Why Antarctica counts as a desert

Deserts are about dryness, not heat, and the coldest continent is among the driest.

What makes a desert

Scientists define deserts by low precipitation, usually less than about 250 millimetres a year.

A frozen desert

Antarctica gets very little precipitation, especially in the interior, but it builds up over time as ice.

The coldest place on Earth is also one of the driest.

A huge store of water

The ice sheets hold most of the world’s fresh water, which is why changes there matter to everyone.