THE INFLUENCE OF GULF OF GUINEA SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE TO WEST AFRICA AND SAHEL DROUGHT OF 2005

Ibrahim Mohammed

Abstract


The impact of sea surface temperature (SST) in the Gulf Guinea to the West Africa and Sahel drought of 2005 has been examined using Satellite data. Daily TRMM 3B42 precipitation estimates and TMI SST data sets show concurrent variability during the summer of 2005, indicating the influence of Gulf of Guinea SST over rainfall in these regions. The SSTs that contribute to the drought are no-seasonal fluctuations that occurred during this period and are caused by stronger than normal southeasterly winds that inhibit moisture convergence over the two regions. However, Sahel region was influenced in addition by westerly winds akin to the tropical intraseasonal variability of the Madden Julian Oscillation.

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