Arid environments may not be the most hospitable places n Earth, but the 30 % or more of the global land surface that they cover does support an ever-growing human population and has fascinated travellers, explorers and scientists for centuries. Early geomorphological studies were frequently carried out indirectly, sometimes even unwittingly, by those whose main purpose and motives lay elsewhere: inevitably, but with some notable exceptions, their accounts were descriptive and unscientific. Some would even argue that these traits persisted and dominated desert geomorphological studies well into the second half of this century.

Arid environments cover more than one-third of the world’s land area and represent the most common habitat on Earth after the oceans. Aridity poses a threat to the environment, as well as the economy, security, development, food security, and social life around the world. The causes of increased aridity are complex and are thought to be both natural and man-made. Factors such as climate change, population growth, soil erosion, inappropriate irrigation, wrong farming, soil, water, and groundwater contamination, urbanization, deforestation, improper water management, desertification of arid and semiarid zones appear as causes of drought.

This book covers a wide range of scientific research studies, from water management to groundwater management, from land rehabilitation to soil reclamation, which will help prevent and minimize man-made aridity. In addition, many studies related to aridities such as environmental education, environmental awareness, sustainable development, and management policies and plans are also welcome. <...>

In the preparation of this book I have drawn upon the help of many people and institutions. Many of these have no direct connection with the writing of the book, but without their assistance, which made the necessary field experience possible, this study could not have been written.