Which climate zone receives very little precipitation?

The climate zone that receives very little precipitation is the desert climate zone.

Desert climates are defined by aridity: evaporation and potential moisture loss greatly exceed precipitation. Most deserts receive less than about 250 millimeters of rain or snow per year, although the exact threshold depends on temperature and the seasonal distribution of rainfall. Some deserts are so dry that measurable rain may be absent for years in particular locations.

Deserts can be hot or cold. The Sahara is a major hot desert, while the Gobi and parts of the Great Basin have cold desert climates with chilly winters. Antarctica’s interior is also a desert in terms of precipitation, even though it is covered by ice and has extremely low temperatures.

Low rainfall does not mean deserts are always completely lifeless. Plants and animals may be specially adapted to conserve water, remain dormant, or become active after brief storms. Tundra can also be dry, but its defining feature is severe cold and a short growing season; rainforest, by contrast, receives abundant precipitation.