Africa Climate and Vegetation

Climate equator runs straight through the middle of Africa, high temperatures equator runs straight through the middle of Africa, high temperatures both Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn – the Tropics—hot and wet or hot and dry both Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn – the Tropics—hot and wet or hot and dry climate is mild the farthest from the equator—N and S tips climate is mild the farthest from the equator—N and S tips

Elevation as elevation increases, temperatures decrease as elevation increases, temperatures decrease some mountain peaks with snow never melt even though on the equator some mountain peaks with snow never melt even though on the equator

Rainfall Africa as whole gets plenty—it is just unevenly distributed Africa as whole gets plenty—it is just unevenly distributed Cairo=1 inch a year Cairo=1 inch a year Nairobi, Kenya=38 inches a year Nairobi, Kenya=38 inches a year rain comes and goes, seasons, huge uncertainty rain comes and goes, seasons, huge uncertainty

drought— period of time with little or no rainfall drought— period of time with little or no rainfall rainforest— rain every day rainforest— rain every day savanna— rain is seasonal savanna— rain is seasonal

Rainforest along equator, high temps and tons of rain along equator, high temps and tons of rain complex ecosystem, plants living on plants, many levels, canopy at top complex ecosystem, plants living on plants, many levels, canopy at top

soil is not fertile –too much rain washes away nutrients—leaching soil is not fertile –too much rain washes away nutrients—leaching main areas are western and central Africa main areas are western and central Africa rainforests are threatened because of farming, logging, roads and mining rainforests are threatened because of farming, logging, roads and mining

Savanna large open areas of grassland with few trees and bush large open areas of grassland with few trees and bush largest areas south of Sahara largest areas south of Sahara warm temps and rainfall in the summer warm temps and rainfall in the summer

baobab trees—tall and spindly branches, acacia trees--umbrellas baobab trees—tall and spindly branches, acacia trees--umbrellas great deal of wildlife, large animals great deal of wildlife, large animals

Sahel semiarid land just south of Sahara, dry grasslands semiarid land just south of Sahara, dry grasslands a transition zone between Savanna and Desert, desertification—fires, erosion, animals a transition zone between Savanna and Desert, desertification—fires, erosion, animals hot temps, a little rain that is seasonal and sometimes not at all hot temps, a little rain that is seasonal and sometimes not at all

Deserts -north and south of the equator -north and south of the equator Sahara in the north, Namib and Kalahari in the south Sahara in the north, Namib and Kalahari in the south all incredibly hot and dry, contain mountains all incredibly hot and dry, contain mountains

Sahara=largest in world, sand, rock, gravel Sahara=largest in world, sand, rock, gravel equal to the continental US, all elevations equal to the continental US, all elevations