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Which desert latitude has the lowest annual precipitation?

A) 30° N
B) 45° N
C) 30° S
D) 45° S

1 Answer

2 votes

Final answer:

The desert latitudes with the lowest annual precipitation are around 30° N and 30° S, where major subtropical deserts like the Sahara and the Namib are located and characterized by extremely low rainfall. Of the provided options, A) 30° N and C) 30° S are the most correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

The desert latitude with the lowest annual precipitation is typically around 30° N or 30° S. According to our reference material, subtropical deserts are located between 15° and 30° north and south latitude and feature very dry conditions, where evaporation often exceeds precipitation. For example, the Sahara Desert, which is near the 30° N latitude, receives less than an inch of precipitation per year in some regions. Similarly, deserts like the Namib in southwestern Africa, near 30° S latitude, experience very low precipitation due to the descending high-pressure, dry air at these latitudes. This contrasts with polar deserts such as Antarctica, which is considered a desert but is located at much higher latitudes near the poles.

Therefore, the correct answer is A) 30° N and C) 30° S. Both latitudes fall within the range where the world's major subtropical deserts are located, characterized by low annual precipitation. In contrast, 45° N and 45° S generally have higher precipitation and are not associated with the major subtropical deserts. So the most likely answer is either A or C, but without more specific data about particular desert regions, it is difficult to pinpoint which one of these would have the absolute lowest annual precipitation.

User Himanshu Yadav
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