Scientists have discovered that the combination of the warmer than normal water temperatures associated with El Nino and rising sea surface temperatures in the western equatorial Indian Ocean can trigger outbreaks of Rift Valley Fever in East Africa.
Satellites provide synchronous measurements of ocean temperature and vegetation conditions.
By closely monitoring the vegetation in the region affected by the increased rainfall, scientists can identify the actual areas affected. Keep It Under Control Using weather satellites to spot the early signs of an El Nino, scientists may be able to help save East Africans and their livestock from Rift Valley Fever, a mosquito-borne disease that can be fatal to humans and animals. NASA and Department of Defense researchers have determined that rising sea-surface temperatures in the western equatorial Indian Ocean, combined with an El Nino in the Pacific, can lead to abnormally heavy rains in East Africa. These rains create a favorable habitat for the mosquitoes that carry the Rift Valley Fever virus, spreading it to humans and animals. According to their report in the July 16 issue of the journal Science, satellite data can help predict Rift Valley Fever outbreaks up to six months in advance.