Something strange is happening to the Sahara. "Unusual weather configuration"

Sahara to the largest hot desert in the world – one of the driest and hottest places on our planet. Rain is not common there, in some parts it almost never occurs at this time of year.

This time, however, it is different. For some time now, storms have been rolling through the desert, and the rainfall is so heavythat in different parts of the Sahara you can observe formation of rivers and growth of vegetation.

Copernicus, previously known as GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security), is the EU’s Earth observation programme, which is implemented in cooperation with, among others, the European Space Agency (ESA). Huge amounts of global data are obtained here from satellites and ground, air and sea measurement systems. On this basis, a team of experts analyzes the changes taking place on our planet. Now Copernicus points to unusual weather pattern over the Sahara.

– The Sahara Desert is one of the driest places on Earth. However, in September 2024, a large area of it is expected to experience more than 500 percent of standard monthly rainfall levels as a result of unusual weather configuration – explains Copernicus.

See also: Where is the hottest place on Earth? The temperatures in these places are truly hellish

Experts point to, among other things, a comparison of two shots from Copernicus Sentinel-2, which were taken over the desert. The combination selected by Copernicus as “image of the day September 10, 2024” draws attention to the current changes in the desert. The first shot was taken in September 2023 and the second in September 2024. Based on the analysis of these images, it can be noted significant differences in precipitation in September last year and this year.

– The images reveal a noticeable escalation of green areaswhich indicates an increase in vegetation that flourished after unusual rainfall – explains Copernicus.

Read also: Sahara will turn green. The most rain in years will fall

Although rainfall in the Sahara is very variable, experts point out that in general on average they are only about 76 millimeters per year. Now, however, a significant anomaly has occurred, with the air over North Africa containing three to four times more moisture than usual.

Experts explain that this is due to, among other things, shifts of the tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) — a band of storms and low pressure moving from east to west across central Africa, where the trade winds (a type of wind) from the northern and southern hemispheres meet. For about 2 weeks, this zone is located about 250 km further north than the average and therefore there are extreme downpours in usually extremely dry places. Experts link this event, among other things, to climate change.

This is an unusual weather configuration, and this amount of rain has not been seen in many parts of the Sahara for at least 20 years. In some places, heavy rains in September are recorded for the first time in the history of measurements.. Rain not only influences the intensive development of vegetation visible in the images provided by Copernicus, but also the formation of rushing rivers.

Although the rains help to alleviate the enormous drought that hits North Africaat the same time, their unnatural quantity may cause local flooding. It has already been reported fatalities and huge losses as a result of flooding in Algeria and Morocco.

A spokesman for the Moroccan Ministry of Interior said in a statement that the government is working to restore communication and access to flooded regions and appealed to people to be careful, ABC News reports. Algeria’s state news agency reported that the government has sent thousands of civil protection and military officers to help rescue the population.

Source: geekweek.interia.pl

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