Drought in Southern Africa: April 2024

Media type: E-Book

Title: Drought in Southern Africa : April 2024

Contributor: Toreti, A. [Contributor]; Bavera, D. [Contributor]; Acosta Navarro, J. [Contributor]; Acquafresca, L. [Contributor]; Asega, C. [Contributor]; Barbosa, P. [Contributor]; Collivignarelli, F. [Contributor]; Combere, W. S. [Contributor]; De Jager, A. [Contributor]; Fioravanti, G. [Contributor]; Grimaldi, S. [Contributor]; Hrast Essenfelder, A. [Contributor]; Kabengela, H. [Contributor]; Kamsu Tamo, P. H. [Contributor]; Lawal, K. A. [Contributor]; Magni, D. [Contributor]; Mazzeschi, M. [Contributor]; McCormick, N. [Contributor]; Meroni, M. [Contributor]; Nkurunziza, R. S. [Contributor]; Nshimirimana, G. [Contributor]; Rembold, F. [Contributor]; Salamon, P. [Contributor]

Corporation: European Commission, Joint Research Centre

Published: Luxembourg: Publications Office, 2024

Extent: 1 Online-Ressource (24 p.); Illustrationen (farbig)

Language: English

DOI: 10.2760/960341

ISBN: 9789268149157

Identifier:

Keywords: drought ; environmental risk prevention ; water management ; risk management ; environmental indicator ; satellite data ; heatwave ; meteorology ; atmospheric conditions ; soil protection ; environmental impact ; social impact ; economic consequence ; water resources ; hydraulic energy ; fire ; Southern Africa ; research report ; Copernicus

Origination:

Footnote:

Description: A severe drought is currently affecting southern Africa and the Zambezi basin, with extremely dry and warm conditions from October 2023 to March 2024. Heatwaves are exacerbating the impacts of the lack of precipitation. The average temperature is abnormally high, registering record values since 1960. Soil moisture and vegetation conditions are severely affected, with negative anomalies over large areas of the region. The Zambezi river is at its lowest discharge for the season corresponding to about 20% of the long-term average. Crops have been affected as the extreme conditions occurred in the most critical period of the growing season, with severe economic and social impacts. River flow forecasts suggest that these impacts are likely to get worse. Crop damages and losses have caused the IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) Acute Food Insecurity to range from stressed to crisis level in most of the Zambezi basin regions. Hydropower production is severely affected. Wildfire danger is high in Namibia, Botswana, and north-western South Africa. Seasonal forecasts point to warmer than average conditions in the following months. Early April 2024 precipitation shifts the seasonal forecast towards wetter values but according to May-June-July forecast dry conditions are expected after this temporary relief. Close monitoring of the drought evolution and proper water use plans are needed.

Access State: Open Access

Rights information: Attribution (CC BY)

Search in field:

Recently searched for: