Wind and Solar Could Re-Green the Sahel

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The Sahara Desert across North Africa was once a green and verdant place where animals roamed in large numbers. It has undergone several climate changes owing to Earth’s tilt shifting and affecting the path of the North African Monsoon. The next green cycle is due to commence in 15,000 years’ time. However scientists are suggesting it happen much sooner with abundant wind and solar power.

How Wind and Solar Could Increase Rainfall.

Vegetation-Precipitation Feedback: Clark College

This research is now in the public domain, thanks to a report in Science Mag. In the report, there are statements about how wind farms draw down warmer air from above increasing humidity, while solar panels reduce reflection of sunlight causing a positive albedo-precipitation-vegetation feedback. This can increase precipitation by up to 50%.

This increase could more than double the amount of rainfall in the region according to BBC News. Moreover, a massive installation in the desert would generate more than four times global energy consumption. Vegetation would return to 20% of the semi-arid Sahel region in the south, following this wind and solar intervention.

What About the Long-Term Environmental Impact?

wind and solar
Harmony With Nature: Dirk Ingo Franke: CC 2.0

We already have evidence of rainfall improvement over small wind farms in the region. However we would need a massive installation to achieve significant results. The researchers say the improved rainfall would increase production of livestock and so the local community would benefit too.

“The local warming by wind and solar farms is much smaller compared with the reduced future warming from greenhouse gases that renewable power at this scale would imply,” the researchers say. “We hope that, in the light of our findings, and because of the primary climate effect we could transform our energy sources.

“Furthermore, reduced levels of greenhouse gases could mitigate climate change as we transform our energy sources. That can lead in turn to sustaining freshwater, food, and life on our planet.” Could it really be that simple to turn climate around?

Related

Effects of Climate Change: Transpiration

Size Matters in the Wind Power Industry

Preview Image: Ennedi Plateau on Border of Sahara and Sahel

Link to Science Mag: http://science.sciencemag.org/content/361/6406/1019

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I tripped over a shrinking bank balance and fell into the writing gig unintentionally. This was after I escaped the corporate world and searched in vain for ways to become rich on the internet by doing nothing. Despite the fact that writing is no recipe for wealth, I rather enjoy it. I will not deny I am obsessed with it when I have the time. I live in Margate on the Kwazulu-Natal south coast of South Africa. I work from home where I ponder on the future of the planet, and what lies beyond in the great hereafter. Sometimes I step out of my computer into the silent riverine forests, and empty golden beaches for which the area is renowned. Richard

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