KAWA MULTIMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
Human activities.
Man has tampered with the natural environment and in the process caused changes in the atmospheric behaviour. Deforestation, swamp reclamation, sinking of boreholes and bush burning are some of the activities that have intensified drought conditions in many parts of the world. In addition pollution of the atmosphere has contributed to the slow but steady rise in temperature; a phenomenon popularly known as "Global Warming".
There are many factors which affect the climate of the various places on the surface of the earth. It should be noted however that no single cause can explain world climate in isolation. All the factors in conjunction contribute to the climatic characteristics that prevail in various places on the earth's surface.
Most of Africa has a warm and hot climate, but the humidity and amount of rainfall vary dramatically from area to area.
Africa has the largest tropical area of any continent. The Equator runs through the middle of Africa and about 90% of the continent lies within the tropics. In countries south of the Equator, the seasons are opposite those of countries that lie north of the Equator. But temperatures are high the year around almost everywhere in Africa.
The variations between summer and winter temperatures are slight. In fact, the difference between day time and night time temperatures in most parts of the continent is greater than the difference in the average temperatures between the coldest and warmest month. For this reason, some people say that night time is the “winter” of the tropics.
Africa’s highest temperatures occur in the Sahara and in parts of Somalia. The highest temperature ever recorded in the world was 58C (136F) in the shade of Al Aziziyah, Libya, on September 13 1922. At I-n-Salah, Algeria and along the north coast of Somalia, July temperatures soar to 46C or higher almost everyday. Night time temperatures however may drop sharply. The Sahara also has the greatest seasonal range of temperatures in Africa. Winter temperatures in the Sahara average from 10-16C. Near the Equator, temperatures may average 24C or more the year around. But temperatures of more than 38C are rare.
The coolest regions in Africa are the north west, the highland areas of the east and parts of the south. In Johannesburg, south Africa, for example, the African temperature in January, the warmest month is 20C. Frost and snow fall are common in higher mountains of Africa.
There are many factors which affect the climate of the various places on the surface of the earth. It should be noted however that no single cause can explain world climate in isolation. All the factors in conjunction contribute to the climatic characteristics that prevail in various places on the earth's surface.
Most of Africa has a warm and hot climate, but the humidity and amount of rainfall vary dramatically from area to area.
Africa has the largest tropical area of any continent. The Equator runs through the middle of Africa and about 90% of the continent lies within the tropics. In countries south of the Equator, the seasons are opposite those of countries that lie north of the Equator. But temperatures are high the year around almost everywhere in Africa.
The variations between summer and winter temperatures are slight. In fact, the difference between day time and night time temperatures in most parts of the continent is greater than the difference in the average temperatures between the coldest and warmest month. For this reason, some people say that night time is the “winter” of the tropics.
Africa’s highest temperatures occur in the Sahara and in parts of Somalia. The highest temperature ever recorded in the world was 58C (136F) in the shade of Al Aziziyah, Libya, on September 13 1922. At I-n-Salah, Algeria and along the north coast of Somalia, July temperatures soar to 46C or higher almost everyday. Night time temperatures however may drop sharply. The Sahara also has the greatest seasonal range of temperatures in Africa. Winter temperatures in the Sahara average from 10-16C. Near the Equator, temperatures may average 24C or more the year around. But temperatures of more than 38C are rare.
The coolest regions in Africa are the north west, the highland areas of the east and parts of the south. In Johannesburg, south Africa, for example, the African temperature in January, the warmest month is 20C. Frost and snow fall are common in higher mountains of Africa.