Desertification is like the mean big brother of land degradation, showing up in semi-arid and humid regions, but not bothering arid (desert) areas. It’s a double whammy - there’s a loss in both biological and economic productivity. This tends to happen when climatic variability (especially rainfall) dances with unsustainable human activities.

Quick Trivia: Desertification doesn't make deserts bigger; it happens in random patches. For instance, think about the severe droughts in China in the 2000s - they didn't extend the Gobi desert, but the effects were very similar.

If the surface cover is removed and the ground becomes lighter, its reflectivity (aka albedo) changes. Imagine swapping your black shirt for a white one on a sunny day - you reflect more heat and absorb less. This reduces convectional heating, which may lead to less rain and more droughts.

When desertification kicks in, it reduces vegetation cover, speeds up soil erosion by wind and water, and decreases the land's carrying capacity (like how many plants or animals it can support). Imagine a nightclub getting overcrowded; it's no longer fun and safe.