Climatic zones and regions of Africa. Africa climatic zones Climatic zones and natural zones of the mainland Africa

The article contains information about climatic zones continent. Forms an idea of ​​the features of the geographical location.

Climate zones of Africa

The characteristic features of the continental climate are determined by the orientation of most of it in the latitudes of the equator and the tropics.

At elevated temperatures of air masses, the climatic difference of individual regions depends on the amount of precipitation and the duration of the rainy season.

Rice. 1. Zonality of climatic zones of the mainland.

Large areas of the continent regularly need moisture. The mainland is characterized by the transfer of air from the tropics by the trade winds. The height of the banks prevents the entry of wet winds.

Western territories located in the latitudes of the tropics are dominated by cool currents.

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There are seven climatic zones:

• equatorial;
• a couple of subequatorial;
• a couple of tropical;
• a couple of subtropics.

Due to Africa's location in these climatic zones, its climate is determined by its geographic location.

Rice. 2. Flora of climatic zones of the mainland.

Table "Climatic zones of Africa"

Rice. 3. Mainland fauna.

To get an idea of ​​the climatic zones in which Africa is located, it is necessary to understand that the mainland is cut by the contour of the equator. The zonation of climatic zones starts here from the equatorial one.

At zero latitude lies the wettest continental natural region. The area accounts for the maximum amount of precipitation. Over two thousand mm. in year. Then follows the subequatorial belt. Here, the level of precipitation is significantly reduced. During the calendar year, about one and a half thousand mm of precious moisture falls.

The tropical belt, among others, is a significant area of ​​​​the continent.

Regarding orientation to the hemisphere, the level of precipitation can vary: from three hundred to fifty mm. in a year.

The subtropical climatic zone captures only the edge of the coast in the northern part of the mainland and the "corner" that belongs to the southern part of South Africa.

It is windy and humid here all year round. IN winter period the temperature can drop by about 7°. The total amount of precipitation does not exceed five hundred mm. in year.

What have we learned?

We found out in which climatic zones the continent lies. Determine what factors affect the climate of Africa. We learned in which climatic zone of Africa the greatest and least amount of precipitation falls.

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Remember:

1. What are climatic zones? What climate zone is Africa in?

2. What types of climate do you know? Which of them do you think are common in Africa?

Climatic zones mainland. Due to the peculiar geographical position in Africa, climatic zones are also placed separately. Africa is located in seven climatic zones. Due to the fact that the equator crosses the mainland in half, climatic conditions are mirrored from the equator to the edges of the mainland. On the territory of Africa, the equatorial, two subequatorial, two tropical belts are defined, the extreme southern and northern parts of the mainland are located in the subtropical belts.

Find them on the map of the atlas "Climatic zones and regions of the world."

Most of Africa is in the tropical zone, and only the outskirts of the mainland belong to the subtropics. Beyond the borders subtropical zone Africa does not stretch, which is why it is the hottest of all the continents on the planet. Africa is located within the tropical and subtropical circulation of air masses. The part of the mainland located in the Northern Hemisphere is twice as large in area as in the Southern; this determines the greater continentality and aridity of the climate of North Africa. Continentality is also enhanced due to the proximity of the large continental mass of Eurasia. Arid climate is common in deserts and semi-deserts.

The equatorial climatic zone occupies part of the Congo River basin (Zaire) and the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. IN equatorial belt Equatorial air masses predominate throughout the year. It's hot and humid here all the time. The annual temperature amplitude is very small. The daily temperature range is much larger than the summer one. Relative Humidity air in this zone is very high (almost 85%). Such a high temperature as in the Sahara does not happen here, however, sweltering heat reigns continuously, especially heavy due to the high humidity of the air, the night coolness gives temporary relief.

In the equatorial zone, there is a lot of cloudiness, frequent fogs. The weather is usually clear in the morning. During the day, due to the strong heating of the earth's surface by the sun, the equatorial air, saturated with moisture, rises. Cumulus clouds form. In the afternoon there are showers, which are often accompanied by a strong storm and a thunderstorm. After a while, the downpour seems to extinguish the entire firestorm. Toward evening, clear weather sets in.

In the equatorial region of Western and Eastern Congo, an average of 1000 to 1500 mm of precipitation falls. The total number of days with precipitation is approximately 120. In the mountains of the equatorial belt maximum amount rainfall occurs at an altitude of 2400-2500 m. High temperatures, significant precipitation, high humidity create favorable conditions for the development of natural and cultivated vegetation. Humid multilayered tropical forests are common here (Fig. 23).

The growing season lasts for a year. In many places, instead of cut down forests, various heat-loving crops are grown, among which large areas are occupied by hevea, bananas, cocoa, coffee tree, etc.

Rice. 23. Rainforests Africa

Rice. 24. Savannas of Africa

Subequatorial climatic zones are located near the equatorial belt of the mainland up to a latitude of 15-20°. There is a clear alternation of summer wet and winter dry seasons. Such a change causes a rhythm of air masses that have a seasonal character: in summer, a humid equatorial air mass reigns here, and in winter, a dry tropical one. In the subequatorial zone, humid and hot summer weather is established with temperatures of + 26-28 ° С and absolute humidity up to 20-22 mm, which contributes to the intensive growth of vegetation. During the winter tropical (trade wind) dry monsoon, it stops growing. During the dry period, the African savannas are very reminiscent of a desert: grasses dry up, leaves fall from trees, small rivers dry up, daily temperature fluctuations increase, the average maximum temperature can reach +38 ° C (Fig. 24). Often the sky is covered with a smoky veil from huge grass fires. Thunderstorms often occur at the end of the dry season.

Tropical climatic zones occupy large areas and are represented in both hemispheres of the mainland. During the year, continental tropical air masses dominate here, trade winds blow. They carry dry and hot air. Characteristic high temperatures air and soil with a small amount precipitation and moisture content in the atmosphere. The average monthly air temperature in summer is more than +30 °С, and in winter - +20 °С. The soil in some places warms up to + 80-90 ° С. Annual quantity atmospheric precipitation on average does not exceed 150 mm. In some places, 1-3 mm of precipitation falls, and often for 5-10 years there is not even a drop of rain. The dry period lasts from 4 to 6 months. In savannahs, the distance from the equator decreases the rainy period and the amount of precipitation. Over most of the area in the summer there are powerful updrafts in the atmosphere, but clouds do not form, because the level of condensation is very high. Therefore, deserts formed here. The largest desert in Africa is the Sahara. It is located in the area of ​​action of dry trade winds. A small amount of precipitation causes low air humidity. The sky is mostly cloudless, the air is saturated with hot dust, not transparent, so the sky takes on a whitish hue. In summer, a very strong wind arises - a simum, carrying clouds of sand. High air and soil temperatures predominate day and night. There are often dust storms.

Rice. 25. Mediterranean coast of Africa

South Africa has a tropical desert climate over a smaller area. Here the mainland has a small extent from west to east. On the coast of the Atlantic Ocean it rains very rarely. Here is the Namib Desert.

In the tropical latitudes of Southeast Africa on the eastern slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains under the influence of the warm Mozambique Current indian ocean a region of tropical humid climate.

So, in the tropical zone of Africa there are two types of climate: tropical desert and tropical humid.

Subtropical climatic zones are the extreme northern and southern parts of Africa, stretching from west to east in the form of narrow stripes. The average summer temperature is +20 °C, but it varies considerably from season to season. Often this climatic zone is called the Mediterranean climatic region (typical for the coast mediterranean sea) (Fig. 25). Summers are dry and hot, winters are warm and humid, since the westerly winds during this period bring humid air masses from temperate latitudes from the ocean. In the central regions of North Africa, dry southerly winds - siroccos - often occur, which bring tropical air masses with big amount continental dust. Here the soils require artificial irrigation. In winter, rains fall in both subtropical zones, and sometimes even snow. In the Atlas Mountains in winter, snow forms a snow cover for 80-100 days. Due to sufficient moisture, woody vegetation develops in the mountains. Part of the precipitation is used for artificial irrigation of agricultural land in the summer on the coasts and in the valleys. Both subtropical belts of Africa are important areas for organizing tourism and recreation.

Practical work 4

Determining Africa's Climate Types from Climate Diagrams

Analyze climatic diagrams (Fig. 26, p. 54). Identify the types of African climate they characterize.

Rice. 26. Climatic diagrams of Africa's belts

Questions and tasks

1. In what climatic zones is mainland Africa located?

2. Determine the features of the equatorial climatic zone of Africa.

3. What are the main features of the subequatorial belt in Africa.

4. How does the climate of the tropical zone of North Africa differ from the climate of the tropical zone of South Africa?

5. What character traits subtropical climate zone of North Africa?

Working with map and atlas

Determine by climate atlas map geographical position climatic zones of the African continent.

Explorer Page

Explore why the areas of action of the trade winds are shifting north and south.

Interesting fact

The arid climate is typical for the tropical and subtropical latitudes of Africa (common in deserts) (Fig. 27). It is characterized by large daily and annual air temperature amplitudes; almost complete absence or insignificant amount of precipitation (100-150 mm per year), moisture quickly evaporates. The rivers flowing through the desert become shallow and end in drainless basins with salt lakes. Sharp fluctuations in temperature are observed - dense rocks are destroyed and turn into sand.

Rice. 27. Sahara Desert

In what climate zones is Africa located and got the best answer

Answer from Elizabet[guru]
Climate zones of Africa

The equatorial climate belt is almost entirely surrounded by the subequatorial climate belt (equatorial monsoon climate), covering Sudan, East Africa and northern South Africa up to the Zambezi River. The Abyssinian Highlands and the high peaks of East Africa, located in the belt of this climate, are characterized by a clearly pronounced vertical climatic zonality (up to winter-nival in the Abyssinian Highlands and constantly nival in Kilimanjaro, Kenya, Rwenzori, etc.). The Abyssinian highlands are distinguished, in addition, by a sharp expositional difference in the climate of the western and eastern slopes.

The northern and southern boundaries of the subequatorial climate are determined by the summer (for each subcontinent) position of the tropical front. During the year, summer wet and winter dry seasons alternate here, and temperatures fluctuate noticeably due to the change of humid and hot equatorial air (in summer) and dry and very hot continental tropical air (in winter). This type of climate covers about 1/3 (almost 10 million km2) of Africa. The alternation of summer rains and winter drought is even more pronounced on the African continent than in India, so Africa, with more reason than India, can be called the country of classical equatorial monsoons.

Tropical (trade wind) climate belts are located in both parts of the continent to the south and north of the equator, between the winter position of the polar front and the summer position of the tropical front. Deserts occupy a total of almost half the area of ​​​​the mainland, and for this reason Africa is rightly called the classic area of ​​​​desert development. This climate is characterized by the constant dominance of continental tropical air, great dryness of the air and high, especially summer, temperatures.

The largest area of ​​the desert is occupied in the northern part of the mainland, where the world's largest desert, the Sahara, lies.

In the southern part of Africa, desert landscapes are limited by the southwestern region of the Kalahari and a narrow strip of coast, where, by analogy with the Atlantic region of the Sahara, the climate of a trade-wind oceanic desert is distinguished with a predominance of marine tropical air (in descending currents of the eastern periphery of the oceanic pressure maximum).

In the rest of the tropical belt of South Africa, in the continental sector (between Zambezi and Orange), the climate is arid to semi-arid, with thermal convection summer precipitation. Along the east coast, in the tropical zone, the climate is maritime, trade winds, with a summer maximum of precipitation.

The extreme north and south of the mainland lie in subtropical climate zones with a seasonal change of air masses (sea tropical air in summer, sea air of temperate latitudes in winter) The Atlas Mountains, the coast of Libya and the UAR and the southwestern outskirts of South Africa have a Mediterranean variety of this climate with winter cyclonic precipitation, on the southeastern outskirts of South Africa - monsoonal subtropics with a summer maximum of precipitation.

Answer from Luda[active]
equatorial, subequatorial, tropical and subtropical

Answer from human[newbie]
(equatorial, subequatorial, tropical, subtropical)

Answer from Anya[active]
robe belt!

The African continent crosses the equator, that is, most of it is located between the tropics. Naturally, this situation greatly influenced the climate of Africa. It is also influenced by such climatic factors as the trade winds, features of the circulation of air masses, ocean currents and features of the relief of the mainland and its latitude.

General climate characteristics, briefly

When describing general characteristics climate of Africa, first of all, we must not forget that winter and summer in different hemispheres come in different months:

• North hemisphere : winter in December, January, February;
• Southern Hemisphere : Winter in June, July, August.

Summer in Africa is very hot. The thermometer does not fall below +20 degrees. Winter also does not claim to be particularly "cold".

Even in the coolest regions of South Africa, the thermometer does not fall below +8 degrees. Thus, it is not surprising that the lowest position of the sun in this region is similar to the position of the sun in central Russia on the summer solstice.

Rice. 1 Climate of Africa. climate map

In general, in their climatic conditions Africa is very clearly divided into 4 regions:

• North Africa(dry and hot; tropical deserts and dry-loving Mediterranean forests);
• South Africa(dry and hot; tropical deserts);
• Central Africa(humid; equatorial and subequatorial moisture-loving forests);
• East Africa(moderately humid; savannahs and woodlands predominate).

Rice. 2 East Africa in summer (savannas and woodlands)

African climate types

There are several climatic zones in Africa. Since the equator crosses the mainland in half, they repeat to the north and south of it. So in Africa (judging by climate map) there are 7 climatic zones (on both sides of the equator):

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• equatorial climatic zone;
• two subequatorial belts;
• two tropical belts;
• two subtropical zones.

All climatic zones differ from each other primarily in the amount and mode of precipitation. So in the equatorial and subequatorial zones, 2000-3000 mm of precipitation per year is considered the norm (the wettest place in Africa is at the foot of Mount Cameroon, up to 9500 mm of precipitation per year can fall here). But in some regions of the subtropics, the norm is 300 mm per year.

Equatorial climate zone

Humid and hot climate. average temperature fluctuates around +23-+28, and the daily temperature amplitudes are much more significant than annual fluctuations. There is a lot of precipitation (up to 2000 mm), they fall evenly throughout the month. It can be said. That in this belt there is always one season.

Subequatorial climate zone

In the south and north of the continent, the situation is almost the same. The average temperature keeps around +23-+25. Drops in summer a large number of precipitation is less in winter. There is a seasonal change in the movement of air masses, monsoons are frequent. It is in this belt of the African continent that the deepest and longest rivers flow.

Tropical climate zone

In the tropical part of the continent, in the north and south, the situation is somewhat different from each other. Although in both parts of the tropical belt is dry and hot weather.

There is practically no precipitation in the northern part of the continent. In summer, the temperature can stay at around +40 degrees (the absolute maximum was recorded in the Libyan desert - +58 degrees), in winter - +18 degrees.

Rice. 3 Libyan desert

IN southern parts colder, more precipitation. In the west (Namib Desert) precipitation is practically absent. In summer and winter, the temperature is almost the same (average annual - from +20 to +15 degrees). In the east (Dragon Mountains) the humidity is the highest. This is facilitated by the movement of air masses from the equator and their collision with warm air coming from the ocean.

It was in the tropical zone of both hemispheres that desert spaces were concentrated. Due to the absence of clouds, the daily temperature fluctuation in the desert is very high. During the day, the sun can heat sand and stones to a temperature of +70, and at night the whole space cools down and, in some cases, the thermometer can drop below zero. In the deserts, African simum winds often blow, and at night you can hear the crackling of stones.

Subtropical climate zone

If we compare the southeastern and southwestern coasts of Africa, then in the same season, with the same climatic zone, there is a sharp change in climate. The southwest (subtropical Mediterranean climate) has dry and hot summers, while winters are also warm but humid. On the southeast coast, summers are hot and humid (due to warm air masses from the Indian Ocean). And the winter is cold and dry (the Cape Mountains prevent the penetration of precipitation).

Table"Characteristics of the climatic zones of Africa"(data from this table can be used in geography lessons grade 7).

The impact of climate on the diversity of natural and flora Africa obviously. The climate also influenced the pattern of the river network and the regime of rivers. So, where the humidity is higher, the rivers are longer and more full-flowing. They feed mainly on rainfall. Inland waters Africa also have a certain influence on the formation of Africa's climate.

Despite the fact that the African continent has the largest waterless desert in the world, it also has the second most full-flowing river in the world - the Congo and the second longest river in the world - the Nile (in terms of full-flowing and length, the Nile and the Congo "bypassed" only South American Amazon).

Rice. 4 River Nile, Africa

What have we learned?

The climate in Africa is mostly hot, but humidity, like pressure, is also different in different climatic zones. The climate of the mainland is influenced by various climatic factors. Not the last role is played by the oceans, relief and inland waters.

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Since childhood, we all know such a large and beautiful mainland as Africa. We also know that the first life originated there. I have always been interested in the question why Africa became the center of the origin of civilization? Studying geography at school, we learn that this continent is the second in area after Eurasia and lies in several climatic zones. The African continent extends from the northern subtropical zone to the southern subtropical.

Climate zones of Africa

I'll start with the equator. He practically divides Africa in half because of this, the belts of the southern and northern parts are duplicated. The following climatic zones are distinguished:

• 2 subtropical belt.
• 2 tropical belts.
• 2 Subequatorial belts.
• 1 Equatorial belt.

equatorial belt

equatorial belt- goes through central part mainland. Mostly humid and warm air currents prevail here, so there is only one type of climate - equatorial.

subequatorial belt

Subequatorial belts- located on either side of the equator. The temperature in these zones is the same as in the equatorial zone - quite high (+25…28°С). However, the change between the wet and dry cycles is clearly visible here. A feature of the subequatorial belts is Availabilitytwo rainy periods. People call them "long rains" and "short rains". Rainy periods alternate with dry winters.

tropical belt

tropical belts- occupy vast area of ​​the continent. Continental tropical air currents form in the Sahara and South Africa desert climate. In the Sahara, for several years, absent any precipitation, and the smallest dust hangs in the sky, which makes it almost impossible to see it blue. suffocating heat afternoon and cruel cold at night, severe aridity and incessant winds kill all life in the area.

So why did life originate in Africa? I think it's all about her natural conditions equatorial zone. According to one of the hypotheses, active volcanism existed in the region of the East African Rift Belt. He gave rise to many hot springs that warmed primitive people and their offspring on cold nights.