Why Most Deserts Sit in the Subtropical High‑Pressure Belts

The majority of Earth’s deserts lie between 23.5° and 30° latitude north and south—the subtropical high‑pressure zones (also called the horse latitudes).

Mechanism

• Air rises at the equator (Hadley cell), cools, and releases moisture.
• Dry air descends at ~30° latitude, compressing and warming adiabatically.
• Descending air suppresses cloud formation, creating persistent aridity.

Classic Examples

• Sahara (Africa)
• Arabian Desert (Middle East)
• Atacama (South America)
• Australian Outback

Other desert types (rain‑shadow, coastal, polar) exist, but the subtropical belt hosts the largest hot deserts.