Once Again About the Desiccation of Asia

The author reviews the literature on the desiccation of Asia and holds that the problem must be divided into two aspects: (1) progressive aridity of the climate itself, and (2) resulting aridity of the landscape. Because of the limited character of the time series of weather data in Central Asia, instrumental observations are inadequate for a definite statement on increasing climatic aridity in historical times. But the author finds evidence of increasing aridity in the Asian desert landscapes themselves.