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spin

(17,493 posts)

19. Climate change can make big differences. ...

Mon Feb 3, 2014, 04:22 AM

Feb 2014

Several thousand years ago the Sahara Desert was lush and green. It may be green again due to global climate change.

Sahara Desert Greening Due to Climate Change?
James Owen
for National Geographic News
July 31, 2009

Desertification, drought, and despair—that's what global warming has in store for much of Africa. Or so we hear.

Emerging evidence is painting a very different scenario, one in which rising temperatures could benefit millions of Africans in the driest parts of the continent.

Scientists are now seeing signals that the Sahara desert and surrounding regions are greening due to increasing rainfall.

If sustained, these rains could revitalize drought-ravaged regions, reclaiming them for farming communities.

This desert-shrinking trend is supported by climate models, which predict a return to conditions that turned the Sahara into a lush savanna some 12,000 years ago.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/07/090731-green-sahara.html

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Highlight:

Two Images Tell the Tale of California’s Terrifying Drought [View all] G_j Feb 2014 OP

Holy crap. Stunning. SunSeeker Feb 2014 #1

Desalination is the answer ... plenty of water .. MindMover Feb 2014 #2

we've been trying that onethatcares Feb 2014 #3

Yet its promise comes with a host of endemic problems and concerns . . . Journeyman Feb 2014 #4

Thanks… This was a very revealing bit of information... MrMickeysMom Feb 2014 #13

No, not the answer - Hell Hath No Fury Feb 2014 #11

Fortunately or unfortunately, water is going to no longer be cheap .... MindMover Feb 2014 #15

It requires metric shittons of power. Power which California won't have because LeftyMom Feb 2014 #17

Power in Cali should only come from renewable sources ... MindMover Feb 2014 #18

We've been "getting started" on that, however LeftyMom Feb 2014 #20

You have been relying on water from mountains, streams and rivers fed from your mountains ... MindMover Feb 2014 #21

Is THIS the "New Normal"? bvar22 Feb 2014 #5

Some will label it as God's revenge and some as Global Climate Change. ... spin Feb 2014 #6

Greater extremes - hotter, colder, drier, wetter - will be the only real constant going forward. nomorenomore08 Feb 2014 #16

Climate change can make big differences. ... spin Feb 2014 #19

The US southwest has been experiencing drought conditions for the last 14 years. Spider Jerusalem Feb 2014 #7

K&R! countryjake Feb 2014 #8

There is always water for Malibu and Pacific Palisades jsr Feb 2014 #9

Welcome to Club Texas. Eleanors38 Feb 2014 #10

Are scientists projecting that this will last? flamingdem Feb 2014 #12

Wow! kentuck Feb 2014 #14