About one billion people live in arid or semiarid desert lands that occupy about one third of the world's land surface. In these drier parts of the world, deserts are increasing rapidly from a combination of natural processes and human...

Human survival and prosperity are dependent ultimately on the productivity of the lands on which populations reside. In many parts of the world, however, previously productive lands have become less fertile or completely sterile, failing to meet the...

Areas that receive less than 10 inches (25.4 cm) of rain a year are generally classified as deserts. Dry (arid) regions are usually found in area of high pressure (subtropical highs, leeward sides of mountains, etc.) associated with descending...

spread or encroachment of a desert environment into arid or semiarid regions, caused by climatic changes, human influence, or both. Climatic factors include periods of temporary but severe drought and long-term climatic changes toward aridity. Human...

Spread of a desert environment into arid or semiarid regions, caused by climatic changes, human influence, or both. Climatic factors include periods of temporary but severe drought and long-term climatic changes toward dryness. Human factors include...

Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various climatic variations, but primarily from human activities. Current desertification is taking place much faster worldwide than historically and...