Climate Change Fuels Rapid Expansion of Drylands, New Study Reveals

A groundbreaking study, published on August 29 in Science, reveals that nearly half of the world’s land surface is now classified as drylands, and these areas are rapidly expanding their reach.

Drylands, which include deserts, shrublands, grasslands, and savanna woodlands, cover about 45% of the Earth’s land. Characterized by water scarcity, they significantly impact ecosystems and human activities such as agriculture and livestock production.

Researchers from the University of Bristol, Ghent University, Cardiff University, and ETH Zurich discovered that drylands are not only expanding due to climate change but are also accelerating their own spread. The study, led by Dr. Akash Koppa from Ghent University, shows that over 40% of the land that transitioned to drylands in the past 40 years did so because of this self-expansion effect.

This phenomenon occurs because drying soils in existing drylands release less moisture and more heat into the atmosphere. This leads to reduced rainfall and increased water demand in nearby humid areas, gradually turning them into drylands.

In regions like Australia and Eurasia, this self-propagation is the main driver of dryland expansion. Dr. Koppa warns that as global temperatures rise, this process could intensify, threatening ecosystems, human livelihoods, and economic stability.

The study highlights the urgent need for climate change mitigation and sustainable land management. By understanding how drylands influence their surroundings, the research underscores the importance of conservation efforts and adaptation strategies to manage drought and heat.

For more details, you can access the full study in the latest issue of Science.