Central Asian deserts spread
As global temperatures rise, deserts in Central Asia have spread north by as much as 100 kilometres, according to new research. Scientists found that since the late 1980s, temperatures have risen across Central Asia, including parts of China, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Mountain regions have become hotter and wetter, accelerating the retreat of glaciers and these changes threaten ecosystems and those who rely upon them. Human activities such as mining and agriculture contribute to desertification. This research suggests that governments in Central Asia, and the rest of the world, should focus on sustainable farming.
Guglielmi G. 2022. Climate change is turning more of Central Asia into desert. Nature. Epub ahead of print.
About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
Justine joined Viva! in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. After working as a campaigner, then researcher and writer, she is now Viva!’s head of research and her work focuses on animals, the environment and health. Justine’s scientific training helps her research and write both in-depth scientific reports, such as White Lies and the Meat Report, as well as easy-to-read factsheets and myth-busting articles for consumer magazines and updates on the latest research. Justine also recently wrote the Vegan for the Planet guide for Viva!’s Vegan Now campaign.
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