Question

The Atacama Desert in South America and the Kalahari desert in Africa receive very little rainfall due to the effect of ocean currents. Name the ocean currents responsible for this. Also mention the common features between the two currents.

Answer 1

The Atacama Desert in South America is affected by the cold Peru Current (Humboldt Current), and the Kalahari Desert in Africa is influenced by the cold Benguela Current.

Common features of these currents:

• Both are cold ocean currents.
• They reduce the moisture in the air above, leading to low rainfall.
• They cause dry coastal conditions contributing to desert formation.

Thus, the cold Peru and Benguela Currents cause scanty rainfall in these deserts by limiting moisture availability in the air.