A recent study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth reveals that significant land uplifts in South Africa and parts of the African continent are primarily linked to surface-level factors, such as drought and water loss from soils and aquifers, rather than deeper geological movements as previously thought.
Led by researchers from the University of Bonn, the study analyzed elevation changes from 2012 to 2020 using high-precision GPS stations. They discovered a direct correlation between these uplifts and the timeline of South Africa’s severe “day zero” drought, indicating that the absence of water reduces gravitational pressure on the crust, leading to a rebound effect—similar to how a compressed memory foam returns to shape.
The researchers were surprised to find that uplifts were widespread across the country, visible even in remote rural areas, rather than limited to those near major cities or reservoirs. This suggests that groundwater levels across South Africa play a more significant role in land elevation than previously recognized.
Additionally, the study highlights the potential of using GPS data as a tool for tracking climate stress and detecting droughts in real-time. This method could enhance water resource management and disaster preparedness, particularly in regions with dense GPS networks, by providing an independent way to validate climate models and monitor groundwater depletion before significant changes occur.
Source link
