science communication and photography

francesco fiondella

Climate Frontlines : West Africa

Boater, Niger River

Niamey, Niger. A boat captain cruises the Niger River. Taken February 162011.

On the Niger

Niamey, Niger. A fisherman on the Niger River during the wet season. Taken February 162011.

Cruising on the Niger

Niamey, Niger. A long boat speeds past green vegetaion on the Niger’s banks. Taken February 162011.

Boat Captain

Niamey, Niger.Boat captain stands to navigate teh Niger, while his mate controls the engine. Taken February 162011.

Bailing Water

Niamey, Niger. Bailing water from a long boat during a cruise on the Niger River. Taken February 162011.

Dusk on the Niger

Niamey, Niger. A long boat cuts through a calm Niger River at dusk. Taken February 162011.

Loaded Boat

Segou, Mali. A man rows his wooden boat, loaded with harvested plants on the Niger River in Mali. Taken June 30,2012.

River life

Segou, Mali. Scene of river life on the Niger. Taken June 30,2012.

Niger River

Segou, Mali. The Niger River is central to life in Segou. Women wash clothes, while men use boats to fish and collect vegetation. Taken June 302012.

Niger swim

Segou, Mali. Two boys swim in the Niger River. Taken June 30,2012.

Clothes Washing, Niger River

Segou, Mali. A woman carries her clothes to wash on the banks of the Niger River. Taken June 30,2012.

Radio Weather Bulletins

Djouna, Mali. Farmers in the Sahelian village of Djouna in southern Mali listen to the radio as they prepare their field for planting. Taken June 302012.

Djouna, Mali. A farmer plows his field for planting maize in the Sahelian village of Djouna in southern Mali. Taken June 302012.

Women at Well

Djouna, Mali. Two women collect water from the village well. Taken June 302012.

Workers from Burkina

Djouna, Mali. Workers from Burkina Faso rest after a day of building greenhouses at a research station. Taken June 302012.

Bouba points

Djouna, Mali. Bouba Coulibaly, 59, is responsible for recording rainfall on Diouna’s only rain gauge. He shares the data with other villagers, who use it to help make farming decisions. Taken July 12012.

Preparing the soil for sowing

Preparing the soil for sowing maize. Djouna, Mali. Animals are a crucuial part of farming life here. Taken July 12012.

Sahel farming

Djouna, Mali. Farmers sow a newly plowed field with maize. Taken July 12012.

Pounding millet

Molobala, Mali. Young women take a break from pounding millet with a large mortar and pestle. Taken July 22012.

Man, Molobala Village

Molobola, Mali. A man rests near a door of his home. Taken July 22012.

Cotton field

Molobala, Mali. Farmers weed a cotton field. Taken July 22012.

Cotton field

Molobala, Mali.Working in a cotton field. Taken July 22012.

Cotton field

Molobala, Mali. Two farmers guide a plow drawn by cattle in a cotton field. Taken July 22012.

Weeding

Molobala, Mali. Farmers weed a cotton field. Taken July 22012.

Fatoumata Dembéle

Molobala, Mali. Fatoumata Dembéle tends to her vegetable garden in the village of Molobala, Mali. Taken July 22012.

Hand fertilizing

Molobala, Mali. Two farmers add fertilizer by hand to their maize crop. Taken July 22012.

Fertilizing

Molobala, Mali. A farmer adds fertilizer by hand to his maize crop. Taken July 22012.

Henna Painting

Sikasso, Mali. A woman paints henna designs on a client’s feet. Taken July 32012.

Potato Harvest

Loulouni, Mali. Farmers load potatoes onto a donkey cart to sell at market. Taken July 42012.

Issiakia Traore

Loulouni, Mali. Issiakia Traore tends to his okra plants. Taken July 42012.

Okra Harvest

Loulouni, Mali. Farmers harvest okra from their field. Taken July 42012.

Amidou Diabaté

Loulouni, Mali. Amidou Diabaté, 32, is a farmer in Loulouni village in Mali. He grows maize in the wet season, and okra and sweet potatoes in the dry. Taken July 42012.

Amidou Diabaté

Loulouni, Mali. Amidou Diabaté, 32, is a farmer in Loulouni village in Mali. He grows maize in the wet season, and okra and sweet potatoes in the dry. Taken July 42012.

Plowing, Mali

Loulouni, Mali. Boys use plows drawn by cattle to prepare their fields for planting maize. Taken July 42012.

Loulouni, Mali. A boy uses a plow drawn by cattle to prepare their fields for planting maize. Taken July 42012.

Amidou Diabaté

Loulouni, Mali. Amidou Diabaté, 32, is a farmer in Loulouni village in Mali. He grows maize in the wet season, and okra and sweet potatoes in the dry. Taken July 42012.

Farming boys

Loulouni, Mali. Boys plow a field before planting maize. Taken July 42012.

Roasting Peanuts

Loulouni, Mali. A woman turns a barrel filled with peanuts over a fire as another looks on. Taken July 42012.

Cooling nuts

Loulouni, Mali. Women spread hot roasted nuts on a straw mat to cool. Taken July 42012.

Market, Loulouni, Mali.

Loulouni, Mali. Farmers from the area sell lemons, potatoes and a large variety of other fruits and vegetables in Loulouni’s market. Taken July 42012.

Abdou Ali

Niamey, Niger. Nigerien scientist Abdou Ali teaches at a workshop on using climate forecasts for better drought preparedness in West Africa. Taken May 82012.

Vendor, Niamey

Niamey, Niger. A man sells handbags and other leather goods at a stall on the outskirts of Niamey, Niger’s capital. Taken May 82012.

Caterers

Niamey, Niger. Two women prepare lunch for staff at the Centre Regional de Formation et d’Application en Agrométéorologie et Hydrologie Opérationnelle. Taken May 82012.

Gardener

Niamey, Niger. A gardener prunes trees at the Centre Regional de Formation et d’Application en Agrométéorologie et Hydrologie Opérationnelle. Taken May 82012.

Gardener

Niamey, Niger. A gardener prunes trees at the Centre Regional de Formation et d’Application en Agrométéorologie et Hydrologie Opérationnelle. Taken May 82012.

Niamey, Niger. A meat seller prepares his goat carcasses in the early morning. Taken May 92012.

Pedestrians and Bicyclist.

Niamey, Niger. Pedestrians and bicyclist. Taken May 92012.

Boys on a bridge

Niamey, Niger. Two boys cross the Niger River on a bridge. Taken May 92012.

Seller

Niamey, Niger. A man pushes a vendor cart down a street in Niamey. Taken May 92012.

Niamey Traffic

Niamey, Niger. Traffic on a busy street in Niamey. Taken May 92012.

Workshop participants

Niamey, Niger. Meteorologists from across West Africa receive training on new forecasting methods at the Centre Regional de Formation et d’Application en Agrométéorologie et Hydrologie Opérationnelle. Taken May 102012.

Learning to make better forecasts

Niamey, Niger. Agenda for training climate and weather scientists across West Africa. Taken May 102012.

Learning to make better forecasts.

Niamey, Niger. Meteorological experts at a workshop for improving climate and weather forecasting across West Africa. Taken May 102012.

Young Nigerien Woman

Niamey, Niger. A young woman smiles for the camera. Taken May 102012.

Women of Soudoure

Niamey, Niger. Three woman from the farming village of Soudoure, on the outskirts of Niamey, Niger. Taken May 112012.

Farmer, Niger

Niamey, Niger. A farmer from the village of Soudoure, on the outskirts of Niamey, Niger. Taken May 112012.

Collecting clay

Niamey, Niger. Three young men from the farming village of Soudoure collect clay to make bricks, which they will sell at local markets. Taken on May 112012.

Boys from Soudoure

Niamey, Niger. Two boys from the farming village of Soudoure, on the outskirts of Niamey, Niger. Taken May 112012.

Market, Niamey

Niamey, Niger. Guinea hens for sale in one of Niamey’s laregst markets. Taken May 112012.

Niger River, Dusk

Niamey, Niger. A man washes clothes on the Niger River. Taken on May 112012.

Camel

Niamey, Niger. A man just crossed a bridge over the Niger River with his camel in tow. Taken on May 122012.

Night traffic, Niamey

Niamey, Niger. Cars must compete with cattle herders in Niamey. Taken May 132012.