But the drought could last five more years, which would be catastrophic for local residents, according to a study by U.S. researcher Christian Keppenne, sent to Brazilian authorities and covered by the 'O Estado de Sao Paulo' newspaper last week. Basing his forecasts on the regular recurrence of the El Ni o weather phenomenon, the heating of the waters of the Pacific ocean, Keppenne predicts rainfall for northeastern Brazil from next January to July, followed by five dry years. The government, meanwhile, has been pushing to implement a long- standing idea to change the course of one of the country's biggest rivers, the Sao Francisco, which runs across the southeast part of the arid northeast. The aim of the project would be to increase the water flow of several smaller rivers farther north, which dry up completely when rainfall is scarce. But the initiative has run into political resistance from the state of Bah a, which fears losing water needed for irrigation, while it has also faced problems in drumming up the necessary funds.
Desertification is also a threat in small areas at the extreme southern tip of Brazil.
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