Around 40 percent of the Earth’s surface is made up of drylands. These are subdivided into subtropical (the Sahara, Australia’s outback) and temperate zones (Central Asian steppes, the western USA, parts of the Mediterranean region). Forecasts suggest that climate change could further increase aridity in these areas and lead to even greater strain on water resources. However, existing models vary considerably in their projections depending on geographical location and the type of drylands.

Now, researchers in Basel (Switzerland) have obtained new findings on the effects of climate change on temperate drylands. In order to accomplish this, they used a simulation model that takes account of the soil moisture and the complex factors that influence it.