Many people think of deserts as hot, dry places, but that's not always the case. In fact, some deserts can actually be quite cold, even during the day. This is because deserts, which are areas that receive very little rainfall, can experience dramatic temperature changes between day and night.

During the day, the sun's rays beat down on the desert, heating up the sand and rocks. This causes the air above the ground to heat up as well. However, once the sun goes down, the desert quickly loses that heat. Without clouds or moisture in the air to trap the heat, it escapes back into the atmosphere, leaving the desert surprisingly chilly at night.

In some deserts, the temperatures can drop below freezing after the sun sets. This is especially true in deserts located at high elevations, where the air is thinner and the heat escapes even faster. In the Atacama Desert in Chile, for example, temperatures can go from a scorching 95°F (35°C) during the day to a freezing 32°F (0°C) at night.

The sudden temperature changes in deserts can be a challenge for the plants and animals that live there. Many desert creatures have adapted to the extreme conditions, using burrows or other shelters to escape the heat during the day and the cold at night. But for human visitors, the surprising chill of the desert can be a bit of a shock.

So the next time you think of a desert, remember that it's not always hot. The lack of moisture in the air means that deserts can actually be quite cold, especially when the sun goes down. It's a surprising fact that just goes to show how diverse and fascinating the world's deserts can be.