Precipitation and temperature trends in nine dryland regions are analy
sed for the period 1900 to 1994. No widespread desiccation in dryland
climates is found, the African Sahel being the only region to demonstr
ate a significant drying trend. All dryland regions have warmed, howev
er, with the majority of the warming probably being unrelated to regio
nal dryland effects. This warming may have contributed to a worsening
of the P/PE ratio in many of these dryland regions. Three African dryl
and regions are alone in showing a significant negative correlation be
tween precipitation and temperature, contrasting with the relationship
for global land areas of warmer years/decades being also wetter years
/decades. The relative lack of warming in the Sahel is noted and incre
ased atmospheric dust resulting from the increased desiccation of the
region is suggested as a possible explanation.