Acronym: AMMA Period: 2005 till 2010 Status: Completed
The National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), more, co-ordinator
Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL), more, partner
The dramatic change from the abundant rainfall in the 1950s and 60s to much drier conditions from the 70s to the 90s over the whole of West Africa was the strongest trend in rainfall on the planet of the 20th century. Marked inter-annual variations in recent decades have resulted in extremely dry years with devastating environmental and socio-economic impacts. With a large rural population depending on rain fed agriculture, the abrupt decrease of water resources has been devastating to both populations and economies.
It is AMMA's aim to provide the African decision makers with improved assessments of similar rainfall changes which are likely to occur during the 21st century due to natural fluctuations and as a result of anticipated global climate change. An essential step in that direction is to improve our ability to forecast the weather and climate in the West African region.
