ScienceJuly 15, 2026
aridity
/əˈrɪdɪti/
Definition
A state of being dry, characterized by a lack of sufficient rainfall or moisture to support lush vegetation.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'aridus' (meaning dry or parched), the word entered English via French to describe conditions where water is scarce.
In the news
In this article, aridity is used to describe the baseline dryness of different grassland environments, helping researchers determine how biodiversity affects productivity during extreme drought.
Biodiversity delivers the largest productivity gains under extreme drought in drier grasslands
Read the full article ↗EurekAlert!