Diversity of Vegetation Patterns and Desertification

TLDR

The study introduces a new model for vegetation patterns and proposes a novel explanation of desertification and a new aridity classification approach. The model mechanistically predicts vegetation pattern transitions across precipitation gradients, enabling explanations of desertification and aridity classification. The model reproduces observed water‑limited patterns, predicts transitions from bare soil to homogeneous vegetation through spot, stripe, and hole states, and identifies broad precipitation ranges where multiple stable states coexist.

Abstract

A new model for vegetation patterns is introduced. The model reproduces a wide range of patterns observed in water-limited regions, including drifting bands, spots, and labyrinths. It predicts transitions from bare soil at low precipitation to homogeneous vegetation at high precipitation, through intermediate states of spot, stripe, and hole patterns. It also predicts wide precipitation ranges where different stable states coexist. Using these predictions we propose a novel explanation of desertification phenomena and a new approach to classifying aridity.