A review of droughts in the African continent: a geospatial and long-term perspective: In Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions, 11

  Available online: http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci-discuss.net/11/2679/2014/hessd-11-2679-2014.pdf

This paper presents a review and analysis of the available literature and information on droughts to build a perspective on geospatial and temporal variation of droughts in Africa. The study is based on the review and analysis of droughts occurred during 1900–2013 as well as evidence available from past centuries based on studies on the lake sediment analysis, tree-ring chronologies and written and oral histories and future predictions from the global climate change models. The paper argues that the available evidence from the past shows that the African continent is likely to face extreme and widespread droughts in future. This evident challenge is likely to aggravate due to slow progress in drought risk management, increased population and demand for water and degradation of land and environment. Thus, the paper argues that there is a clear need for increased and integrated efforts in drought mitigation to reduce the negative impacts of droughts anticipated in future.

Language(s): English

Tags: Drought ; Hazard risk assessment or analysis ; Climate change ; Region I - Africa Add tag