Satellite observed vegetation dynamics and drivers in the Namib sand sea over the recent 20 years

A significant greening trend was observed in the Namib Sand Sea from 2000 to 2018, driven primarily by increased precipitation and atmospheric CO₂ levels. Unlike many global dryland regions, this greening is not linked to direct human activities but rather to environmental factors. Researchers analyzed satellite data using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and found that while overall greening was significant from 2000 to 2012, it diminished slightly by 2018. Precipitation, particularly large episodic events, emerged as a dominant driver, while rising temperatures negatively impacted vegetation growth. Spatially, 75% of the region showed significant greening during the earlier period, with 39.3% maintaining this trend until 2018. This study highlights the importance of precipitation and CO₂ in shaping vegetation dynamics in undisturbed dryland ecosystems.

Qiao, N., & Wang, L. (2022). Satellite observed vegetation dynamics and drivers in the Namib sand sea over the recent 20 years. Ecohydrology, 15(3). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.2420