Arid zones
- Slovak term: Slovenský termín
- Arid areas means areas, other than polar and sub-polar regions, in which the ratio of annual precipitation to potential evapotranspiration falls within the range from 0.05mm to 0.65mm.
- without moisture; excessively dry; parched and barren; specifically; having insufficient rainfall to support agriculture, usually less than 10 to 15 inches annually.
- lacks humidity
Explanation
"Desertification is a land degradation problem of major importance in the arid regions of the world."
Dregne, H. E. 1986. Desertification of arid lands. In Physics of desertification, ed. F. El-Baz and M. H. A. Hassan. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Martinus, Nijhoff.
Example
With up to 58% of the country’s land area being classified as arid or semi-arid, nearly one-third of China’s land suffers from the effects of desertification.
Sand and dust storms are natural events that occur widely around the world in arid and semi-arid regions, especially in subtropical latitudes. (Global Alarm: Dust and Sandstorms from the World’s Drylands. United Nations, 2001)
References
- Elaboration of an International Convention to Combat Desertification in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa. Final text of the Convention. UN General Assembly. A/AC.241/27, 12 September 1994
- Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged. Merriam-Webster, 2002. [1]
- Symons, J. M., Bradley, Lee C. Jr. and Cleveland, T. C. 2000. The Drinking Water Dictionary. American Water Works Association.
