Africa. Climatic conditions. Seasons, weather and climate of North Africa Average monthly temperature in Africa

Africa is the hottest continent in the world. It is located mainly in tropical and equatorial latitudes, and therefore receives a significant amount of solar radiation (in the northern part, the total radiation exceeds 836 kJ / cm 2 per year, in the rest of the territory - on average more than 669 kJ / cm 2). This is the reason for the predominance of high positive temperatures in Africa.

In the main territory of the mainland, the average annual temperature exceeds + 20 ° С. In summer, the air temperature in the Sahara rises to + 40 ° C and higher, and the surface of the stones heats up to + 70 ° C. In the north of Africa, the highest air temperature on Earth is noted (+ 58.1 ° C, Tripoli) .. Even on the northern and southern outskirts of the continent, entering the subtropical zones, the average temperature of the winter months does not drop below +8 ... + 12 ° C. However, the cold high-altitude climate is represented on the peaks of the Ethiopian Highlands and the East African Plateau. In equatorial latitudes, in the Congo Basin and on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, there are no differences in seasons - the air temperature throughout the year is about + 25 ° C.

The climatic conditions of Africa are formed not only under the influence of seasonal differences in the heating of the northern and southern parts of the continent. The distribution of temperatures and especially precipitation is associated with atmospheric circulation. Most of Africa is characterized by trade wind circulation. In the northern part of the mainland, trade winds pass over land and carry dry tropical air. In South Africa, trade winds come from the Indian Ocean and carry more humid air, causing heavy rains in the Madagascar mountains and on the eastern slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains.

In subequatorial latitudes, seasonal changes in air masses are characteristic: in the summer of the corresponding hemisphere, trade winds are replaced by equatorial monsoons. In the extreme north and south of the continent, in subtropical latitudes, there is also a seasonal change in atmospheric circulation: in the winter of each hemisphere, the western transport of moderate air masses dominates here (it rains), and in summer these territories are under the influence of subtropical high pressure anticyclones (dry sunny weather) ...

Interesting that rainfall in Africa is distributed almost zonal... Their number decreases symmetrically on both sides from the equator to the tropics, where it reaches its minimum values, and then increases again on the subtropical outskirts of the continent. In equatorial latitudes, approximately between 5 ° N. and 5 ° S, precipitation is regular and abundant. In the basin of the Congo River (Zaire) and on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, up to 2000-3000 mm of precipitation falls per year. And on the windward slopes of the Cameroon massif - up to 9000 mm. In subequatorial latitudes, up to about 17-19 ° N. and y.sh. the amount of precipitation decreases from 1500 to 300-250 mm at the borders with tropical deserts. In the tropics, up to 30 ° N lat. and 30 ° S, extremely insufficient moisture. The vast Sahara is especially dry - 50 mm and less precipitation per year. Here the volatility is 20-25 times the actual evaporation. In the subtropics of Africa, the amount of precipitation increases again: up to 300-500 mm on the Libyan-Egyptian coast of the Mediterranean Sea and up to 500-800 mm on the windward slopes of the Atlas and Cape mountains.

On the territory of Africa, an equatorial, two subequatorial, two tropical and two subtropical climatic zones are distinguished.

Equatorial belt - a constantly hot and humid climate is formed on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea (up to 7-8 ° N) and covers a significant part of the Congo basin (between 5 ° N and 5 ° S). Average monthly temperatures are high - +25 ... + 28 ° C. There is a lot of precipitation (up to 2000 mm and more), they are evenly distributed over the months. However, there are two particularly rainy periods - spring and autumn. These maximum precipitation are associated with strong evaporation at the zenital position of the Sun in these latitudes.

Subequatorial belts - (northern and southern) - encircle the equatorial climatic zone, close in the east of the mainland and extend from 17 ° N. up to 20 ° S The subequatorial monsoon climate occupies about 1/3 of the territory of Africa. In summer, equatorial air prevails, brought in by equatorial monsoons (humid summers), in winter dry tropical air, brought by trade winds, prevails (dry winters). The annual temperature amplitudes increase in comparison with the equatorial belt. The hottest time of the year is at the beginning of the rainy season (up to + 30 ° С). However, even in the coolest months of the year, the temperature does not drop below +18 ... + 20 ° С. The duration of the humid period decreases in the direction from the equator to the tropics from 10 to 3-2 months. The annual amount of precipitation in the plains decreases from 1500 to 250 mm.

Tropical belts (northern and southern) extend to 30 ° N lat. and 30 ° S They cover almost the entire Sahara and the Kalahari Basin with its marginal uplifts. In these zones, continental tropical air is kept all year round and the trade winds dominate. Average temperatures of the warmest month are +30 ... + 35 ° С, the coldest - not lower than + 10 ° С. The temperature amplitudes are very significant: annual - about 20 ° С; daily - up to 40-50 ° C. There is little rainfall - no more than 50-150 mm per year. They fall out sporadically, in the form of rare and short-term showers. Special climatic conditions within the tropical zones are created on the western coast of Africa (the Atlantic Sahara and the Namib Desert - site). Cold currents pass here. The relative humidity is high, but very little precipitation falls. But in the cold night hours, abundant dew and fog are formed on the coast. Temperatures are relatively low for tropical latitudes: in summer - about + 20 ° С, in winter - about + 15 ° С. A humid tropical climate is formed on the east coast of South Africa. This is favored by warm currents off the coast, over which the southeastern trade wind is saturated with moisture and gives abundant rainfall on the windward slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains.

Subtropical belts (northern and southern) occupy the outskirts of the mainland in the north and south. The Atlas Mountains, the Libyan-Egyptian coast and the foothills of the Cape Mountains have a subtropical Mediterranean climate with dry, hot summers and warm, humid winters. On the African coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the average July temperatures reach + 27 ... + 28 ° С, January temperatures - + 12 ° С. On the Cape coast, the temperature of the warmest month does not exceed + 21 ° С, the coldest - +13 ... + 14 ° С. In the extreme southeast of Africa, within the subtropical zone, the climate is subtropical monsoon, with hot rainy summers and relatively cool and dry winters. In summer, humid air from the Indian Ocean enters the coast. As in the tropics, it rains on the eastern slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains. In winter, the Cape Mountains impede the penetration of moist westerly winds and relatively little precipitation falls.

Date: 03.04.2017

Climate of Africa

The climate of Africa is determined by its geographical position - most of it is located between the tropics and is characterized by high values ​​of total solar radiation (180-200 kcal / cm 2 per year). Africa is considered the hottest continent... On the northern coast of the Gulf of Guinea and in the Congo Basin, average temperatures throughout the year are + 25 ... + 26 ° С. Average summer temperatures are high in the north of Sudan, in the Sahara (+ 30 ... + 32 ° С; in the western part up to + 38 ° С); in El-Azizia (Libya), the highest temperature on Earth was observed: + 58 ° С. In subtropical latitudes in summer from + 16 ... + 22 ° C. Average winter temperatures are 20 ° C. and y.sh. are + 16 ° С; in the subtropics - about + 10 ° С.

Africa's climate is influenced by trade winds blowing from the tropics to the equator . Wet air masses on the territory of Africa brings from the Indian Ocean southeast trade wind, dry the weather brings from Eurasia north-east trade wind.

Warm currents affect the climate of the mainland coastCape Mozambique and Cape Agulhas, washing the eastern shores of Africa south of the equator, raise and equalize coastal temperatures; The Canary and Benguela cold currents reduce temperatures and increase the aridity of the western coast of Africa in the tropics. For example, under the influence of the Begel Current, the Namib Desert was formed.

Drakensberg and Cape Mountains delay the east trade wind on the windward slopes, causing a redistribution precipitation.

The main circulation process over Africa is the transfer of tropical air by trade winds blowing from high pressure belts (from the tropics) to the equatorial part with low atmospheric pressure.

Over northwest Africa high pressure is established - the spurs of the Azores maximum, from which the sea tropical air flows out, quickly warms up and does not form precipitation on the Mediterranean coast and in the Sahara, where the Sahara minimum is formed.

Along the west coast winds blow from the eastern part of the Azores maximum. The main source of poor moisture is latent moisture with fog and dew.

In northeast Africa from 5 ° S along the low-lying coast of the Somali Peninsula, there is a southwest monsoon heading towards India. It rains only in the inner mountainous regions of the peninsula. East Africa, south of the equator, also receives very little rainfall.

V Sahara the minimum flows continental tropical air from the South African maximum, which is established in winter in the Southern Hemisphere over South Africa in tropical latitudes. Over the Sahara, the pressure rises (Sahara maximum), dry; circulation unfavorable for precipitation persists along the Atlantic coast.

To the east the slopes of the Etbay Range and the Ethiopian Highlands, poor rainfall from the Red Sea brings northeasterly winds flowing from the Arabian Peninsula.

In East Africa south of 5 ° S, precipitation occurs mainly on the eastern slopes of the plateau, as well as in its western mountainous regions, where monsoon flows from the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet.

In South Africa The trade winds from the Indian Ocean bring abundant rainfall to the eastern slopes of Madagascar and the Drakensberg mountains up to subtropical latitudes.

Africa is located in seven climatic zones: equatorial (wet and hot season throughout the year), two subequatorial (warm all year round, two seasons - summer rainy and dry winter), two tropical (continental, marine), two subtropical (wet warm winter, dry hot summer).

Along the western edge of South Africa from 6 ° S to the subtropics, the anticyclonic circulation of the eastern margin of the South Atlantic maximum operates, which is especially stable in tropical latitudes, where exceptional aridity persists.

By seasonal characteristics of circulation, temperature and precipitation on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea and in the Congo Basin, allocate constantly humid and hot equatorial climate(from 5-7 ° N to 2-3 ° S). Here is the wettest place in Africa - Debundzha (at the foot of Mount Cameroon, 9655 mm of precipitation per year); in other areas, at least 1500 mm falls.

In the north and south, the equatorial climate gradually turns into subequatorial(equatorial monsoons) with summer wet and winter dry seasons. The duration of the latter increases from 2 to 10 months, and the annual precipitation decreases from 1800 mm to 300 mm. North of 20 ° N lat. and south of 18 ° S lat. the climate of Africa is tropical, in the Northern Hemisphere, desert, very dry.

In the Sahara, the amount of precipitation drops to 100 mm per year or less; Eastern Sahara is the driest region in Africa(10-20 mm of precipitation per year).

Along the west coast, the climate is oceanic desert with high relative humidity. In the southern hemisphere in the tropical zone three sectors :

• in the west - oceanic desert,
• in the center - continental moderately arid and arid,
• in the east - sea trade wind with a summer maximum precipitation.

The outskirts of Africa lie in subtropical climatic zones.North Africa has a Mediterranean climate: on the windward slopes of the Atlas - typical,in its hinterland and on the coast of Libya and South Africa- semi-desert and desert.South Africa has a typical Mediterranean climate; observed on the southwestern windward slopes of the Cape Mountains; subtropical monsoon with summer maximum precipitation -on the southeastern edge; semi-desert and desert -in the interior.

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Relief and geological structure,Surface waterNatural resources

see also

Africa. Physical and geographical location. History of exploration and development

CLIMATE OF AFRICA

North trade wind moves from 25 ° N towards the equator in the form of three main streams of heated air with a relative humidity of 30 to 15%. In the greater eastern part, this so-called Egyptian current of the northeastern direction penetrates to the northern part of the Congo basin, does not cross the equator. To the east, an even drier Arabian trade wind operates, capturing the Somali Peninsula and penetrating south of the equator, where it merges with the southeastern trade wind running from the Indian Ocean along the periphery of the South Indian Maximum. To the west of the Egyptian current in the direction of the Guinean coast, the so-called harmattan moves, which in the northern part of the Gulf of Guinea meets the southwestern monsoon flowing along the eastern periphery of the South Atlantic Maximum. As a rule, harmattan does not reach the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, and weak south-westerly winds prevail there. But at high altitudes, the trade wind penetrates further south and hinders the upward currents in the southwest monsoon and precipitation. Therefore, January on the Guinean coast is the driest month.

The South Indian maximum in January is strongly shifted to the south. It captures the extreme south of Africa and gives rise to the southeastern trade wind, which brings abundant rainfall from the Indian Ocean to the eastern slopes of the high uplands of Africa. The amount of precipitation decreases sharply when moving inland, reaching a minimum in the central part of the Kalahari.

West Coast Africa is under the influence of the eastern periphery of the South Atlantic Maximum. Due to the arrival on the heated continent of relatively cold air masses carried from higher latitudes by the winds of the southern points, precipitation on the west coast is absent in the strip stretching almost to the equator itself.

In the area of ​​contact of the Atlantic air with the masses coming from the Indian Ocean, a front is formed, in connection with which in the west of the Kalahari the amount of precipitation increases slightly compared to the more western and eastern regions of the mainland.

In July the northern hemisphere heats up more strongly (Fig. 104).

Rice. 104. Average air temperature in Africa at ground level in July

Therefore, all baric zones are shifted to the north. The subtropical maximum of the northern hemisphere is shifting to the Mediterranean Sea and southern Europe, capturing only the extreme northwest of Africa. Due to the strong heating over the northern part of Africa, an area of ​​reduced pressure is formed, extending to the equator. South Africa, together with neighboring oceans, is included in the zone of the baric maximum of the southern hemisphere. Only its extreme south finds itself in the conditions of the western circulation of the temperate latitudes of the southern hemisphere (see Fig. 9).

In North Africa(Sahara) dry northeastern and northwestern winds blow, along the Red Sea and the Nile Valley, they penetrate up to 20, and in the west - up to 18 ° N. Towards them, from the South Atlantic maximum, the southwestern monsoon rushes, carrying humid unstable air to the territory of Sudan and the Guinean coast. It rains in these areas.

Ethiopia, Somalia and all of eastern Africa north of the equator are under the influence Indian monsoon, which is a continuation of the southeastern trade wind, crossing the equator and bringing heavy rains.

In almost all southern Africa within the high-pressure belt with weakened trade wind activity, the weather at this time is dry, especially in the interior regions. The exception is the Cape region, which is characterized by the intensification of cyclonic activity along the polar front.

High temperature throughout the year in the main part of Africa, they depend on the height of the sun above the horizon and strong insolation. On a large part of the mainland, the average annual temperature exceeds 20 ° C. The northern part of Africa is more massive, therefore, in general, it heats up more than the southern one, and there is the highest average monthly (35 ... 40 ° С), as well as the highest maximum temperature (up to 58 ° С) observed on Earth.

All of Africa is characterized by significant daily temperature fluctuations as a manifestation of continentality climate. For example, in the Sahara, daily temperature ranges can reach 50 ° C.

Precipitation distributed over the continent is extremely uneven. Regular and abundant convective rains fall in the equatorial part, approximately between 5 ° N. and 10 ° S. The maximum precipitation in Africa (about 10,000 mm) was recorded on the slopes of the Cameroon massif facing the prevailing southwestern winds.

In areas north and south of the equator, up to about 17 ° in both hemispheres, precipitation is associated with equatorial monsoon and fall out in the summer of each hemisphere; their annual amounts vary greatly depending on geographic location and relief. Even further north and south from the equator (up to 30 °) are areas with very low annual precipitation (Fig. 105).

Rice. 105. Average monthly precipitation in Africa, mm

In the far north and far south of the mainland, in the subtropical zone the amount of precipitation increases again, and their maximum in the north-west and south-west falls on winter, and in the southeast - in summer.

Due to the above, Africa is different a wide variety of climate types.

Region humid equatorial climate covers a significant part of the Congo Basin, approximately between 5 ° N. and 5 ° S, as well as the Guinean coast to 7-8 ° N lat. In the Congo Basin, due to strong surface heating, convective precipitation falls throughout the year. In their regime, two maxima are clearly expressed, associated with the highest position of the sun. On the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, precipitation is associated with the prevailing south-westerly winds and their annual amount is large. High and uniform temperatures (24 ... 28 ° C), a large amount of precipitation, 1.5-2 times higher than evaporation, and high relative humidity create conditions for constant excessive moisture. Because of this, the climate of the equatorial part of Africa is hard to endure not only by Europeans who are not accustomed to it, but also by local residents.

Subequatorial belt in North Africa, it extends north to 17 ° N. In the southern hemisphere, the subequatorial climate belt does not reach the Atlantic Ocean, and extends southward to almost 20 ° S latitude. In the summertime, each hemisphere is dominated by the monsoon, which brings humid equatorial air and heavy rainfall. In winter, the subequatorial belt is influenced by the trade wind, which brings masses of dry tropical air. This is a period of complete absence of rain and very low relative humidity.

The duration of the wet season, annual precipitation and moisture within the belt vary from the equator towards the tropics and from west to east. From the equator to the tropics, the duration of the wet period gradually decreases from 10 to 2-3 months. From west to east, precipitation decreases due to the weakening of the monsoon. The driest areas within the subequatorial belt of the northern hemisphere are on the Somali Peninsula, which is barred from the equatorial monsoon by the Ethiopian Highlands, and in northern Sudan, bordering the tropical belt. Temperatures in the subequatorial zones are high for most of the year, but the annual differences are more pronounced than in the equatorial zone. The hottest time is at the beginning of the rainy season, when the average temperature exceeds 30 ° C. However, even in the coldest months, the average temperature is never below 20 ° C.

Large areas of Africa, especially in the northern hemisphere, are characterized by arid tropical climate.

In the northern hemisphere, the hot dry tropical climate is characteristic of the Sahara. In summer, the surface of North Africa heats up strongly and the northeastern trade wind rushes there, bringing air with a relative humidity of 15-30%. In winter, an anticyclonic regime is established over North Africa, therefore, throughout the year, conditions over the Sahara are not conducive to precipitation. Dry air and extremely low cloud cover, combined with an almost complete absence of vegetation, create conditions for sharp daily temperature fluctuations. The volatility is about 20-25 times the actual evaporation.

The climate along the coast of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden is also extremely arid. The winter northeastern trade wind, sweeping over the Red Sea, is almost not saturated with moisture and gives only a little precipitation on the coast itself. The summer monsoon, which carries rainfall to the Sudan region, leaves a huge amount of moisture on the western and southwestern slopes of the Ethiopian Highlands. It penetrates to the east coast in the form of a hair dryer and does not give precipitation. Therefore, the shores of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden are some of the hottest and driest regions on Earth.

In the southern hemisphere, an arid tropical climate is characteristic of the Kalahari Basin, but the rainfall there is slightly higher than in the Sahara, thanks to the southeast trade wind blowing from the Indian Ocean.

This trade wind brings a particularly large amount of precipitation to the coast of the Mozambique Channel and the slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains. In this regard, on the eastern edge of the tropical belt of the southern hemisphere in Africa stands out region of humid trade-wind climate.

For the western outskirts of the continent in the tropical belt of the northern and southern hemispheres, where the influence of the eastern periphery of the Atlantic maximums affects the coast, coastal desert climate... The prevailing winds blowing towards the equator create flows of relatively cold waters on the ocean surface - the Benguela and Canary cold currents. The cooled air of the eastern periphery of the Atlantic maximums forming above them flows onto the heated surface of the continent, creating a temperature inversion. The air coming from the ocean contains a significant amount of water vapor, but during inversion, condensation of these vapors does not occur and very little precipitation falls, although the relative humidity of the air is high. Temperatures are low (average monthly, as a rule, below 21 ° C), and diurnal amplitudes are less significant than in continental deserts. It rains in the southwestern part of Africa (Namib Desert) even less often than in the Sahara, but there is often abundant dew and fog, the moisture of which is absorbed by some plants. Humidity and stuffiness of coastal deserts is more difficult for a person to endure than the dry, scorching heat of a continental desert.

Lesson type: lesson in new knowledge.

The purpose of the lesson: study of the features of the climate in Africa and the factors that shape the climate of the continent using the technology of problem-based learning.

Tasks:
Educational: to characterize the climate of Africa, to prove that Africa is the hottest continent, to find out the influence of climate-forming factors on the climate of the continent.
Educational: to develop skills of work in dynamic groups and micro-collectives, skills of self-assessment and mutual examination.
Developing: develop the ability to work with a map, read a map, solve problematic problems.

Express Lesson Plan "Climate of Africa"

During the classes:

Statement of the educational task of the lesson.
1 Stage of knowledge testing
Knowledge actualization - geographical dictionary (students answer, orally explaining each term)

• Climate
• Trade winds
• Isotherms
• Equinox days
• Solstice days

African records (repetition of the material from previous lessons):

• Nile - the longest river in the world 6671 km
• The hottest continent
• The only mainland that is located in all four hemispheres
• The highest temperature on earth + 58 ° С
• The largest tropical Sahara desert with an area of ​​more than 7 million square kilometers
• The largest sushi animal is the African elephant

Stage 2 - explanation of the new material

Now name the climate record in Africa: "Africa is the hottest continent." Let us prove this statement.
"Africa is the hottest continent":

1. The highest temperature on Earth + 58 ° С
2. Most of Africa is located between the equator and the tropics, i.e. in the hot heat zone of the Earth. (Why is it hot here? The sun is at its zenith, i.e. the sun's rays are falling in a straight line)
3. In most of Africa, the average annual temperature is not lower than + 20 ° С
4. Average monthly temperature not lower than + 8 ° С

What is the climate of Africa? For this we use a thematic map - climatic. Let's open page 171 of the textbook. How to work with a climate map? Let's pay attention to the conventional signs. What can be determined?
Climate of Africa: students work, write in a notebook
1.Absolute maximum t? (Near Tripoli + 58 ° С)
2.Absolute minimum t? (Near Maung -4 ° С)
3.The most precipitation falls? (On the coast of the Gulf of Guinea more than 2000 mm per year)
4.The least amount of precipitation falls? (In the northern and southern parts of the continent in the Sahara and Namib deserts less than 100 mm per year)
5. For North Africa, the average t? (January + 22 ° С, July + 24 ° С)
6. For South Africa, the average t? (January + 16 ° С, July + 8 ° С)

Question: Why in northern Africa, January temperatures are lower than July, and in the southern part of January is much warmer than July?

Estimated Answer: In the southern hemisphere, due to the position of the earth, the seasons are reversed, and the northern hemisphere winter months - December, January and February in the southern hemisphere are summer months. Therefore, January is also warmer in southern Africa, it is a summer month.
Let us determine what factors determine such a climate in Africa. To do this, we will draw up a table: (the main task is to use the competencies of students, you can refer to page 39 of the textbook Fig. 2)
Climate-forming factors

Stage 3 - consolidation of new material

Questions:
1.The tree in the picture above grew on the plain of the Somali Peninsula. Find the peninsula on the map and try to explain the reason why the crown of the tree stretched out strongly in the horizontal direction. Annex 1 .
2. Do you have such shadows in your area as shown in the picture? Why? Where in Africa can you see such shadows? Appendix 2
3. It is known that the closer to the ocean, the more humid the climate. How do you then explain the presence of the coastal Namib desert in Africa (show it on the map). Make a description of its climate. Appendix 3
4. In the Namib Desert there is a dwarf tree - Velvichia. Determine why this plant has huge, tough leaves, but everyone knows that desert plants have small leaves or have been modified into thorns. Appendix 4
5. "Kilimangara - shining mountain" in translation from the language of the African people Swahili. Explain why this name was given if it is known that the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro are composed of rocks that do not give an intense sheen. What sparkles at the top of the volcano? Appendix 5.
6. On which slope (east or west) of the Drakensberg Mountains and why is there a lot of precipitation? Appendix 6
Further, self-control is carried out on the topic of the lesson: (each student receives a card)

Self-control (put in the + or - columns)

Work with these questions at home
Outcome of work

Control Surname, name _____________________________________________
Option 2

A mutual check is carried out (the answers are written on the board by the map), grades are given for the lesson.
Homework § 46-47 and self-control questions are given
Let's summarize the lesson.
In the lesson can be used Technological map for the student Appendix 7

The climate of Africa can be described as a unique phenomenon due to its location.

Africa is the only continent in the world that stretches on two sides of the equator.

It is interesting that the equator not only divides the globe into two hemispheres, it also divides the African continent almost equally.

The climate has a very large impact on the nature of the area, because it determines the weather regimes, as well as changes in weather conditions.

The soil of the area, flora and fauna, all kinds of sectors of the economy, as well as

The formation of certain climatic conditions in Africa is influenced by a variety of factors that subsequently determine the life and activities of people who live in a specific type of climate.

Africa is considered the hottest continent due to its location in the hottest climatic zones.

Interestingly, three of the four climatic zones on the continent are repeated twice.

Due to the fact that Africa is crossed by the equator, around which the equatorial climatic zone has formed, the remaining climatic zones mirror each other.

The subequatorial, tropical, subtropical and temperate zones are found twice on the continent.

Equatorial climate zone of Africa

The equatorial belt occupies an area along the Gulf of Guinea and runs up to the depression in the Congo and.

The whole year is dominated by equatorial warm air mass, which determines the weather conditions.

In this part of Africa there are no seasons with temperature changes and changes in weather conditions, it is constantly very hot here and it often rains. Precipitation falls evenly throughout the year.

365 days a year, the temperature is high here - from 24 ° C to 28 ° C.

The equatorial climate is characterized by abundant rainfall. During the year, in different regions of the equatorial part of the continent, precipitation falls from 1500 to 2500 mm.

Because of this, very high humidity and heat are formed, which is difficult to endure, the coolness of the night brings relief.

In the African equatorial part, constant clouds and frequent fogs can be observed.

Clouds gather almost every day before lunch, which in the afternoon, in the late afternoon, materialize in rain or thunderstorm.

They represent the flora and fauna in a wonderful abundance, which is not fully understood.

On two sides of the equator, as well as from the east of the equatorial belt, subequatorial climatic zones stretch.

This climatic zone is also very hot, with temperatures throughout the year varying from 26 to 30 ° C in summer and 15 to 17 ° C in winter.

Subequatorial climate zone of Africa

In the subequatorial climate zone, rainy and dry seasons are clearly visible.

The duration of the rains, as well as the numerical indicators of precipitation, decrease as the belt moves away from the equator.

This directly affects the flora of the area.

In places where there is not enough rainfall, tree vegetation practically does not grow, lush forests are replaced by light forests, which smoothly turn into shrouds.

It is very interesting to note the alternation in the subequatorial climatic zones of the rainy season and the predominance of the dry season.

While in one of the subequatorial zones of Africa there is a rainy season, which brings equatorial air mass, in another subequatorial zone at this time, air mass from the tropics dominates, which entails the onset of the dry season.

Tropical climate zone of Africa

A characteristic feature of this climate is dry, hot weather and minimal rainfall, which decreases with distance from the center of the continent and further into its interior.

Africa for the most part is spread in a tropical climate, so there are a lot of deserts, the formation of which is facilitated by dry air, a remote location from the ocean, as well as increased pressure due to tropical air masses.

These are ideal conditions for the development of numerous deserts and savannas.

The Sahara is the largest desert on the planet and is located in the tropical climate of Africa. Not a single drop of precipitation may fall here for years and it is extremely difficult for a person to be here.

The air is filled with fine dust and very often strong winds blow, creating sand dust storms.

Wind and dust form whimsical sand.

The tropical belt, in addition to aridity, is inherent in a very sharp daily temperature drop.

During the day, the thermometer rises above 40 ° C, heating up the sand and air, and at night the temperature drops sharply by a couple of tens of degrees and can go down to negative values.

The maximum air temperature worldwide was recorded in the Libyan Desert of the African tropical belt and reached 58 ° C.

The northern coast, as well as the extreme south of the mainland, occupies a subtropical belt, which is characterized by a change in air masses and a division of the year according to seasons.

The average annual temperature is approximately 20 ° C. It varies significantly depending on the summer and winter seasons.

Subtropical climate of Africa

The subtropical zone of Africa in the northern and southwestern parts of the continent is characterized by a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and precipitation in winter, which brings temperate air.

In the southeast, a subtropical humid climate prevails.

It contributes to the fact that throughout the year, precipitation is distributed quite evenly here.