Earth Observation: Flooding in Africa

Flooding in Mozabique, Africa



The Zambeze (Zambezi) River in central Mozambique was still rising when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite captured the top image on January 15, 2008.

NASA - Earth observation:"Summer flooding is common on the Zambeze, but in 2007-2008, the floods rose a month earlier than normal. By January 15, water levels already rivaled those seen during the devastating floods of 2000-2001, which killed 700 and displaced 500,000, reported the Deutsche Presse Agentur. Resettlement, preparation, and evacuation prevented a similar disaster in 2008, said the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies."

Earth observation saves lives!

Water

UNEP GRID Arendal gives you lots of valuable information about vital climate in Africa - and other places.

WATER
Irrigation already takes about 70 per cent of available water, yet meeting the Millennium Development Goal on hunger will mean doubling food production by 2050. Fresh water is declining: by 2025, water use is predicted to have risen by 50 per cent in developing countries and by 18 per cent in the developed world. GEO- says : "The escalating burden of water demand will become intolerable in water-scarce countries."

Water quality is declining too, polluted by microbial pathogens and excessive nutrients. Globally, contaminated water remains the greatest single cause of human disease and death.

Africa: Hunger

Hunger and Conflicts in Africa



Cartographer: Philippe Rekacewicz, UNEP/GRID-Arendal

Not so many places to escape to...