Cold Deserts

Cold deserts are high-altitude arid regions with extreme cold winters, mild summers, low rainfall, and rising desertification from climate change.

Syllabus: Geography (UPSC Prelims)

Cold deserts are arid regions with annual rainfall below 25 cm.
Found at high altitudes and latitudes, they experience hot summers and severe winters.
Poor soil and harsh climate make them unsuitable for dense vegetation.
Vegetation is sparse, mainly herbaceous shrubs and grasses.
Found mainly in Ladakh, Leh, Kargil (J&K) and Spiti Valley (Himachal Pradesh) in India.

Experts warn that cold desert areas in India are expanding due to deglaciation caused by climate change.

Dry Temperate Zone:
Vegetation – Betula utilis, Salix spp., Juniperus recurva
Alpine Zone:
Vegetation – Junipers, Birch, Rhododendron, and grasses
Perpetual Snow Zone:
No vegetation due to permanently frozen soil

Global Examples:

Temperature¹:
- Overall mean annual temperature: Below 18°C.
- Winter: Long and cold, averaging –2°C to 4°C, sometimes dropping below –40°C.
- Summer: Short and moderately warm, averaging 21°C to 26°C.
In some polar deserts, the warmest month may average below 10°C.
Rainfall: Extremely low — less than 400 mm annually.
Snowfall: Heavy from November to April.
Wind erosion is common.
Soil: Sandy to loamy, slightly alkaline, with poor organic matter and low water retention.
Growing season: Short (3–4 months), mainly in summer.

Increasing drought frequency and desertification due to global warming.
Glacial melt causing ecological imbalance.
Prone to rapid-onset disasters (landslides, flash floods, rockfalls).
Vulnerable to slow-onset hazards (droughts, soil degradation).
Fragile Himalayan ecosystems make disaster response difficult.
Wildfires and vegetation loss worsen land degradation.
Low adaptive capacity of local communities and fragile ecosystems.

Promote research and monitoring on cold desert ecosystems.
Encourage community-led adaptation and sustainable land use.
Implement measures in line with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
Strengthen early warning systems and eco-restoration projects.