Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument - Environmental Factors

The Sonoran Desert exhibits many of the characteristics common to desert areas: low humidity and rainfall, a high ratio of evaporation to precipitation, and a paucity of moisture available to promote "growth." However, this desert also has many unique aspects. The proximity of the Gulf of California, the Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico, and the distribution of high mountain barriers in the region influence the amount, apportionment, and seasonality of rain fall. Much of the Sonoran Desert is rather wet by desert standards, receiving more that 8 inches (20.3 centimeters) of annual precipitation, distributed biannually in late winter/early spring by frontal pacific storms and in late summer by often local and occasionally violent convectional storms.

Drought and temperature extremes continually place stresses on the Sonoran desert environment, but periods of relief have occurred with sufficient frequency to permit the evolution of a rich and highly specialized biota. The result to specialization and adaptation in this desert has been the ability of flora and fauna to endure environmental stresses, and to optimize utilization of environmental resources--particularly water--when they are available ParkNet U.S. Department of the Interior FOIA Privacy Disclaimer FirstGov