How are regions with a significant lack of water referred to?

Regions with a significant lack of water are referred to as arid zones. These areas are characterized by low precipitation levels, which leads to a scarcity of water resources and often results in dry conditions. Arid zones can support certain types of vegetation and wildlife adapted to survive in such environments, but they are generally marked by limited rainfall, leading to challenges in agriculture, water supply, and ecosystem diversity.

Desolate regions describe areas that might lack life or be barren but do not necessarily have the specific climatic conditions of low rainfall that define arid zones. Desert ecosystems are indeed a type of arid zone but may not encompass all areas classified as arid, while drought areas refer to temporary conditions of water shortage rather than a permanent climate classification. Thus, arid zones specifically denote regions where the lack of water is a defining characteristic.