Whose scientific work first explained why some deserts are cold deserts?
Quick Answer
Köppen climate classification helped explain why deserts can be cold as well as hot, because temperature depends on latitude, altitude and circulation. This is why places like the Gobi and Patagonian deserts are cold deserts.
The Full Story
The German climatologist Wladimir Köppen is closely associated with climate classification, including the distinction between hot and cold deserts. His work showed that deserts are defined by aridity, not just heat. High altitude and latitude can make a desert cold even when rainfall is extremely low. That is why the Gobi Desert in Asia and the Patagonian Desert in South America are often called cold deserts.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"Why some deserts freeze instead of frying."
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