Final answer:
The percentage of the Earth's land that suffers from severe drought could accelerate due to soil degradation, water shortages, and climate change, leading to increased drought conditions by 2059.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question you've asked concerns the percentage of the Earth's land that suffers from severe drought today and how that might change by the year 2059. The current statistics on soil degradation, irrigation, water shortages, and climate predictions play a critical role in projecting future drought scenarios. Based on the provided information and trends observed, one can make an educated guess about which option is most probable. However, the exact answer may depend on different models and assessments made by climate scientists.
Initial estimates suggest that about 20% of the world's irrigated land is already degraded, and severe water shortages affect at least 700 million people. Predictions indicate significant increases in water stress, which could lead to higher percentages of land experiencing severe drought by 2059. Given the trends in soil quality, management of irrigated land, and increasing water shortages, we might expect to see a continued and even accelerated progression of land degradation and drought conditions.