How deep is a desert?

1cyprus

The classification of a desert,is a place that recieves less than 250mm(10 inches)of precipitation(rain or snow,the ice caps are deserts too) per annum.The depth is not a factor,but you could say the distance from the surface to the water table(or the sea).That or the depth from the surface to the centre of the Earth. Jan 18 07, 10:30 AM

rixbix

Understood.But im trying to find out to what depths sand in the Sahara desert,for example,actually reach.Its not all sand to the centre of the Earth so it must stop at some point. Jan 18 07, 10:42 AM

1cyprus

Well the sand depth will change as it drifts in the wind,so it could be impossible to say. Jan 18 07, 10:46 AM

zbeckabee

"Surface sand seldom piles higher than a couple of hundred metres above underlying earth or bedrock, except by filling ancient valleys or lakes. Such deep sands and spongy sandstone form important groundwater reservoirs. And yes, sand does form and re-form constantly as water erosion, frost and wind-driven particles flake grains off rocks. Conversely, deep moist layers of sand become cemented into sandstone, which in turn may go through the same cycle after millions of years." http://www.newscientist.com/backpage.ns?id=mg19225742.300 Jan 18 07, 10:50 AM

star_gazer

It all depends on how many scoops of ice cream that you request. Jan 18 07, 5:26 PM

Baloo55th

... and how well you can spell.... Jan 18 07, 6:01 PM