The phrase "apparent lack" means a situation or condition that appears to be missing, absent, or deficient. It suggests that something is not present or available in the way it should be, even though there may actually be enough of it. The word "lack" implies scarcity or insufficiency, and the adjective "apparent" means that the lack is visible or evident to others. Overall, an apparent lack suggests a problem or shortcoming that is obvious to those around it.