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Fact Sheet 2012–3123

Famine Early Warning Systems Network—Informing Climate Change Adaptation Series

A Climate Trend Analysis of Senegal

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

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (1.61 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 modest declines in rainfall, accompanied by increases in air temperatures. These analyses are based on quality-controlled station observations.

Conclusions:
• Summer rains have remained steady in Senegal over the past 20 years but are 15 percent below the 1920–1969 average.
• Temperatures have increased by 0.9° Celsius since 1975, amplifying the effect of droughts.
• Cereal yields are low but have been improving.
• The amount of farmland per person is low and declining rapidly.
• Current population and agriculture trends could lead to a 30-percent reduction in per capita cereal production by 2025.

First posted October 15, 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., Adoum, A., Eilerts, G., Verdin, J., and White, L., 2012, A climate trend analysis of Senegal, U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2012–3123, 4 p.



Contents

Conclusions

Food Security Context

Rainfall Remains Below Normal

Much Warmer Air Temperatures

Population Growth Has Not Been Matched by Agricultural Development

Some Implications For Food Security and Adaptation

Objectives and Methods

References


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