Huge lake appears after heaviest rainfall in decades in Sahara desert

Arab Weather - The Sahara Desert is one of the driest places on Earth. However, satellite images captured by NASA's Landsat 9 satellite revealed a stunning transformation in the region, as it experienced the largest floods in decades. These exciting images show a huge lake formed as a result of unusual floods in the desert.

Amazing before and after flood photos

The Landsat 9 satellite captured images of the site before the rains, when Algeria’s Sebkhat el Melah was covered in salt on August 12. But by September 29, the area had turned into a vast green lake, the result of runoff from the rains filling the temporary desert lake.

Climate change and recurring floods

NASA suggests that climate change could lead to more frequent flooding in parts of the Sahara. While geological evidence shows that the Sahara was once covered with vegetation and wetlands, the recent flooding is a reminder of its wet past.
Last month, tropical storms affected North Africa, bringing massive amounts of rainfall. On August 12, images showed the Sebkhat El Melah lake before the rains began, while satellite observations showed the lake beginning to fill in mid-September.

Sahara's Rare Desert Lakes & Their Watery Past

1/ Did you know the #saharadesert was once much wetter?
Geologists & archaeologists think that between 11,000 and 5,000 years ago, during the African Humid Period, Sahara had vegetation, wetlands, & even large lakes. #ImageoftheDay pic.twitter.com/EzBaMC06e2

- Rahul Shah (@rahul_geo) October 21, 2024

Lake filling: a rare condition

By October 16, the lake was one-third full, covering an area of 74 square miles and 2.2 meters deep. Lake filling in the Sahara is a rare occurrence, as the region has only seen six significant precipitation events since June 2000.
Heavy rains created amazing scenes as water flowed through the desert sands. In Morocco, areas such as Tata and the village of Tagounit experienced unprecedented rainfall, with rainfall exceeding the annual average.
Human-caused climate change has exacerbated flooding in Africa, killing hundreds and displacing millions, according to a new study. Researchers say that every small increase in temperature will increase the risk of severe flooding.
Floods in the Sahara Desert show how climate change is affecting the world’s ecosystems. These phenomena are a warning of the future and a call for urgent action to mitigate the effects of climate change.

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Thunderstorms irrigate large areas of the African Sahara

The driest place in the world, the Sahara Desert, is flooded with water.. Scenes that the region has not seen for decades