Amazon Rainforest Vs Sahara Desert

For our investigation into "What would happen if there was no rain?" We compared two areas the Amazon Rainforest and the Sahara Desert.

Have you ever wondered what might happen if there was no rain? Around the world different areas have changed and adapted due to the amount of rainfall they experience. Two such places are the Amazon Rainforest and the Sahara Desert.

Precipitation

You may not believe this but rain does actually fall in the Sahara desert, however the amount of rain is extremely low as the whole desert generally receives less than 100 mm. On the other hand the Amazon rainforest is one of the wettest places on earth with an average rainfall of about 108 inches per year. Due to the vast difference in rainfall, there are stark differences in the wildlife, plants and people in these two places.

Wildlife - Justice League  (Sara)

Both the Sahara desert and Amazon rainforest provide habitats for animals, however these animals have had to adapt to their environment. One example is a camel. The camel can drink a lot of water at a time so they can last for a week or so without water. Camels can also allow their body temperature to change so they don’t sweat much to conserve water. On the other hand a frog in the Amazon needs water almost every second. The Amazon is moist has high humidity and frequent rain which provides the perfect conditions for a frog to survive.

Plants - X-Men  (Rhea)

Plants grow both in the Amazon Rainforest and the Sahara Desert. The Sahara desert has plants like cacti because they can store water for a long period of time, have shallow roots and also have thick stems. The Sahara Desert is warm but the Amazon Rainforest is very moist. Some of the plants that grow in the Amazon Rainforest are cacao beans, bananas, the coffee plant, passion fruit flower, Brazil nut tree and Venus fly trap.

People - Avengers  (Joshua)

Both areas provide a home for people. Once again though people, like plants and animals have had to adapt to their environment. The Amazonians live in tribes. The entire population number is about 20 million. In the Sahara Desert there are 2.5 million people. The people who live in the Sahara Desert are called Tuareg. To survive in the desert they raise crops on irrigated land. Others tend to flocks of goats, sheep and camels.

Climate Change - Justice League (Kalani)

Climate change can affect areas in many different ways. Scientists believe one way climate change will affect the Amazon Rainforest is that temperature will increase creating droughts, decreasing plant growth, and disrupting food chains. El Nino is a weather pattern that can influence the climate of the Amazon Rainforest. Some scientists believe that climate change will mean more rain and greening in the Sahara Desert.  

Rainfall affects different areas in different ways. Overall although there is an incredible amount of rainfall in the Amazon we believe life in the Amazon would be easier compared to the hyper arid conditions found in the Sahara. This is because there is easier access to fresh water needed for drinking and raising crops and livestock.