"Severe degradation" refers to a significant decline, deterioration, or damage to something, often resulting in a reduced or lower-quality state. Full definition
According to the report, up to 90 % of corals will suffer severe degradation by 2050, even under conservative climate change scenarios. (sciencedaily.com)
The report states that any increase greater than 1.5 °C will likely cause «severe degradation of the great majority of coral reefs.» (sciencemag.org)
Ms. Kelly writes of how difficult it is to confront a culture gap in India, how local residents in Calcutta all too blithely accept severe degradation, chalking it up to a karmic debt owed for a past life's mistakes. (firstthings.com)