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Analyzing a Self-Reinforcing Environmental Process
In a semi-arid grassland, a prolonged drought causes a significant portion of the native vegetation to die off. The loss of plant cover exposes the topsoil, which is then easily eroded by wind and rain. This soil erosion reduces the land's ability to retain water and nutrients, making it increasingly difficult for new vegetation to establish and grow. Explain how this scenario illustrates a process of accelerating environmental deterioration.
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