Africa
Sahel Zone
Meaning sea shell, and sea of sand close to sahara high temps in high 90's no humidity very low rainfall
humid tropical Zone
high temp high humidity up 70 lower 80 rainfall heavy but not as much as equatorial longer rainy season
Dry Tropical Zone
high temp in 90's moderate humidity in 50 and 60's light rainfall much longer dry season- up to 9 months
What area receives more rainfall?
highlands and coastal areas
The quality of rainfalls tends to decrease where?
inland
Characteristic of land and water?
land heats up more quickly, have higher temps than water, cool more quickly than water
What are well-known among climate controls?
latitude, land and water, geographic position and prevailing winds, topography, ocean currents, and air pressure and wind systems
Deserts? vegetation
little or no vegetation drough-resistant crops for what exists short lived vegetation of herbs and shrubs sprout when rain 2 deserts are Sahara in north central and Kalahari/Namib in southwestern
Highland Zone
meaning mountain or montsru cooler temps in 70's to low 80's high humidity b.c of condensation heavy rainfall
What are some economic activities
mineral explorations, livestock overgrazing, logging, road construction, land-clearing
Sudan or Dry Savanna?
mixture of trees and grassland fewer frees and shorter grass rice, corn, guinea-corn grown here
what is topography?
mountains and highlands (how high or low)
most of africa has high temps with exceptions where?
north rein/ southern tips eastern africa for some months of year West Africa have somewhat lower temps Addis Ababa on Ethiopian highlands
What is the deserts day time high and night time low?
136 degrees day 22 degree at night
What does latitude do?
Determine amount of sunshine or affects amount of solar radiation received
Iowa looks at temp to tell season whereas Africa looks at what?
Precipitation or rainfall
What is the most important factor influencing vegetation in Africa? other factors?
Rainfall most important others- altitude, soil, human economic activities
Most of the African continent has what type of climate?
Tropical
What is the wettest part of Africa? and how much?
Western Cameroon on Central Africa 400 inches or 33 ft
On average how much does the deserts receive in rainfall?
about 6 in.
What are some human made factors?
agriculture- both positive and neg. logging- neg construction- neg grazing livestock mining tree-planting campaigns
What are factors that affect or influence climate conditions called?
climate controls
Equatorial Zone
close to equator receive more sunshine rainfall heavy temps high 90's humidity high 90's
Tropical rainforest?
densest vegetation tall trees block out sunlight little undergrowth of bushes/grasses 3 or more layers of trees very heavy rainfall rich in natural resources- timber & minerals fruits, nuts grown here
what are the two main seasons in africa?
dry and rainy
some parts of tropical africa have 4 distinct season called?
dry season main rainy season short dry season short rainy season
What are the 6 climatic regions?
equatorial humid tropical dry-tropical sahel desert highland
Savanna Woodland?
extends over more parts of Africa than any other zone (excluding desert) yams, cassavas, vegetables cultivated here mixture of trees and grassland tree rising common
what is cold, dry, dusty wind from sahara desert?
harmattan, which lower west africa from mid-Nov to March
Montane or Highland? vegetation
high rainfall dense vegetation high altitude= lot of rainfall several crops grown here
Humidity is very high during which season?
rainy season
What is the exception of northern and southern climates?
subtropical and cooler climates
What are characteristics of tropical thunderstorms?
sudden rain fall (no warning) great intensity brief (no longer than 30min) stops suddenly thunder/lightning
Desert Zone
temps extremely high (lower at night) virtually no humidity extemly low rainfall (1-4 inches)
What are the 7 main vegetation zones?
tropical rainforest savanna woodland sudan or dry savanna sahel savanna deserts montane or highland
How much does it rain in the tropical rainforests compared to the desert?
tropical- rains all year round desert- hardly rains
Sahel Savanna?
zone closest to Sahara Desert little or no vegetation thorn bushes and small trees stunted grass common from lack of rainfall