date: Thu, 30 Jan 2003 15:44 -0500 from: GRLOnline@agu.org subject: 2002GL016772 Request to Review from Geophysical Research Letters to: m.hulme@uea.ac.uk Dear Dr. Hulme: Would you be willing and available to review "Vegetation index trends for the African Sahel 1982-1999" by Lars Eklundh, Lennart Olsson, submitted for possible publication in the Geophysical Research Letters. The manuscript's abstract is: Pathfinder AVHRR NDVI data have been analyzed for the African Sahel to study recent trends in vegetation greenness. A strong increase in seasonal NDVI was observed over large areas in the Sahel during the period 1982-1999. The increase is interpreted as a vegetation recovery from the drought periods of the 1980's. Although strong shifts in satellite overpass times have led to shifting solar zenith angles (SZA) over the time period, only minimal influence of SZA's on the Pathfinder NDVI was found in our data. A preliminary analysis of rainfall data indicates increasing rainfall during the period. The observed trends may have important implications to the Sahel including changes to the water cycle, energy exchange and carbon storage. If you agree to review this manuscript, I would ask for your comments within 14 days from your acceptance. To ACCEPT, click on the link below: If you are unable to review this manuscript at this time, I would appreciate any suggestions of other potential reviewers who would be qualified to examine this manuscript. (Via reply e-mail.) To DECLINE, click on the link below: If you have any questions or need more information feel free to reply to this e-mail. Thank you for your consideration and support of Geophysical Research Letters. Sincerely, James Famiglietti Associate Editor Geophysical Research Letters