Which climates are found across Africa?

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Africa is divided into eight distinct climatic regions based on the movement of air masses and their environmental effects. These regions are:1

  • Hot Desert: Includes the Sahara and Kalahari deserts, characterized by high mean monthly temperatures and significant diurnal temperature ranges.1
  • Semiarid: Found fringing the desert areas, these regions receive more rainfall due to their proximity to the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ).1
  • Tropical Wet-and-Dry: Also known as the savanna climate, this region covers nearly half of the continent and is defined by a distinct seasonal character of rainfall.1
  • Equatorial (Tropical Wet): The wettest region in Africa, characterized by constant warm maritime air masses and two peak rainfall periods.1
  • Mediterranean: Located at the northern and southern extremities, this climate features dry summers and winter rainfall.1
  • Humid Subtropical Marine: Restricted to the southeast coast, this region experiences year-round rainfall, which is heaviest in the summer.1
  • Warm Temperate Upland: Found on the Highveld of Southern Africa, this climate is modified by altitude, leading to cooler temperatures.1
  • Mountain: Includes high-altitude areas in Ethiopia and East Africa, where temperatures decrease with elevation and snow can occur on the highest peaks.1