Fatshimetrie
The recent spectacular images showing the dunes of the Sahara Desert surrounded by water have captured the attention of the entire world. After nearly 50 years of abstinence, the Sahara has been submerged by record rainfall, leaving behind a striking and captivating landscape.
The torrential rains of September have transformed the arid lands into an astonishing spectacle, as evidenced by the impressive images captured in Morocco. Exceptional quantities of water were recorded in the south of the country, exceeding 200 millimeters in just 48 hours in some areas. These figures represent half of the usual annual rainfall for these arid areas, thus highlighting the extraordinary capriciousness of the weather.
Meteorologists are calling these storms extra-tropical phenomena, emphasizing the exceptional and extremely rare nature of these climatic events. The significant flooding mainly affected the province of Tata, where the mountainous terrain played a crucial role in the rapid accumulation of water. The long-dried-up Iriqui Lake has been filled with water, marking a dramatic change in the unchanging landscape of the Moroccan Sahara.
Houssine Youabeb, representative of the Moroccan meteorological agency, highlighted the significance of these exceptional rainfall events. He highlighted the link between air humidity and storms, and warned of the potential impact of global warming on these extreme weather events.
Experts predict that these events could become more frequent and more devastating in the future, due to ongoing climate change. The Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, Celeste Saulo, highlighted the acceleration of the hydrological cycle and the growing challenges related to water availability and distribution.
In conclusion, these images of the submerged Sahara Desert poignantly illustrate the consequences of climate change on our environment. They remind us of the urgency to act to mitigate the effects of this global phenomenon and preserve our planet for future generations.