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Study Provides New Insights on Drought Predictions in East Africa

By Guest PostFebruary 4, 2013Environment20th century, aridity, atmospheric convection, charcoal, climate, climate model simulations, climate variability, columbia university, drought conditions, drought predictions, earth observatory, east africa, east african climate, eastern africa, el niño, famine, future predictions, geologic past, geologist, geopolitical significance, global warming, gulf of aden, historical fluctuations, historical patterns, horn of africa, humanitarian crisis, indian ocean, jason smerdon, jessica tierney, lake sediment cores, lamont-doherty, little brother, little ice age, long term shifts, medieval times, moisture balance, oceanographic institution, pacific, pacific ocean, paleoclimate record, paleorecord, pollen, precipitation, projections, rainfall, region, run off events, study, surface temperatures, temperature, warm sea surface, water isotopes, western indian ocean, whoi, woods hole

Research May Also Help Determine Effects of Global Warming in the Region

With more than 40 million people living under exceptional drought conditions in East Africa, the ability to make accurate predictions of drought has never been more important. In the aftermath of widespread famine and a humanitarian crisis caused by the 2010-2011 drought in the Horn of Africa—possibly the worst drought in 60 years— researchers are striving to determine whether drying trends will continue.

While it is clear that El Niño can affect precipitation in this region of East Africa, very little is known about the drivers of long-term shifts in rainfall. However, new research described in the journal Nature helps explain the mechanisms at work behind historical patterns of aridity in Eastern Africa over many decades, and the findings may help improve future predictions of drought and food security in the region. (more…)

Drier Conditions Projected to Accelerate Dust Storms in the Southwest

By Guest PostMarch 3, 2011Environmentagricultural productivity, arches, arid landscapes, biological soil crusts, canyonlands national parks, climate change, cyanobacteria, drier conditions, drought conditions, dust storm, grasslands, magnitude of runoff, perennial vegetation cover, rates of dust emission, sediment transport, semiarid and arid environments, seth munson, shrublands, southeastern utah, southwest, wind erosion

MOAB, Utah — Drier conditions projected to result from climate change in the Southwest will likely reduce perennial vegetation cover and result in increased dust storm activity in the future, according to a new study by scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of California, Los Angeles.

The research team examined climate, vegetation and soil measurements collected over a 20-year period in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks in southeastern Utah. Long-term data indicated that perennial vegetation in grasslands and some shrublands declined with temperature increases. The study then used these soil and vegetation measurements in a model to project future wind erosion. (more…)

Drought May Threaten Much of Globe Within Decades

By Guest PostOctober 20, 2010Environmentdrought conditions, drought intensity, future droughts, historical drought, palmer model, warming temperatures

Dryness likely to increase substantially across Eurasia, Africa, Australia (more…)

Tag Archives: drought conditions

Study Provides New Insights on Drought Predictions in East Africa

Drier Conditions Projected to Accelerate Dust Storms in the Southwest

Drought May Threaten Much of Globe Within Decades