The climate of Africa

The formation of the characteristics of the African climate is influenced by various factors. The continent is located within seven belts. Because the equatorial line crosses Africa almost in half, the climatic zones are repeated from the equator to the borders of the continent. At the same time, it should be noted that the conditions under which weather formation takes place, to the south and north of the middle of the continent, have their own characteristics. To a greater extent, this is due to the fact that the area of the northern part is twice as large as the area of the southern region of the continent. In addition, the southern subcontinent lies between the Indian and Atlantic Ocean. Equally important is the neighborhood with Eurasia, from which the north and north-east of Africa is separated by warm intercontinental seas (Red and Mediterranean). On the territory of the continent two tropical, two subequatorial and equatorial belts are distinguished . In the subtropics lie the extreme North and extreme South Africa.

The climate of the coast of the continent is formed under the influence of sea currents. For the north-western, eastern, south-western regions, low humidity is characteristic. This is due to the influence of the Canary (cold) current. The south-eastern and western shores are more humid. Here the climate of Africa is influenced by warm currents (Mozambique and Guinea).

The main part of the continent lies between the tropics, in connection with which it receives a lot of solar heat and very well warms, especially on a vast northern territory. The prevalence of high temperatures makes the climate of Africa the hottest on the planet.

Some elevation of the edges of the continent, in comparison with the inner region, contributes to the formation of the continentality characteristic of the continent. This is particularly pronounced in the northern part, due to its size and proximity to Eurasia.

The climate of Africa is predominantly formed under the influence of the trade-winds and the subtropical peaks of both hemispheres.

On the territory of the Sahara (in North Africa) dry north-western and north-eastern winds prevail. A southwest monsoon blows towards them, bringing the moist air and rain to the territory of the Guinea coast and Sudan.

The climate of Africa in the east, in the region of Ethiopia and Somalia is formed under the influence of the Indian monsoon.

Almost the entire southern territory of Africa is characterized by a dry climate, especially in the interior. An exception is the Cape region. Here cyclonic activity is activated along the polar front.

In the main part of the continent, high temperatures are established under the influence of strong insolation (illumination) and depend on the height of the solstice. The average annual temperature in a large region of the continent exceeds 20 ° C. Due to the fact that the northern part of Africa is more massive, it heats up more. Here the highest monthly temperature (35-40 ° C) and the maximum daily temperature recorded on the planet (up to 58 ° C) are recorded.

"Continental" climate is manifested throughout Africa. It is expressed mainly in significant daily temperature fluctuations. So, for example, in the Sahara, the amplitudes can reach fifty degrees.

The climate in Africa is characterized by extremely uneven distribution of precipitation. In the equatorial part, heavy rains fall regularly. Maximum precipitation was recorded on the slopes of the Cameroonian Massif.

To the south and north of the equatorial belt, rainfall is associated with the influence of the monsoon. Their total annual rates vary greatly depending on the terrain and geographic location.

To the extreme south and extreme north of the continent with the approach to the subtropical belt, the amount of rains increases.