Seasons, weather and climate of North Africa. Seasons, weather and climate of south africa Monthly average summer temperatures in africa

Winter occurs in some parts of Africa, but not in all. She comes there in the summer. While it is warm here, it is snowing there. This is due to the fact that Russia and Africa are on opposite sides of the globe. When Earth rotates around its axis, with one side it looks at the sun, and its other side is in the shade. On that part of the land, which is currently closer to the sun, spring and summer occur, and on the remote part, autumn and winter come.

There are two tropical zones on the African continent - northern and southern. Their climate is different. The warmest and most stable weather is in that part of the land that is closer to the equator. At the equator, the weather is always stable. In those parts of Russia that are close to zero latitude, snow also does not fall in winter. For example, it is not in the city of Sochi. At the equator during the year there is only a tropical air mass and there is no change of seasons. Summer is very hot, and in winter it is usual warm weather. In the tropical zone is the heat pole, that is, the hottest place on the planet. For example, near the city of Tripoli, the capital of the state of Libya, the air temperature was +58°C in the shade. It was not possible to measure the temperature in the sun, because there were not so many divisions on the thermometer. In the desert, consisting of sand, the air is very dry. During the day, the surface of the earth heats up quickly. Between day and night air temperature in one day there can be a difference of 20 degrees. Therefore, camel travelers usually move at night and try to get from one staging post to another before sunrise.

There is another difference between the tropical climate in the southern and northern hemispheres of Africa. On southern part the continent is blown by trade winds coming from the Indian Ocean, and to the north by air from Eurasia. The trade winds do not change the tropical climate in the northern part, but bring precipitation to the south. Therefore, rain and snow are more likely to fall in the Southern Hemisphere.

Usually a real winter with snow and stable cold temperatures occurs only on the tops of the mountains and plateaus of Africa. At this time, animals living in cold areas begin to roam to other areas. The reason is that when the land dries up, then herbivores like zebras have nothing to feed on. According to eyewitnesses, the strings of animals stretch for tens of kilometers. After the cold has passed, they come back as ours. migratory birds.

Nothing to wear? Winter will soon come into its own. If you have not had time to get a winter outerwear, to your attention women's fur coats. A wide selection of great quality coats at an affordable price.

North Africa occupies a narrow strip in the north of the mainland. Most of the region is the Sahara desert, which is the hottest place on the planet.

Weather in North Africa now:

A few plants grow in North Africa. A wide variety of palm trees make up a significant proportion of the flora. You can also find oaks, olive trees, laurels and eucalyptus. The most common animal in North Africa is the camel. On the territory of this part of the mainland, a subtropical, sometimes tropical climate dominates. The maximum recorded temperature in the shade is 58 degrees Celsius. IN winter time frost occurs at night.

Climate of North Africa by months:

Spring

Spring in North Africa is the time of sandstorms, which are carried from the Sahara by the Hasmin wind. Such sandstorms can last for one day or a week. Most often in such North African countries as Egypt, Libya, Mauritania and others, the weather in the spring is distinguished by an enviable constancy. If the heat came at the beginning of spring, then it will not change until May. The same applies to windy and cool weather. The final temperature is set in early May. At this time, the thermometers can reach the thirty-degree mark. From the beginning to the end of May, the weather gradually warms up until it turns into a real summer heat.

Summer

Summer in North Africa is very hot and sultry. So, in Egypt in the middle of the summer season, the thermometers in the shade can reach fifty degrees Celsius. It is always much colder at night than during the day. Daily temperature fluctuations are very large. Milder weather conditions in Western Sahara. Here the temperature reaches 30 degrees inside the region and 20 degrees - on the coast. Due to softer climatic conditions more plants grow here - a variety of fruit trees, vegetables and grain crops.

High temperatures in the summer season are observed in Libya, it was on the territory of this state that the most heat on the planet in the shadow - 58 degrees. This time of year accounts for most of the holidays in North Africa. For example, in Egypt, June 18 is the Day of Liberation from British Raj, and July 23 is the Day of the Revolution of 1952. In Libya, June 11 is the Day of the Evacuation of American Bases, July 23 is the Anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution.

Autumn

Autumn season in North Africa marks the end summer heat. In September, the thermometers stay at around 35-40 degrees. The sea water is warm, its temperature is about 25 degrees. By October, the temperature gradually begins to drop. Thus, in the middle of autumn in different countries North Africa, the thermometers are at around twenty to thirty degrees Celsius.

At the same time, the rainy season begins, and, accordingly, vegetation blooms. Animals that have suffered from extreme heat in the summer begin vigorous activity. In different parts of North Africa, you can meet different representatives of the fauna. Pygmy hippos, small predators, rodents and various monkeys live in small savannahs. In the deserts you can find numerous lizards, snakes, as well as invertebrates.

Winter

In winter, the weather in North Africa is very different. In different geographical areas, weather conditions can vary greatly. So, in the mountains of Algeria in winter there are frosts, snow falls for several weeks. It is warmer on the coast, the temperature reaches 12-15 degrees. In Egypt, winter is not cold at all. The temperature reaches 25 degrees, there is very little rainfall. In most of North Africa, winter is the driest season. Only in the northernmost regions does a relatively large amount of precipitation fall - up to 200 mm.

Interestingly, precipitation in Africa is distributed almost. Their number decreases symmetrically in both directions from the tropics, where it reaches minimum values, and then increases again on the subtropical outskirts of the mainland. In equatorial latitudes, approximately between 5 ° N.S. and 5°S, precipitation is regular and plentiful. In the Congo (Zaire) and on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, up to 2000-3000 mm of precipitation falls annually. And on the windward slopes of the massif - up to 9000 mm. In subequatorial latitudes, up to about 17-19 ° N.L. and y.sh. the amount of precipitation decreases from 1500 to 300-250 mm at the borders with tropical deserts. In the tropics, up to 30°N. and 30° S, extremely insufficient moisture. Particular dryness is characterized by extensive - 50 mm or less precipitation per year. Here evaporation is 20-25 times higher than actual evaporation. In the subtropics of Africa, the amount of precipitation increases again: up to 300-500 mm on the Libyan-Egyptian coast of the sea and up to 500-800 mm on the windward slopes of the Atlas and Cape mountains.

On the territory of Africa, there are equatorial, two subequatorial, two tropical and two subtropical.

The equatorial belt is constantly hot and humid climate is formed on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea (up to 7-8 ° N) and covers a significant part (between 5 ° N and 5 ° S). Average monthly temperatures are high - +25…+28°C. There is a lot of precipitation (up to 2000 mm or more), they are evenly distributed over the months. However, there are two particularly rainy periods - spring and autumn. These precipitation maxima are associated with strong evaporation at the zenithal position of the Sun at these latitudes.

Subequatorial belts - (northern and southern) - encircle, merge in the east of the mainland and extend from 17 ° N.L. up to 20°S The monsoon climate occupies about 1/3 of Africa. Equatorial air dominates in summer, brought by equatorial monsoons (humid summers), and dry tropical air, brought by trade winds, prevails in winter (dry winters). The annual temperature amplitudes increase in comparison with the equatorial belt. The hottest time of the year is at the beginning of the rainy season (up to +30°С). However, even in the coolest months of the year the temperature does not fall below +18…+20°С. The duration of the wet period is reduced in the direction from the equator to the tropics from 10 to 3-2 months. Annual rainfall decreases from 1500 to 250 mm.

(northern and southern) extend up to 30°N. and 30° S They cover almost the entire Sahara and the basin with its marginal uplifts. In these belts all year round the continental tropical air is maintained and the trade winds dominate. The average temperatures of the warmest month are +30…+35°C, the coldest - not lower than +10°C. Temperature amplitudes are very significant: annual - about 20 ° С; daily - up to 40-50 ° C. There is little precipitation - no more than 50-150 mm per year. They fall sporadically, in the form of rare and short-term showers.

Special climatic conditions within the tropical belts are created on the western coast of Africa (the Atlantic Sahara and the Namib). Cold currents pass here. the air is high, but there is very little precipitation. But in the cold night hours, abundant dews and are formed on the coast. Temperatures are relatively low for tropical latitudes: in summer - about + 20 ° С, in winter - about + 15 ° С.

Humid is forming on the east coast of South Africa. This is facilitated by warm currents near the coast, over which the southeast trade wind is saturated with moisture and gives abundant rainfall on the windward slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains.

Subtropical belts (northern and southern) occupy the outskirts of the mainland in the north and south. The Atlas Mountains, the Libyan coast, and the foothills of the Cape Mountains have a subtropical Mediterranean climate with dry, hot summers and warm, wet winters. On the African coast mediterranean sea average July temperatures reach +27…+28°C, January temperatures - +12°C. On the Cape coast, the temperature of the warmest month does not exceed +21°С, the coldest - +13…+14°С.

In the extreme southeast of Africa, within the belt, the climate is subtropical monsoon, with hot, rainy summers and relatively cool and dry winters. In summer, humid air from the Indian Ocean enters the coast. As in the tropical belt, it rains on the eastern slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains. In winter, the Cape Mountains prevent the penetration of humid western ones and relatively little precipitation falls.

The climate of Africa can be described as a unique phenomenon due to its location.

Africa is the only continent in the world that lies on two sides of the equator.

Interestingly, the equator not only divides the globe into two hemispheres, it also divides the African continent almost equally.

The climate is very big influence on the nature of the area, because it determines the weather patterns, as well as shifts weather conditions.

The soil of the area, flora and fauna, various sectors of the economy, as well as

The formation of certain climatic conditions in Africa is influenced by a variety of factors that subsequently determine the life and livelihoods of people who live in a particular type of climate.

Africa is tracked to be the hottest continent, due to its location in the hottest climatic zones.

Interesting is the fact that three of the four climatic zones on the continent are repeated twice.

Due to the fact that Africa is crossed by the equator, around which the equatorial climatic zone has formed, the remaining climatic zones mirror each other.

Subequatorial, tropical, subtropical and temperate belt found twice on the continent.

Equatorial climate zone of Africa

The equatorial belt occupies an area along the Gulf of Guinea and runs all the way to the depression in the Congo and.

whole year equatorial warm air mass prevails here, which determines the weather conditions.

In this part of Africa there are no seasons with temperature fluctuations and changes in weather conditions, it is constantly very hot here and it often rains. Precipitation falls evenly throughout the year.

365 days a year the temperature is high here - from 24 °C to 28 °C.

The equatorial climate is characterized by abundant rainfall. During the year, in different parts of the equatorial part of the continent, from 1500 to 2500 mm of precipitation falls.

Because of this, very high humidity and heat are formed, which are difficult to endure, relief comes from the coolness of the night.

In the African equatorial part, one can observe constant cloudiness and frequent fogs.

Almost every day before lunch, clouds gather, which in the afternoon, in the late afternoon, materialize in rain or a thunderstorm.

They present a splendid abundance of plant and animal life which has not been fully explored.

On two sides of the equator, and also east of equatorial belt subequatorial climatic zones stretched out.

This climatic zone is also very hot, with temperatures ranging from 26 to 30 °C in summer and 15 to 17 °C in winter throughout the year.

Subequatorial climatic zone of Africa

In the subequatorial climatic zone, rainy and dry seasons are clearly visible.

The duration of rains, as well as the numerical indicators of precipitation, decrease as the belt moves away from the equator.

This most directly affects the flora of the area.

In places where there is not enough rainfall, it practically does not grow. woody vegetation, lush forests are replaced by light forests, which smoothly turn into shrouds.

It is very interesting to note the alternation of the rainy season in the subequatorial climatic zones and the predominance of the dry season.

At a time when in one of the subequatorial zones of Africa there is a rainy season, which brings the equatorial air mass, in another subequatorial belt at this time, the air mass from the tropics dominates, which entails the onset of the dry season.

Tropical climate zone of Africa

characteristic feature given climate there is arid hot weather and the minimum amount of precipitation, which decreases with distance from the center of the continent and moving into its interior.

Africa, for the most part, is located in a tropical climate, so there are a lot of deserts here, the formation of which is facilitated by dry air, a remote location from the ocean, as well as increased pressure due to tropical climates. air masses.

This ideal conditions for the development of numerous deserts and savannahs.

The Sahara is the largest desert on the planet, which is located in tropical Africa. Not a single drop of precipitation may fall here for years, and it is extremely difficult for a person to stay here.

The air is filled with fine dust and very often blow strong winds that create sand dust storms.

Wind and dust form fanciful out of the sand.

The tropical zone, in addition to aridity, has a very sharp daily temperature difference.

During the day, the thermometer rises above 40 ° C, heating the sand and air, and at night the temperature drops sharply by a couple of tens of degrees and can drop down to negative values.

The maximum air temperature around the world was recorded in the Libyan desert of the African tropical zone and reached 58 ° C.

The northern coast, as well as the extreme south of the mainland, occupies subtropical belt, which is characterized by a change in air masses and the division of the year into seasons.

The average temperature in a year is about 20 °C. It varies significantly depending on the summer and winter seasons.

Subtropical African climate

The subtropical belt of Africa in the northern and southwestern parts of the continent is characterized by a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and moderate air precipitation in winter.

The southeast is dominated by a subtropical humid climate.

It contributes to the fact that throughout the year, precipitation is distributed fairly evenly.

South Africa has many different climatic zones. There are deserts, and zones with the Mediterranean and even subtropical climate. The difference in temperature and humidity in different zones of this part of the world is quite significant. In general, the seasons here are directly opposite to the seasons in the Northern Hemisphere.

Weather in South Africa now:

Summer weather in South Africa occurs from October to March, at which time the air temperature can range from 15 to 35 degrees. Winter weather is established from June to August, when temperatures can drop below zero at night and rise to twenty degrees during the day. Spring and autumn take short periods of time - two months each.

Climate of South Africa by months:

Spring

Spring in South Africa comes in August. At this time, the temperature begins to rise, its daily jumps increase. In August, in different zones of the South African region, the temperature during the day can rise to 20 degrees, and at night it can drop to 8-10 degrees. In September, these figures increase by an average of 2-5 degrees. Water in rivers and lakes is warming, its temperature is about 15 degrees. At this time, vegetation is actively developing and flourishing. So, in Botswana, acacias, mokutemo and other plants begin to grow and bloom.

In spring, in areas located far from the coast, the wind season begins. Unlike winter and other seasons, when the wind speed is rarely one and a half meters per second, in August the wind speed reaches 8 meters per second.

Summer

Summer in South Africa starts in October. During this season, temperatures can reach 35 degrees in different areas. During the day, the entire territory is dry heat, but at night the thermometers drop to fifteen degrees. In some places, such as South Africa, there are strong diurnal temperature fluctuations, when the air cools to below zero at night. Usually such differences are found in the mountains. The largest amount of precipitation occurs during this time. Then the flowering of vegetation begins.

The small South African country of Swaziland is distinguished by a huge variety and richness of flora. There are about two and a half thousand species of plants here. These are all kinds of flowers and shrubs. This time of year accounts for most of the holidays in South Africa. The largest of them is New Year and Christmas, which is celebrated according to Catholic custom on December 25th.

Autumn

The autumn season begins in South Africa in April and does not last very long - until about mid-May. This is very interesting time of the year. Despite the fact that there is very little precipitation in autumn, thick fog rises almost throughout the night and in the morning. The temperature gradually drops down, the daily fluctuations become smaller. For example, in April in South Africa, the temperature rises to 23 degrees during the day, and drops to 12 degrees at night. In some countries, for example, in Zimbabwe, such a season as autumn is not distinguished at all, winter comes abruptly, in late March - early April.

Winter

The winter period is the most varied weather season in South Africa. This season starts in June and ends in August. On average, the temperature fluctuates between 10-20 degrees Celsius. On the territory of the savannahs and plains, precipitation is extremely rare, but snow often lies in the mountains. In mountainous areas, the air temperature can drop well below zero. Although most of the regions are characterized by mild frosts.

In South Africa, there are no animals that would hibernate with the onset of cold weather. Representatives of the local fauna generally behave the same at any time of the year. The fauna here is quite diverse. You can meet both predatory animals - such as jackals, hyenas, leopards and lions, as well as herbivorous elephants, antelopes, zebras and all kinds of monkeys.