Potentialities and limitations of conventional climatological data for desertification monitoring and control

✍ Scribed by H. E. Landsberg

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1986
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 321 KB
• Volume: 9
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0165-0009
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00140531

✦ Synopsis

There is a general lack of meteorological data in arid and semiarid regions, despite the need for such information for the proper exploitation of these areas. Drought is a natural part of the climate of these regions, just like anywhere else. Drought indices are surveyed and the statistical nature of drought is stressed. The correlation between average temperature and precipitation is explored, as well az the role of wind in creating conditions favorable for the intensification of desert conditions.

There is an extensive scientific literature on the use of climatic observations for practical applications. A whole segment of the World Climate Programme of the World Meteorological Organization is devoted to this topic. Some is already reflected in the publications of the Programme (see~ e.g., Eddy, 1983). There is no dearth of good advice, and adequate methods of analysis exist. The problem lies with the data sources. These are notoriously under-represented in the collections of observations for areas in and near deserts. The low density of often nomadic populations militates against the necessary systematic and sustained observations. For the problems of desert encroachment