Drought and Namibia’s Geography

During a recent class with the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) bachelor of geoinformation technology students, we explored the significant role of geoinformation science in disaster management.

A key issue that arose was the extent to which geography affects Namibia’s persistent drought.

Namibia is no stranger to drought, with the first major drought recorded in 1929.

It had a devastating effect on agriculture and led to widespread food insecurity and the displacement of communities.

More recently, the 1992 drought is regarded as one of the most severe.

It affected the entire southern African region, but Namibia was hit particularly hard: It decimated crops, reduced livestock numbers and triggered a national emergency.

This was followed by a drought in 2013, described as the worst in 30 years, affecting an estimated 778 000 people.

It led to widespread hunger with many communities in rural areas completely dependent on food aid.

Namibia continues to face recurring droughts, with the one occurring between 2018 and 2020 causing extensive agricultural losses.

The cumulative impact has been devastating for the economy, particularly in rural areas where farming is the primary livelihood.

It has prompted our government to declare national emergencies on multiple occasions, including on 22 May this year.

The current drought is reported as the most severe in about 100 years.

As of June, Namibia had reportedly exhausted 84% of its food reserves.

Currently, about 1.2 million people face a high level of acute food insecurity.

THE CULPRIT: NAMIBIA’S GEOGRAPHY?

The following are some of the geographical characteristics that make Namibia particularly drought-prone:

• • Namibia is located within the subtropical high-pressure zone, specifically around 20-30 degrees south latitude.

This belt, which circles the earth, is characterised by descending air that inhibits cloud formation and precipitation. It is one of the key reasons why large parts of Namibia receive very little rainfall.

• • Namibia is far from tropical moisture sources that influence regions like central and western Africa.

Our geographic distance from significant moisture-bearing systems, such as tropical rain belts and monsoon systems, means we receive minimal rainfall compared to more humid regions on the continent.

• • Namibia spans approximately 825 000 square kilometres, making it one of the largest countries in the region. • Despite its size, much of Namibia’s geography is defined by desert and semi-desert conditions.

The Namib Desert, one of the oldest deserts in the world, stretches along the country’s entire Atlantic coastline, while the Kalahari Desert lies in the east.

These desert regions are historically characterised by low and erratic rainfall, making Namibia one of the driest countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

• • The country’s climate is heavily influenced by the Benguela Current, a cold oceanic current that runs along the coast.

While the current is essential for supporting Namibia’s rich marine ecosystem, it contributes to the arid conditions on land by preventing moist air from forming clouds, which in turn reduces rainfall.

Inland, Namibia’s landscape is dominated by plateaus, savannahs and rugged mountains. Even in these areas, rainfall is sparse and inconsistent, making the country highly vulnerable to drought.

RAINFALL PATTERNS

• • Our rainfall patterns follow a north-south gradient, with the northern regions receiving relatively more rainfall than the central and southern areas.

However, even in the wetter northern parts, the climate is prone to variability, which leads to frequent droughts.

In southern Namibia, where rainfall is often below 100mm a year, drought is common.

Seasonal rains, crucial for replenishing water sources and supporting agriculture have become ever more erratic because of climate change.

• • The rain shadow effect created by the Great Escarpment reduces rainfall in Namibia’s central and eastern parts.

As moist air masses from the Atlantic Ocean move inland, they rise over the escarpment, cool down and lose most of their moisture before reaching inland areas.

This further reduces rainfall. As a result, most of Namibia’s interior regions, including areas like Windhoek, experience much drier conditions, contributing to frequent droughts.

• • Namibia’s topography, including its plateau region in the central part of the country, contributes to its susceptibility to drought.

While higher elevations tend to receive slightly more rainfall, the rain shadow effect caused by mountains can prevent moisture-rich air from reaching certain regions, particularly in the east and south.

CONCLUSION

These geographical factors combine to make Namibia one of the driest and most drought-prone countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

With climate change intensifying, these geographical characteristics are likely to exacerbate drought conditions, making the country even more vulnerable in the future.

• • Oluibukun Gbenga Ajayi is a senior lecturer in geoinformation technology at the department of land and spatial sciences, Namibia University of Science and Technology. The views expressed here are his own. Email: oajayi@nust.na