The geographical location of the African continent on both sides of the equator largely determines the climate of this corner of the globe. It is located mainly in the tropics, because the cold weather characteristic of temperate latitudes is not here. But at the same time, the climatic zones of Africa, which diverge from the equator to the north and south, cannot be compared with each other. The structure of the mainland is such that in two hemispheres the same zone has its own characteristics. And in order to learn the local weather and its characteristics, the article presents a map of the climatic zones of Africa and their brief description.
The geographical position of the continent
Africa is the second largest continent in the world after Eurasia. It is washed by two oceans - the Atlantic and Indian, a few seas and straits. The geological structure of these lands is such that their width is greater in the northern hemisphere, and smaller in the southern. This partly affects what climatic zones in Africa are formed in one or another of its regions. To a large extent, this affects the local relief, the presence of flora and fauna. For example, in the northern part, where all the lands are covered with impenetrable sands, as you understand, there are at least plants and animals. But south, where there are tropical rainforests or even savannahs, the fauna and flora are richer, he appears before us in all his African identity and uniqueness.
Short description, table
The climatic zones of Africa begin with the equatorial.
- At zero latitude, the continent's wettest natural zone is located, where the maximum rainfall is more than 2000 mm per year.
- It is followed by a subequatorial strip, where the amount of precipitation and natural wealth is reduced. No more than 1,500 mm of moisture falls here per year.
- The tropical climate zone is the most extensive region of the continent. Depending on the hemisphere, the amount of precipitation here can range from 300 to only 50 mm per year.
- The subtropical climate covers the edge of the coast in the north of the mainland and a corner located in South Africa, in the south. Both there and there are always windy and humid. In winter, temperatures drop by 7 degrees compared to summer rates. Precipitation is estimated at 500 mm per year.
Equatorial latitudes
Listing all the climatic zones of Africa, special attention should be paid to the equatorial zone, since on this continent it is considered the most unique, the wettest and most prolific in terms of agriculture. It is located, of course, along zero latitude, and covers states such as Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Ghana, Guinea, Benin, Cameroon and others adjacent to the Gulf of Guinea. A feature of the equatorial climate is that closer to the east it becomes drier, but the maximum amount of precipitation falls on the western land areas.
Subequatorial zone
Africa is located in climatic zones characterized by hot temperatures, and the subtropics occupy a large part of its territory. There is a little drier than at the equator, the jungle and evergreen forests pass into the savannah. The peculiarity of this belt is that in summer equatorial winds blow here, which bring rains and often fogs to the region. In winter, tropical trade winds are observed, more arid and very hot, as a result of which the amount of rain decreases and the air temperature rises. In North Africa, the subequatorial belt covers countries such as Mali, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and others. In the southern part of the continent it is Tanzania, Kenya, Angola, Zambia Mozambique.
Tropics. Dry and windy
As the table above has already shown, it’s hard to imagine the climatic zones of Africa without the tropics, which occupy most of the continent. Their widest strip stretches in the northern part of the mainland, covering the Sahara desert and all nearby countries. These are Egypt, the northern territories of Chad, Sudan, and Mali, as well as Mauritania, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Western Sahara and many others. The rainfall here is minimal - about 50 mm per year. The whole area is covered with sand, blown dry trade winds. Sandstorms often occur. Among the animals inhabiting the Sahara, insects and reptiles are more common, which are selected from the dunes only at night. In the Southern Hemisphere, tropics also fall in the Kalahari desert region. The climate here is very similar to the north, but is characterized by a large amount of precipitation and a less abrupt daily temperature change.
Subtropical areas
In conclusion, we consider the extreme climatic zones of Africa - subtropical. They occupy the smallest part of the continent both in the north and in the south, therefore they have little effect on the overall weather picture. So, in the northern part of the mainland, this zone extends a thin strip along the Mediterranean coast. Only the highest points of Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, which are washed by the waves of this sea, fall into it. The peculiarity of the local climate is that in winter there are winds blowing from the west, bringing moisture. Due to this, it is in the cold season that the maximum rainfall here is about 500 mm. In summer, winds change to tropical trade winds, which bring heat, drought and even sand from the Sahara. Rains do not fall at all, the temperature rises to a maximum. In the Southern Hemisphere, weather conditions are similar. The only feature is that it is a narrow cape that is washed from all sides by the ocean. Evaporated moisture makes the air humid throughout the year, and precipitation here falls not only in winter, but in all other seasons.
Madagascar and the Cape Verde Islands
The climatic zones of Africa cover not only the continent itself, but also the islands that belong to it - continental and volcanic. In the east, beyond the waters of the Mozabique Strait, lies the mainland island of Madagascar. It falls immediately into two climatic zones - subequatorial and tropical. True, both one and the other here are not as dry as in Africa itself. Rains happen often, and the whole island is literally buried in evergreens and palm trees. Cape Verde Islands lie in the Atlantic, west of the Gulf of Guinea. Here the climate is subequatorial, humid, but at the same time very windy. Precipitation falls evenly throughout the year.
Conclusion
We just briefly examined all the climatic zones of Africa. Grade 7 is a period when children get acquainted with the natural areas and the climate of our planet. It is important that the child during this period does not miss anything and can quickly figure out which belt we live in, which are farther south, and which, on the contrary, go north. This will expand his horizons and will allow him to better navigate in geography.