Over 40% of Earth Could Become 'Drylands' by 2100, Scientists Warn - ScienceAlert
A new study suggests that Earth's drylands could expand to cover over 40% of the planet's land area by 2100 due to climate change. However, researchers noted that rising carbon dioxide levels might paradoxically slow this expansion in some regions.
Why it matters
Understanding the redistribution of drylands is essential for global sustainable development and managing the increasing risks of water scarcity and desertification.
Add ScienceAlert on Google (Nate Foong/Unsplash) As the world gets hotter, many of its driest regions are expected to get even drier.
When this happens, the boundaries of arid regions are expected to creep forward , transforming landscapes and killing off plant life no longer able to cope.
Amidst the changes, projections suggest Earth's drylands could grow to cover over 40 percent of the planet's land area by the end of the 21st century, according to a new study in Environmental Research Letters .
But in a surprise twist, the most prominent contributor to climate change – rising carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) levels – may actually be slowing the expansion of Earth's drylands, researchers say.
Drylands are regions that face great water scarcity, where precipitation is low relative to the potential loss of water through evaporation and plant transpiration .
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