El Niņo events significantly changed vegetation patterns over Africa
Posted by Southern Man on Nov 06, 2002 at 08:59
(216.148.246.134)http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/20021101elnino.html
NASA scientists using satellite data have shown that shifts in rainfall patterns from one of the strongest El Niņo events of the century in 1997 to a La Niņa event in 2000 significantly changed vegetation patterns over Africa.
"These changes vegetation patterns have implications for agriculture, livestock farming and vector borne disease outbreaks especially is semi-arid land of Africa," Anyamba said. "Above normal vegetation conditions are an indicator of improved pasture conditions which boosts livestock production in these areas."
In addition, it is also an indicator of the likelihood of bumper harvests. Agricultural production in these areas rises and wanes to the tune of the El Niņo -Southern Oscillation (ENSO) patterns as revealed here by changes in vegetation patterns during years of above normal and below normal rainfall. During above normal rainfall, vegetation conditions provide habitats necessary for the breeding of vector borne diseases such as Malaria Rift Valley Fever as was the case in 1997/98 in East Africa.
Now all we need to do is get more funding for UN projects to halt human control of the El Niņo / La Niņa cycle.