In 1949, the traveller, researcher and author, Laurence Green, noted in his book In the Land of the Afternoon that there was something about South Africa's weather and climate that fired controversial discussions and inspired scientists. He based his observation on articles, writings and other publications about the country's meteorology dating back to 1885.
But even long before that, according to Green, many were already convinced that South Africa was drying up. The reasons for this included deforestation, particularly the destruction of trees such as the wild olive. This was said to have led to the disappearance of fountains. Overgrazing was also blamed for changes in vegetation and ensuing climate change.
Green mentions the big drought of the late 1920s in the Prince Albert district in the Karoo, the worst even the oldest farmer could
