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Describe and explain the physical factors leading to

frequent famine in the Sahel region


For the physical factor climate is one of the factor leading to frequent
famine in the Sahel region. Climate- including air temperature and
rainfall. They affect the crop yield in Sahel region.
Firstly, in terms of air temperature. It lead to unflavored pastoral farming
properties in Sahel. In Sahel, it lay in a high temperature region that
unavailable for crops ton grow. The annual temperature range is around
25-30 degree Celsius. It is know that the higher air temperature
contribute to a better condition for evaporation. The irrigation process
for the plants will finally evaporate and plenty of the salt are left behind.
It is because of the high evaporation rate. The crops can not get enough
water from infiltration properly. Water is a basic element for plants to
growth. Absorbing undesirable water may let the plants dried. And
eventually died of dehydration. So that it cost a longer period for the
shrub to recover again totally. If the livestock keep on staying in this area
Also the shrub left can not provide enough nutrients for the livestock to
maintain their normal need. Moreover the livestock can not get fed by
shrub of the degrading land. The livestock finally face hunger and they
died out.
Then, in terms of rainfall. It lead to unflavored arable farming condition
in Sahel. In Sahel, the annual rainfall for a year is only250-400mm. That’s
mean it place in a semi arid climate. The rainfall in Sahel is also
unreliable that only concentrate on summer days during June to
September. It is because of the monsoon wind from the southern part of
Africa brings moisture . Which has a higher capable of storing moisture.
And cause a lower humidity. So that the precipitation decrease. The
monsoon wind in winter come from the north have the similar situation.
It only has seasoning rain in Sahel so that plants are grow more favorable
during these month. Also, the herd can get adequate amount of water
need in those year. However after summer, the climate in Sahel is getting
more arid Plants are unfavorable to grow and getting not enough water.
The livestock may finally die because of thirst and hunger.

Thirdly, in terms of relief. Sahel is full of lowland, nevertheless , the soil


in Sahel is infertile. Mainly contain sand and salt. The sandy land will
lower the infiltration rate of the rain water. It cause more water stay on
the surface of the land and evaporate eventually. And the water can not
permeate into the soil deep inside. The soil are dry and unstable. Plants
can not absorb water through the soil. So that they would have a worse
quality and die at last. The livestock do not have enough shrub for their
needs. So that they will become thinner and thinner and eventually die
out.

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