Sentence:  Phoenix and Lubbock are both caught in severe drought, and it is going to get much worse. We may see many such [dust] storms in the decades ahead, along with species <WSD>extinctions</WSD>, radical disturbance of ecosystems, and intensified social conflict over land and water. Welcome to the Anthropocene, the epoch when humans have become a major geological and climatic force. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  The action of making or becoming extinct; annihilation.