dry or lacking rainfall; also a climate or climate zone that is hot and dry all year with very little rain

a crop that is grown to be sold rather than to be consumed by the farmers and their families

the pattern of weather over a long period of time

removing or clearing away the trees from a forest. Deforestation is often done to clear land for farming or ranching.

a geographic region with too little rainfall to support much plant life; also a vegetation zone

the process by which land becomes more and more dry until it turns into desert. This may be caused by climate change, human activities, or both.

an unusually long period in which little or no rain falls

any action that relates to the making, buying, and selling of goods and services

a great sea of sand with tall sand dunes in the Sahara

the gradual wearing away of Earth’s surface by the action of wind, water, ice, and gravity

a high, rock-covered flatland in the Sahara

any natural feature of Earth’s surface that has a distinct shape. Landforms include major features such as continents, plains, plateaus, and mountain ranges. They also include minor features such as hills, valleys, canyons, and dunes.

a large area with a particular kind of scenery, such as a desert landscape

land that is not well suited for growing crops

an isolated spot in a desert where water is found

groups of herders who move with their animals from place to place in search of pasture and water

any natural characteristic of Earth’s surface, such as landforms and bodies of water

moisture that falls from the sky as rain, snow, sleet, or hail

a gravel-covered desert plain

an area defined by one or more natural or cultural characteristics that set it apart from other areas

the practice of clearing one area for farming for a few years and then moving on to another area when the first has lost its fertility

the creation and use of tools to meet practical needs; also refers to the tools themselves

steady winds in tropical latitudes that blow toward the equator from both the north and south

all the plants and trees in an area

the usually dry bed of a river or stream in a desert or semiarid area

a wall or hedge that breaks the force of the wind