Climatic zones and regions of Africa. African climate zones Africa's wettest climate zone

Africa

Tectonic structure

monocentric continent. Its ancient structural core is the Precambrian platform of Gondwanan origin. The structure of the African platform is distinguished by a number of features:

Different elevation of the crystalline base;

Different degree of overlapping of the base by the 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 over a large area is covered by a 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 in large areas.

Complex alternation of shields and syneclise.

Large shields within the mainland are Ahaggar (Regibat shield), Tibesti (Nubian shield), Central African shield, Leono-Liberian shield, Abyssinian shield, East African shield, South Guinean shield.

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

The African platform is supplemented by 2 small folded areas: the northwestern margin of the mainland is the region of the Caledonian-Cenozoic folding - Atlas. In the south of the mainland - the region of the Hercynian folding - the Cape Mountains.

The eastern part of the African Platform was activated by the latest tectonic movements and is essentially an epiplatform mobile belt.

Relief

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

Its average height is significant (second place after Antarctica)

On the one hand, the northern part of the mainland stands out according to the prevailing heights, on the other, the southern and eastern parts. In the northern part of the mainland, the prevailing heights are about 500 m - the so-called. Low Africa. In the southern and eastern parts - heights of about 1000 m predominate - High Africa. The border between Low and High Africa is drawn along the line Luanda - the port of Massawa.

A significant predominance of plains, which is associated with the platform structure of the main part of the mainland

Constant alternation of raised and lowered areas that correspond to shields and platform syneclises. Among the elevated areas there are plateaus, plateaus, hills, small massifs; among the lowered territories, hollows and depressions are distinguished. From shields to syneclises, there is a regular change in relief types. The shields correspond to socle plateaus, plateaus, massifs, the marginal zones of the shields and wings of the syneclise are slightly inclined denudation-accumulative plateaus, and the axial parts of the syneclise are accumulative plains.

The relief of East Africa is distinguished by a significant originality. Its development is due to complex processes taking place in the largest zone of continental faults on the mainland.

The relief in different parts of Africa has its own characteristics.

North Africa includes the Atlas Mountains, Sahara and Sudan.

atlas mountains- mountains are high, young, folded in the northern part and folded-blocky in the south. They have a complex orographic plan. There are 2 main lines of ridges: northern and southern, between which lies a complex internal zone. In the west, this inner zone begins with the Moroccan Meseta plateau, continues with high ridges (Middle Atlas, high Atlas), and then gives way to extended 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 hollows. In some places significant crystalline massifs (Akhaggar, Tibesti) rise above the surface of the plateau. Low-lying plains stretch along the coast.

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

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

Congo depression 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 uplands. To the north of the basin lies a large sublatitudinal uplift, the Azande. To the northwest of the depression lie the Adamawa Mountains. In the west, it is bordered by the South Guinea Upland. To the southwest lies the Bie massif. From the south, the depression is bordered by the Lunda-Shaba uplift. In the east, the Mitumba Mountains are a large fringing uplift.

North Guinea Upland. The relief is complex, which is associated with the alternation of small shields and syneclises. The largest uplift is the Leono-Liberian massif located in the west. In the central part, the mountains of Togo-Atakora are a noticeable uplift. These mountains separate the plains corresponding to the syneclises - the regions of the lower reaches of the Niger and the 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 on it are occupied by lava plateaus, in some places they are interrupted by mountain ranges, in some cases they carry young high volcanic cones, in some places badly destroyed - Amby.

East African plateau. According to the relief, 2 marginal zones and one internal zone are distinguished. The Central African Rift Zone runs in the western zone. The relief is characterized by the alternation of basins - grabens, often occupied by lakes, and uplifts surrounding these basins (mainly blocky mountains - Mitumba, Rwenzori, Blue Mountains). The main part of the inner zone is occupied by high plateaus (Ozernoe, Unyamvezi, Serengeti). In the Eastern zone is the second fault line - the East African Rift. This graben is strung with a chain of high volcanoes - Kilimanjaro, Kenya, Maveru.

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

South African plateau. Its structure resembles the structure of the Congo depression and the uplifts surrounding 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 northwest - Bie, in the west - Damaraland, in the south - the Cape Mountains, in the southeast - the Dragon Mountains, in the northeast - the Matabele Plateau. The marginal uplifts abruptly break off to the coastal lowlands. This cliff is called the Great Ledge (Roger's Ledge). Its height is most significant in the Dragon Mountains.

Climate

The climatic conditions of the mainland are distinguished by a number of features:

1. Constantly high temperatures in almost the entire territory of the mainland.

2. Large territorial differences in moisture, with the main part of the mainland occupied by permanently arid or seasonally arid regions.

3. Zonal distribution of precipitation.

4. Relatively few climate types represented

5. Recurrence of the main types of climate in the northern and southern parts of the mainland.

Factors of climate formation

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

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

3. Baric situation and circulation of air masses. Above the mainland, 3 stable baric regions are formed: an equatorial low-pressure trough and 2 tropical-subtropical maxima. Seasonally, the position of these baric systems changes - they move now to the north (in the summer of the northern hemisphere), then to the south (in the summer of the southern hemisphere). Therefore, in subequatorial latitudes, there is a change in the baric situation. Over the oceans, several baric systems are formed that affect the climatic conditions of the mainland. Among them is the Indian High. Its interaction with the equatorial trough forms the southeast of the trade wind, the influence of which is great on the eastern margin of South Africa. The South Atlantic High interacts with the area of low pressure on the northern margin of the Gulf of Guinea and causes the appearance of south-west winds prevailing on the north Guinean coast. The same area gives a high pressure spur on the Atlantic coast of South Africa - the Namib Desert. Azores high - its influence is great in summer. It gives rise to a high-pressure spur covering almost the entire Mediterranean. When this spur interacts with the low-pressure equatorial trough, trade winds arise.

Major wind systems over Africa: 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; s-in the trade winds dominate the eastern outskirts of the mainland only in the winter season, southwest winds on the North Guinean coast; equatorial monsoons in summer in the subequatorial latitudes of North Africa (Sudan).

4. Types of prevailing air masses: tropical continental air masses descend seasonally to subequatorial latitudes. Equatorial VMs are the Congo Basin; they rise to subequatorial latitudes in summer. Marine tropical VMs dominate the eastern margin of the mainland. Moderate marine WM dominate the northern and southern margins of the mainland 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 an important factor that increases the amount of precipitation (Debunja - the southern slopes of the Cameroon highlands - up to 10,000 mm). The relief may be the reason for the aridity of some areas (the Somali plateau - the southwestern equatorial monsoons are delayed by the Ethiopian highlands).

6. Mainland configuration. The presence of two massifs of different sizes: the northern one is very large and the southern one is much smaller area (degree of climate continentality)

7. Currents. The Mozambique Current saturates the south with the trade wind, 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.

Climatic zones and regions of Africa

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

equatorial belt

It occupies about 8% of the mainland. Includes 2 territories: the Congo basin and the northern coast of the Gulf of Guinea. Temperatures are constantly high. In the Congo depression, a significant amount of convective precipitation (2000-2500 mm) falls, on the northern coast of the Gulf of Guinea there is a significant amount of circulation-orographic precipitation. The pressure is constantly low, very high humidity is characteristic.

Subequatorial belts

The northern subequatorial belt captures 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 in atmospheric pressure, the type of prevailing air masses, and the direction of the winds. In summer, the pressure is low, equatorial air masses dominate, in winter the pressure rises, tropical continental air dominates. Temperatures are constantly high, seasonal differences are hardly noticeable. The highest temperatures are reached before the onset of the rainy season.

By humidification, the climate can be defined as seasonally arid (variably humid). A significant amount of summer precipitation falls, winter precipitation is practically absent. As you move away from the equator, the duration of the wet period decreases and the total amount of precipitation decreases.

tropical belts

In North Africa, it captures the Sahara, in South Africa - the Mozambique coast, Kalahari, Namib.

There are 3 types of climate: tropical dry desert climate

humid tropical climate

climate of tropical coastal deserts.

The main territories are occupied by areas of tropical continental climate (Sahara, Kalahari). Characterized by constantly high temperatures with some decrease in the winter season (+30º and +20º respectively), extremely low rainfall, significant dryness of the air, frequent strong winds.

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

The tropical climate of the coastal deserts covers the Namib Desert. A slight decrease in summer temperatures, a leveled annual temperature pattern (the influence of a cold current), and an extremely low amount of precipitation (50-80 mm) are characteristic. Relatively high humidity, fogs and dews are frequent in winter.

subtropical belts

Includes the northern and southern margins of the mainland. There are 2 climatic regions: the region of the Mediterranean climate and the region of the humid subtropical climate.

The Mediterranean climate is characteristic of the entire northern outskirts and a very small area in the extreme southwest of the mainland. The climate is distinguished 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 arid: cyclonic precipitation falls in winter, and in summer, with anticyclonic weather, it is rather dry.

The area of subtropical humid climate captures a small area in the extreme south of the mainland. There is a significant amount of precipitation. At the same time, in summer and winter they have a different origin. In summer, easterly winds from the Indian Ocean bring moisture, in winter cyclonic precipitation falls.

Education

Each continent has its own temperature, change of seasons, abundance or lack of moisture, variety 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 the sides 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 features.

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

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

The temperature stays within +24-28°C all year round, there is little rain, they fall during the summer season. By the way, no matter 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 the whole year and form a climate with deserts and savannahs. The temperature in July is 32°С, in January +18°С. Precipitation is rare, no more than 100 mm per year. It is precisely in which climatic zones that Africa is located that led to the absence of severe colds on the continent, and even more so frost.

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

From the above, we can conclude in which climatic 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 mainland. In summer, equatorial wind blows here, in winter - tropical. The air temperature is +25°C all year round.

Uneven rainfall affects the clear separation of the seasons. Summers are warm, with frequent thunderstorms and showers up to 2000 mm per year, while winters are hot and dry.

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

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

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

The subtropical belt covers the southern territory of 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. It has a continental climate with its characteristic strong temperature fluctuations all year round - hot summers and not very warm winters, with little rain.

The southeast is a humid climate, the rains here fall equally throughout the year, in summer the air warms up to + 24 ° C, in winter - up to + 9 ° C.

If we compare the climatic zones in which Africa and Australia are located, we can see a great similarity 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.

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

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. The lowest temperature was -89°C, it was recorded at Vostok station. Strong winds reach 80-90 m/s.

The subantarctic 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. The temperature in summer is slightly above 0°C.

If we compare the climatic zones in which Africa and Antarctica are located, we can once again see how dramatically the weather conditions on our planet can differ.

Source: fb.ru

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equatorial belt covers the coast of the Gulf of Guinea (up to 7-8 ° N) and a significant part of the Congo basin (between 5 ° N

sh. and 5°S sh.), not reaching the Indian Ocean due to the significant height of East Africa. The boundaries of the belt are determined by the winter position of the tropical front of each hemisphere. Equatorial air dominates here throughout the year. Average monthly temperatures are high (25-28°C), their course is uniform. Annual amplitudes are less than daily ones. Rising currents of air, calm and weak winds prevail. Humidity is high, cloudiness is significant. There is a lot of precipitation (up to 2000 mm per year or more), they are evenly distributed over the months. However, there are two particularly rainy periods, spring and autumn, separated by less rainy ones. The precipitation maxima are associated with strong evaporation at the zenithal position of the Sun. Precipitation is mainly convective, in mountainous areas and orographic.

Subequatorial belts(northern and southern) encircle the equatorial climatic zone, joining in the east of the mainland, and extend from 17 ° N. sh. up to 20°S sh. They cover Sudan, East Africa and part of South Africa up to the Zambezi, occupying about 1/3 of the mainland. The southern subequatorial belt does not reach the Atlantic Ocean. The boundaries of the belts are determined by the winter and summer position of the tropical front in each hemisphere. Characteristic change of air masses by seasons. In summer, equatorial air, carried by monsoons, dominates - the summer is humid; in winter, dry tropical air carried by the trade winds prevails - the winter is dry, with very low relative humidity. Consequently, during the year, wet summer and dry winter seasons alternate. The annual temperature amplitudes increase in comparison with the equatorial belt. The hottest time is at the beginning of the rainy season. However, even in the coolest months, the temperature does not drop below +20°C. Annual precipitation in the plains ranges from 1500 to 250 mm on the border with tropical deserts, and much more on the windward slopes of the mountains; almost all of them fall in the summer. The duration of the wet period is reduced in the direction of the tropics from 10 to 2-3 months, respectively, the annual precipitation and moisture decrease. The most arid regions are the Somali peninsula, which is barred from the equatorial monsoon by the Ethiopian highlands, and the northern part of Sudan, on the border with the tropical belt. The mountains of East Africa (the Ethiopian highlands, Kilimanjaro, Kenya, Rwenzori, etc.) have a clearly defined altitudinal climatic zone (up to the nival zone). In addition, the Ethiopian highlands are distinguished by a sharp expositional difference in the climate of the western and eastern slopes.

tropical belts(northern and southern) extend up to 30 ° N. sh. and yu. sh., cover almost the entire Sahara and the Kalahari basin with its marginal uplifts. Located between the winter position of the polar and summer positions of the tropical fronts in each hemisphere. They occupy the largest territory compared to other climatic zones. Africa is a continent of classical tropical climate development. The northern tropical zone is especially well developed.

In the territories belonging to the tropical zones, continental tropical air is kept all year round and the trade winds dominate. The weather is mostly clear, the air is dry. Winters are warm, but noticeably colder than summers. The average temperature of the warmest month is +3 0- +35°, the coldest month is not lower than +10°C. Temperature amplitudes are very large (annual about 20°, daily - up to 40-50°C). There is little precipitation (no more than 50-150 mm per year); they fall irregularly, sporadically, in the form of short showers. Evaporation is about 20-25 times higher than actual evaporation. Such features are characteristic of a dry, desert tropical climate (the world's largest desert, the Sahara, the southwestern Kalahari and the Namib Desert).

In the west of the mainland (the Atlantic Sahara and the Namib Desert), the deserts are not so hot, with more humid sea air, fogs and dews. Cold currents pass here and the influence of the eastern periphery of the Atlantic anticyclones affects. The relative humidity of the air is high, but there is very little precipitation. Rains in Namibia fall even less often than in the Sahara, but there are more frequent dews and fogs. Temperatures are low for these latitudes (average monthly, as a rule, below + 21 °C) and daily amplitudes are much less than in continental deserts. The climate is also extremely arid near the coast of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden; it is one of the hottest and driest places in the world.

In the southern tropical zone, in addition to the tropical desert climate, there is a tropical arid and tropical humid (marine) climate. The first is characteristic of the Kalahari Basin, where much more precipitation falls than in deserts; the second is for the east coast of South Africa, where the Drakensberg Mountains stand in the way of the wet trade winds.

subtropical belts(northern and southern) cover the extreme north and south of Africa. Tropical air dominates here in summer, temperate in winter. Characterized by wet and dry periods. The seasonal course of temperature, precipitation and winds is clearly expressed. The amount of precipitation ranges from 300-500 mm on the plains to 1500 mm or more on the windward slopes of the mountains. The Atlas Mountains, the Libyan-Egyptian coast and the extreme southwest of the mainland have a subtropical Mediterranean climate. Dry weather prevails in summer, cyclonic activity develops on the polar front in winter, and winters are wet. The northwest and north of Africa are characterized by greater seasonal temperature differences than the southwest. On the Mediterranean coast, the average temperatures in July reach + 27 - + 28 ° C, in January + 11 - + 12 ° C. On the Cape coast, the average temperature of the warmest month does not exceed + 21 ° C, the coldest + 1 3 - + 14 ° C. In the extreme southeast of Africa, the climate is subtropical monsoon. with hot, rainy summers and relatively cold and dry winters. In winter, westerly winds almost do not penetrate the southeast coast, this is prevented by mountains. In winter, there is relatively little precipitation. In summer, winds from the Indian Ocean blow on the entire southeast coast, leaving a large amount of moisture on the eastern slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains.

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Africa is the hottest continent on Earth, to which it owes its geographical location. The continent is located in four climatic zones: equatorial, subequatorial, tropical and subtropical. Africa is located between 37° north and 34° south latitude - that is, in the equatorial and tropical latitudes.

equatorial belt Africa is located on the shores of the Gulf of Guinea and stretches inland to Lake Victoria. The equatorial air mass dominates here all year round, so there are no seasons, it is constantly hot here, and it rains very often. Due to abundant moisture (2-3 mm per year) and a very warm climate (above + 20 ° - + 30 ° C throughout the year), a natural zone of humid equatorial forests has formed here. The forests of Africa contain an unimaginable number of animal and plant species, many of which are still unknown to science. The inner regions of the equatorial belt are still uninhabited.

subequatorial belt Surrounds the equatorial from the north, east and south. In contrast, there are no year-round rains here, but a pronounced rainy and dry season appears. In summer, the equatorial air mass dominates the belt, bringing the rainy season. The amount of rainfall and the length of this season decrease as you move away from the equator. In areas of the mainland where the season lasts most of the year, variable-humid forests are formed, but where the rainy season lasts less than six months, precipitation is no longer enough for the development of woody vegetation - light forests and savannas appear there. It is worth noting that summer in Africa falls on June-August in the northern hemisphere and December-February in the southern, therefore, when the rainy season is in one part of the subequatorial belt, tropical air mass dominates in the opposite - that is, the dry season begins.

tropical belt Africa is clearly divided into North and South. Here the weather is clear all year round, and there is practically no rain.

The amount of precipitation decreases as you move deeper into the mainland. Since a very large area of Africa is located precisely in the northern tropical latitudes, optimal conditions are formed here for the formation of deserts - dry air, high pressure due to tropical air mass and remoteness from the ocean. That is why Africa is considered the mainland of the classical development of deserts. In addition to the aridity of the African tropics, huge temperature differences should be noted here. In summer, when the Sun rises high, it literally heats the sand of the desert, and the air temperature rises above 30 and even 40 degrees. The highest air temperature in Africa and around the world was recorded in the Libyan Desert and amounted to +58°C. At the same time, after sunset, the temperature drops sharply by several tens of degrees, and on winter nights it drops even to negative values.

subtropical belt stretched out in a narrow strip along the northern coast of Africa, and also in the very south of the mainland. It is also divided into north and south. In the subtropics, two air masses are replaced during the year: tropical air comes in summer, because summer in the subtropics is hot and dry, and moderate air comes in winter, bringing precipitation. A natural zone of hard-leaved and evergreen forests has formed here. However, in its original form, it has practically not been preserved anywhere, since the territory of the subtropics is being actively transformed under human economic activity.

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The article contains information about the climatic zones of the continent. Forms an idea of the features of the geographical location.

Climate zones of Africa

The characteristic features of the continental climate are determined by the orientation of most of it in the latitudes of the equator and the tropics.

At elevated temperatures of air masses, the climatic difference of individual regions depends on the amount of precipitation and the duration of the rainy season.

Rice. 1. Zonality of climatic zones of the mainland.

Large areas of the continent regularly need moisture. The mainland is characterized by the transfer of air from the tropics by the trade winds. The height of the banks prevents the entry of wet winds.

Western territories located in the latitudes of the tropics are dominated by cool currents.

Table "Climatic zones of Africa"

*natural area*	*Climate*	*The soil*	*Flora*	*Fauna*
Hardwood evergreen forests and shrubs	Mediterranean	Brown	Holm oak, jujube, wild olive	Leopards, zebras, antelopes
Semi-deserts and deserts	Tropical	Desert, sandy, rocky	Acacias, saltworts, spurges, thickets of thorny bushes	Scorpions, beetles, turtles, locusts, snake hedgehogs, jerboas
	subequatorial	Red, iron-containing	Baobabs, cereals, palm trees	Giraffes, buffaloes, lions, gazelles, elephants, antelopes, rhinos, zebras
Variable-moist, moist forests	equatorial, subequatorial	Red-yellow, iron-containing	Ficuses, ceiba, bananas, coffee	Gorillas, chimpanzees, termites, parrots, okapis, leopards

Rice. 3. Mainland fauna.

To get an idea of the climatic zones in which Africa is located, it is necessary to understand that the mainland is cut by the contour of the equator. The zonation of climatic zones starts here from the equatorial one.

At zero latitude lies the wettest continental natural region. The area accounts for the maximum amount of precipitation. Over two thousand mm. in year. Then follows the subequatorial belt. Here, the level of precipitation is significantly reduced. During the calendar year, about one and a half thousand mm of precious moisture falls.

The tropical belt, among others, is a significant area of the continent.

Regarding orientation to the hemisphere, the level of precipitation can vary: from three hundred to fifty mm. per year.

The subtropical climatic zone captures only the edge of the coast in the northern part of the mainland and the "corner" that belongs to the southern part of South Africa.

It is windy and humid here all year round. In winter, the temperature can drop by about 7°. The total amount of precipitation does not exceed five hundred mm. in year.

What have we learned?

We found out in which climatic zones the continent lies. Determine what factors affect the climate of Africa. We learned in which climatic zone of Africa the greatest and least amount of precipitation falls.

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Africa almost in the middle is crossed by the equator, therefore, in its northern and southern parts climatic zones, with the exception of the equatorial one, are repeated (Fig. 61). Two stand out subequatorial, two tropical and two subtropical belts.

equatorial belt covers a narrow coastal strip along the Gulf of Guinea and the Congo depression. Warm and humid equatorial air masses predominate in this belt throughout the year, so there is one type of climate here - equatorial. The temperature here is high throughout the year and reaches +26 ... 28 °С. The total annual precipitation is over 2000 mm, and they are distributed evenly throughout the year.

Subequatorial climatic zones with their characteristic subequatorial type of climate located on both sides of the equatorial belt, approximately up to a latitude of 15-20 °. Here, during the year, there is also a high temperature (+25 ... 28 ° C), but the alternation of summer wet and winter dry periods is clearly visible. This is due to the change in the types of air masses depending on the seasons. In summer, equatorial humid air mass dominates here, in winter - dry tropical.

Climate on both sides of the equator. There are two rainy periods in the annual cycle of the subequatorial belts. Locals call them "long rains" and "short rains". They are separated by two winter dry periods. To the north and south of the equator, dry periods lengthen, precipitation decreases and becomes less and less regular. The annual rainfall shown on the map is in fact little true, as a place that is reported to receive 380 mm of annual rainfall can reach this figure in a few years.

tropical belts occupy the largest area on the mainland. During the year, a continental tropical air mass dominates here. Under its influence in the Sahara, as well as in South Africa, an area is formed tropical continental (desert) type of climate.

The Sahara is located in the zone of descending air movements and dry trade winds of the Northern Hemisphere. This is mainly due to a small amount of precipitation and low relative humidity. The sky here is mostly cloudless, but its color is almost never transparent blue, because the smallest dust hangs in the air. Precipitation is extremely irregular. It happens that for several years not a single drop of rain reaches the surface of the earth. High daytime and low night air temperatures, as well as its significant dryness, as well as dust storms, adversely affect a person's stay in the desert.

In the Sahara, the wind wakes up and goes to bed with the sun. Winds play a significant role in desert life. Here, on average, out of 100 days, only six are calm. Hot winds in the north of the Sahara have a bad reputation. They blow from the center of the desert and can destroy crops within hours. Strong winds (simums) cause dust and sand storms. Wind speed during a storm reaches 50 m/s. A mass of sand and small pebbles rises into the air. Storms begin and fade suddenly, leaving behind clouds of dry, slowly settling dust "fog".

A region is being formed in southeastern Africa tropical humid climate with a lot of rainfall throughout the year. material from the site

The extreme north and south of Africa are located in subtropical climatic zones. The average annual temperature here is around 20°C, but it fluctuates markedly from season to season. Depending on the amount of precipitation in the subtropical zones, two climatic regions are distinguished. In the north and southwest of Africa, the area predominates mediterranean climate type(characteristic of the Mediterranean coast, hence the name). Precipitation in this area falls mainly in winter, summer, on the contrary, is dry. (Remember how this is explained.) In the southeast of the mainland, the region dominates subtropical humid climate with uniform moisture. Under the influence of the trade winds, precipitation is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year.

Africa is located in the equatorial, subequatorial, tropical and subtropical climatic zones.
In the equatorial and subequatorial climatic zones, one type of climate prevails.
In the tropical climatic zone, tropical continental and tropical humid climate types are distinguished, and in the subtropical zone, Mediterranean and subtropical humid climate types.

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Table of climate zones of Africa n.p.s.p.