What image comes to mind when you hear the word "desert?" Some place dry and sizzling hot? Although many deserts fit this description, some deserts are different. They are still dry places, but they are extremely cold. Hot or cold, deserts get less than 10 inches (25 cm) of precipitation each year.

Deserts, which are sometimes referred to as arid regions, cover approximately one-third of the Earth's surface. These unique ecosystems are very fragile.