Les vagues de chaleur au Sahel : définition et principales caractéristiques spatio-temporelles (1973-2014).

A definition of heat waves (HW) relevant for dry tropical regions is proposed and tested in the Sahel (i.e. duration,intensity and frequency). The Heat Index (HI derivative of Steadman’s (1979) formula) is calculated on dailydata of 145 West African stations from the GSOD database over the period 1973-2014. HWs recorded inSahelian and Sudanese climates mainly occur in boreal spring, i.e. April-May-June. They are more frequentsince 1998 (+ 8% very hot days, T90p) and they become longer (+1.2 days per decade) and more intense (from+0.3 to 0.4 ° C / decade respectively Sudanese and Sahelian climate) on the end of the period 1973-2014.