Why Does The West Want To Stop The Greening of The Sahara? Climate change induced rainfall has hit some of the most arid places on earth. The deluge has left blue lagoons of water amid the palm trees and sand dunes of the Sahara desert, nourishing some of its most drought-stricken regions with more water than many had seen in decades.
Tree planting is considered crucial by scientists to prevent flooding in the desert regions that are becoming more green. Climate change is the main cause of this transformation, and Western European countries are concerned that this greening could shift the global power dynamics by boosting the agricultural production of countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger!
The Great Green Wall initiative aims to rehabilitate 100 million hectares of land spanning from Senegal to Djibouti within the next ten years, forming a 15-kilometer-wide (9 miles) and 8,000-kilometer-long (5,000 miles) patchwork of trees, vegetation, and grasslands. Interestingly, Climate Change is accelerating this project, with scientists suggesting it is being accomplished at an unprecedented pace!
In North Africa, a region known for its arid climate, a remarkable phenomenon has unfolded recently. Some of the driest areas on Earth have experienced an unprecedented increase in rainfall during the month of September, surpassing their average precipitation levels by a staggering fivefold. This unexpected deluge has led to a striking transformation in the landscape, particularly in parts of the Sahara Desert. The typically barren and sandy terrain has undergone a remarkable greening, with vegetation sprouting in abundance where it was once scarce.
Interestingly, while the Sahara flourishes with this newfound greenery, another climate anomaly has been observed in a different part of the world. The Atlantic hurricane season, which is usually characterized by a high frequency of tropical storms and hurricanes, has been notably subdued this year. Forecasters and experts had anticipated a more active season, yet nature seems to have taken a different course, demonstrating the unpredictable nature of weather patterns.
These seemingly disparate events are indicative of the broader shifts occurring in global climate systems. As the planet undergoes significant changes due to human-induced climate change, weather patterns are becoming increasingly erratic and extreme. The occurrence of such contrasting phenomena in different regions underscores the interconnectedness of Earth's climate and the far-reaching impacts of environmental changes.
Moving forward, it is projected that these trends will persist and intensify as climate events continue to reshape the dynamics of our planet. The intricate interplay between atmospheric conditions, oceanic currents, and environmental factors will likely lead to more surprises and challenges in the future, underscoring the importance of understanding and mitigating the impacts of climate change on a global scale.
The exceptional rainfall was caused by the tropical rain belt, also known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), moving northward more than it typically does. While heavy rains are common in equatorial regions, this event soaked the Sahara Desert, causing parts of it to turn green due to unprecedented levels of rainfall.
In particular, the winds from the southeast in the Southern Hemisphere meet the winds from the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere. This convergence of winds, along with the intense sun and warm ocean water, leads to the presence of humid air and persistent cloud cover, rainfall, and thunderstorms.
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