Final answer:
Arid regions or deserts on the west coasts of continents are usually found between 15° and 30° north and south latitude, where they experience very low rainfall and extreme temperature variations due to the rain shadow effect and lack of atmospheric moisture.
Step-by-step explanation:
Arid regions or deserts are typically located on west coasts of continents at latitudes between 15° and 30° north and south of the equator. These latitudes are centered on the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The deserts, such as the Mohave and Sonoran in North America, the Sahara in northern Africa, and the Namib in southwestern Africa, often lie on the leeward side of mountain ranges. This location leads to a rain shadow effect, where air loses its moisture over the mountains, preventing rainfall in the desert areas beyond. Subtropical deserts are characterized by extreme dryness, with annual precipitation often less than 30 cm (12 in), and are subject to temperature extremes, with soil surface temperatures exceeding 60°C (140°F) during the day and dropping close to 0°C (32°F) at night.