How did drought affect equatorial Africa during the Little Ice Age?

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Line graph showing estimated temperature variations from 1000 to 2000 CE for the Northern Hemisphere and central England, with three lines representing different data sources. The chart highlights the medieval warm period around 1100-1300 and the Little Ice Age from about 1500 to 1850, followed by a sharp temperature rise in the late 20th century. Temperature is shown as deviations from the 1961-1990 average. — Little Ice Age Estimates of temperature variations for the Northern Hemisphere and central England from 1000 to 2000 ce.

During the Little Ice Age, equatorial Africa experienced marked desiccation, characterized by multiyear periods of drought. This shift in climate led to a significant drop in the water levels of all the great African lakes. Additionally, the Nile River suffered from decreased flow and increased alluviation during this interval.12