Science discovered: Dürren raise South Africa by six millimeters

climate change lifts South Africa from the sea

The effects of climate change are noticeable in many regions of the world, and South Africa is no exception. A remarkable aspect of this topic is the slow increase in the country from the floods, which is up to two millimeters per year depending on the region. A new study by the University of Bonn offers a perspective on the reasons for this phenomenon and illuminates the role of playing water losses through droughts.

South Africa has a network of GPS receivers that enables millimeter-precise measurements of the land height. Analyzes of satellite data show that the country rose by an average of six millimeters between 2012 and 2020. While experts previously considered mandatory geodynamic processes such as the existence of a plum in the earth's mantle, it is now obvious that the significant water losses during drought are the main season for the elevation.

A research team examined the precipitation patterns in South Africa and found that the region increases particularly strongly after drought periods. This knowledge is supported by the use of the Grace satellite mission, which measures gravitational changes over large areas. Although this data only offers a rough idea of the water distribution, they show that lower water content is connected with a larger increase.

Hydrological models complement the results by showing the influence of drought on the water cycle in detail. The connection between reduced water mass and the local elevation is clear: If floors dry out, the country expands in these places. This method for collecting the drought -resistant offers an inexpensive and effective means of monitoring water resources that are indispensable for drinking water, irrigation and industrial purposes.

If you look at the development in South Africa, the situation is increasingly worrying. During a severe drought between 2015 and 2019, Cape Town was confronted with the threat of a "Day Zero" on which the water reserves would have been exhausted. In view of the climate change and the changed precipitation pattern, the pressure on water resources will increase in the future, which could have long -term effects on the population and the environment.