Climate
Most of Africa has a warm or hot climate, but the humidity and amount of rainfall vary dramatically from area to area.
Africa has the largest tropical area of any continent. The equator runs through the middle of Africa, and about 90 per cent of the continent lies within the tropics. In countries south of the equator, the seasons are opposite those of countries that lie north of the equator. But temperatures are high the year around almost everywhere in Africa. The variations between summer and winter temperatures are slight. In fact, the difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures in most parts of the continent is greater than the difference in the average temperatures between the coldest and warmest months. For this reason, some people say that nighttime is the “winter” of the tropics.
Africa’s highest temperatures occur in the Sahara and in parts of Somalia. The highest temperature ever recorded in the world was 136 degrees F. (58 degrees C) in the shade at Al Aziziyah, Libya, on Sept. 13, 1922. At I-n-Salah, Algeria, and along the north coast of Somalia, July temperatures soar to 115 degrees F. (46 degrees C) or higher almost every day. Nighttime temperatures, however, may drop sharply. The Sahara also has the greatest seasonal range of temperatures in Africa. Winter temperatures in the Sahara average from 50 degrees to 60 degrees F. (10 degrees to 16 degrees C). Near the equator, temperatures may average 75 degrees F. (24 degrees C) or more the year around. But temperatures of more than 100 degrees F. (38 degrees C) are rare.
The coolest regions in Africa are the northwest, the highland areas of the east, and parts of the south. In Johannesburg, South Africa, for example, the average temperature in January, the warmest month, is 68 degrees F. (20 degrees C). Frost and snowfall are common in the mountains of Africa.
Climate Change and Vulnerability in Africa
Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to climate change and climate variability, a situation aggravated by the interaction of ‘multiple stresses’, occurring at various levels, and low adaptive capacity
African farmers have developed several adaptation options to cope with current climate variability, but such adaptations may not be sufficient for future changes of climate
Agricultural production and food security (including access to food) in many African countries and regions are likely to be severely compromised by climate change and climate variability
Climate change will aggravate the water stress currently faced by some countries, while some countries that currently do not experience water stress will become at risk of water stress.
Changes in a variety of ecosystems are already being detected, particularly in southern African ecosystems, at a faster rate than anticipated
Climate variability and change could result in low-lying lands being inundated, with resultant impacts on coastal settlements
Human health, already compromised by a range of factors, could be further negatively impacted by climate change and climate variability, e.g., malaria in southern Africa and the East African highlands
2 Comments
The climate change community should be sharing information in a seamless way and Africa Climate Debate is a useful forum for communicating.
Friends of Ozone Africa is a not-for-profit climate change organisation registered in Kenya. Friends of Ozone Africa vision of a world characterized by balanced eco-social systems is driven by a commitment to see those most vulnerable to climate change take responsibility for betterment of their circumstances towards sustainable
development by leveraging evolving knowledge base on climate change adaptation whilst diversifying their
economic activities and improving their standard of living.
Friends of Ozone Africa seeks to assist the poor use their natural heritage and knowledge to adapt to climate change and enhance their livelihood. The impact of climate change is already being felt in diverse continents, and will
continue to do so in the foreseeable future. The poor are the major victims; they are loosing their last heritage in
terms of assets to safeguard food security and shelter e.g. biodiversity and ecosystems on which they depend for
food and medicine.
Climate change is a global challenge that requires a holistic response. Friends of Ozone Africa strives towards an integrated approach linking climate change mitigation and adaptation (e.g. participating in creating markets for credits representing emissions reductions to encourage investment in power-saving technologies and low-carbon energy sources). The global climate change agenda is driven by the North who focuses on climate change effects such as melting of snow and possible extinction of polar bears and other biodiversity found in the North. On the other hand the South is focusing on effects relating to possible drought leading to migration of pastoralists, conflicts over water, land, grazing areas etc., and damage of flora and fauna leading to destruction of medicinal trees and plants upon which many people in the South depend on.
Friends of Ozone Africa believes the time is now right for businesses to develop and apply climate change business solutions as part of the business process beyond simple corporate responsibility. The climate change agenda has been driven by scientists, civil society and governments. Although the causes of climate change and technologies for
mitigation and adaptation are known, access to these tools and their application remain unacceptably low if not
contrived in many countries. Furthermore, businesses are showing interest in playing their role. However, there
are inadequate viable business models that can also contribute to the bottom line of individual firms whilst they contribute to the communal adaptation through triple bottomline.
Kenneth,
Information is lacking not only at the community level, even at the top most level (Policy Makers). Negotiators from the South always end up playing second fiddle and catching the wrong end of the stick. They follow the Western Agenda, yet that agenda is not meant to resolve the South problems! Here is an opportunity to influence negotiators- http://www.vkrf.org visit the site and find out what they are offering towards this end!