Africa climate zones. Climatic zones of Africa Location of Africa in climatic zones

Each continent is characterized by its own temperature, change of seasons, abundance or lack of moisture, diversity of vegetation, or vice versa - its complete absence. All this is formed under the influence of climatic zones, which create this or that climate.

In what climatic zones is Africa located, its climate, precipitation

The African continent is the only continent in the world that lies on either side of the equator. By the way, it has seven climatic zones, since the same zone, depending on which hemisphere it is located in, has its own climatic characteristics.

Yes, equatorial climatic belt, forms winds that carry heat and moisture all year round. The temperature here is +25°-28°C, rain falls evenly all year round and there is no division into seasons.

Subequatorial The belt occupies the north and south of the land. Depending on the dry or rainy season of the year, clearly formed types of air masses change. In the summer season, equatorial winds carry heat and moisture, and in winter - tropical winds - drier, hotter.

The temperature stays within +24-28°C all year round, there is little rainfall, and it falls during the summer season. By the way, regardless of what climatic zones Africa is located in, everywhere on this continent there is a lack of moisture.

African tropics

The tropics cover the largest part of the country. Tropical winds dominate throughout the year and shape the climate with deserts and savannas. The temperature in July is 32°C, in January +18°C. Precipitation is rare, no more than 100 mm per year. It is precisely the climate zones in which Africa is located that has led to the absence of severe cold, and especially frost, on the continent.

Subtropical The belt consists of two regions: the extreme northern and southern territories of the African continent. The temperature here is +24°C in summer, +10°C in winter. The northern and southwestern regions of Africa have a subtropical-Mediterranean climate.

From the above we can conclude in which climate zones Africa is located. The map also demonstrates that it can safely be considered the hottest continent on our planet.

Distant Australia

Australia is the smallest and driest continent on Earth. It has three climatic zones: subequatorial, tropical and subtropical.

Subequatorial occupies the northern part of the continent. In summer, the equatorial wind blows here, in winter - tropical. Air temperature +25°C all year round. Uneven precipitation affects the clear division of seasons. Summers are warm, with frequent thunderstorms and downpours of up to 2000 mm per year, and winters are hot and dry.

Tropical The belt has two types of climate. Depending on the location of the territory and the amount of precipitation that falls on it, continental (desert) and tropical climates are distinguished.

An area with a particularly dry climate is far from the ocean. There are desert areas here. The air temperature here in the summer season is +30 °C, in winter +16 °C. The west of the tropical zone is formed under the influence of the West Australian Current. Deserts stretch to the shores Indian Ocean.

The eastern part receives sufficient moisture in the form of rain. Warm air coming from Pacific Ocean, formed here favorable climate, in which the tropical forest grows.

Subtropical The belt covers southern Australia and is divided into three zones. The southwest is characterized by dry and hot summers and warm and rainy winters. The air temperature in January rises to +23°C, in June - up to +12°C.

The central part is completely desert. There is a continental climate with characteristic strong temperature changes throughout the year - hot summers and not very warm winters, with little rain.

The southeast has a humid climate, rain falls equally throughout the year, the air warms up to +24°C in summer, and up to +9°C in winter.

If you compare the climate zones in which Africa and Australia are located, you can see great similarities in the weather conditions of both continents.

Land of ice and snow

Antarctica is a continent of cold and ice. It is located in two climatic zones: Antarctic and subantarctic.

Antarctic The belt makes up almost the entire territory of the continent, which covers a layer of ice up to 4.5 km thick. And it has great importance in shaping the climate of Antarctica, since ice reflects up to 90% sunlight, which makes it difficult to warm the surface of the continent.

Arctic winter and summer

In summer, on a polar day, the temperature in the Arctic is -32°C. In winter, during the polar night, it drops below -64 °C. Maximum low temperature was -89°C, it was recorded at the Vostok station. Strong winds reach 80-90 m/s.

Subantarctic The belt is located in the northern part of Antarctica. Here the climate is milder, and the layer of ice is not so thick and in some places exposes the rocks with mosses and lichens growing on them. Precipitation in the form of snow falls in small quantities. Temperatures in summer are slightly above 0°C.

If you compare the climate zones in which Africa and Antarctica are located, you can once again see how radically different they can be. weather on our planet.

Africa is a large continent (second in the world after Eurasia), strongly elongated from north to south on both sides of the equator. There are four climate zones here. In the very north and south of the continent - Subtropical(southern South Africa and northern Sahara). Next comes Tropical zone(almost the entire Sahara, northern South Africa, Namibia, Angola, southern Madagascar). Occupies a small space near the equator Equatorial belt . And around it almost all central Africa largest in area - Subequatorial belt.

A continent like Africa is located in the following climate zones:

first climate zone: subtropical,

second climate zone: tropical,

third climate zone: subequatorial,

fourth climate zone: equatorial,

fifth climate zone: subequatorial,

sixth climate zone: tropical,

seventh climate zone: subtropical.

The belts are listed in order from north to south.

It’s not for nothing that Africa is called the hottest continent on Earth, it really is. The central part of this continent lies in the equatorial belt, characterized by high temperature and humidity. The famous equatorial forests grow here, impenetrable jungle. To the south, east and north lie subequatorial climatic zones characterized by a mixed climate - they can come here as humid equatorial ones air masses, and tropical dry. Even further from the equator lie the tropics - the driest places on the planet with high temperatures. Here lie the Sahara, Kalahari and Namib. The most extreme points continent belong to a subtropical climate and in winter air masses from temperate latitudes They can even bring snow here.

Africa is divided almost in half by the equator. What climate zones is Africa located in?

• equatorial;
• tropical;
• subequatorial and subtropical.

The climate features of Africa are determined by its location on climate map peace. Because of this position, the most big desert- Sugar.



Africa is located in the following climate zones. Table



The climate of the African belts is very similar, but there are differences. There are zones in which precipitation occurs seasonally, and there are zones where the climate is milder. Animals of Africa move in caravans in search of bodies of water. During periods of drought, crocodiles and giraffes drink from the same stream, establishing a truce at this time.

The climate of Africa is quite hot as it is located in the following climatic zones, namely: equatorial, 2 subtropical, tropical and subequatorial. The equator passes through this continent, and it is washed by two oceans, the Indian and Atlantic. Africa is also home to one of the largest deserts in the world, the Sahara.

The African continent is the only continent in the world located on both sides of the equator. In Africa there are already seven climatic zones, each of them having its own characteristics.

For example, equatorial The climate zone is supported by winds that constantly bring moisture and heat. It rains evenly throughout the year and there is no division into seasons.

North and south occupies subequatorial a belt where winds from the equator bring heat and moisture in the summer. Winter time is characterized by tropical, hot and dry winds.

The largest part of Africa is subjugated tropical a climate where tropical winds dominate all year. Which forms the climate with savannas and deserts.

Subtropical The belt is represented by two regions in the northern and southern territories. Available in Africa and subtropical-mediterranean climatic zone in the northern and southwestern parts of the continent.



The entire territory of Africa is one way or another included in various hot climate zones. It is intersected by the equator line approximately in the middle.

But the specific manifestations of the hot climate in Africa are not uniform. The north and south of the continent are dominated by dry deserts (such as the Sahara and Kalahari). The central part is dominated by rainforests, separated from the desert belt by savannah steppes, which are characterized by alternating wet and dry seasons.

Accordingly, the center of Africa is the zone equatorial climate, then subequatorial, tropical, and at the southern and northern ends there is a subzone tropical climate.

Africa, in size, is the second continent after Eurasia and is washed by two oceans:

• Atlantic
• Indian.

Climate zones Africa begins with the equatorial climate zone, followed by the subequatorial climate zone, then the tropical climate zone, and the subtropical zone.

Africa is located in seven climatic zones, namely:

1. in the equatorial
2. in two subequatorial
3. in two tropical
4. in two subtropical

Occupies the largest area subequatorial belt.

It should be noted that although Africa is considered a very hot continent, it is conditionally divided into several climatic zones, the conditions for existence in which differ. Therefore, when choosing a place of residence, it is necessary to coordinate climatic preferences.

So, there are 7 (SEVEN) belts. Let's look in more detail.

The widest part of Africa is located in the center of the hot zone of illumination. The entire continent is caressed by the sun all year round and receives a huge amount of energy from our luminary. The climate of Africa is determined by its geographical location, air circulation, the influence of the oceans, and the nature of the underlying surface. Based on the combination of these main factors, climatic zones (main and transitional) are distinguished on the continent: subtropical, tropical, subequatorial and equatorial. In this order they alternate in the northern hemisphere from north to south.

General characteristics of the African climate

The equator crosses the continent approximately in the center. The northern, larger part of the continent, extends to Mediterranean Sea in the north and the Arabian Peninsula of Eurasia in the northeast. South of the equator lies a narrow part of Africa, shaped like a triangle. The territory from the equator to the Northern Tropic receives about 200 kcal/cm2 per year. The average for total solar radiation on the mainland is 160 kcal/cm2 per year.

Africa's climate is varied, with heat and moisture distributed unevenly, especially in desert regions. Maximum amount The southwestern foot of the Cameroon volcano receives precipitation - up to 10,000 mm/year. Africa surpasses other continents in temperature indicators and is the hottest of them. Largest quantity solar heat falls on a land mass located between the Northern and Southern Tropics.

We will describe the climate of Africa based on the position of the continent's territories relative to the equator. This is the main climate-forming factor on which heating depends earth's surface, and from it - air. Important role belongs to other conditions: atmospheric circulation, the nature of the relief, features of the underlying surface, position relative to other continents, oceans. Basic and transitional climate types in Africa:

• Equatorial.
• Subequatorial (humid in the south, arid in the north).
• Tropical desert.
• Subtropical Mediterranean.

Equatorial climate of Africa

In the center of the continent, near parallel 0°, a hot and humid climate is formed. The equatorial belt covers the territory from 6° N. w. up to 5° south w. in the Congo Basin in the east, on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea it reaches 8° N. w. The conditions of this area are determined by equatorial air masses - hot and humid; It rains throughout the year. The air in January and July heats up to an average of +25 °C, and 2000-3000 mm of precipitation falls per year. The moisture coefficient reaches 1.5-2 (excessive).

Evergreen forests

The equatorial climate of Africa creates favorable conditions for heat- and moisture-loving plants. The equatorial region of Africa is covered with dense evergreen forests - hylea. It is difficult for animals and people to be under the forest canopy, where it is gloomy and stuffy, the air is saturated with the smells of decaying litter and the aroma of orchids.

Difficulty sparsely populated natural area V last years intensively mastered. Forests are being cut down to obtain valuable wood, going for export. Mahogany, abashi (African maple) and other species are mined.

Subequatorial climate zone

Occupies vast areas of the continent from 20° south. w. up to 17° N. w. More than 1/3 of Africa's territory is located in areas of subequatorial climate. In the eastern part, the transition belt is not interrupted by the equatorial one, in the southern hemisphere it does not reach the Atlantic Ocean.

Characteristics of the African climate in the subequatorial region of the continent:

1. Temperature conditions and moisture are determined by the alternating influence of tropical and equatorial air masses. As a result, seasons are formed - wet and dry.
2. Summer is dominated by hot and wet air equatorial latitudes, in winter a dry tropical air mass arrives and becomes a little cooler.
3. The duration of the dry season ranges from 2 to 10 months. Average annual temperature air - above +20 °C, precipitation will be about 1000 mm/year (in the southern part of the belt).
4. The duration of the wet period and the average annual precipitation decrease towards the outskirts of the subequatorial belt.
5. IN northern regions There is less rain, and you can feel the hot breath of the desert. The hottest period of the year occurs at the beginning of the rainy season, when average monthly temperature exceeds +30 °C.
6. The cool months of the wet period are characterized by temperatures of about +20 °C and above.

Savannah

Except geographical location And atmospheric circulation, the climate features of Africa are determined characteristic feature relief of the mainland. The edges of the continent are raised; compared with internal areas they are located higher above sea level.

Mountain ranges and massifs in the north, east and southeast limit the influence of Indian and Atlantic Oceans on the climate of the savannah zone, which extends within the subequatorial belt. The characteristics of the flora and fauna in this part of the continent are determined by the alternation of wet and dry seasons, the lack of moisture for the formation of full-fledged forests and deep riverbeds.

Tropical zone

Features of the African climate in the Northern and Southern Tropics are the dominance of hot and dry air masses. Areas with an arid tropical climate and a significant daily temperature range extend in the north and south of the continent to the 30th parallel. A significant area of ​​the continent is influenced by an arid tropical climate. In this zone, the highest average monthly indicators are noted: +35... 40 °C.

The North African massif receives a lot of solar radiation and very little moisture. The air temperature during the day rarely drops below 20 °C. There is snow on the mountain peaks in the tropics; desert and semi-desert areas lie at the foot. The most extensive lifeless areas: in the north - the Sahara, in the south - the Namib.

Deserts and semi-deserts

In the Sahara there are areas where temperature minimums and maximums were recorded (-3 and +58 ° C). The temperature during the day on the hot sand and rocks reaches +60... 70 °C, at night it can drop to +10 °C. Daily temperature fluctuations reach 50 °C.

Precipitation in the deserts of Africa ranges from 0 to 100 mm/year, which is extremely low. Rains sometimes do not reach the surface of the earth - they dry up in the air. Humidification is poor, Kuvl. = 0.1-0.3. The life of the desert population is concentrated in oases - places of escape groundwater. Agriculture, cattle breeding, and tourist services are developed.

Subtropics of Africa

The extreme south and a narrow strip of the northern coast are occupied by areas of subtropical climate. This is a transitional zone, the features of which are determined by the properties of air masses of temperate and tropical latitudes. The subtropical climate is characterized by dry and rainy seasons and a significant supply of moisture, which contributes to the development of agriculture. The maximum amount of rain in the northwestern and southwestern regions of the African continent occurs in winter months, in the southeast the rainy season is summer.

The subtropics of Africa and other areas of the continent attract numerous tourists. Worldwide located on the coasts of the Mediterranean and Red Seas, Indian and Atlantic Oceans famous resorts. The main direction of tourism development and types of recreation in North Africa- beach, excursion. In the savannahs - safari, jeeping. Less visited areas are impassable rain forests and uninhabited desert areas.

What is the climate like in Africa now and in the past? The answer to this question lies in the beds of dry rivers (wadis), the ruins of once prosperous cities, covered by the sands of the Sahara. The climate of Africa is becoming arid, deserts are advancing in the north and south. In stark contrast to this phenomenon are floods, when rivers overflow their banks and flood coastal areas. Scientists suggest that catastrophic natural processes may be associated with intensive cutting down of trees, widespread construction of cities, roads, development of agriculture and cattle breeding.

Africa has unique climatic conditions. Since the continent crosses the equator, except for the equatorial belt, all other climatic zones are repeated.

Equatorial belt of Africa

The equatorial belt of the African continent is located in the Gulf of Guinea region. Here warm air and humid climate. The temperature maximum reaches +28 degrees Celsius, and approximately the same temperature above +20 degrees remains year-round. Precipitation amounts to more than 2000 mm per year, which is distributed relatively evenly throughout the territory.

On both sides of the equator there are two subequatorial zones. The summer season is humid and warm with a maximum of +28 degrees, and winter is dry. Depending on the seasons, air currents also change: equatorial wet and dry tropical. This climate zone has long and short rainy seasons, but the total annual precipitation does not exceed 400 mm.

tropical zone

Most of the continent lies in tropical zone. The air mass here is continental, and under its influence deserts were formed in the Sahara and in the south. There is practically no precipitation here and air humidity is low. It may rain once every few years. During the day the air temperature is very high, and at night the degrees can drop below 0. It almost always blows strong wind, which can destroy crops and activate sandstorms. The small area in the southeast of the mainland has a tropical, humid climate with significant rainfall that falls throughout the year.

Africa climate zone table

The extreme territories of the continent are located in subtropical zone. The average temperature is +20 degrees with noticeable seasonal variations. The southwestern and northern part of the continent lies in the Mediterranean type zone. There is precipitation in this area in winter and dry summers. A humid climate with regular precipitation throughout the year has developed in the southeast of the continent.

Africa is the only continent that is located on both sides of the equator, which influenced the formation of unique climatic conditions. So on the continent there is one equatorial zone, and two subequatorial, tropical and subtropical zones. It is much hotter here than on other continents with similar climatic zones. These climatic conditions influenced the formation of unique nature in Africa.

Africa

Tectonic structure

Monocentric continent. Its ancient structural core is the Precambrian platform of Gondwanan origin. The structure of the African Platform has a number of features:

Different elevations of the crystalline base;

Varying degrees of overlap of the base with sedimentary cover (in the northern and southern parts).

The North African part of the platform is called the Mediterranean region, where the crystalline base is less elevated, but is covered over a large area by sedimentary cover.

South and East Africa(the so-called Gondwana region) in tectonic terms is a shield where the crystalline base is more elevated and comes to the surface over large areas.

Complex alternation shields and syneclise.

Large shields within the continent are Ahaggar (Regibat Shield), Tibesti (Nubian Shield), Central African Shield, Leon-Liberian Shield, Abyssinian Shield, East African Shield, South Guinea Shield.

Among the syneclises, the following stand out: Senegambian, Taoudeni, Chad, Kufra, Congo, Okavango, Kalahari, Karoo.

The African Platform is complemented by 2 small folded areas: the northwestern edge of the continent - the region of the Caledonian-Cenozoic folding - Atlas. In the south of the mainland there is an area of ​​Hercynian folding - the Cape Mountains.

The eastern part of the African Plate has been activated by recent tectonic movements and is essentially an epiplatform mobile belt.

Relief

The relief of the continent is characterized by a number of features:

Significant average height(second place after Antarctica)

Based on the prevailing altitudes, the northern part of the continent is distinguished on one side, and the southern and eastern ones on the other. In the northern part of the continent, the prevailing heights are about 500 m - the so-called. Low Africa. In the southern and eastern parts, altitudes of about 1000 m predominate - High Africa. The border between Low and High Africa is drawn along the line Luanda - the port of Massawa.

Significant predominance of plains, which is associated with the platform structure of the main part of the continent

A constant alternation of raised and lowered areas that correspond to the shields and syneclises of the platform. Among the elevated areas are plateaus, plateaus, hills, and small massifs; among the depressed areas there are basins and depressions. From shields to syneclises there is a natural change in relief types. The shields correspond to basement plateaus, plateaus, massifs, the marginal zones of the shields and the wings of syneclises are weakly inclined denudation-accumulative plateaus, and the axial parts of syneclises are accumulative plains.

The relief of East Africa is significantly unique. Its development is due to complex processes occurring in the largest zone of continental faults on the continent.

Relief in different parts Africa has its own characteristics.

North Africa includes the Atlas Mountains, Sahara and Sudan.

Atlas Mountains– the mountains are high, young, folded in the northern part and folded and blocky in the southern part. They have a complex orographic plan. There are 2 main ridge lines: northern and southern, between which lies a complex internal zone. In the west, this internal zone begins with the Moroccan Meseta plateau, continues high ridges(Middle Atlas, High Atlas), and then gives way to long high plateaus.

Sahara. The main part of the territory is occupied by plateaus with heights of about 500-600 m. The plateaus alternate with a number of depressions and basins. In some places, significant crystalline massifs rise above the surface of the plateau (Ahaggar, Tibesti). Low-lying plains stretch along the coast.

Sudan. The relief changes significantly when moving from west to east as syneclises are replaced by anticlines and shields. The Senegambian Lowland occupies a marginal position in the west. Behind it are low rises that separate it from the Middle Niger depression. Behind it, a noticeable rise will be the Air plateau and the Jos massif. Further to the east lies the Lake Chad depression, beyond which lie the Darfur and Kordofan plateaus. The White Nile basin occupies the marginal position in the east.

Central and West Africa includes the Congo Basin and the surrounding uplifts, as well as the North Guinea Upland.

Congo Trench corresponds to a large syneclise and is surrounded on all sides by raised areas of the crystalline base. These areas correspond to plateaus, plateaus, massifs, and hills. To the north of the depression lies a large uplift of sublatitudinal strike - Azande. To the northwest of the depression lie the Adamawa Mountains. In the west it is bordered by the South Guinean Highlands. To the southwest lies the Bie massif. From the south, the depression is bordered by the Lunda-Shaba rise. In the east, the Mitumba Mountains are a large bordering rise.

North Guinea Highlands. The relief is complex, which is associated with the alternation of small shields and syneclises. The largest uplift is the Leon-Liberian massif located in the west. In the central part, a noticeable rise is the Togo-Atakora Mountains. These mountains are separated by plains corresponding to syneclises - the regions of the lower reaches of the Niger and Volta.

East Africa includes the Ethiopian Highlands, the Somali Plateau and the East African Plateau.

The Ethiopian Highlands is a highly elevated massif. Significant areas of it are occupied by lava plateaus, in some places they are interrupted by mountain ranges, in some cases they bear young high volcanic cones, in places heavily destroyed - Ambas.

East African plateau. According to the relief, there are 2 outlying zones and one internal one. The Central African Rift Zone runs in the western zone. The relief is characterized by an alternation of basins - grabens, often occupied by lakes, and uplifts surrounding these basins (mainly block mountains - Mitumba, Rwenzori, Blue Mountains). Main part internal zone occupy high plateaus (Ozernoye, Unyamvezi, Serengeti). In the Eastern zone there is a second fault line - the East African Rift. A chain of high volcanoes – Kilimanjaro, Kenya, Maweru – is strung on this graben.

South Africa includes the Cape Mountains, Madagascar, and the South African Highlands.

South African plateau. Its structure resembles the structure of the Congo Basin and the uplifts bordering it. The internal position is occupied by 2 depressions - the Kalahari and Okavango. They are surrounded on all sides by uplifts: in the north - Lunda-Katanga, in the north-west - Bie, in the west - Damaraland, in the south - the Cape Mountains, in the south-east - the Drakensberg Mountains, in the north-east - the Matabele Plateau. The marginal elevations drop steeply to the coastal lowlands. This cliff is called the Great Ledge (Roger's Ledge). Its most significant height is in the Drakensberg Mountains.

Climate

The climatic conditions of the continent differ in a number of features:

1. Constantly high temperatures almost throughout the entire continent.

2. Large territorial differences in moisture, with the main part of the continent being occupied by permanently dry or seasonally dry areas.

3. Zonal nature of precipitation distribution.

4. Relatively small number of climate types represented

5. Frequency of the main climate types in the northern and southern parts of the continent.

Climate formation factors

1. Features of the latitudinal position. The main part of the continent is located within the hot thermal zone and lies in equatorial, subequatorial and tropical latitudes.

2. Symmetrical position relative to the equator - hence the repeatability of climate types.

3. Pressure situation and circulation of air masses. Three stable pressure regions are formed above the continent: the equatorial trough low pressure and 2 tropical-subtropical maxima. Seasonally, the position of these pressure systems changes - they move either north (in the summer of the northern hemisphere) or to the south (in the summer of the southern hemisphere). Therefore, in subequatorial latitudes there is a change in the pressure situation. Several pressure systems are formed over the oceans, which affect the climatic conditions of the continent. Among them is the Indian High. Its interaction with the equatorial trough forms SE trade wind, whose influence is great on the eastern edge South Africa. The South Atlantic High interacts with an area of ​​low pressure on the northern edge of the Gulf of Guinea and causes southwest winds, dominant on the North Guinea coast. The same area gives rise to a spur high pressure on Atlantic coast South Africa - Namib Desert. Azores maximum - its influence is great in summer. It produces a spur of high pressure that covers almost the entire Mediterranean. When this spur interacts with the equatorial low pressure trough, from - to trade winds.

Major wind systems over Africa: from - to trade winds– in the tropics of the northern hemisphere they dominate all year, and seasonally in the winter of the northern hemisphere they descend into the subequatorial zone; SE trade winds dominate the eastern edge of the continent only in the winter season, S-W winds on the North Guinea coast; equatorial monsoons in summer in the subequatorial latitudes of North Africa (Sudan).

4. Types of dominant air masses: tropical continental air masses seasonally descend to subequatorial latitudes. Equatorial VMs - the Congo depression, rise to subequatorial latitudes in summer. Marine tropical VMs dominate the eastern edge of the continent. Temperate marine VMs dominate the northern and southern margins of the continent in winter.

5. Relief. The flatness of the relief is one of the prerequisites for the zonal distribution of precipitation. In a number of areas the relief is important factor, increasing the amount of precipitation (Debunja - the southern slopes of the Cameroon highlands - up to 10,000mm). Relief may cause aridity in some areas (Somalia Plateau - southwestern equatorial monsoons are delayed by the Ethiopian Highlands).

6. Configuration of the continent. The presence of two different sized massifs: the northern one is very large and the southern one is of a much smaller area (degree of continental climate)

7. Currents. The Mozambique Current saturates the south-east trade wind with moisture; the Benguela Current is one of the reasons for the existence of the Namib coastal desert. The Somali cold current makes a small contribution to the dryness of the peninsula.

Climate zones and regions of Africa

The continent is located in 7 climatic zones, 6 of which are paired (present in both the northern and southern hemispheres).

Equatorial belt

Occupies about 8% of the continent's territory. Includes 2 territories: the Congo Basin and the northern coast of the Gulf of Guinea. Temperatures are constantly high. A significant amount of convective precipitation (2000-2500 mm) falls in the Congo Basin; on the northern coast of the Gulf of Guinea there is a significant amount of circulation-orographic precipitation. The pressure is constantly low, and the air humidity is very high.

Subequatorial belts

The northern subequatorial belt covers Sudan, the southern – the watershed of the Congo and Zambezi. Almost all of East Africa is also located in this belt. The climate is characterized by seasonal changes Atmosphere pressure, type of prevailing air masses, wind directions. In summer the pressure is low and equatorial air masses dominate; in winter the pressure rises and tropical continental air dominates. Temperatures are constantly high, seasonal differences are subtle. The highest temperatures are reached before the onset of the rainy season.

Based on moisture, the climate can be defined as seasonally dry (variably humid). There is a significant amount of summer precipitation, while winter precipitation is practically absent. As you move away from the equator, the duration of the wet period decreases and decreases. total falling precipitation.

Tropical zones

In North Africa it invades the Sahara, in South Africa it covers the Mozambique coast, the Kalahari, and the Namib.

There are 3 types of climate: tropical dry desert climate

humid tropical climate

climate of tropical coastal deserts.

The main territories occupy areas of tropical continental climate (Sahara, Kalahari). Characterized by constantly high temperatures with a slight decrease in the winter season (+30º and +20º, respectively), extremely low precipitation, significant dry air, and frequent strong winds.

The tropical humid climate region is represented on the eastern edge of South Africa, where southeast trade winds from the Indian Ocean bring a significant amount of moisture (1000-1500 mm).

The region of tropical coastal desert climate covers the Namib Desert. Characterized by a slight decrease in summer temperatures, leveled annual course temperatures (the influence of cold currents), extremely low precipitation (50-80 mm). Air humidity is quite high, fog and dew are frequent in winter.

Subtropical zones

Includes the northern and southern edges of the continent. Stands out 2 climatic regions: Mediterranean climate area and humid subtropical climate area.

The Mediterranean climate is characteristic of the entire northern outskirts and a very small area in the extreme southwest of the continent. The climate is characterized by noticeable seasonal temperature fluctuations (summers are hot and moderately hot +22...25º, winters are warm +8...10º). In terms of moisture, the climate is seasonally dry: in winter there is cyclonic precipitation, in summer, with anticyclonic weather conditions, it is quite dry.

The region of subtropical humid climate covers a small area in the extreme south of the continent. There is a significant amount of precipitation. Moreover, in summer and winter they have different origins. In summer they bring moisture easterly winds from the Indian Ocean, cyclonic precipitation occurs in winter.