Question

Which one of the following changes may occur due to desertification?

• A. Decrease in atmospheric temperature.
• B. Increase in water holding capacity of soil.
• C. Increased chances of floods.
• D. Conversion of fertile land into a desert.

Answer 1

The correct option is D

Conversion of fertile land into a desert.

The correct option is D.
Explanation of the correct option:

1. Land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid regions is known as desertification.
2. Human activity and climatic changes are its main causes.
3. The term "desertification" does not mean that current deserts are growing larger.
4. When there are no trees, there are no roots to hold onto the soil, thus it gets swept away by the wind.
5. As a result, topsoil erodes away, turning the area into a desert.

Explanation of the incorrect options:
Option A:

1. In the thermosphere and stratosphere, the temperature rises with height.
2. As we ascend in the troposphere and mesosphere, the temperature lowers.
3. Altitude causes complex changes in air temperature.
4. Since the Industrial Revolution, human activity has dramatically impacted the atmospheric emission of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, which has changed the planet's climate.

Option B:

1. More organic matter in soil improves its capacity to absorb water, reducing water stress in both wet and dry conditions.
2. By adding compost, manures, or other stable organic elements, this can be accomplished.

Option C:

1. Fossil fuel combustion, industrial effects, and pollution are all causing the ozone layer to thin out and the concentration of greenhouse gases to rise, which is a key contributor to man-made flooding.
2. Climate change and changes in land cover, such as the eradication of vegetation, raise the danger of flooding.
3. Extreme floods can be brought on by heavy precipitation, prolonged rain, frequent rain, or a combination of these.

Final answer: Conversion of fertile land into a desert may occur due to desertification.