Understanding ENSO Teleconnections’ Influence on Drought in Southern Africa: A Machine Learning Approach

The vulnerability of Southern Africa to climate variability, especially drought, places substantial pressure on agriculture, water systems, and the economy. This study explores how El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-related Sea Surface Temperature (SST) variations influence drought patterns across the region using machine learning methods. Two approaches were taken: (i) a feature ranking of SST in comparison to twelve other climate variables and (ii) drought model performance comparisons with and without SST data. Results reveal SST’s significant and consistent impact across all climate zones, with both methods indicating that SST data, particularly in connection with ENSO phases, strongly influences drought variability, despite slight variations in its order of effect with respect to climatic zonal divisions. This underscores the value of incorporating SST in climate models for enhanced drought prediction and adaptation planning. Although limited by a focus on SST and not fully accounting for interactions with other climate factors, this research provides a solid foundation for understanding regional climate dynamics. Adding more climate indicators and studying SST’s interactions with land-based factors could help future studies make drought predictions more reliable and better prepare vulnerable areas.