Question

The Sahel stretches across Africa, about 15 degrees north of the equator. Satellite measurements of vegetation reveal it as a transition zone between the sands of the Sahara and the jungles of the Congo. This map shows vegetation in the final two weeks of June 2005, near the end of the dry season in the Sahel. Dark green indicates dense vegetation, while light green and beige indicate sparse vegetation and barren land.

Rainfall data has been routinely collected for the Sahel. Is this data indicative of desertification? Explain.
A) Yes. One of the contributing factors to desertification is prolonged drought in an area.
B) No. Desertification is a function of man's activities; it is not the result of natural causes.
C) No. If the seasonal rainfall reverses the effects of a drought, it is not indicative of desertification.
D) Yes. If an area suffers under drought conditions, than the native vegetation cannot grow during the appropriate going season.
Eliminate

Answer 1

Collected rainfall data for the Sahel is a potential indicator of desertification, as prolonged droughts contribute to this environmental process, which also affects the region's capacity to support vegetation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Rainfall data collected for the Sahel can indeed be indicative of desertification. One of the key contributing factors to desertification is extended periods of drought, which strain the region's ability to support the normal growth of vegetation. This region is a semiarid belt that separates the desert of the Sahara from the more verdant savanna. Its position as a transitional zone means that it experiences variable rainfall and is particularly vulnerable to shifts in climate and overgrazing, both of which can enhance the desertification process. The Sahara's sands are moving southward, and human activities, including overgrazing, can exacerbate this natural expansion, leading to a reduction in arable land and negatively affecting the livelihoods of millions. Therefore, persistent drought conditions affecting vegetation growth during the growing season are indeed a symptom of desertification in this area.