Friday, December 20News That Matters

Tag: desertification

Shocking Environmental Shifts: Sahara Desert Witnesses First Floods in 50 Years!

Shocking Environmental Shifts: Sahara Desert Witnesses First Floods in 50 Years!

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
In an unprecedented turn of events, the Sahara Desert known for its scorching heat and barren landscapes has experienced its first floods in five decades. The flooding, triggered by a rare extratropical storm, is a stark illustration of the growing unpredictability in our planet's climate patterns. For an area defined by extreme dryness, this event signals more than just a surprising weather anomaly; it highlights profound concerns for the global climate and ecosystems at large. What Do These Changes Mean for Sustainability? As climate conditions become more erratic, these unexpected shifts call for immediate, sustainable responses. Governments, businesses, and local communities must act swiftly to adapt to the emerging realities. Here’s how: Mitigating Climate Risk: Countries m...
Study Reveals Desertification and Soil Erosion Worsening Floods in North Africa

Study Reveals Desertification and Soil Erosion Worsening Floods in North Africa

Breaking News, Climate Actions
A new study by researchers from USC Viterbi School of Engineering and the University of Paris Cité has revealed that soil erosion caused by desertification is intensifying the impact of floods in coastal areas of North Africa and the Middle East. The research, published in Nature Communications, focused on the deadly 2023 floods in Derna, Libya, which resulted in over 11,300 deaths. The study suggests that increased soil erosion played a critical role in worsening the effects of these unusual desert floods. The researchers found that desertification, combined with rising seawater temperatures in the Eastern Mediterranean due to global warming, has led to intensified droughts and more frequent coastal rainstorms. These conditions are increasing soil erosion, leading to dangerous mudflows...