What makes sahara a desert

The now-dessicated northern strip of Africa was once green and alive, pocked with lakes, rivers, grasslands and even forests. So where did all that water go? Archaeologist David Wright has an idea: Maybe humans and their goats tipped the balance, kick-starting this dramatic ecological transformation. In a new study in the journal Frontiers in Earth Science , Wright set out to argue that humans could be the answer to a question that has plagued archaeologists and paleoecologists for years.

The Sahara has long been subject to periodic bouts of humidity and aridity. With more rain, the region gets more greenery and rivers and lakes.

All this has been known for decades. This dryness can be caused by a rain shadow effect where mountains block moisture-carrying clouds from reaching the desert region. The dryness of deserts can also be caused by the region simply being too far away from any source of moisture. Lastly, the low moisture characterizing desert terrain can be caused by cold temperatures locking moisture into solid form.

The dangers that people associate most commonly with hot deserts; such as sunburn, cracked lips, dehydration, and barren landscapes; are also dangers faced by visitors to Antarctica. Yes - dramatically! The Sahara has changed immensely! It used to be lush and green, home to a variety of plants and animals. The change came approximately years ago, due to a gradual change in the tilt of the earth. It is thought that the Sahara Desert will become green again at some point in the future.

There are several activities you can do in the Sahara such as quad biking, stargazing, sand surfing, camping or trekking! Our Sahara Desert Trek is a fantastic adventure, taking us on a 4 day trek to the top of the Chegaga Dunes! We will witness a stunning desert sunrise, sleep under a blanket of stars and create memories to last a lifetime.

Live Science. Image 1 of 6. Image 2 of 6. Image 3 of 6. Image 4 of 6. Image 5 of 6. Image 6 of 6. See all comments IMHO any desert wasteland could be turned to forests etc, only if humanity invents fusion power tech someday! Some people may think "Why humanity needs fusion power? FB36 said:. It would increase the overall humidity in the westward flowing trade winds increasing rain. An added bonus would be a small decrease in sea level.

A channel or tunnel from the Med would accomplish this and is feasible with current tech. Travelmait said:.