Over the last two decades, satellites have revealed something that we’ve been ringing the alarm bell on for some time: the planet’s land is drying out—and fast. Soil moisture levels are dropping across large parts of the Earth. And not just in historically dry regions, but in places once thought to be stable too. The culprit isn’t as simple as “less rain.” Rising temperatures are causing more evaporation, and human activity, like deforestation, agriculture, and land degradation, is making it harder for the soil to hold on to water. That water doesn’t just vanish. It flows downstream, into rivers, and eventually into the ocean. When land dries out, it loses its ability to cool itself, feed plants, and support ecosystems. And once that cycle breaks, it gets harder and harder to bring the water back. But we CAN bring the water back.
Posted: April 15, 2025