University of FloridaDepartment of Agricultural & Biological Engineering

Living With Thirst

Videos by: Anna Cathey, Stuart Muller.

Southern Africa is a region of arid and semi-arid environments that endures wide fluctuations in seasonal and annual precipitation. Proximity to perennial water sources is extremely important and influences nearly all facets of life, from drinking water to livelihood activities. The threat of climate change has important implications for both humans and wildlife in the region.

Global climate models agree on warming trends across southern Africa, but models are inconsistent with regard to precipitation. While rainfall variability is a natural component of dry land environments, this constant variability, coupled with uncertainty about future trends, is cause for concern. This case study will investigate how changes in climate variability may affect the strategies that people use to cope with drought.

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This page was last updated on May 17, 2018.