Activity - Explain the relationship between position of Africa and its climate types.

Activity - Explain the relationship between position of Africa and its climate types.

SOLUTION:

The position of Africa, especially its position across equatorial and subtropical latitudes in both the northern and southern hemisphere, is the main reason for the occurrence of several climatic types.

The continent mainly lies within the intertropical zone between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, hence its interesting density of humidity. Precipitation intensity is always high, and it is a hot continent. Warm and hot climates prevail all over Africa, but mostly the northern part is marked by aridity and high temperatures. Only the northernmost and the southernmost fringes of the continent have a Mediterranean climate.

The equator runs through the middle of Africa, as do the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, making Africa the most tropical of all the continents. Africa’s position is relatively unique in the sense that it almost has a mirror image of climate zones to the north and south of the Equator regarding latitude. When considered in detail, the movement of air masses and their effects provide the basis for a division of the continent into eight climatic regions.