CLIMATE TYPES AND ZONES OF AFRICA Flashcards
Types of Characteristics of Climate Zones of Africa
The Equatorial (Tropical Wet Climate) Region
-experienced in the lowland area between latitudes 5°N and 5°S of the equator
-Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and Cameroon (Central Africa)
-Southern part of Nigeria, Ghana, Benin and Sera Leone.
-temp.=high throughout the year
-av. annual temp.=26°C
-diurnal rate of temp.=3°C
-hottest months=March, September
-high cloud cover and humidity
-rnfl: mainly convectional rnfl
The Tropical Wet-and-Dry Region
/Savanna Climatic Region/
-covers little less than half the total surface area of the continent
-distinguished by its seasonal character of its rnfl
-during period of high sun= maritime airmasses produce up to 6months of rnfl
-during period of low sun= dry harmattan winds
-and the rest of the year is-dry
-clear and blue skies
-in N. and S. extremes of the continent, there is adry summer Sub-Tropical or the Mediterranean type of Climate
-in E.A.= Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia
-in C.A.= Zambia, Malawi, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe
Semi-Arid Climatic Regions
-fringes/borders/ the desert areas and include the greater part of the land south of the Zambezi River
-receive more rnfl than the deserts
-but limited rnfl because of ITCZ
-temp: same as those in the desert region
Hot Desert Climatic Region
-places where there is little or no rnfl
-consists of Sahara and Kalahari= due to influence of Dry Continental Tropical Airmasses
-consists of N.Kenya-Somali Desert= due to stable nature of the maritime airmasses
-temp: high mean monthly temp
=diurnal a) daytime= 30C-40C
b) at night= below 10C
=high diurnal temp variation because of radiation and absence of cloud cover
=highest temp in Sahara and the World=58C-in Azizia, Libya
Humid Subtropical Climatic Region
-found in the Eastern sides of continents between 20* and 35* N and S latitudes
=in Africa, found to the S.E. coast of S.Africa
-transition between tropical and temperate regions
-relatively high temp with warm and wet climate
Mediterranean Climate Region
/Warm Temperate Western Margin Climate/
-found in Med. Coast and S.W. tip of S.Africa
-temp:
@Summer-dry=21C
@Winter-wet=10C
-rnfl= av. annual rnfl=500-750mm
The Warm Temperate East Coast Climate Region
-experienced between latitude 30-40 N and S of the Equator
-experienced along the East Coast of S.Africa, esp. in Natal and Cape provinces and in Mozambique
-under the influence of the warm Mozambique ocean Current
-temp:
@Summer-high=26C
@Winter-low=10C
-rnfl: annual rnfl= 1000-1500mm and it decreases west ward / towards the interior
Warm Temperate Continental Climate Region
-in the interior of S.Africa, between the Drakensberg mtns and the Kalahari Desert
-temp:
@Summer=26C
@Winter=10C
-rnfl-low=approximately 700mm per yr, rains mostly in Winter
The Mountain Climate Region
-includes the high mtn areas in Ethiopia, Kenya, and E.African Lakes Region
-its climate is similar to the warm temperate upland climate
-temp: decrease with an increase in altitude
=below freezing point- at the top of the mtns
-rnfl: receives more rnfl than the surrounding areas
=receives relief rnfl
=highest amount: on the windward side
=lowest amount: on the Leeward side/ rain shadow
-fringes/borders/ the desert areas and include the greater part of the land south of the Zambezi River
-receive more rnfl than the deserts
-but limited rnfl because of ITCZ
-temp: same as those in the desert region
Semi-Arid Climatic Regions
-found in the Eastern sides of continents between 20* and 35* N and S latitudes
=in Africa, found to the S.E. coast of S.Africa
-transition between tropical and temperate regions
-relatively high temp with warm and wet climate
Humid Subtropical Climatic Region
-covers little less than half the total surface area of the continent
-distinguished by its seasonal character of its rnfl
-during period of high sun= maritime airmasses produce up to 6months of rnfl
-during period of low sun= dry harmattan winds
-and the rest of the year is-dry
-clear and blue skies
-in N. and S. extremes of the continent, there is adry summer Sub-Tropical or the Mediterranean type of Climate
-in E.A.= Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia
-in C.A.= Zambia, Malawi, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe
The Tropical Wet-and-Dry Region
/Savanna Climatic Region/
-experienced between latitude 30-40 N and S of the Equator
-experienced along the East Coast of S.Africa, esp. in Natal and Cape provinces and in Mozambique
-under the influence of the warm Mozambique ocean Current
-temp:
@Summer-high=26C
@Winter-low=10C
-rnfl: annual rnfl= 1000-1500mm and it decreases west ward / towards the interior
The Warm Temperate East Coast Climate Region
-found in Med. Coast and S.W. tip of S.Africa
-temp:
@Summer-dry=21C
@Winter-wer=10C
-rnfl= av. annual rnfl=500-750mm
Mediterranean Climate Region
/Warm Temperate Western Margin Climate/
-places where there is little or no rnfl
-consists of Sahara and Kalahari= due to influence of Dry Continental Tropical Airmasses
-consists of N.Kenya-Somali Desert= due to stable nature of the maritime airmasses
-temp: high mean monthly temp
=diurnal a) daytime= 30C-40C
b) at night= below 10C
=high diurnal temp variation because of radiation and absence of cloud cover
=highest temp in Sahara and the World=58C-in Azizia, Libya
Hot Desert Climatic Region
-includes the high mtn areas in Ethiopia, Kenya, and E.African Lakes Region
-its climate is similar to the warm temperate upland climate
-temp: decrease with an increase in altitude
=below freezing point- at the top of the mtns
-rnfl: receives more rnfl than the surrounding areas
=receives relief rnfl
=highest amount: on the windward side
=lowest amount: on the Leeward side/ rain shadow
The Mountain Climate Region
-in the interior of S.Africa, between the Drakensberg mtns and the Kalahari Desert
-temp:
@Summer=26C
@Winter=10C
-rnfl-low=approximately 700mm per yr, rains mostly in Winter
Warm Temperate Continental Climate Region
-experienced in the lowland area between latitudes 5N and 5S of the equator
-Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and Cameroon (Central Africa)
-Southern part of Nigeria, Ghana, Benin and Sera Leone.
-temp.=high throughout the year
-av. annual temp.=26C
-diurnal rate of temp.=3C
-hottest months=March, September
-high cloud cover and humidity
-rnfl: mainly convectional rnfl
The Equatorial (Tropical Wet Climate) Region
