semidesert

A semidesert is an arid region that shares some characteristics with a desert but receives more annual precipitation. Some authorities define true deserts as receiving less than 250 mm (9.8 inches) of annual rainfall, with semideserts receiving between 250 and 400 mm (9.8 to 15.7 inches). These dry regions are barely arable and are primarily used for livestock grazing. Semideserts are often found on the periphery of true deserts, transitioning into other climate types like tropical wet-dry or Mediterranean climates. They experience large yearly variations in rainfall, though not as extreme as in true deserts.1234