Stormy Rains in the Sahara Offer Clues to Past and Future Climate Changes
New research reveals that heavy precipitation sourced from the Atlantic ocean, are the primary drivers of present-day lake filling in the northwestern Sahara. The study finds that only the most intense and prolonged precipitation events trigger lake-filling episodes, challenging long-standing assumptions about past climate conditions in the region. These findings suggest that projections of enhanced rainfall intensity and frequency in the Sahara could potentially reshape water availability in the desert.