Water - Drought: Sahel

Question 1

What is the Sahel region?

Answer 1

Semi-arid region across Southern Sahara
Covering 11 nations

Question 2

When did the pronounced decline in the Sahel begin?

Answer 2

Late 1960s

Question 3

What did a 2002 study consider a major cause of Sahel drought?

Answer 3

Air pollution
Western sulphur-based aerosols
Changed circulation
Tropical rains did not arrive

Question 4

What did a 2005 climate model suggest as a cause of Sahel drought?

Answer 4

Rising sea surface temperatures
Caused rain bearing winds to fail

Question 5

How did the 2015/16 El Nino affect the Sahel?

Answer 5

Increased water stress
Temperatures 2 degrees higher than average
Lower rainfall

Question 6

How are human factors worsening the Sahel drought?

Answer 6

Low development
Food + fuelwood demand
Ecosystem conversion to farmland

Question 7

How has desertification contributed to the Sahel drought?

Answer 7

Reduces vegetation cover
Lost soil moisture