Abstract
This research focuses on the northern Mediterranean part of Africa, one of the most water-stressed regions in the world. Drought is a natural phenomenon that particularly impacts this region, with huge consequences on water resources, vegetation, agriculture, population displacement, and human deaths.
Thus, the objective of this proposal is to evaluate the occurrence and characteristics of droughts that have affected this region, considering the possible effects of irrigation, temperature, and precipitation, and develop drought hazard maps. The causality of spatial drought and changes in atmospheric and hydrological conditions over the primary production will also be assessed, which will permit the development of a predictive model based on machine learning. This will be possible thanks to ESA/EO data, which provides a consistent and reliable source across a region with a poor weather station network. The combined assessment of drought hazard, vegetation susceptibility, and density of population will allow the development of final maps of drought risk affectation. The outcomes will provide valuable insights into the dynamics of drought and will enhance our understanding of drought causality and its impact on vegetation. Finally, this project will contribute to the development of more effective drought management strategies, supporting food security and environmental resilience.
Team:
European Team: all the members belong to Environmental Physics Laboratory with internationally recognized expertise in the hydrological cycle.
Leader PI: Dr. Milica Stojanovic
Group: Dr. Luis Gimeno, Dr. Raquel Nieto, Dr. Rogert Sorí, Dr. Albenis Pérez-Alarcon, Dr. Marta Vázquez Domínguez and Dr. Luis Gimeno-Sotelo
African Team: All the members belong to Egyptian Meteorological Authority (EMA).
Co-PI: Dr. Zeinab Salah Abdullah
Dr. Rokaya Mohamed Hassan, MSc. Marwa Samy Mohamed, MSc. Antonios Fahmy Sidhom Mekhiel, BSc. Rania Ezz Eldeen, BSc. Fatma Reda Amin Ismail and BSc. Amal Saber Ali El-Sehwagy