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Egypt: Climate Ideas
NASA imagery
1. What ocean lies on Africa's western border? ________________________
2. What ocean lies on Africa's eastern border? ________________________
3. What sea forms Africa's northern border? _________________________________
4. What sea forms Africa's northeastern border? _________________________
5. What is the name of the large island off the coast of southeastern Africa?______________________
6. What is the name of the large African lake that lies on the equator? ____________________
7. What is the name of the major African river that flows north into the Mediterranean?______________
8. What is the name of the major African river that crosses the equator and flows into the Atlantic? _________________________
9. What is the name of the huge desert in northern Africa? _________________________
10. What is the name of the smaller desert in southern Africa? _________________________
(EnchantedLearning.com)
GeographyWhere is Egypt located? How did the ancient Egyptians adapt to their environment? Egypt is located on the continent of Africa. The climate in ancient Egypt is very hot and dry. The ancient Egyptians farmed and irrigated the land near the Nile River. The Nile River flows north into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile River was used by the ancient Egyptians for many things. They fished for food, washed themselves and their clothes, and collected water for irrigation, drinking and cooking. They also traveled by boat around Egypt and into the Mediterranean Sea to trade with other cultures. The land in Egypt is about 90 percent desert. There are grasses along the Nile River. The Nile River floods
every year. This flooding brings in rich soil for planting. (from Michelle Crabill, http://www.fcps.edu/KingsParkES/technology/ancient/egypt.htm#geography)
Official name:
Arab Republic of Egypt
Capital:Cairo
Area:
total: 1,001,450 sq km land: 995,450 sq km water: 6,000 sq km
Climate:desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes the Asian Sinai Peninsula
Geographic coordinates:
27 00 N, 30 00 E
Comparative Area:
slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 2,665 km border countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 266 km, Libya 1,115 km, Sudan 1,273 km
Coastline:2,450 km
Terrain:vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m
Egypt Climate (via Wikipedia)
Egypt does not receive much rainfall except in the winter months.[14] South of Cairo, rainfall averages only around 2 to 5 mm (0.1 to 0.2 in) per year and at intervals of many years. On a very thin strip of the northern coast the rainfall can be as high as 410 mm (16 in),[15] with most of the rainfall between October and March. Snow falls on Sinai's
mountains and some of the north coastal cities such as Damietta, Baltim, Sidi Barrany, etc. and rarely in Alexandria, frost is also known in mid-Sinai and mid-Egypt.
Temperatures average between 80 °F (27 °C) and 90 °F (32 °C) in summer, and up to 109 °F (43 °C) on the Red Sea coast. Temperatures average between 55 °F (13 °C) and
70 °F (21 °C) in winter. A steady wind from the northwest helps hold down the temperature near the Mediterranean coast. The Khamaseen is a wind that blows from the south in Egypt in spring, bringing sand and dust, and sometimes raises the temperature in the
desert to more than 100 °F (38 °C).Every year, a predictable flooding of the Nile replenishes Egypt's soil (black land/silt). This gives the country consistent harvest throughout the year. Many know this event as The Gift
of the Nile.The rise in sea levels due to global warming threatens Egypt's densely populated coastal
strip and could have grave consequences for the country's economy, agriculture and industry. Combined with growing demographic pressures, a rise in sea levels could turn millions of Egyptians into environmental refugees by the end of the century, according to
climate experts.[16]
From Planet Observerhttp://www.maps.com/map.aspx?pid=16511
Indiana Climate (via Wikipedia)
Most of Indiana has a humid continental climate (Koppen climate classification Dfa), with hot, humid summers and cool to cold winters. The extreme southern portions of the state border on a
humid subtropical climate (Koppen Cfa) with somewhat milder winters. Summertime maximum temperatures average around 90 °F with cooler nights around 60 °F. Winters are a little more variable, but generally cool to cold temperatures with all but the northern part of the state averaging above freezing for
the maximum January temperature, and the minimum temperature below 20 °F (-8 °C) for most of the state.[29] Indiana's record high temperature is 116 degrees observed at Collegeville on July 14, 1936. The
record low temperature is -36 degrees observed at New Whiteland on January 19, 1994.[30] The state receives a good amount of precipitation, 41.5 inches (1,050 mm) annually statewide, in all four seasons.
Amounts vary significantly, with the northern part of the state averaging 37 inches (94 cm), and the southern part averaging 47 inches (120 cm). March through August are the typically the wettest monthes
of the year. Winter months average three inches of rain, making it the driest time of the year.[30]The state commonly experiences severe weather, with both winter storms and thunderstorms. Snow fall varies significantly across the state, with northern Indiana averaging 76 inches (190 cm) annually, and
southern Indiana averaging 14 inches (36 cm) annually.[30] Indiana occasionally experiences blizzards, some due to Lake-effect snow. Two major paralyzing snowstorms were theBlizzard of 1978, which
affected almost the entire state, and the December 2004 Blizzard, which primarily affected the Ohio Valley and later caused the severe flooding of the White, Wabash, and the Ohio Rivers in January, 2005. The state averages around 40–50 days of thunderstorms per year, with March and April being the period of most severe storms.[30] While not considered part of Tornado Alley, Indiana is the Great Lakes state
which is most vulnerable to tornadic activity. Three of the most severe tornado outbreaks in U.S. history affected Indiana, the Tri-State Tornado of 1925, the Palm Sunday tornado outbreak of 1965 and the Super
Outbreak of 1974. The Evansville Tornado of November 2005. On average, Indiana experiences 23 confirmed tornadoes annually. The most recorded tornados occured in 1990 when a 67 confirmed
tornados occured in the state, half of them on the same day.[30] Wind speed averages about 10 miles (16 km) per hour, and typically travel in a northwesterly direction. During severe weather, wind speeds
have measured in excess of 100 miles (160 km) per hour.[30]
From Geology.com
1) Look at a map of the Earth; compare location of Indiana with location of Egypt. Discuss observations.
2) Look at a satellite image of Indiana versus Egypt vegetation. Discuss observations.3) Students list (on the blackboard or a flipchart), during a classroom discussion, observations about
Indiana’s weather during the year. Whattypes of clothing do you need during each season? How do Hoosiersprepare for the seasons? Indiana is a humid, sub-continental climate.
4) After looking at the satellite images of vegetation coverage, what type ofclimate is Egypt, in general? Are there differences in climate within the country of Egypt? What types of extremes (coastal, river valley, Sinai Peninsula, desert)? What types of clothing would you need in Egypt? How do the Egyptians prepare for their various climate zones?
a) If you were traveling to Egypt, landing in Cairo, boating south on the Nile, and camel caravan through the desert, list 15 items that you would pack in the one back-pack that you are permitted to carry: clothing, shoes, maps/books,compass, GPS unit, white sheet, umbrella, sunscreen…
b) Cut out photographs of various climate zones of Egypt and glue them toa map of Egypt based upon the local climate that YOU believe is appropriate. Forexample, a picture of a camel walking on a sand dune – glue on the desert.
5) Based on the satellite image and the hydrology (water) map of Egypt,where does most of the agriculture take place? Why? Discuss the accessto water for irrigation AND the fertile soil (silt from southern points of origin).
6) Think about climate change and Egypt’s future. Climate change is a naturalevent and as the climate warms, what impact will this have on Egypt’s northern coast? Nile River Valley? Desert? Use the knowledge that you have about climate. Research possibilities. Do not believe everything that you read about climate change!!! Much of the climate change information available is bias and not objective.
Ancient Egypt Webquest
Egypt Lessons for Teachers
http://www.touregypt.net/
The Black Land of Egypt OR Where Did all that Silt Come From?
http://www.minamar.com/egypt_map.htm - a travel sitewith information about Egypt
http://www.iupui.edu/~ghw
A Few Sites Related to Egypt in the Classroom
All of the photographs below were borrowed from the Tour Egypt! web site located at http://www.touregypt.net/.
Future Worries for Egypt as Climate Changes
•Water demand: agricultural irrigation, domestic, industry•Egypt water “rich” in 1950’s with population of 30 million; 2006 considered below U.N.’s per capita water supply for 80 million
•Increased coastal flooding: salinity rise in soil and groundwater, impact fish catch, human migration (half the country’s population), erosion, land subsidence, pollution, decrease tourism; will force management practices•Increased Nile River Valley pressures: depends upon wind and up-river rainfall (cannot predict increase/decrease in rainfall but demand will increase as agricultural areas expand); decreased access to irrigation canals: purchased rights by affluent; increase insects; livestock vulnerability increase due to lack of water and loss of grazing sites; state-sponsored water mega projects
•Increased wind damage and fires in rural and poor urban areas•Increase speed of desertification: increased winds across north Africa•Social unrest; strained relations with neighboring countries and region•Researching and planning between farmers and government is happening: concrete barriers along north coast
The Right to Water by Al-Ahram Weekly Online; Impact of Climate Change on Egypt by M. El-Raev
