Why is Antarctica considered a desert?
Quick Answer
A desert is defined by very low precipitation, not heat. Antarctica receives so little snow each year that it is the world's largest desert.
The Full Story
Scientists classify a region as a desert when it receives very little precipitation, commonly less than about 250 mm per year. Antarctica's vast interior receives only around 50 mm of water-equivalent snowfall annually, less than many hot deserts. Extremely cold air holds very little moisture, and the continent is surrounded by high-pressure systems that suppress storms. Although it is covered by ice up to about 4.8 km thick, that ice has built up slowly over hundreds of thousands of years. At about 14 million square kilometres, Antarctica is the largest desert on Earth.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"The biggest desert on Earth is covered in ice — here's why that isn't a contradiction."