Chapter 1.2 Climate and Vegetation

Africa is filled with many different climates, landforms, vegetation, plant life and regions

I. What Influences ClimateAlthough many think Africa is a hot place, not

all parts are extremely hot because of several geographic features (what can effect climates?)

Distance from equator, elevation, and location to water resources

A. Distance from the EquatorThe equator runs through the mid section of

AfricaThis area is usually very hotAlso known as the areas between the tropic

of cancer and tropic of CapricornNorth of the equator the weather and seasons are much like here in MichiganWhile south of the equator the seasons are reversed

B. Role of ElevationElevation or height above sea level makes a huge

differenceThe higher you go the colder it getsFarming is adjusted and located properly due to the

many elevation issuesAreas must have rain and warmer temps but too cold and

too much rain along droughts could cost a family their income

Many areas must use irrigation in order to farm it also effects livestock farmers

Many nomads wouldn’t dare travel the deserts without knowing where an oasis is located or an area with water and vegetation

C. Unpredictable RainfallRainfall varies which can cause huge issues

with regards to floods and droughtsCoastal areas have the biggest effects on

water levelsOcean storms often carry huge amounts of

water inland producing areas with over 100 inches of water per year and other areas have droughts which get less than 40 inches of water a year

This causes farmers to plant a variety of crops just in case

II. Vegetation Regions of AfricaLike rainfall, vegetation varies across the

countryRainforests and jungles are located toward

the center of the continent near the equator while deserts and savannas (tall grass lands) surround those landforms

A. Tropical RainforestsRain falls year-round hereRain forests make up 20% of the continentPlant and animal life are exotic here

(gorillas/monkeys)People who live here have created isolated towns and

villages in clearings to avoid the wrath of such animal life

Cacao is the plant chocolate is made from and it grows wild here

People also hunt, fish, and harvest timberHowever over-logging threatens to destroy many

rainforests

B. Tropical SavannasThis is the most common vegetation in AfricaTall grass, scattered trees, and bushes

surround much of the deserts and mountainous areas

Savannas are home to other exotic animals like elephants, lions, and zebras

They have dry and wet seasons, dry seasons make farming impossible some rivers actually dry up and wet seasons bring floods

Trading is common here for any needed goods

C. DesertsThe Sahara covers most of North Africa

which is nearly the size of the United StatesThis area and areas surrounding the desert

sometimes only get 4 inches of rain a yearVery little in the way of shrubs or plant life

grow hereOther deserts like the Namib and Kalahari

are located in Southern Africa

D. Desert LivingMany who live here are nomads who wander

in search of food and shelterMost nomads are herders and herd cattle as

they travel which is often used as trade/ also herd camels

Others live in the mountainous areas surrounding the deserts for the cooler temps and better grazing areas

If they chose to stay in the desert it’s always near an oasis for survival

III. Climate and HealthClimate effects health, so health risks are

evident for humans and animalsWarmer temps carry more disease, especially

through insects

A. Sleeping sickness1/5 of Africa is home to the Tsetse flyThis insect makes raising cattle almost

impossibleThis fly causes sleeping sickness in humans

and can kill cattleMany farmers and scientists have come

together to try to rid the continent of this small killer

Malaria is another disease which is spread to humans from mosquitos, they thrive in warm moist climates often near ponds, rivers, etc…