PPT Slide
Deflated areas (where the top“soil” - often just sand - has been blown away) are common in the Sahel, as are their opposites, areas of soil/sand accumulation. Viewed by some observers as desertification, the deflation/accumulation
nexus is instead a mark of the Sahel’s resilience. Note how the deflated area in this photo acts as a natural water-harvesting system, funneling water to the adjacent accumulations of “soil.” How lush the grasses are! In a year where rains are scarce, this nexus may provide sufficient additional water for the grasses at the edges to complete reproduction.