Aridity: The ‘existential crisis’ redefining life on EarthFive billion people could be affected by 2100Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Even as dramatic water-related disasters such as floods and storms intensified in some parts of the world, more than three-quarters of Earth’s land became permanently drier in recent decades, UN scientists warned today in a stark new analysis.
  • lath@lemmy.world
    41·
    17 days ago

    I think we might want to revisit wild theories such as our ancestors actually being martians who genocided the dinos in order to move over from their dying planet. They’re starting to make much more sense lately…

  • ohwhatfollyisman@lemmy.world
    214·
    17 days ago

    the maths doesn’t add up, though. three-quarters of the earth’s land is already covered by ocean.

    if the same proportion of land has permanently dried up, that means that at least half the ocean floor globally is exposed to the sky!

        • cravl@slrpnk.net
          6·
          16 days ago

          Yes. It is part of the surface, but it is not “land” by the common definition.

          • ohwhatfollyisman@lemmy.world
            15·
            16 days ago

            what is the definition of “common definition”, though? that’s a wishy-washy stand, is it not?

            the first dictionary definition of the word states that land is the solid part of the surface of the earth, which is contrary to your distinction between “land” and “surface”. that’s a more solid and substantial position, is it not?

              • ohwhatfollyisman@lemmy.world
                1·
                15 days ago

                well, i’ve provided a bonafide source. whereas you’ve provided only your opinion.

                i’m not sure from whence this righteous outrage arises.

                i would be happy to understand any issue in my source or any contrary sources that support your opinion that the seabed is definitely not “land”.

            • cravl@slrpnk.net
              1·
              13 days ago

              If it helps, I don’t think any worse of you because you got the definition of a word confused, even if it hasn’t changed since it was inherited from Germanic prior to the 12th century. We could probs still be friends barring any major personality conflicts. 🙃

              Cambridge Dictionary:

              the surface of the earth that is not covered by water

              Collins Dictionary:

              Land is the part of the world that consists of ground, rather than sea or air.

              Oxford Learner’s Dictionary:

              the surface of the earth that is not sea

              Oxford English Dictionary:

              The solid portion of the earth’s surface, as opposed to sea, water

              And finally, the one you quoted:

              Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

              a. the solid part of the surface of the earth

              b. ground or soil of a specified situation, nature, or quality (dry land)