Desert turns green in China after Ningxia sees 5 times the average rainfall in August
The Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, in northwestern China, saw 5 to 10 times the monthly average rainfall in August 2024, transforming the desert landscape into a beautiful lush green scenery. Similarly, satellite images of Africa’s Sahara show a visible increase in vegetation compared to 2023. The unusual rains, expected to bring 500% of typical monthly rainfall to some regions, have even filled normally dry lakes in the Sahara.
Image credit: Jim Yang
The relatively dry desert-like landscape of Ningxia has transformed to be much greener than usual after August 2024 saw 5 to 10 times the monthly average precipitation.
Normally the region sees about 9 days of rain with the total precipitation averaging at around 54 mm (2.1 inches), while the annual rainfall average is around 272 mm (10.7 inches), with 50 days of rain.
Visuals shared online show how the desert has transformed due to the lush green vegetation that sprang after the well-above-average rainfall in August.
The rainfall in Ningxia, Gansu and Inner Mongolia in northwest China in the past month was 5 to 10 times that of the same period in normal years. The original desert has turned into grassland! pic.twitter.com/NaJmlfPPhs
— Jim (@yangyubin1998) September 18, 2024
Similarly, satellite images of Africa’s Sahara show a visible increase in vegetation compared to 2023, driven by increased precipitation over the region linked to the recent northward shift of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
The rainfall, enhanced by an extratropical cyclone pulling moisture from equatorial Africa, has led to the growth of green patches in areas like Tanout, Niger, as seen in satellite images from September 8, 2024, compared to those from September 14, 2023.
The unusual rains, expected to bring 500% of typical monthly rainfall to some regions, have even filled normally dry lakes in the Sahara.
Forecasts suggest that 2024 could be the wettest year for the Sahara Desert since 1994, as the ITCZ shift, along with the record-positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), continues to alter weather patterns across the Atlantic and Africa.
References:
1 Yinchuan Annual Averages – Weather and Climate – Accessed on September 19, 2024
2 Ningxia – Weather and climate – Accessed on September 19, 2024
3 Satellite images reveal Sahara desert turning green – The Watchers – September 18, 2024
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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