aridification

noun

arid·​i·​fi·​ca·​tion ə-ˌri-də-fə-ˈkā-shən 

a-

: the gradual change of a region from a wetter to a drier climate

The onset of sudden aridification in Mesopotamia near 4100 calendar yr B. P. coincided with a widespread cooling in the North Atlantic …

—Peter B. de Menocal, Science, 27 Apr. 2001

Word History

Etymology

arid + -ification

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined above

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