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Fact Sheet 2012–3080

Famine Early Warning Systems Network—Informing Climate Change Adaptation Series

A Climate Trend Analysis of Niger

By Chris Funk, Jim Rowland, Gary Eilerts, Alkhalil Adoum, and Libby White

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (1.15 MB)Abstract

This brief report, drawing from a multi-year effort by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), identifies a substantial recovery of rainfall in Niger, accompanied by increases in air temperatures. These analyses are based on quality-controlled station observations.

Conclusions:
• Summer rains have increased during the past 20 years and have almost returned to 1960–89 levels.
• Temperatures have increased by 0.6° Celsius since 1975, amplifying the effect of droughts.
• Crop yields are very low and stagnant, and the population is growing very rapidly.
• Niger has offset very rapid population growth with a large expansion of cultivated land.
• If the expansion of farmland slows down, stagnant yields and population growth could lead to increased food insecurity.

First posted June 27, 2012

For additional information contact:
Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
U.S. Geological Survey
47914 252nd Street
Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57198
http://eros.usgs.gov/

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Suggested citation:

Funk, C., Rowland, J., Eilerts, G., Adoum, A. and White, L., 2012, A Climate Trend Analysis of Niger, U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2012–3080, 4 p.



Contents

Conclusions

Food Security Context

Rainfall Has Been Recovering Since the 1980s

Much Warmer Air Temperatures

Divergent Climate Trends

Population Growth and Stagnating Agricultural Development

Some Implications For Food Security and Adaptation

Objectives and Methods

References


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