Africa chapter 1, section 2Climate and Vegetation

What Influences Climate-Distance from the equator-Role of Elevation-Unpredictable Rainfall

Vegetation Regions of Africa-Tropical rain Forests-Tropical savannas-Deserts in Africa-Desert Living

Climate and Health-Sleeping sickness-Malaria

What Influences Climate?- Distance from equator- Elevation- Large bodies of water- Landforms

Distance from Equator- Most of Africa lies between the Tropics of

Cancer and Capricorn making it very tropical.- Half the continent has winter, when the other

half is having summer.

The Role of Elevation- the higher you go, the cooler you get- Kilimanjaro is near the equator, yet has snow.- Ethiopia and Somalia = dist. from the equator,

different climates. Ethiopia is higher, therefore cooler temps. and more rain. Somalia is lower elevation, hot and dry, can only farm near a river or oasis (fertile place in a desert with water and veg.).

Unpredictable Rainfall- Rainfall varies greatly across Africa.- In the west, winds carry moisture from the ocean.- Farmers in dry regions plant crops needing different

amounts of rain, hoping at least one will grow.

Vegetation Regions of Africa- Rain forests near the equator- Savannas beyond the forests (region of tall

grasses scattered with trees)- Desert

Tropical Rain Forests- West and Central Africa - nearly 20%- Cacao and cassava grow well; people fish,

hunt, and harvest timber

Tropical Savannas- most common, tall grasses, thorny bushes, scattered

trees, and animals- Savannas cover more of Africa than other types of

vegetation.- two seasons - wet and dry; one can only farm during

wet season

Deserts in Africa- Sahara in the north; about as large as the U.S.- Namib and Kalahari in Southern Africa

Desert Living

- Nomads (people who have no home) live in the deserts. They are herders and traders.

- They move around to grazing areas that have water.

Climate and Health- Climate can present health problems to people

and animals.

Sleeping Sickness

- tsetse fly - one bite can kill cattle and cause sleeping sickness in humans

- People are trying to control this by setting fly traps and putting poison in nets on tents.

Malaria- spread by the bite of an infected mosquito- They breed in swamps, ponds and pools of

standing water.- Clothing and insecticide can help.

3