The Greening of the Deserts

Global leaders will meet at the next UN climate change conference in Copenhagen.

Top of the agenda will be discussions around an agreement on international standards for fighting global warming.

Another key item on the agenda is trying to reach a better understanding of what’s happening to the world’s climate.

Many scenarios of global warming in Africa include more drought, floods, land degradation, epidemics and resource wars.

But some scientists and meteorologists now argue that some deserts – including the Sahara, one of the most arid areas on earth - could ultimately get greener and experience more rainfall.

Ayisha Yahya, a Tanzanian, explores the arguments in a three part series recorded on location in Mali, Namibia and Egypt.

Programme Two:

Ayisha visits the Desert Research Centre at Gobabeb in Namibia.

She meets the scientists who are collecting data to assess the impact of global warming on deserts.

The scientists are also experimenting with harvesting fog and working on desalination programmes.

Can they increase the water available in arid areas such as the Namib?

First broadcast on Wednesday 8 July 2009