Mauritania: Climate

Temperature

Figure 2: Air temperature projections for Mauritania for different GHG emissions scenarios.4

In response to increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations, air temperature over Mauritania is projected to rise by 2.0 to 4.5 °C (very likely range) by 2080 relative to the year 1876, depending on the future GHG emissions scenario (Figure 2). Compared to pre-industrial levels, median climate model temperature increases over Mauritania amount to approximately 2.1 °C in 2030, 2.3 °C in 2050 and 2.5 °C in 2080 under the low emissions scenario RCP2.6. Under the medium / high emissions scenario RCP6.0, median climate model temperature increases amount to 2.1 °C in 2030, 2.7 °C in 2050 and 3.8 °C in 2080.

Very hot days

Figure 3: Projections of the annual number of very hot days (daily maximum temperature above 35 °C) for Mauritania for different GHG emissions scenarios.

In line with rising mean annual temperatures, the annual number of very hot days (days with daily maximum temperature above 35 °C) is projected to rise substantially and with high certainty, in particular over western Mauritania (Figure 3). Under the medium / high emissions scenario RCP6.0, the multi-model median, averaged over the whole country, projects 18 more very hot days per year in 2030 than in 2000, 27 more in 2050 and 49 more in 2080. In some parts, especially in south-western Mauritania, this amounts to about 300 days per year by 2080.

Sea level rise

Figure 4: Projections for sea level rise off the coast of Mauritania for different GHG emissions scenarios, relative to the year 2000.

In response to globally increasing temperatures, the sea level off the coast of Mauritania is projected to rise (Figure 4). Until 2050, very similar sea levels are projected under both emissions scenarios. Under RCP6.0 and compared to year 2000 levels, the median climate model projects a sea level rise by 10 cm in 2030, 19 cm in 2050 and 36 cm in 2080. This threatens Mauritania’s coastal communities and may cause saline intrusion in coastal waterways and groundwater reservoirs.

Precipitation

Figure 5: Annual mean precipitation projections for Mauritania for different GHG emissions scenarios, relative to the year 2000.

Future projections of precipitation are less certain than projections of temperature change due to high natural year-to-year variability (Figure 5). Out of the four climate models underlying this analysis, two models project no change in mean annual precipitation over Mauritania and two models project a decrease under RCP6.0. Under RCP2.6, one model projects an increase, one a decrease and two no change. Median model projections show a slight precipitation increase of 6 mm per year by 2080 under RCP2.6, while median model projections for RCP6.0 show a decrease of 11 mm by 2080 compared to year 2000.

Heavy precipitation events

Figure 6: Projections of the number of days with heavy precipitation over Mauritania for different GHG emissions scenarios, relative to the year 2000.

In response to global warming, heavy precipitation events are expected to become more intense in many parts of the world due to the increased water vapour holding capacity of a warmer atmosphere. At the same time, the number of days with heavy precipitation events is expected to increase. However, this tendency is not reflected in climate projections for Mauritania (Figure 6), with climate models projecting a decrease in the number of days with heavy precipitation events, from 7 days per year in 2000 to 6 days per year in 2080 under RCP6.0. Under RCP2.6, no change is projected.

Soil moisture

Figure 7: Soil moisture projections for Mauritania for different GHG emissions scenarios, relative to the year 2000.

Soil moisture is an important indicator for drought conditions. In addition to soil parameters and management, it depends on both precipitation and evapotranspiration and therefore also on temperature, as higher temperatures translate to higher potential evapotranspiration. Annual mean top 1-m soil moisture projections for Mauritania show a minimal increase under RCP2.6 and a decrease of 5 % under RCP6.0 by 2080 compared to the year 2000 (Figure 7). However, looking at the different models underlying this analysis, there is large year-to-year variability and modelling uncertainty, with some models projecting an increase and others projecting a decrease in soil moisture. Hence, a clear trend cannot be identified.

Potential evapotranspiration

Figure 8: Potential evapotranspiration projections for Mauritania for different GHG emissions scenarios, relative to the year 2000.

Potential evapotranspiration is the amount of water that would be evaporated and transpired if sufficient water was available at and below land surface. Since warmer air can hold more water vapour, it is expected that global warming will increase potential evapotranspiration in most regions of the world. In line with this expectation, hydrological projections for Mauritania indicate a stronger rise of potential evapotranspiration under RCP6.0 than under RCP2.6 (Figure 8). Under RCP6.0, potential evapotranspiration is projected to increase by 2.3 % in 2030, 3.6 % in 2050 and 6.2 % in 2080 compared to year 2000 levels.

4 Changes are expressed relative to year 1876 temperature levels using the multi-model median temperature change from 1876 to 2000 as a proxy for the observed historical
warming over that time period.