Temperature in the humid equatorial forests of Africa. Climate zones of Africa

Geographical position, the evenness of the relief contributed to the location of the geographical zones of Africa (equatorial, subequatorial, tropical and subtropical) and natural zones twice on both sides of the equator. With a decrease in moisture north and south of the equator, the vegetation cover becomes more sparse and the vegetation more xerophytic.

In the north, there are many types of plants. In the center and in the south, the most ancient representatives of the planet's vegetation have been preserved. Among flowering plants there are up to 9 thousand endemic species. In the rich and diverse fauna (see. Nowhere in the world is there such an accumulation of large animals as in the African savannah. Elephants, giraffes, hippos, rhinos, buffaloes and other animals are found here. Characteristic fauna - a wealth of predators (lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, hyena dogs, jackals, etc.) and ungulates (tens of species of antelopes). Among the birds there are large ones - ostriches, vultures, marabou, crowned cranes, bustards, hornbills, crocodiles live in the rivers.

In the natural zones of Africa there are many animals and plants that are not found in others. The African savannas are characterized by the baobab, whose trunk reaches 10 m in diameter, the doom palm, the umbrella acacia, the tallest animal in the world - the giraffe, lions, and the secretary bird. In the African forest (hylaea) the great apes gorilla and chimpanzee, pygmy giraffe okapi live. The tropical deserts are home to the one-humped dromedary camel, the fennec fox, and the most poisonous snake mamba. Only lemurs live on.

Africa is the birthplace of a number of cultivated plants: oil palm, cola tree, coffee tree, castor beans, sesame, African millet, watermelons, many indoor flower plants - geraniums, aloe, gladioli, pelargonium, etc.

Wet zone equatorial forests(giley) occupies 8% of the mainland - the basin and the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. The climate here is humid, equatorial, warm enough. Precipitation falls evenly, more than 2000 mm per year. The soils are red-yellow ferralitic, poor in organic matter. A sufficient amount of heat and moisture promotes the development of vegetation. By wealth species composition(about 25 thousand species) and the areas of Africa's humid equatorial forests are second only to humid South America.

Forests form 4-5 tiers. Giant (up to 70 m) ficuses, oil and wine palms, ceiba, cola tree, and breadfruit grow in the upper tiers. In the lower tiers - bananas, ferns, Liberian coffee tree. Among the vines, the rubber-bearing liana landolphia and the rattan palm liana (up to 200 m in length) are interesting. Exactly this long plant in the world. Red, iron, black (ebony) trees have valuable wood. There are many orchids and mosses in the forest.

There are few herbivores in the forests and fewer predators than in other natural areas. Of the ungulates, the pygmy okapi giraffe is characteristic, hiding in dense forest thickets, forest antelopes, water deer, buffalo, and hippopotamus are found. Predators are represented by wild cats, leopards, jackals. Of these, the brush-tailed porcupine and broad-tailed flying squirrels are common. Monkeys, baboons, mandrills are numerous in the forests. great apes represented by 2-3 species of chimpanzees and gorillas.

The transition zone between the equatorial forests and are subequatorial variables moist forests . They border the humid equatorial forests with a narrow strip. Vegetation gradually changes under the influence of a shortening of the wet period and an intensification of the dry season as one moves away from the equator. Gradually, the equatorial forest turns into a subequatorial, mixed, deciduous-evergreen forest on red ferrallitic soils. The annual precipitation decreases to 650-1300 mm, and the dry season increases to 1-3 months. A distinctive feature of these forests is the predominance of trees of the legume family. Trees up to 25 m high shed their leaves during the dry period, a grassy cover forms under them. Subequatorial forests are located on the northern edge of the equatorial rainforests and south of the equator in the Congo.

Savannahs and woodlands occupy large areas of Africa - the marginal rises of the Congo, the Sudanese plains, the East African plateau (about 40% of the territory). These are open grassy plains with groves or individual trees. The zone of savannahs and light forests encircles humid and variable-moist forests from the Atlantic to and extends north to 17 ° N. sh. and south to 20°S. sh.

Savannahs have alternating wet and dry seasons. In the wet season in the savannah, where the rainy season lasts up to 8-9 months, lush grasses grow up to 2 m high, sometimes up to 5 m high (elephant grass). Among the continuous sea of cereals (cereal savanna), individual trees rise: baobabs, umbrella acacia, doum palms, oil palms. During the dry season, the grasses dry up, the leaves on the trees fall off, and the savannah becomes yellow-brown. Under the savannas, special types of soils are formed - red and red-brown soils.

Depending on the duration of the wet period, savannahs are wet or tall grass, typical or dry, and deserted.

Wet, or tall grass, savannahs have an insignificant dry period (about 3-4 months), and the annual precipitation is 1500-1000 mm. This is a transitional area from forest vegetation to typical savannah. The soils, like those of the subequatorial forests, are red ferralitic. Among the cereals - elephant grass, bearded man, from trees - baobab, acacia, carob, doom palm, cotton tree(ceiba). Evergreen forests are developed along the river valleys.

Typical savannahs are developed in areas with precipitation of 750-1000 mm, the dry period lasts 5-6 months. In the north, they stretch in a continuous strip from to. In the southern hemisphere they occupy the northern part. Characterized by baobabs, acacias, fan palms, shea tree, cereals are represented by bearded man. Soils are red-brown.

Deserted savannas have less rainfall (up to 500 mm), the dry season lasts 7-9 months. They have a sparse grass cover, and acacias predominate among shrubs. These savannahs on red-brown soils stretch in a narrow strip from the coast to the Somali peninsula. In the south, they are widely developed in the basin.

African savannahs are rich in food resources. There are more than 40 species of herbivorous ungulates here, antelopes are especially numerous (kudu, eland, pygmy antelopes). The largest of them is the wildebeest. Giraffes survived mainly in national parks. Zebras are common in the savannas. In some places they are domesticated and replace horses (not susceptible to tsetse bites). Herbivores are accompanied by numerous predators: lions, cheetahs, leopards, jackals, hyenas. Endangered animals include the black and white rhino and the African elephant. Birds are numerous: African ostriches, guinea fowls, francolins, marabou, weavers, secretary bird, lapwings, herons, pelicans. In terms of the number of species of flora and fauna per unit area, the savannahs of Africa are unmatched.

Savannas are relatively favorable for tropical farming. Significant areas of the savannas are plowed up, cotton, peanut, corn, tobacco, sorghum, and rice are cultivated.

North and south of the savannas are tropical semi-deserts and deserts occupying 33% of the mainland. it is distinguished by a very low amount of precipitation (no more than 100 mm per year), scanty xerophytic.

Semi-deserts are a transitional area between savannahs and tropical ones, where the amount of precipitation does not exceed 250-300 mm. A narrow strip in shrub-grass (acacia, tamarisk, tough cereals). V South Africa semi-deserts are developed in the interior of the Kalahari. The southern semi-deserts are characterized by succulents (aloe, spurge, wild watermelons). During the rainy period, irises, lilies, amaryllis bloom.

V North Africa occupies vast areas with precipitation up to 100 mm, in South Africa the Namib Desert stretches in a narrow strip along the western coast, in the south is the Kalahari Desert. According to vegetation, the deserts are grass-shrub, shrub and succulent.

The vegetation of the Sahara is represented by individual bunches of cereals and thorny shrubs. From cereals, wild millet is common, from shrubs and semi-shrubs - dwarf saxaul, camel thorn, acacia, jujube, euphorbia, ephedra. Solyanka and wormwood grow on saline soils. Around shotts - tamarisks. The southern deserts are characterized by succulent plants, appearance resembling stones. In the Namib Desert, a kind of relic plant is common - the majestic velvichia (stump plant) - the lowest tree on Earth (up to 50 cm tall with long fleshy leaves 8-9 m long). There are aloe, euphorbia, wild watermelons, bush acacias.

Typical desert soils are gray soils. In those parts of the Sahara, where groundwater is close to the surface of the earth, oases are formed. All the economic activities of people are concentrated here; grapes, pomegranate, barley, millet, and wheat are grown. The main plant of the oases is the date palm.

Animal world semi-deserts and deserts are poor. In the Sahara, among large animals, there are antelopes, wild cats, fennec foxes are found. Jerboas, gerbils, various reptiles, scorpions, phalanxes live in the sands.

Tropical rainforest natural area found on the island of Madagascar and in the Dragon Mountains. She is characterized iron tree, rubber and rosewood trees.

The transition zone between tropical deserts and subtropical evergreen forests and shrublands is subtropical semi-deserts and desert steppes. In Africa, they occupy the interior regions of the Atlas and Cape mountains, the Karoo plateau, and the Libyan-Egyptian coast to 30°N. sh. The vegetation is very sparse. In North Africa, these are cereals, xerophytic trees, shrubs and shrubs, in South Africa - succulents, bulbous, tuberous plants.

Zone subtropical evergreen hardwood forests and shrubs represented on the northern slopes of the Atlas Mountains and in the west of the Cape Mountains.

The forests of the Atlas Mountains form cork and holm oaks, Aleppo pine, Atlas cedar with an undergrowth of evergreen shrubs. Maquis is widespread - impenetrable thickets of hard-leaved evergreen shrubs and low trees (myrtle, oleander, pistachio, strawberry tree, laurel). Typical brown soils form here. In the Cape Mountains, vegetation is represented by Cape olive, silver tree, African walnut.

In the extreme south-east of Africa, where there is a humid subtropical climate, lush mixed subtropical forests grow, represented by evergreen deciduous and coniferous species with an abundance of epiphytes. The zonal subtropical forests are red soils. The fauna of the northern subtropics is represented by European and African species. The northern subtropical forests are inhabited by red deer, mountain gazelle, mouflon, jungle cat, jackals, Algerian fox, wild rabbits, tailless narrow-nosed magot monkey, canaries and eagles are widely represented among birds, and in the south - earthwolf, jumping antelope, meerkats.

The natural zones of Africa are located symmetrically with respect to the equator. Northern and - "dry". Deserts and semi-deserts prevail here, the outskirts are occupied by cruel-leaved forests and shrubs. Central (equatorial) Africa is “humid”, humid equatorial and variable-humid subequatorial forests grow there. To the north and south of Central Africa and in the elevated East - savannas and woodlands.

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 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 area. 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. in a 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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On both sides of the equator largely determines the climate of this corner the globe. It is located mainly in the tropics, because the cold weather characteristic of temperate latitudes is not here. But at the same time, the climatic zones of Africa, which diverge from the equator to the north and south, cannot be compared with each other. The structure of the mainland is such that in the two hemispheres the same zone has its own characteristics. And in order to learn the local weather and its characteristics, the article presents the belts of Africa and their brief description.

Geographical position of the continent

Africa is the second largest continent in the world after Eurasia. It is washed by two oceans - the Atlantic and Indian, a few seas and straits. The geological structure of these lands is such that their width is greater in and less in the south. This partly affects which climatic zones in Africa are formed in one or another of its regions. It also largely affects the local relief, the presence of flora and fauna. For example, in the northern part, where all the lands are covered with impenetrable sands, as you yourself understand, there are a minimum of plants and animals. But to the south, where there are tropical rainforests or even savannahs, animal and vegetable world richer, it appears before us in all its African originality and uniqueness.

Short description, table

Climatic zones Africa begins with the equatorial.

At zero latitude, the wettest continent is located, where maximum amount rainfall - more than 2000 mm per year.
It is followed by a subequatorial strip, where the amount of precipitation and natural resources is shrinking. No more than 1500 mm of moisture falls here annually.
The tropical climate zone is the largest region of the continent. Depending on the hemisphere, the amount of precipitation here can range from 300 to as little as 50 mm per year.
covers the edge of the coast in the north of the mainland and a corner located in South Africa, in the very south. Both there and there it is always windy and humid. In winter, temperatures drop by 7 degrees, compared with summer figures. Rainfall is estimated at 500 mm per year.

Equatorial latitudes

Listing all the climatic zones of Africa, Special attention it is worth paying attention to the equatorial zone, since on this mainland it is considered the most unique, the wettest and most prolific in terms of agriculture. It is located, of course, along zero latitude, and covers such states as Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Ghana, Guinea, Benin, Cameroon and others adjacent to the Gulf of Guinea. A feature of the equatorial climate is that closer to the east it becomes drier, but in the western parts of the land the maximum amount of precipitation falls.

subequatorial zone

Africa is located in climatic zones that are characterized by hot temperatures, and a large part of its territory is occupied by subtropics. Here it is a little drier than at the equator, the jungle and evergreen forests turn into savannahs. A feature of this belt is that in summer equatorial winds blow here, which bring rain and often fog to the region. In winter, tropical trade winds are observed, which are drier and very hot, as a result of which the amount of rain decreases and the air temperature rises. In North Africa, the subequatorial belt covers such countries as Mali, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, etc. In the southern part of the continent, these are Tanzania, Kenya, Angola, Zambia Mozambique.

Tropics. Dry and windy

As the table above has already shown us, it is difficult to imagine the climatic zones of Africa without the tropics, which occupy most of the continent. Their widest strip stretched in the northern part of the mainland, covering the Sahara desert and all nearby countries. These are Egypt, the northern territories of Chad, Sudan, and Mali, as well as Mauritania, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, and many others. The amount of precipitation here is minimal - about 50 mm per year. The whole territory is covered with sands, blown by dry trade winds. Often there are sandstorms. Among the animals inhabiting the Sahara, insects and reptiles are more common, which get out of the dunes only at night. In the Southern Hemisphere, the tropics also fall on the Kalahari Desert region. The climate here is very similar to the north, but is characterized by a large amount of precipitation and a less sharp daily change in temperature.

Subtropical areas

In conclusion, consider the extreme climatic zones of Africa - subtropical. They occupy the smallest part of the continent both in the north and in the south, therefore they have little effect on the overall weather picture. So, in the northern part of the mainland, this zone extends as a thin strip along the Mediterranean coast. Only the highest points of Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, which are washed by the waves of this sea, fall into it. A feature of the local climate is that in winter winds blow from the west, bringing moisture. Due to this, it is during the cold season that the maximum amount of precipitation falls here - about 500 mm. In summer, the winds change to tropical trade winds, which bring heat, drought and even sand from the Sahara. It does not rain at all, the temperature rises to a maximum. in the southern hemisphere weather are similar. The only feature is that it is a narrow cape, which is washed on all sides by the ocean. Evaporated moisture makes the air humid throughout the year, and precipitation falls here not only in winter, but also in all other seasons.

Madagascar and the Cape Verde Islands

The climatic zones of Africa cover not only the continent itself, but also the islands that belong to it - mainland and volcanic. To the east, beyond the waters of the Mozabic Strait, lies Madagascar. It falls into two climatic zones at once - subequatorial and tropical. True, both here are not as dry as in Africa itself. Rains happen often, and the whole island is literally immersed in evergreens and palm trees. lie in the Atlantic, west of the Gulf of Guinea. Here the climate is subequatorial, humid, but at the same time very windy. Precipitation falls evenly throughout the year.

Conclusion

We have just briefly reviewed all the climatic zones of Africa. Grade 7 is the period when children get acquainted with natural areas and the climate of our planet. It is important that the child during this period does not miss anything and can quickly figure out which zone we live in, which are located to the south, and which, on the contrary, go north. This will broaden his horizons and allow him to better navigate in geography.

In Africa, peculiar 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. Here the air is warm and the climate is humid. The temperature maximum reaches +28 degrees Celsius, and approximately the same temperature above +20 degrees lasts all year round. Rainfall is 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 the winter is dry. Depending on the seasons, air currents also change: equatorial wet and dry tropical. This climatic zone has long and short rainy seasons, but the total annual precipitation does not exceed 400 mm.

tropical zone

Most of the mainland lies in the 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 and the air humidity is negligible. 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. A strong wind almost always blows, which can destroy crops and activate sandstorms. A small area in the southeast of the mainland has a tropical humid climate with a significant amount of precipitation that falls all year round.

Table of climatic zones of Africa

The extreme territories of the continent are located in the subtropical zone. The average temperature is +20 degrees with noticeable seasonal fluctuations. The southwestern and northern part of the mainland lies in the Mediterranean type zone. V winter time rainfall occurs in this area, and summers are dry. Humid climate with regular rainfall throughout the year formed in the southeast of the mainland.

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

The equatorial belt is located on both sides of the equator of our planet - from 5 ° -8 ° N. sh. up to 4°—11° S sh.

Equatorial air masses reign here all year round. This is the only belt that is not continuous and whole. It is located between the subequatorial belts. Due to the influence of equatorial air masses, the high temperatures, there are no strong winds and an optimal level of moisture is maintained.

Natural zones of the equatorial climate zone

A feature of the equatorial climate zone is the absence of differences in seasons. All year round Temperatures are about the same across the regions. Both winter and summer average temperature here is about +30 degrees. Annually 2000-7000 mm of precipitation falls in the form of heavy rains.

The hot and constant climate is formed due to the assimilation of solar radiation. The amount of this energy exceeds the permissible norms.

The equatorial climatic zone is characterized by the presence of a variety of plant species. Their growth is facilitated by constant moisture. Tropical and permanently humid forests are widespread in the equatorial territories. In these forests grow palm trees, iron, bread and chocolate trees.

From animals there are many insects, frogs, snakes and monkeys.

The Amazonian lowland of South America, equatorial Africa, the Gulf of Guinea, the Greater Sunda Islands - an equatorial climate reigns here.

Climate of humid equatorial forests of the countries of the world

Moist equatorial forests got their name due to the territories in which they are formed. They grow in the Amazon, in the valleys of the Congo and Lualaba rivers. Permanently wet forests occupy vast areas in the Greater Sunda Islands.

Such forests are formed exclusively in the conditions of the equatorial climatic zone. Its climate is ideal for constant tree growth. In order to saturate the vegetation with the right amount of moisture, constant precipitation is needed, more than 2000 mm per year. Also, these trees do not like the cold, and this climate provides them with constant heat.

Moist equatorial forests are located mainly near the continental coasts, where warm currents dominate. These forests are impenetrable jungles inhabited by most of living beings all over the planet.

Permanently wet forests consist of several layers of vegetation. Trees reach 30-40 meters in height. And eucalyptus trees growing in Australia reach 100 meters in the air.

Moist forests are very difficult to study, so it is impossible to say exactly how many species of the animal world live there. Only a small part of this green world has been explored. And it is already known that 2/3 of all life on Earth lives here.

The plants of these territories are characterized by large leaves. The sheets have special slots and holes that protect them from damage by raindrops.

The fauna of these forests is very diverse. There are snakes, lizards, frogs, spiders, insects and midges. As a rule, all animals are small in size. This allows them to move freely through the world of endless jungle.