Sahara Desert edge sees increased vegetation and water

Satellite imagery reveals that the southern edge of the Sahara Desert, specifically the Sahel region, is experiencing a significant increase in vegetation and water availability. Hydrogeologists, including Richard Taylor from University College London, have noted evidence of increased surface water from Ethiopia to Senegal. In some areas, groundwater levels have risen by up to four meters, refilling dried-up wells and riverbeds known as wadis.

This shift is driven by intense monsoons and extreme rainfall, which have accelerated over the last five years. Experts attribute these increased precipitation levels to the warming of the North Atlantic and a reduction in air pollution from European coal plants, which has allowed more moisture to be drawn over the African continent. While these heavy rains cause deadly flooding, they also replenish essential water reserves for agriculture and local ecosystems.

Historical evidence supports the fact that the Sahara was once a much wetter environment. Archaeological finds, such as fish bones and tools, indicate that the region supported permanent watercourses and diverse wildlife only a few thousand years ago.