Observed positive vegetation-rainfall feedbacks in the Sahel dominated by a moisture recycling mechanism.

ABSTRACT: Classic, model-based theory of land-atmosphere interactions across the Sahel promote positive vegetation-rainfall feedbacks dominated by surface albedo mechanism. However, neither the proposed positive vegetation-rainfall feedback nor its underlying albedo mechanism has been convincingly demonstrated using observational data. Here, we present observational evidence for the region's proposed positive vegetation-rainfall feedback on the seasonal to interannual time scale, and find that it is associated with a moisture recycling mechanism, rather than the classic albedo-based mechanism. Positive anomalies of remotely sensed vegetation greenness across the Sahel during the late and post-monsoon periods favor enhanced evapotranspiration, precipitable water, convective activity and rainfall, ind

SUBMITTER: Yu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5707399 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature