Map of Africa showing major Latitudes, Longitudes, Gulfs, Islands and Ocean currents.  

a.       Define these climatic terms. Mean daily temperatures, Mean monthly temperature range, Annual temperature range, Diurnal range of temperature, Mean annual temperature, Annual rainfall, Mean monthly rainfall and Rainfall reliability.

 

Mean daily temperature is the average temperature for the day.  It is obtained by adding the minimum and maximum temperatures recorded in a day and dividing the total by 2

Mean monthly temperature.  This is the average temperature for the month.  Its obtained by the total of all the daily mean temperatures of all the days in the month and dividing the total by the number of days in that given month.

Annual temperature range.  This is the difference between the mean temperature of the hottest month and that of the coldest months.

Diurnal range (daily range) of temperature is the difference between the highest and the coldest temperatures for the day.

Mean annual temperature: Is the average temperature for the year.  Its obtained by the sum total of all temperatures in the year then dividing the total with the number of years. Almost the same as annual temperature.

Annual rainfall.  Is the total amount of rainfall received in the year.

Mean monthly rainfall.  Is the average rainfall for a month.  It’s obtained by the sum Total of all the daily mean rainfall of all the days in the month and then dividing the total by the number of days in the month.

Rainfall reliability: Refers to the amount of a place’s mean annual rainfall that can be expected.  In other words, rainfall reliability refers to how sure one can be the rains will come when they are expected.

QUESTION 1

a.       Draw a sketch map of Africa on it, mark and name:- i)      The three major lines of latitude.          ii) One important line of longitude crossing Africa.

iii)      The four ocean currents. iv) Any four gulfs. v)        Any four Islands.

b.i)     Name two major types of ocean currents flowing along the African coastline.

ii)       State the characteristics of each type. iii) Describe the effects of each type on Africa's climate.          iv)      Identify any other factors and explain how each of them affects the climate of Africa.

c.       With reference to the Equatorial climatic region, state the climatic characteristics.

 

Question eight

For any country located in within the Equatorial region of Africa, state the

economic activities carried out.

 (ii)     Explain the influence of climate on any ONE economic activity stated in c (i) above.

 

The economic activities are :-

1.    Forestry which involves felling down trees for timber and other uses.

2.    Arable farming with emphasis on Perennial crops.

3.    Gathering and hunting.

4.    Fishing takes in the rivers and lakes.

5.    Commercial activities dealing in the exchange of goods and services.

6.    Industrialization also takes place.

 

C. (ii) Influence of climate on any one economic activity.

1.    Temperatures which are uniformly high throughout the year permit the growth of crops throughout the year Arable farming takes place.

2.    The heavy rainfall which is over 2000mm a year encourages the growth of trees and crops for lumbering and agriculture respectively.

3.    Double maximum rainfall also permits conditions growth of crops.

4.    High humidity enables trees and crops.

 

Question Nine

a)   Draw a sketch map to show the major climatic regions.

b)   Describe the characteristics of Tropical climate.

c)   Describe the economic activities carried out in the Tropical Savannah regions.

d)   Outline the problems one of the economic activities stated in (c) above faces.

 

POSSIBLE ANSWERS

14.(a) Map of Africa showing major climatic regions.

 

(b)     The characteristics of tropical Savannah climate.

1.    Hot temperature of about 20^oc throughout the year with a low annual range.

2.    Rainfall of between 500-1500 mm a year.  This rainfall is seasonal and varies in intensity.  Its heavier near the Equator but reduces towards the tropics.

3.    Warm and dry winters.

4.    There are two distinct seasons i.e wet and dry, which alternate with the position of the overhead sun.

 

(c)The economic activities carried out in tropical Savannah regions are:-

    i.     Pastoralism and Ranching are practiced in areas that are free from tsetse flies.

  ii.     Crop cultivation on subsistence, commercial and Plantational basis. Many crops such as maize Millet, sorghum, Potatoes as well as Cotton are grown for food and cash crops respectively.

 iii.     Mixed farming is carried out in areas near Urban centres.

 iv.     Lumbering is carried out in areas adjacent to Tropical rainforest zones.

  v.     Fishing is carried out in Lakes, swamps and rivers.

 vi.     There is tourism due to presence of plenty of wild animals in game parks and game reserves.

vii.     Mining is carried out in areas endowed with minerals such as Iron ore, copper, Limestone.

viii.     There is trade in urban centres as people deal in agricultural and manufactured goods.

 

The problems one of the economic activities in C above faces.

An economic activity like tourism faces problems like:-

·        Increased poaching,

·        Inadequate transport to tourist attraction centres.

·        Natural disasters like floods, diseases drought

·        Isolated cases of banditry in and around parks.

·        More people encroaching on game parks and reserve lands due to high population.

·        Political instability especially after a coup d'etat.

 

Agriculture faces the following problems:-

1.    Pests and diseases which destroy the farmers crops

2.    Poor transport which makes marketing of perishable products difficult.

3.    Lack of capital for development

4.    Poor livestock breeds.

5.    Poor Methods of farming such as monoculture, overgrazing which lead to soil erosion. 

 

Mining faces Problems like.

1.    Inadequate capital to buy equipments

2.    Lack of market for the products.

3.    Low level of technological development.

4.    Inaccessibility to the ports and high transport costs.

5.    Low grade of the Ore extracted.

 

QUESTION TEN.

Study map of Africa below showing Ocean currents and likely position of the pressure belts during May to October.

 

(a)Name:

          (i)         Lines of latitude N, O, and P.

            (ii)        The Ocean Currents marked R,S,T and U.

(b)       (i)         Describe the characteristics of Ocean  

                         currents U and T.

(ii)          What is the effect of Ocean

currents U and T on the adjacent lands.

(c)                    What are the causes of high pressure and     low pressure belts.

(d)       (i)         State the economic activities carried out in  the Mediterranean region.

          (ii)      What factors favoured the economic activities in the above.

 

POSSIBLE ANSWERS.

13(a)  Line of latitude N is Tropic of Cancer line O is Equator, line of latitude P

is Tropical of Capricorn,

 

(ii)      Ocean currents marked

          R is Cold Canary currents,

          S is Guinea currents

          T is Banguela currents

          U is Mozambique current.

(b)     (i)      Refer to question 1.

          (ii)      Refer to question 1. 

(c)         High pressure belts are caused by

 1.The overhead sun, when it is away from the Southern hemisphere resulting into  low temperatures hence high pressure.

    i.     Top of mountains with low temperatures also experience high pressure.

On the other hand low pressure belts are caused  by the following factors:-

    i.     The intense heating of the overhead sun in the Northern hemisphere which results into high temperatures.

  ii.     The heated air rises leading to the development of low pressure.

 

(i)The economic activities carried out in the Mediterranean climatic region.

1.    Arable farming increase with fertile soils.

2.    Horticulture also places.

3.    Livestock farming.

4.    Commercial activities in agriculture goods.

5.    Ship repairs in areas where water transport is possible.

6.    Oil refining especially at the coast.

7.    Industrialization in Urban areas.

8.    Lumbering due to the presence of Mediterranean forests

 

(ii)     The factors which favoured the economic activities in d(i) above.

    i.     Mountainous nature of the land is suitable for livestock keeping and Arable farming in the Valley floors.

  ii.     Mediterranean climate, which is characterised by hot, dry summers and cool wet winters is good for Horticulture.

 iii.     Sparse vegetation is good for livestock keeping.

 iv.     The availability of labour from the high population.

  v.     Well developed transport network.

 vi.     Availability of both thermal power and Hydro Electric Power

vii.     Availability of both local and international markets.

viii.     The fertile soils which support agriculture.

 

QUESTION ELEVEN

Study the table below showing the climate of Durban, Natal Province, Republic of S. Africa and answer the question that follow

Month	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
TempoC	25	26	24	22	20	17	17	18	19	21	23	24
R/Fmm	112	125	135	85	50	25	25	37	75	125	125	125

Source: Minns  WJ A geography of Africa Page 39.

 

a) Draw a  suitable diagram to represent the information in the table.

Calculate the :-

          (i)      Annual temperature range .

          (ii)      Total annual rainfall.

          (iii)     Describe the relationship between:-

          (iv)     Temperature and rainfall at the station.

b) Identify the factors responsible for the relationship described in  above.

c) Explain the effect of climate on agricultural activities in the Natal province.

 

POSSIBLE ANSWERS

A combined bar and line graph showing the climate of Durban

 

QUESTION TWELVE

Study table 1 below  showing the climate of Librevil1e, Gabon, and answer the

questions that follow.

Months.	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Temp. C	30	31	31	31	30	29	28	28	29	29	29	30
Rain mm	250	250	325	300	213	25	25	25	100	275	380	200

Climate of Libreville, Gabon

Source: Minns W.J.A Geography of Africa, New Edition Page37 

 

QUESTION TEN

(a)       Draw a suitable diagram to show the information in the table.

(b)       Calculate the:-

            (i)         Mean annual temperature.

            (ii)        Mean annual rainfall for the station.

(c)        Describe the climatic conditions experienced at the station.

(d)       Explain the:-

          (i)           Factors responsible for climatic conditions of the station

          (ii)The effects of the climate on economic activities being carried out in the area around the station.

 

POSSIBLE ANSWERS

a)         A combined bar and line graph showing the climate of Libreville, Gabon        

 

a).(i)    Mean annual temperature =355  

 

  (ii)  Mean annual rainfall

        250+250+325+300+213+25+25+25+100+275+380+200

                                                1

c).        -The temperatures are high throughout the year ranging between 28^oC-31^oC.

            -It receives a double maximum rainfall.

            -Rainfall totals are high but there is a sharp drip between the month of June to August.

d).Latitude has an immense effect on climate since it controls amount of Isolation from the sun.  The Geographical location of the station has determined the Intensity of the heat received.

Altitude is the height above Sea Level and temperatures will decrease with increase  in altitude.  This is what has been expressed as the "Higher one goes, the cooler  it becomes".  For every 200m gained, 1^oC is lost. Hence, these temperatures of the station are high because it is situated on a low altitude.

Nearness to the water masses.  The winds from the Ocean warm of the coastal regions during the night and day, the temperatures of the Ocean are cool and warmed by the wind from the land.  This flow of the wind constitutes land and Sea breezes.

Winds and sea currents.  These are responsible for the climatic conditions experienced at the station in that they share in transferring temperatures for one locating to another.  For example the warm Guinea currents causes warm effects a long the Coastal regions of Gabon.

Agriculture has been affected by the climate in that as the temperatures are high the   crops are destroyed and sometimes these high temperatures are favourable for the pests which destroy the crops leading to decrease in agricultural production.

The high rainfall totals throughout the year makes the feeder roads flooded and impassable leading to decrease in the amount of trade.

Lumbering has been boosted because the high rainfall totals is favourable for the proper growth and development of forests.

Because of the high temperatures and low rainfall amounts between June and August, Seasonal rivers and Swamps dry up leading to increase in the amount of fish caught.

The high rainfall totals also limit easy movement of tourists from one place to another as most of the tourist attraction  resorts are found in the rural areas which are not accessible due to the flooded feeder roads.

QUESTION

1.    Study the map of Africa  below showing the climatic regions and answer the Questions that follow:

a) Name towns marked 1, 2, and 3

a)            Describe the characteristics of the climate in region marked

i)             A

ii)            D

b)            Explain the influence of climate on economic activities in any one region named in (a) (ii) above.

c)            Outline the problems faced by the people involved in the economic activities identified in (C) above

(a)  (i) Towns marked

1.    Cairo

2.    Beira

3.    Cape town

     ii) Climatic regions                      A.    Mediterranean climate

B.   Tropical desert climate

C.   Equatorial climate

D.   Savannah (tropical continental) climate

(iii)         Ocean currents     X-canaries

Y- Mozambique (Agulhas) current

b)   (i) Describe the characteristics of the regions in region marked A and D

 

Characteristics of the Mediterranean region

¨      Hot and dry summers of temperatures ranging from 20º to24ºC

¨      Cool and wet winters of 10ºC to 13ºC

¨      Moderate rainfall totals 500mm – 700mm

¨      Summer drought

¨      Temperatures range from 24 during summer and 10 C during winter.

¨      The annual range of temperature is quite large (14ºC)

¨      Onshore westerlies bring in winter rainfall.

¨      There is fog.

(ii) Characteristics of Savannah Climate

1.    High temperature of over 20C

2.    High diurnal range of temperature (14-17C)

3.    Annual temperature range is small ( about 8C)

4.    Rainfall varies between 1700 mm towards the Equator to less than 500mm towards the semi desert margins.

5.    Humidity is high during the wet season and low during the dry season.

6.    Hot offshore winds

7.    Convectional winds bring convectional rainfall associated with the ITCZ.

8.    Heavy cloud cover towards the Equator.

9.    Less cloud cover towards the desert.

 

c)    Explain the influence of climate on the economic activities identified in c) above.

There are a number of economic activities taking place in the regions identified however the common ones are the following:

¨      Agriculture which involves crop growing and animal keeping takes place because of favourable rainfall and temperatures

¨      Forestry which may involve lumbering and gathering. This are favoured by heavy rainfall in the areas.

¨      There is also mining and quarrying.

¨      Fishing

¨      Trade and industry

c) ii)    The common problems faced in any of the regions are the following:

    i.     Land shortage which leads to land disputes and quarrels.

   ii.     Poor transport and communication.

 iii.     Muddy roads in the Equatorial regions of Africa.

 iv.     Low price for agricultural goods.

   v.     Dense vegetation which is difficult to clear in the humid areas of Africa.

 vi.     Lack of skilled labour.

vii.     Rural urban migration among other problems.

N.B The correct points depend on the region selected