I'm more concerned about soil pollution and sinking water tables in the most fertile regions. Air could be cleaned up in a week, but this can't.
Improper irrigation can even lead to salts rising up to the soil surface and making it permanently infertile barring major earth works. Falling water tables can allow the ground to compress (now-empty pores deflate) and significantly lower the ground's ability to carry groundwater (as has happened in California).
Some damage is permanent, and we were not capable of the worst back then.
Improper irrigation can even lead to salts rising up to the soil surface and making it permanently infertile barring major earth works. Falling water tables can allow the ground to compress (now-empty pores deflate) and significantly lower the ground's ability to carry groundwater (as has happened in California).
Some damage is permanent, and we were not capable of the worst back then.