UNESCO commissioned eight scientists to study and report on current research on this subject. Last April, an international symposium of scientists met at Ankara, to discuss their findings. The results will provide research workers with the first comprehensive picture of what is being done to find out how underground water behaves, and the possibilities of using effectively in arid zones.

Table of contents:
1. Arid zones
2. "UNObad"; a city rises on desert sands. (Calder, Ritchie)
3. Distributions of arid climates