A new report estimates that desertification will expand up to 34% during the next century, enveloping an area the size of the United States.
This new report from researchers at the University of Maryland, College Park, makes a harsher prediction than previous studies that estimate expansions at about 10%.
"Our best guess is that human-induced global warming is going to dry out much of the arid lands in Africa's Sahel region, areas around the Mediterranean Sea, the fringes of China's Gobi desert, parts of South America and southwestern North America.
Moderate estimates by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predict that deserts will expand 10 percent worldwide by the year 2100. But it could be much worse."
Thanks to Curbed L.A.
FULL STORY: Deserts Expand Faster as Earth Brightens

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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