are vital for sustaining life in deserts, both for wildlife and human populations.

• Human Impact: Increasing population and climate change pose significant threats to the sustainability of desert ecosystems and human settlements.

• Formation is Multifaceted: Deserts arise from various climatic and geographical factors, including atmospheric circulation, mountain ranges, and distance from moisture sources.

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This episode of "Who Smarted?" effectively combines humor and education to provide a comprehensive understanding of deserts, their unique characteristics, and the challenges associated with them. Through engaging dialogue and informative content, Adam Tex Davis and Robert Maroon make complex environmental concepts accessible and entertaining for young listeners and their families.

Transcript

[Adam Tex Davis]

And now it's time for. Who Smarted?

[Robert Maroon]

Psst.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Hey, smarty pants. Lucky me. I'm on another wild adventure with my good friend and animal expert, not to mention dino hunter and lunch stealer, Robert Maroon. We've stopped our jeep so Maroon can get a good look at some tracks and taste them.

[Robert Maroon]

Aw, that's just what I thought.

[Adam Tex Davis]

What is it? A wild beast, a dangerous insect, poisonous snakes, Sand.

[Robert Maroon]

Lots of it. The stuff's everywhere.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Of course there's sand. We're in a desert. This is an episode on deserts. What did you expect? Oh, wait a second. Did you think this was an episode on desserts?

[Robert Maroon]

I may have gotten my dates mixed up. Deserts, right? Also exciting, albeit less tasty. But hey, as a naturalist and an Australian, I'm an expert on deserts.

[Adam Tex Davis]

That's right. You were just telling me you're home of Australia. Australia is the world's driest inhabited continent. So dry, in fact, that practically a third of it is desert.

[Robert Maroon]

That's a fact, trusty. But just for a moment. Imagine if a third of Australia was covered in dessert and instead of sand, it was rainbow sprinkles. Ooh, wouldn't that be fun, mate?

[Adam Tex Davis]

Yeah, sure. But enough about dessert, smartypants. Tell me this. Of the world's seven continents, which ones have deserts? Call them out. Obviously, Australia is one. But what about places like Africa, Asia and Europe? If you guessed any of those, you're right. That leaves three. North America, South America and Antarctica. Do any of those have deserts? Yep. In fact, you might be surprised to learn that every continent has at least one desert.

[Robert Maroon]

Whoa.

[Adam Tex Davis]

That includes Antarctica.

[Robert Maroon]

Yep. And Australia has 10 deserts.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Wow, that's a lot of deserts. Smartypants, do you know how much of the land on this planet is covered in desert? The answer is 1/5 or 20%.

[Robert Maroon]

Yet despite so much of Earth being covered in desert, there's a lot about deserts the average fella don't know. Which is why it's high time we got back to exploring, mate.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Of course, if you want to explore the desert, it's important to be prepared. We packed plenty of water in our Jeep. More than a gallon for each of us today. And enough food, too. So, Maroon, if get hungry, there's plenty of snacks.

[Robert Maroon]

About that, mate. I may have already eaten all the snacks.

[Adam Tex Davis]

All of them. But I went to Costco and bought a ton. How could you eat all of them?

[Robert Maroon]

What can I say? I didn't have breakfast. Plus, I needed to do research. Research for the dessert episode.

[Adam Tex Davis]

It's deserts.

[Robert Maroon]

I know that now, but no Worries, mate? I reckon we'll be fine.

[Adam Tex Davis]

You're the expert. Which means hopefully we'll learn more fun facts about desert. Like how hot do they get, how big are they? What kind of creatures live in them? And are they all covered in sand?

[Robert Maroon]

You mean like my mouth?

[Adam Tex Davis]

Get ready for another whiff of science and history on who's smarted, who's smarted, who's smart? Is it you? Is it me? Is it science or history? Listen up everyone. Make smarties. Lots of fun on who's smart and hey, smarty parents. I love Green Chef because of how absolutely easy the meals are to make and how every night it feels like we're eating at a restaurant right at home. The variety is excellent and includes meals for special diets like keto, gluten free and calorie smart. With pre portioned ingredients, there's less prep, less mess and more time to enjoy delicious meals. Green Chef's easy to follow directions means my kitchen phobic family members actually cook when we get our Green Chef kit. And it's a great way to get your kids involved in the kitchen too. Plus, Green Chef is owned by HelloFresh, which lets me switch between the brands for even more variety. And now my listeners can enjoy both at a discount with me. Thrive all year with clean, easy meals from Green chef. Go to greenchef.com smarted free and use code smarted free to get free salads for two months plus 50% off your first box. That's greenchef.com smartedfree and use code smarted free to get free salads for two months plus 50 percent off your first box. Green Chef, the number one meal kit for eating well. Hey, smarty pants, when you think about deserts, what images come to mind? Close your eyes and think of. No, not you, Maroon. Keep your eyes open, you're driving the jeep.

[Robert Maroon]

Ah, good point, mate.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Anyway, smarty pants, picture a desert. What does it look like? Are you seeing sand dunes? Cactus maybe? Perhaps a camel? Anything else or is it pretty barren?

[Robert Maroon]

Chances are you're thinking of a big sandy place with heaps of sand dunes. Aye, but guess what? Most deserts ain't like that. That's right.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Smartypants say you were to take all the deserts in the world. For every 10 of them, how many do you think are covered by sand? What would you say? 8 of 10? 6 of 10? 4 of 10?

[Robert Maroon]

Try 2. Only 20% of all deserts are actually covered by sand. And only one out of every 10 deserts have those great big sand dunes.

[Adam Tex Davis]

So if not sand what are deserts mostly covered in?

[Robert Maroon]

Other deserts have soils that are rocky, gravelly or even salty. Speaking of, are there any more chips? What?

[Adam Tex Davis]

No, you ate them all, remember?

[Robert Maroon]

I do remember. Wait, let me check my pockets. Ah, beef jerky. I forgot I had this. A bit sandy, but still. Yummo. Want some?

[Adam Tex Davis]

I'm good.

[Robert Maroon]

Now, trusty, before you mention the cactus. Now you may think cacti are the only plants in the desert, but they're not. There are actually thousands of different types of desert plants. There's heaps of wildflowers, bushes, grasses and yucca plants like the famous Joshua tree. Now, because there's little rain in the desert, these trees and plants don't grow tall. But plants like cacti can store water in their stems, while other desert plants like mesquite grass, curl up their leaves to conserve water. That's because it ain't really coming from.

[Adam Tex Davis]

The sky, eh, smarty pants? How little rainfall per year must a region get to be called a desert? A less than 30 inches or 76 cm, b less than 10 inches or 25 cm or c deserts get no rain at all. Well, most deserts do get some precipitation, but not as much as 30 inches. To be classified as a desert, a region must get less than B10 inches or 25 centimeters of rain annually. When you consider that on average about 40 inches of rain or snow fall on the earth each year, 10 inches is not much at all.

[Robert Maroon]

And that's the most rain a place can get to be called a desert. Many deserts get a lot less. For example, the Atacama Desert in Chile gets only 2 millimeters of rain each year. Some spots there never see any rain. Crikey.

[Adam Tex Davis]

It's hard to imagine anything surviving in these dry conditions.

[Robert Maroon]

Oh, but they do. And not just plants. Animals too.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Smarty pants. Can you think of any animals that live in the desert? Go ahead, shout them out. Uh huh. I'm hearing camels, coyotes, foxes, tortoises, snakes, kangaroos, more camels, lizards, meerkats, rabbits and more camels.

[Robert Maroon]

Well done, mates. But don't forget insects like silver ants, beetles and wasps. Some birds too. And of course, major arachnids like sand spiders, tarantulas and scorpions.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Not in this jeep, I hope.

[Robert Maroon]

Ha. You never know. There's life everywhere in the desert. But not just any kind of animal can live here. Desert animals must adapt to the harsh environment. Those that do are called Zero Calls. Not only do they deal with little rain, many also face dangerous heat. With temperatures as high as 54 degrees Celsius or 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Smarty pants, how do these ziracles adapt to desert life? Do they A sleep during the day and hunt at night when it's cooler, B dig into the ground for protection and to collect moisture, Or C evolve to survive the heat and live without rainfall. If you said A, you're correct. But if you said B or C, you're also correct.

[Robert Maroon]

Yeah, Xericors have taken all those steps to survive. Not only are the deserts very hot, but thanks to no cloud cover, they can also get very cold. In fact, both, both the world's hottest and coldest temperatures were recorded in deserts. So animals that can't take the heat wait until the sun sets to go hunting. Foxes dig burrows in the ground for protection and water. And camels make their own water inside their bodies.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Smarty pants, do you know how camels make their own water? Yeah, me neither.

[Robert Maroon]

Camels make water with those big humps. Camel humps contain fat full of hydrogen molecules. When camels breathe, oxygen from the air combines with hydrogen. Hydrogen in the humps to make H2O. That's water mates. That's how camels survive a long time in the desert and why they're perfect for traveling through the sand. Oh, another thing, even without much rain, you can still find water in the desert.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Hmm, smarty pants, what do you think is the source of water in the desert? Is it A, the ground, B the sand, or C the ocean? The answer is A the ground.

[Robert Maroon]

When rain or other precipitation hits the desert, it seeps into the ground and can stay there for thousands of years. Sometimes this water rises to the surface, creating an area with all kinds of plant life and fresh water to drink.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Oh, I've heard of these places, smartypants. Do you know what they're called? Is it an island, a bubbler or an oasis? The answer of course is an oasis.

[Robert Maroon]

As you can imagine, many animals live near an oasis. In fact, I think there's one just around this giant Boulder.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Welcome to McDonald's, how can I help you? Wait, we're at a McDonald's drive thru in the desert.

[Robert Maroon]

Hi, I'll have a strawberry shake, hot fudge sundae, raisin cookie, apple pie. And you want anything there, Raider?

[Adam Tex Davis]

Okay, sure, I'll get a shake too.

[Robert Maroon]

Make it two strawberry shakes, mate. See, told you I could have my dessert in my desert too.

[Adam Tex Davis]

That'll be 1849. Please drive up.

[Robert Maroon]

Say, would you mind spotting me some cash? I left my wallet at home.

[Adam Tex Davis]

What a surprise. So this is a thing fast food places in a desert?

[Robert Maroon]

Why not? People live in deserts. Go ahead. Guess how many?

[Adam Tex Davis]

I don't know. What do you think, smarty pants? A thousand? 10,000? 50,000?

[Robert Maroon]

Ho ho. Much more than that, mate. We're talking over a billion people. That's more than the entire population of Australia, the usa, or even all of Europe. Some of the world's most famous cities are in deserts. Places like Casablanca, Las Vegas, Cairo, and the home of the world's tallest building, Dubai. But there ain't any big cities at the world's largest desert.

[Adam Tex Davis]

And where's that? I'll tell you right after this quick break and a word from our sponsors. This episode is brought to you by ixl. As someone who's constantly balancing work and life, I know how tough it can be to make sure kids get the academic support they need, whether they're homeschooled or in a traditional classroom. That's why IXL has been a lifesaver. It's an online learning program that covers math, language arts, science, and social studies with interactive practice problems, games, and video tutorials. Plus, it makes learning fun, just like whosmarted. For homeschool parents, iexcel is the perfect supplement to your curriculum, giving kids personalized learning at their own pace. And for parents of traditional school kids, it is a great way to reinforce what they're learning in class. Whether they need extra help or are just looking for a challenge, make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL today. Podcast listeners get an exclusive 20% off when you sign up at ixl.com smartid Visit ixl.com smartidnow to give your child the best learning support available. IXL where learning clicks this episode is brought to you by Squarespace. Smarty Pants it's quiz time. If you wanted to start a business, share your ideas with the world, or finally launch your site about history's weirdest inventions, what is the smartest way to do it? Is it a Shouting your message from the top of a volcano? B training an army of synchronized skywriting parrots? Or c building a sleek professional website with Squarespace. If you said C, congratulations, you win the Internet. With Squarespace's design intelligence, you can build a beautiful website in minutes. No coding, wizardry or secret handshake required. Want to sell stuff? Squarespace Payments lets you accept Apple Pay, Klarna, and even credit cards. And because social media runs the universe, Squarespace seamlessly connects your site to Instagram, YouTube, and more, so your fans or future customers can easily find you. Start your free trial [e-mail] smartid and when you're ready to launch, use Code smarted to save 10% on your first website or domain. Now who's ready to make history? Hey smarty parents. I love Green Chef because of how absolutely easy the meals are to make and how every night it feels like we're eating at a restaurant right at home. The variety is excellent and includes meals for special diets like keto, gluten free and calorie smart. With pre portioned ingredients, there's less prep, less mess, and more time to enjoy delicious meals. Green Chef's easy to follow directions means my kitchen phobic family members actually cook when we get our Green Chef kit. And it's a great way to get your kids involved in the kitchen too. Plus, Green Chef is owned by HelloFresh, which lets me switch between the brands for even more variety. And now my listeners can enjoy both at a discount with me. Thrive all year with clean, easy meals from Green chef. Go to greenchef.com smartedfree and use code smarted free to get free salads for two months plus 50% off your first box. That's greenchef.com smartedFree and use code Smarted free to get free salads for two months plus 50% off your first box. Green Chef the number one meal kit for eating well. Now back to whosmarted. Hey smartypants, I'm with my friend Robert Maroon in a city that's in a.

[Robert Maroon]

Desert enjoying some tasty desserts.

[Adam Tex Davis]

These cities survive off groundwater, but there's a little problem with that. There's only so much water in the ground, and with so little rain, it doesn't get refilled quickly. As more people live in these types of cities, the water is disappearing faster than it's being refilled.

[Robert Maroon]

And don't forget climate change. That's making deserts even harder to live in. It's a real shame that's right at.

[Adam Tex Davis]

The same time climate activity created these areas in the first place. Smarty pants. True or false? All deserts form the same way. The answer is false. There are several different reasons why certain areas get little rain.

[Robert Maroon]

At the equator, hot air rises and causes heavy rains and then falls as it moves north or south. This movement prevents the formation of clouds. And where there are no rain clouds, deserts form. Like the ones in Africa. Sometimes. Sometimes mountains create deserts. They block air on one side, causing lots of rain. By the time air reaches the other side, there's no rain left, creating a desert.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Some deserts are near the ocean where a fog from the Ocean takes over the shore, stopping rain clouds from forming.

[Robert Maroon]

Other times, deserts form in places that are too far away from oceans in the middle of continents. By the time winds reach them, all the rain they carried is long gone. But the last type of desert is the largest.

[Adam Tex Davis]

And what's that?

[Robert Maroon]

Okay, mates, close your eyes again and think of a desert. Ah, you're still thinking of the wrong type. The world's largest is not in Africa. And while the massive Sahara Desert is the world's largest hot desert, there's a desert that's even bigger and very, very cold. Cold. Brrr.

[Adam Tex Davis]

I just gotta chill.

[Robert Maroon]

Now we're talking. This place is cold all year round. There's actually a good amount of water here, but it's in ice sheets and glaciers. There's very little rain or snowfall, which is why it's called a desert. It's got penguins too.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Smarty pants. Have you guessed it?

[Robert Maroon]

Why, it's Antarctica, mates. And it's a rare desert where there's not much life at all beyond its shore.

[Adam Tex Davis]

As much as I love penguins, I think I prefer hot deserts.

[Robert Maroon]

Same. I like my deserts hot and my desserts cold.

[Adam Tex Davis]

Hey, that's my milkshake. A faraway shout out to Ike in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, which, as we now know, has 10 deserts. Thanks so much for smarting with us. We're so happy to hear that you love the facts. Fun voices and sound effects. Well, we certainly love the sound of that. Thanks, Ike. This episode Deserts was written by Dave Baron Beaudry and voiced by Jonathan Regier and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Hot Stuff Hahn, who Smarted is recorded and mixed at the Relic Room studios. Our associate producer is Cactus Max Kamaski. The theme song is by Brian Sandstorm Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Dry Mouth Davis, who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production.