Soil samples show fine wind-blown sand, no trace of earthworm activity, reduced rainfall and indications of a drier and windier climate.

Malaysia is exposed to the El Niño effect, which reduces rainfall in the dry season.

Global dimming may have disturbed the global water cycle by reducing evaporation and rainfall in some areas.

It has interfered with the hydrological cycle by reducing evaporation and may have reduced rainfall in some areas.

Pollution produced by humans may be seriously weakening the Earth's water cycle - reducing rainfall and threatening fresh water supplies.

He also argues that deforestation in al-Shabab-held areas has probably contributed to the famine, as some environmental experts say that cutting down trees can reduce rainfall.

The pollution (80 percent man-made) also cuts sunlight penetration, thus reducing rainfall, affecting agriculture and otherwise altering the climate.

This not only reduces rainfall, but because evaporation draws heat from the land, cooling the earth, it also makes the surface warmer.

"This in turn could locally reduce rainfall over parts of Southeast Asia during periods of the summer monsoon."

Experts predict that higher worldwide temperatures will reduce rainfall in the Amazon region, which will cause widespread local drought.