Don’t bet on La Niña (and the rain it brings) suggests climatologist
A climatologist explains the complexity of this situation: while La Niña is expected to benefit South Africa’s summer rainfall regions, it can have the opposite effect in East Africa.
Climate change is having a significant impact on Tunisian agriculture and particularly olive oil production. Picture: Antoine Boureau & Hans Lucas/AFP
John Maytham interviews Peter Johnston, a University of Cape Town climatologist.
Listen below.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has recently reported diminishing chances of La Niña forming this year, raising concerns about another challenging season for summer grain crops, particularly maize, in southern Africa.
Following last summer’s El Niño event, which devastated staple maize and other crops across the region, there was optimism that La Niña would soon emerge, potentially bringing much-needed rains to the drought-stricken areas.
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Johnston explains the complexity of this situation: while La Niña is expected to benefit South Africa’s summer rainfall regions, it can have the opposite effect in East Africa, leading to drought.
Concerns about La Niña's potential development have been on the radar since May and June, but Johnston emphasises that future weather patterns remain uncertain.
"These things are becoming a little bit more unpredictable."
- Peter Johnston, Climate scientist – University of Cape Town
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