Articles | Volume 21, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-35-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Special issue:
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-35-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
The potential of increasing man-made air pollution to reduce rainfall over southern West Africa
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Department Troposphere Research (IMK-TRO), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Wolfgang-Gaede-Str. 1, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
now at: German Meteorological Service, Frankfurter Str. 135, 63067 Offenbach am Main, Germany
Peter Knippertz
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Department Troposphere Research (IMK-TRO), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Wolfgang-Gaede-Str. 1, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Andreas H. Fink
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Department Troposphere Research (IMK-TRO), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Wolfgang-Gaede-Str. 1, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Anke Kniffka
Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Department Troposphere Research (IMK-TRO), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Wolfgang-Gaede-Str. 1, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
now at: German Meteorological Service – Research Centre Human Biometeorology, Stefan-Meier-Str. 4, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
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Cited
15 citations as recorded by crossref.
- West African monsoon precipitation impacted by the South Eastern Atlantic biomass burning aerosol outflow F. Solmon et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-021-00210-w
- Selective gas sensing and electronic response of Al-decorated phographene (Al-d-PHOG) nanosheets: Insights from DFT and electron density analyses B. Karki et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132238
- Sensitivity of low-level clouds and precipitation to anthropogenic aerosol emission in southern West Africa: a DACCIWA case study A. Deroubaix et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-3251-2022
- Seasonal precipitation changes in response to long-term aerosol anomalies: A case from West Africa A. Onyejuruwa et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2024.103847
- Selective detection of atmospheric pollutant gases on a B2C3N nanosheet: A comprehensive DFT, electronic structure, and topological analysis of adsorption mechanisms N. Yadav et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpcs.2026.113743
- Variability of Aerosol Optical Depth and Altitude for Key Aerosol Types over Southern West Africa via CALIPSO/CALIOP Observations A. Niamien et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15040396
- Aerosol-Types Anomalies and their Role in Shaping Pre-Monsoon Precipitation Trends Over Nigeria A. Onyejuruwa et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41748-025-00759-z
- Reactive differentiation and electronic selectivity of gas molecules on BC10N: A first-principles investigation for advanced sensing platforms B. Karki et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132468
- Pollution slightly enhances atmospheric cooling by low-level clouds in tropical West Africa V. Hahn et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-8515-2023
- Anthropogenic fingerprints in global synchronization networks of high aerosol pollution events Z. Zhao et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-03141-z
- Modelling the Effect of Washout of Hot Pollutants for Increasing Rain in an Industrial Area S. Sundar et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10666-023-09906-0
- Climate models generally underrepresent the warming by Central Africa biomass-burning aerosols over the Southeast Atlantic M. Mallet et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abg9998
- “Late-stage” deforestation enhances storm trends in coastal West Africa C. Taylor et al. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2109285119
- Spatial and Temporal Rainfall Patterns in the Little Dry Season Over the Guinea Coast: Case Assessment of Historical Observations, Associated Drivers and Future Projections J. Aryee et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/met.70125
- Spatial and seasonal analysis of aerosol optical depth distribution in selected cities of West Africa T. Ayua & M. Emetere https://doi.org/10.1007/s42865-025-00096-z
15 citations as recorded by crossref.
- West African monsoon precipitation impacted by the South Eastern Atlantic biomass burning aerosol outflow F. Solmon et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-021-00210-w
- Selective gas sensing and electronic response of Al-decorated phographene (Al-d-PHOG) nanosheets: Insights from DFT and electron density analyses B. Karki et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132238
- Sensitivity of low-level clouds and precipitation to anthropogenic aerosol emission in southern West Africa: a DACCIWA case study A. Deroubaix et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-3251-2022
- Seasonal precipitation changes in response to long-term aerosol anomalies: A case from West Africa A. Onyejuruwa et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2024.103847
- Selective detection of atmospheric pollutant gases on a B2C3N nanosheet: A comprehensive DFT, electronic structure, and topological analysis of adsorption mechanisms N. Yadav et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpcs.2026.113743
- Variability of Aerosol Optical Depth and Altitude for Key Aerosol Types over Southern West Africa via CALIPSO/CALIOP Observations A. Niamien et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15040396
- Aerosol-Types Anomalies and their Role in Shaping Pre-Monsoon Precipitation Trends Over Nigeria A. Onyejuruwa et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41748-025-00759-z
- Reactive differentiation and electronic selectivity of gas molecules on BC10N: A first-principles investigation for advanced sensing platforms B. Karki et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132468
- Pollution slightly enhances atmospheric cooling by low-level clouds in tropical West Africa V. Hahn et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-23-8515-2023
- Anthropogenic fingerprints in global synchronization networks of high aerosol pollution events Z. Zhao et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-03141-z
- Modelling the Effect of Washout of Hot Pollutants for Increasing Rain in an Industrial Area S. Sundar et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10666-023-09906-0
- Climate models generally underrepresent the warming by Central Africa biomass-burning aerosols over the Southeast Atlantic M. Mallet et al. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abg9998
- “Late-stage” deforestation enhances storm trends in coastal West Africa C. Taylor et al. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2109285119
- Spatial and Temporal Rainfall Patterns in the Little Dry Season Over the Guinea Coast: Case Assessment of Historical Observations, Associated Drivers and Future Projections J. Aryee et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/met.70125
- Spatial and seasonal analysis of aerosol optical depth distribution in selected cities of West Africa T. Ayua & M. Emetere https://doi.org/10.1007/s42865-025-00096-z
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 03 Jun 2026
Short summary
Seasonal rainfall amounts along the densely populated West African Guinea coast have been decreasing during the past 35 years, with recently accelerating trends. We find strong indications that this is in part related to increasing human air pollution in the region. Given the fast increase in emissions, the political implications of this work are significant. Reducing air pollution locally and regionally would mitigate an imminent health crisis and socio-economic damage from reduced rainfall.
Seasonal rainfall amounts along the densely populated West African Guinea coast have been...
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