CLASSIFICATION OF WORLD DESERT AREAS

Abstract

The report identifies and maps limits of arid and semiarid regions of the world through application of aridity criteria quantitatively expressed in terms having military significance. Because the dry world includes a wide range of thermal characteristics, from extremely hot deserts of North Africa to extremely cold semiarid Asia, subdivisions were based on features of monthly temperature. The worldwide distribution of arid and semiarid conditions is presented on one map. Details of both aridity and thermal classification are shown on eight continental and sub-continental maps for Eurasia, Southwestern Asia, North Africa, South Africa, Australia, South and Central Ameria, Europe, and North America. Aspects of climate and terrain that are of significance to Army operations are described.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1968
Accession Number
AD0683603

Entities

People

  • George E. Fisher
  • George M. Howe
  • Gordon B. Lassow
  • John T. Ball
  • Lawrence J. Reed

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Central America
  • Critical Temperature
  • Drinking Water
  • Drops
  • Environmental Protection
  • Geographic Regions
  • Geography
  • Groundwater
  • Meteorology
  • Military Operations
  • North America
  • Ridges
  • South Africa
  • South America
  • Terrain
  • Topography

Readers

  • Geotechnical Engineering.
  • Political Science/ International Relations/ European Studies
  • Vector-Borne Disease and Entomology