Pastoral nomadism in the Sahel region of Africa is characterized by transhumance, where herders move their livestock between distinct ecological zones throughout the year. Which of the following environmental factors primarily drives this seasonal migration pattern?
- The seasonal movement of the Inter-Tropical Discontinuity (ITD), which dictates rainfall distribution and pasture availability across Sahelian vegetation belts.Answer
- BThe southward flow of major river systems like the River Nile into Lake Victoria, causing severe seasonal flooding in northern pastures.
- CThe dominant cultivation of tree crops like cocoa and oil palm in the dry northern arid belt, which restricts open grazing land during harvest periods.
- DThe pull factor of expanding nucleated urban settlements in desert regions offering subsidized fodder and permanent water supply during dry months.
Answer
The seasonal movement of the Inter-Tropical Discontinuity (ITD), which dictates rainfall distribution and pasture availability across Sahelian vegetation belts.
Transhumance is the seasonal movement of livestock between pastures. In the Sahel region of Africa, rainfall is controlled by the northward and southward migration of the Inter-Tropical Discontinuity (ITD). During the dry season, herders move south toward river valleys and southern savanna belts to secure water and forage; during the wet season, they retreat north to feed on short-lived desert grasses.
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Transhumance and Climatic Control of Pastoral Nomadism in Africa
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