Jack Dickinga/naturepl.com
Snowfall in hot deserts tends to be a rare sight, but this recent snap of the white-capped expanse of the Sonoran Desert, which covers more than 250,000 square kilometers in the United States and Mexico, shows more than most. Even rarer.
What makes the scene special is that the region is known for its subtropical climate, with temperatures often reaching 48°C (118°F) in the summer, while the winter months Stay calm. But photographer Jack Dikinga said earlier this month that the ground was covered in 10 centimeters (4 inches) of snow. I made it. .
Dikinga, who has been photographing this desert for more than 40 years, said he felt “pure joy, surprise and anxiety” when he rushed to the perfect spot to document the snow before it completely melted. say.
“It’s very rare to see this amount,” he says. “In the southwestern desert after a long period of drought, it’s time to celebrate!”
It’s not entirely clear why the snowfall occurred, but one of the causes is the La Niña weather phenomenon, which is the result of regularly below-average sea surface temperatures in parts of the Pacific Ocean. Another factor is the cold air blowing in from the North Pole.
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