What is degradation? Desertification is the degradation of lands, meaning that it loses moisture. It involves the loss of biological or economic productivity and complexity in croplands, pastures, and woodlands. It is due mainly to climate variability and unsustainable human activities.

How does it occur? Desertification does not occur in linear, easily map able patterns. Deserts advance erratically, forming patches on their borders. Areas far from natural deserts can degrade quickly to barren soil, rock, or sand through poor land management. The presence of a nearby desert has no direct relationship to desertification.

Is it permanent? Unfortunately, an area undergoing desertification is brought to public attention only after the process is well underway. Often little or no data are available to indicate the previous state of the ecosystem or the rate of degradation. Scientists still question whether desertification, as a process of global change, is permanent or how and when it can be halted or reversed.

Can it be Avoided? Desertification is a process of continuous, gradual ecosystem degradation, during which plants and animals, and geological resources such as water and soil, are stressed beyond their ability to adjust to changing conditions. Because desertification occurs gradually, and the processes responsible for it are understood, it can often be avoided by planning or reversed before irreparable damage occurs.

Deflation The physical characteristics of land undergoing desertification include progressive loss of mature, stabilizing vegetation from the ecosystem, or loss of agricultural crop cover during periods of drought or economic infeasibility, and a resulting loss of unconsolidated topsoil. This process is called deflation.

Soil Erosion Erosion by wind and water then winnows the fine-grained silt and clay particles from the soil; dramatic dust storms like those observed during the 1930's Dust Bowl in the American mid-west, and in northern Africa, were essentially composed of blowing topsoil.

Irrigation Continued irrigation of desertified land increases soil salinity, and contaminates groundwater, but does little to reverse the loss of productivity. Finally, ongoing wind and water erosion leads to development of gullies and sand dunes across the deflated land surface.

Effects of Desertification

Soil becomes less usable The soil of the effected area becomes less usable. The soils nutrients could be removed by water or wind. It could be washed away by rain or blown away by wind. It also could have salt build up on the soil which makes it harder for plant growth.

Vegetation is Lacked or Damaged Desertification causes the vegetation to either be damaged or for the vegetation amount to decrease. The reason behind this would be because of the loosen soil which would cause the roots to be exposed or for the plants to be buried.

Causes Famine Desertification also causes famine for places that have wars and poverty occasionally. Famine could also be causes by poor land management and drought.

Food Loss Desertification causes the soil to be un-suited for plant growth which causes food loss for a lot of people, especially in a place where the population is growing. This causes starvation and economical problems for that place. (Result of the previous 2 effects)

Effects People near Effected Areas Desertification can also cause floods, pollution, dust storms, and poor water quality. These effects could happen to the nearby areas to the effected place.

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