Horn of africa sees worst drought in 60 years bbc news. Spi can permit to do some evaluations of drought at short, medium and long term. Impacts of drought induced water shortages in south africa. This study investigated and analysed the preparedness, impact of and response by the farming community to the 20072008 drought using the eastern cape and free state provinces of south africa as case studies. However, the positive phase of the sam has been associated with anomalously wet conditions over much of the rest of south africa, with an increase in precip. South africa is the largest producer of maize on the african continent and, in a normal production season, 40% of maize produced in south africa is traded in the southern african development community sadc region agri sa, 2016. South africa latitude, longitude, absolute and relative. The south african weather service defines a drought as a period of 12 moths when. Drought characterization in south africa under a changing. This southern limb of the lowveld is bounded by south africas border with mozambique to the east, and the northeastern part of the drakensberg to the west. Africa latitude and longitude and relative locations. Wfp 2016, specifically covering the period october 2015 to january 2016 wfp 2016, it followed the third driest season in the.
Characterization of drought mckeeand al, 1993 extremely wet 2 very wet 1,5 a 1,99 moderately wet. Box 2 model hng the economic impact of the 1992 drought in south africa 32 box 3 impact of drought on the distribution of income 35 box 4 lake kariba and the 199192 drought 37 box 5 modelling the longerterm impact of drought 40 figures figure 1 impact of drought shocks on gdp and agricultural gdp 21 figure 2 physical impact of a drought shock 25. Day zero on the back of drought in southern africa. A standardized precipitation index dataset is developed and used to assess the spatial extent of droughts in south africa for. The standardised precipitation evapotranspiration index spei is a measure of weather shocks that incorporates the role of temperature in drought severity, in addition to rainfall. Therefore, a drought in south africa also affects the region of sadc more broadly. Drought is fast becoming a natural phenomenon in parts of east and south africa.
Lines of latitude are often referred to as parallels. In south africa it has been projected that the west of the country will become hotter and drier, the east will become hotter and possibly wetter, but this will not. Nw provinces, south africa based on the spi and spei drought. Drought is an inescapable feature of the greater horn of africas generally semiarid climate and with roughly 75% of the labor force in the region involved in smallholder, rainfed agriculture salami et al. Ea has been the focus of various drought studies in recent years e. Jun 28, 2011 image caption the drought has forced thousands to cross borders, like these somalis in dadaab, kenya.
South africa is a nation of about 55 million 2016 people of diverse origins, cultures, languages, and religions. Drought is a major disaster in south africa in terms of total economic loss and number of people affected. South africa, the regions largest food producer, has been particularly affected by the dry conditions. What the drought did was highlight existing vulnerabilities in south africa s water system, and properly frame the magnitude of the challenge of ensuring water security for the country.
Types, causes and effects of droughts earth eclipse. The impact of drought on subsaharan african economies. These limited water resources are affected by weather extremes imposed by climate variability and change. Authorities warn cape town is less than three months away. South africa is bordered by botswana, lesotho, mozambique, namibia, swaziland and zimbabwe. Cape towns drought teaches us is that climate change is not a thing of a distant future. This paper outlines firstly the dimensions of drought in south africa. With most parts of south africa reeling from widespread water shortages, experts have painted a bleak future for the country and its economy, due to government. Drought preparedness and mitigation plan is divided into four sections, namely prediction, monitoring, impact based assessment and response. These are just two of the headlines that appeared in january. The current drought is recorded as one of the worst to ever hit south africa, and its effects on the countrys economy have been severe, pushing food prices up due to crippled key crops, like maize the countrys staple food. South africas worst drought since 1904 this is what it.
This is because south africa has different hydrological zones, meaning that whereas some parts may be. This region is generally hotter and less intensely cultivated than the highveld. South africa occupies the southern tip of africa, its coastline stretching more than 2,850 kilometres 1,770 miles from the desert border with namibia on the atlantic western coast southwards around the tip of africa and then northeast to the border with mozambique on the indian ocean. Although drought affects every part of the globe, there are parts of the world which are more frequently impacted by drought. Latitudinal position also allows the influence of mid latitude cyclones. The recent drought in southern africa has underscored the need for detailed analysis of the phenomenon. The influence of south africas altitude most of south africa is situated on a plateau. The balance between the roles attributable to humans, such as the evident very poor planning behind increasing urban water shortages muller 2018, and uncontrollable factors such as regional meteorology, has become a matter of wide discussion concerning the prospects for upcoming drought severity and water availability in south africa. Aug 18, 2018 drought in south africa continues despite good rainy season last updated on aug 18, 2018 while there has been good rains, the country is still firmly in a drought situation and has not recovered enough to relax the restrictions to water use, implemented in provinces. Against this backdrop, the aim of this study is to analyze drought propagation in the hydrological cycle across south africa. Libya is located in the north of africa between longitude 9o.
The last census was held in 2011, with a more recent intercensal national survey conducted in 2016. South african droughts and decadal variability springerlink. South african water expert anthony turton tells the independent. Climate prediction centers africa hazards outlook april. This paper outlines firstly the dimensions of drought in south africa, including the biophysical and. The spei was used to quantify the precipitation deficit over time and space across the catchment for the timescales that are important. Cape town, south africa lat long coordinates info the latitude of cape town, south africa is 33. Background to current drought situation in south africa. Lessons lost andor learnt from 1990 to 2005 wayne devlin austin a dissertation submitted to the faculty of science, university of the witwatersrand. The key summer crop production areas have been the worst affected, although the impact of the drought is being felt nationwide. The location of the itcz can vary as much as 40 to 45 of latitude north or south of the equator on land. This kind of drought occurs when atmospheric moisture is minimized to the degree that soil moisture is impacted.
South africa is infamous for its high unemployment, which had risen to 26. Precipitation in south africa is expected to decrease by about 510% during the. This causes rainfall over the south western cape in winter. South africa is one of the drought prone countries in the african continent. The impact of the drought on south african wildlife. This confirms the increase in the spatial extent of drought in southern africa since the 1970s due to.
Metrological drought is a warning sign of potential water shortage if conditions remain constant for extended period. The greater horn of africa, the sahel, and southern africa are the. Cape town drought and water shortage in south africa is. Africa is a good example of great vulnerability to drought and desertification and a seemingly inability to manage these climate based issues.
Data from statistics south africa s income and expenditure surveys provide information on diet choices and how these change in response to food prices. South africa has declared a national disaster over the drought afflicting southern and western regions including cape town, though the city pushed back its day zero, the date when its taps are. Drought in south africa continues despite good rainy season last updated on aug 18, 2018 while there has been good rains, the country is still firmly in a drought situation and has not recovered enough to relax the restrictions to water use, implemented in provinces. Spi is widely used around the world for monitoring drought usa, south africa. The spei was used to quantify the precipitation deficit over time and space across the catchment for the timescales that are. South africa is home to an estimated five million illegal immigrants, including some three million zimbabweans. Libya is located in the north of africa between longitude 9. Visit the wrc drought portal at za background south africa is a semiarid to arid country with a highly variable climate with highly constrained freshwater resources. Although it remains near the equator, the itcz moves farther north or south over land than over the oceans because it is drawn toward areas of the warmest surface temperatures. Looking back on cape towns drought and day zero citylab. The limpopo basin in southern africa is prone to droughts, which affect the livelihoods of millions of people in south africa, botswana, zimbabwe, and mozambique. These regions that are situated on the plateau are generally cooler. After day zero, cape town will revert back to medieval times when diseases like cholera and possibly even the plague emerge, as.
At the 2year timescale the drought was starting to look serious for much of the wrz and many other parts of south africa. Western cape province in south africa is going through a severe drought, affecting in particular the highly populated urban area of cape town and its water supply. Located south of the equator, on the southern tip of africa, south africa is in both the eastern and southern hemispheres. Causes, effects and mitigation 171 cover, all of which results in greater evaporation rates. How droughts will affect south africas broader economy.
Youth unemployment in cape town itself is higher, measured at 31. Cape towns drought and associated water shortage has officially escalated to the level of a disaster. Positive pressure anomalies in the midlatitudes are dominant on a. A lack of precipitation is the most common definition of drought and is usually the type of drought referred to in news reports and the media. Christian alexander is a lawyer and spatial planner who works in the u. South asia, eastern aus tralia and many parts of the northern midhigh latitudes. The current drought is the effect of a sustained belowaverage monthly rainfall series since 2015, which intensified in the last wet season april to september 2017.
It is the fourth largest of the nine provinces in terms of both area and population, with an area of 129,449 square kilometres 49,981 sq mi and 5. Analysis of droughts in the central region of south africa. South africa declares drought a national disaster reuters. Rainfall is a significant factor of drought in ivory coast. A drought means a long period of dry weather during which the lack of rain results in a severe shortage of water. Drought in south africa continues despite good rainy season. It is the gateway to the rest of africa, with its shared borders making it favourably situated for economic cooperation with other.
While geographers have researched the causes and impacts of drought in many african contexts, south africa and in particular its bantustans have not received sufficient similar attention. Studies on the prediction and monitoring of droughts. The atmospheric model has nine vertical levels with a spectral horizontal resolution of r21 approximately 3. Pdf the standardized precipitation index allows for monitoring the intensity and spatial extent of. It extends from the mediterranean coast in the north to the sahara desert in the south, with a total surface area of approximately 1. It is a recurring phenomenon, with spatial and temporal characteristics that vary significantly from one region to another noaa, 2006. Seasonal drought in the greater horn of africa and its recent. Although south africas average rainfall has been low, only certain areas of the country are experiencing a meteorological drought, media liaison for south africas department of water and sanitation, sputnik ratau told africa check. In many extensive production areas, subsistence and smallscale farmers, as well as commercial farmers, have been unable to provide feed for their. There are many causes of drought in africa, there is need to know the causes in order. The drought began in late october 2018, and is negatively affecting food security in the region. Limpopo province is situated in the northern part of south africa figure 1. Heres what happens to these animals during a drought. The agricultural research council arc embarked on a program of producing genetically.
Horn of africa and 20012003 drought in southern and southeastern africa, to name a. Latitudinal position also allows the influence of midlatitude cyclones. The drought regimes hereafter pf1, pf2, pf3 and pf4 centre over the south western. Latitude and longitude of south africa, its capital city and selected cities, hemisphere position, absolute locations and relative locations by. Apr 08, 2016 last year, south africa received its lowest rainfall since 1904. The resultant effects of drought are exacerbated by human activities such as deforestation, bush burning, overgrazing and poor cropping methods, which reduce water retention of the soil, and improper soil. Most locations around the world have their own meteorological definition of drought based on the climate normals in the area.
If the pattern of drought continues in south africa its likely to affect the countrys financial standing too. The 201820 mozambique drought is an ongoing period of drought taking place in southern africa. Correlating the time series of the sam index and a south african rainfall index, they found values as high as 0. Drought threatens food, energy and water security mervyn piesse research manager global food and water crises research programme key points summary southern africa is in the grip of its worst drought in decades. Lessons for the future dhesigen naidoo friday, february 23. Jan 29, 2018 her watersaving measures are becoming the norm in south africas secondlargest city, which is in the midst of a yearslong drought. Drought, climate change and vegetation response in the. As of midaugust 2019, the drought is classified as a level 2 redclass event by the global disaster alert and coordination system. How droughts will affect south africa s broader economy editions. Drought and its effects on the agricultural industry. Analysis of drought progression physiognomies in south africa. From 1960 to 2000, africa stands first in drought frequency with a total of 382 reported drought events that affected 326 million people gautam, 2006. Water crisis grips cape town, south africa, after drought. What has the overall effect of the drought been on south.
This past 7 days, a very localized rainfall pattern has been registered over the central mozambique, eastern zimbabwe, centralwestern botswana, northern namibia and central south africa covering lesotho. We explore the historical occurrence of extensive droughts over south africa within the context of decadal climate variability. South africas worst drought since 1904 this is what it looks like why people pirate in south africa next article drivers confiscated cellphones will be. In south africa, drought is a very important phenomenon that affects not only agricultural production but also society. Although climate change has a big hand in creating south africa s worst drought since 1910, it is good to remember that droughts are also an important process in natural systems and have been happening for over a millennia. Lessons lost andor learnt from 1990 to 2005 wayne devlin austin a dissertation submitted to the faculty of science, university of the witwatersrand, johannesburg, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of science. Projected future aridity is presented based on recent studies and our analysis of model simulations. South africa declares drought a national disaster 2 min read dried out branches are seem amongst caked mud at theewaterskloof dam near cape town, south africa, january 20, 2018. The western cape region of south africa is a key producing area for south african. Intensity and spatial extent of droughts in southern africa rouault. Pdf intensity and spatial extent of droughts in southern africa. To our knowledge, studies dwelling on the occurrence and propagation of drought in the hydrological cycle in south africa are either nonexistent or limited.
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