Sahara flooded by flood. It’s all because of global warming
Last year was the driest in Morocco in 80 years, with a 48 percent drop in rainfall, according to an October report by the General Directorate of Meteorology. However, recent rains have revived lakes and ponds that have been dry for years.
On the surface everything looks great. In the southeastern desert of Morocco, a rare downpour restored seasonal ponds and lakes, and thus the area came back to life, filling not only with plants and animals, but also with tourists who want to observe this phenomenon with their own eyes. Unfortunately, these miracles also come at a price. September’s heavy rains caused flooding in southern parts of Morocco, killing at least a dozen people. Unfortunately, man-made global warming is most likely largely to blame.
The price of change is human life
As described by sciencealert.com, neighboring Algeria also faced similar problems. Six people died there as a result of the flood. According to the Moroccan Meteo Agency, the recent rains are exceptional and are most likely the result of human-induced climate change. However, we have to wait for the final assessment – additional tests and observations are necessary.
There is no doubt, however, that the heavy rains over the Sahara and the long-lasting drought that precede them are part of the pattern of extreme weather phenomena that are a characteristic element of the ongoing warming on Earth. Although it must also be emphasized that at least some of the rainfall was useful. They helped fill some reservoirs and water supplies underground, hidden in the aquifer. Unfortunately, the last levels were too intense for the earth to absorb the full supply needed.
There is more bad news. The rest of the country is still struggling with drought. In Morocco, it has been going on for… the sixth year in a row – says sciencealert.com. This is in addition to a warning from the local weather agency, which stated that such downpours may become more frequent as climate change shifts the intertropical convergence zone further north.
Although the recent rains, apart from destruction, also breathed some life into the dry south-east of Morocco, it is still not enough to bring lasting change. What’s more, last week, Morocco’s weather agency said such downpours could become more frequent, fueled in part by human-induced climate change.
