Drought in the Sahara: A Biogeophysical Feedback Mechanism
- 7 February 1975
- journal article
- other
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science
- Vol. 187 (4175) , 434-435
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.187.4175.434
Abstract
Two integrations of a global general circulation model, differing only in the prescribed surface albedo in the Sahara, show that an increase in albedo resulting from a decrease in plant cover causes a decrease in rainfall. Thus any tendency for plant cover to decrease would be reinforced by a decrease in rainfall, and could initiate or perpetuate a drought.Keywords
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