Drylands
Parched terrain name
Drylands are arid and semi-arid regions where water scarcity limits plant growth and agriculture.
The term covers deserts, steppes, and savannas—areas receiving significantly less rainfall than they lose to evaporation.
Drylands cover about 40 percent of the Earth's land surface.
Climate discussions often focus on dryland expansion due to desertification.
Devoid of water
- semi-aridModerately low rainfall climate
- low rainfallInsufficient precipitation levels
- evaporationLiquid turning to gas
- drought-proneLikely to lack rainfall
desertification · dust storms · heat · aridity · water scarcity · climate adaptation · seasonal rains · El Niño
Tropical grassland, sparse trees
- steppeTreeless Eurasian grassland
- scrublandArea of low shrubs
- grasslandTreeless herb-covered ecosystem
- shrublandBush-dominated vegetation zone
acacia · baobab · xerophytes · succulents · drought-resistant plants · sparse vegetation · rangeland · wildlife corridors
Mobile livestock husbandry
- irrigationArtificial water supply for agriculture
- milletSmall-seeded food crop
- sorghumWarm-climate cereal grass
- fallowUnplanted field recovering
subsistence farming · overgrazing · soil erosion · terracing · water harvesting · crop rotation · agroforestry · food security
Semi-arid African transition zone
- OutbackAustralian-themed steakhouse chain
- Great PlainsCentral North American grassland
- KalahariSouthern African semi-desert
- GobiCentral Asian arid region
Atacama · Sonoran · Central Asia · Horn of Africa · plateau · basin · canyon · mesa
People raising grazing animals
- herdersLivestock guardians and guides
- MaasaiEast African ethnic group
- BedouinMiddle Eastern nomadic herder
- TuaregSaharan Berber ethnic group
nomads · water access · drought relief · food aid · rural poverty · migration · resilience · traditional knowledge
arid
Devoid of water
- semi-aridModerately low rainfall climate
- low rainfallInsufficient precipitation levels
- evaporationLiquid turning to gas
drought-prone · desertification · dust storms · heat · aridity · water scarcity · climate adaptation · seasonal rains · El Niño · La Niña
savanna
Tropical grassland, sparse trees
- steppeTreeless Eurasian grassland
- scrublandArea of low shrubs
- grasslandTreeless herb-covered ecosystem
shrubland · acacia · baobab · xerophytes · succulents · drought-resistant plants · sparse vegetation · rangeland · wildlife corridors · biodiversity hotspots
pastoralism
Mobile livestock husbandry
- irrigationArtificial water supply for agriculture
- milletSmall-seeded food crop
- sorghumWarm-climate cereal grass
fallow · subsistence farming · overgrazing · soil erosion · terracing · water harvesting · crop rotation · agroforestry · food security · livestock
Sahel
Semi-arid African transition zone
- OutbackAustralian-themed steakhouse chain
- Great PlainsCentral North American grassland
- KalahariSouthern African semi-desert
Gobi · Atacama · Sonoran · Central Asia · Horn of Africa · plateau · basin · canyon · mesa · butte
pastoralists
People raising grazing animals
- herdersLivestock guardians and guides
- MaasaiEast African ethnic group
- BedouinMiddle Eastern nomadic herder
Tuareg · nomads · water access · drought relief · food aid · rural poverty · migration · resilience · traditional knowledge
Drylandswetlands
Water-saturated terrain
humid regions · marshlands · rainforests · swamplands · monsoon regions
Drylandsfertile plains
Productive flat agricultural land
breadbaskets · croplands · farmland · farmlands · cropland
Drylandsrainforests
Wet, dense tropical woodlands
tropical forests · temperate rainforests · jungle · cloud forests · mangroves
- dryland farmingCultivation without irrigation systems