Natural zone: humid equatorial forests or tropical rainforest, features, climate, soils, geographical location. Equatorial climate zone Temperature in the humid equatorial forests of Africa

In the very center of Africa, in the basin of the great African Congo River, north and south of the equator line and along the shores of the Gulf of Guinea, there are humid equatorial forests of Africa. The forest zone is located in the equatorial climate zone. It's hot and humid here all year round. Usually in the morning the weather is hot and clear. The sun rises higher and bakes more and more. As the temperature rises, evaporation increases. It becomes damp and stuffy, like in a greenhouse. In the afternoon, cumulus clouds appear in the sky and merge into heavy lead clouds. The first drops fell, and a violent thunderstorm broke out. It rains for an hour or two, sometimes more. Rushing streams of rainwater rush through the forest. Countless streams merge into wide rivers. By evening the weather clears up again. And so almost every day from year to year.

There is an abundance of water everywhere. The air is saturated with moisture, plants and soil are saturated with water. Vast areas are swampy or subject to flooding. The abundance of heat and moisture favors the lush development of dense evergreen woody vegetation. Plant life in the equatorial forests never stops. Trees bloom, bear fruit, shed old foliage and put on new ones throughout the year.

Eternal twilight reigns under the multi-storey green vault of the forest. Only in some places a ray of the sun breaks through the foliage. Oil palm grows in bright places. The palm vulture likes to eat its fruits. 100 or more species of trees can be counted on 1 hectare of the equatorial forest. Among them are many valuable species: ebony (ebony), red, rosewood. Their wood is used to make expensive furniture and is exported in large quantities.

The forests of Africa are the birthplace of the coffee tree. Bananas are also indigenous Africans. And the cocoa tree was brought here from America. Large areas are occupied by plantations of cocoa, coffee, bananas, pineapples.

Most animals have adapted to life in trees. Mammals are characterized by a variety of monkeys. The lord of the African equatorial forest, the world's largest ape - the gorilla. The favorite food of gorillas is the core of banana stalks. There are very few gorillas left and hunting for them is strictly prohibited. There is a forest antelope bongo, an African wild boar, in the depths of the forest you can meet a very rare hoofed animal akapi. Of the predators, there is a leopard, which climbs trees perfectly.

The world of birds is very rich: kalao - a hornbill, a parrot, a Congolese peacock, tiny sunbirds that feed on flower nectar. Many snakes, incl. poisonous, chameleons that feed on insects.

The inhabitants of the equatorial forest zone are excellent hunters. The significance of hunting is all the more great because the development of cattle breeding is hindered by the spread of the tsetse fly. The bite of this fly is detrimental to livestock and causes severe illness in humans. Rivers abound in fish. And fishing is more important than hunting. But swimming is dangerous. There are many crocodiles here.

Africa has unique climatic conditions. Since the continent crosses the equator, except for the equatorial belt, all other climatic zones are repeated.

equatorial belt of africa

The equatorial belt of the African continent is located in the Gulf of Guinea. Here the air is warm and humid climate. The temperature maximum reaches +28 degrees Celsius, and approximately the same temperature above +20 degrees lasts all year round. Rainfall is more than 2000 mm per year, which is distributed relatively evenly throughout the territory.

On both sides of the equator there are two subequatorial zones. The summer season is humid and warm with a maximum of +28 degrees, and the winter is dry. Depending on the seasons, air currents also change: equatorial wet and dry tropical. This climatic zone has long and short rainy seasons, but the total annual precipitation does not exceed 400 mm.

tropical zone

Most of the mainland lies in the tropical zone. The air mass here is continental, and under its influence deserts were formed in the Sahara and in the south. There is practically no precipitation and the air humidity is negligible. It may rain once every few years. During the day, the air temperature is very high, and at night the degrees can drop below 0. It almost always blows strong wind, which can destroy crops and activate sandstorms. A small area in the southeast of the mainland has a tropical humid climate with a significant amount of precipitation that falls all year round.

Table of climatic zones of Africa

The extreme territories of the continent are located in the subtropical zone. The average temperature is +20 degrees with noticeable seasonal fluctuations. The southwestern and northern part of the mainland lies in the Mediterranean type zone. In winter, precipitation falls in this area, and summers are dry. Humid climate with regular rainfall throughout the year formed in the southeast of the mainland.

Africa is the only continent that is located on both sides of the equator, which has influenced the formation of unique climatic conditions. So on the mainland there is one equatorial belt, and two subequatorial, tropical and subtropical belts. It is much hotter here than on other continents with similar climatic zones. These climatic conditions have influenced the formation of a unique nature in Africa.

Equatorial forests occupy an area river basin Congo and Gulf of Guinea. Their part is approximately 8% of the total area of ​​the continent. This natural area is unique. There is not much difference between the seasons here. The average temperature is around 24 degrees Celsius. The annual rainfall is 2000 millimeters, and it rains almost every day. The main weather indicators are increased heat and humidity.

The equatorial forests of Africa are wet rainforests and are called the term "hylaea". If you look at the forest from a bird's eye view (from a helicopter or plane), then it resembles a green lush sea. In addition, several rivers flow here, and all of them are full-flowing. During floods, they overflow and overflow the banks, flooding large area sushi. Hylaea lie on red-yellow ferralitic soils. Since they contain iron, it gives the soil a red tint. There are not very many nutrients in them, they are washed out by water. The sun also affects the soil.

hylaea flora

More than 25 thousand species of flora live in the equatorial forest of Africa, of which a thousand are only trees. Lianas wrap around them. Trees form dense thickets in the upper tiers. Shrubs grow a little lower, and grasses, mosses, and creepers grow even lower. In total, 8 tiers are represented in these forests.

Gilea is an evergreen forest. The leaves on the trees last for about two, and sometimes three years. They do not fall at the same time, but are replaced one by one. The most common types are as follows:

• bananas;
• sandalwood;
• ferns;
• nutmeg;
• ficuses;
• palm trees;
• the Red tree;
• creepers;
• orchids;
• breadfruit;
• epiphytes;
• oil palm;
• nutmeg;
• rubber plants;
• a coffee tree.

Hylaean fauna

Animals and birds are found in all tiers of the forest. There are a lot of monkeys here. These are gorillas and monkeys, chimpanzees and baboons. In the crowns of trees there are birds - banana-eaters, woodpeckers, fruit pigeons, as well as a huge variety of parrots. Lizards, pythons, shrews and various rodents crawl on the ground. A lot of insects live in the equatorial forest: tsetse flies, bees, butterflies, mosquitoes, dragonflies, termites and others.

In the African equatorial forest, special climatic conditions have formed. There is a rich world of flora and fauna. Human influence is minimal here, and the ecosystem is virtually untouched.

The widest part of Africa is located in the center of the hot zone of illumination. The whole continent is caressed by the sun all year round, receives a huge amount of energy from our luminary. The climate of Africa is determined by geographical location, air circulation, the influence of the oceans, and the nature of the underlying surface. According to the combination of these main factors, climatic zones (basic and transitional) are distinguished on the mainland: subtropical, tropical, subequatorial and equatorial. In this order, they are replaced in the northern hemisphere from north to south.

General characteristics of the African climate

The equator crosses the continent roughly in the center. Northern - the larger part of the mainland - extends to mediterranean sea in the north and the Arabian Peninsula of Eurasia in the northeast. South of the equator lies a narrow part of Africa, resembling a triangle in shape. The area from the equator to the Northern Tropic receives about 200 kcal/cm2 per year. The average figure for the total solar radiation on the mainland is 160 kcal/cm2 per year.

The climate of Africa is diverse, heat and moisture are distributed unevenly, especially in desert regions. The maximum amount of precipitation is received by the southwestern foot of the Cameroon volcano - up to 10,000 mm / year. Africa surpasses other continents in terms of temperature, being the hottest of them. The largest number solar heat falls on a land mass located between the Northern and Southern tropics.

We will describe the climate of Africa according to the position of the territories of the continent relative to the equator. This is the main climate-forming factor on which heating depends. earth's surface, and from it - air. An important role belongs to other conditions: atmospheric circulation, the nature of the relief, the features of the underlying surface, the position relative to other continents, oceans. The main and transitional types of climate in Africa:

• Equatorial.
• Subequatorial (wet in the south, arid in the north).
• Tropical desert.
• Subtropical Mediterranean.

Equatorial climate of Africa

In the center of the mainland, near the 0° parallel, a hot and humid climate is formed. The equatorial belt covers the territory from 6 ° N. sh. up to 5°S sh. in the Congo basin in the east, on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea, it reaches 8 ° N. sh. The conditions of this region are determined by equatorial air masses - hot and humid; it rains throughout the year. The air in January and July heats up to an average of +25 ° C, 2000-3000 mm of precipitation falls annually. The moisture coefficient reaches 1.5-2 (excess).

evergreen forests

Africa's equatorial climate creates favorable conditions for warm and moisture-loving plants. The equatorial region of Africa is covered with dense evergreen forests - hylaea. It is difficult for animals and people to be under the canopy of the forest, where it is gloomy and stuffy, the air is saturated with the smells of decaying litter and the scent of orchids.

Impenetrable sparsely populated natural area in last years intensively studied. Wood is cut down to obtain valuable timber for export. Mahogany, abachi (African maple) and other species are mined.

Subequatorial climate zone

It occupies vast expanses of the mainland from 20 ° S. sh. up to 17° s. sh. More than 1/3 of Africa is located in areas of subequatorial climate. In the eastern part, the transitional belt is not interrupted by the equatorial one, in southern hemisphere- does not reach the Atlantic Ocean.

Characteristics of the African climate in the subequatorial region of the continent:

1. Temperature conditions and humidity are determined by the alternating influence of tropical and equatorial air masses. As a result, seasons are formed - wet and dry.
2. In summer, hot and wet air equatorial latitudes, dry tropical air mass comes in winter, it becomes a little cooler.
3. The rainless season lasts from 2 to 10 months. The average annual air temperature is over +20 °С, about 1000 mm/year of precipitation will fall (in the southern part of the belt).
4. The duration of the humid period and the average annual precipitation decrease towards the margins of the subequatorial belt.
5. In the northern regions, less rain falls, and the hot breath of the desert is felt. The hottest period of the year falls at the beginning of the rainy season, when the average monthly temperature exceeds +30 °C.
6. The cool months of the humid period are characterized by temperatures around +20 °C and above.

Savannah

In addition to geographical location and atmospheric circulation, the climate of Africa is determined by feature relief of the mainland. The margins of the continent are uplifted; compared to the interior regions, they are located higher above sea level.

Mountain ranges and massifs in the north, east and southeast limit the influence of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans on the climate of the savannah zone, stretching within the subequatorial belt. Features of flora and fauna in this part of the continent are determined by the alternation of the wet and dry seasons, the lack of moisture for the formation of full-fledged forests, full-flowing riverbeds.

tropical belt

Features of the climate of Africa in the region of the Northern and Southern tropics - the dominance of hot and dry air masses. Areas with an arid tropical climate and a significant daily temperature range extend in the north and south of the mainland up to the 30th parallel. A significant area of ​​the continent is influenced by an arid tropical climate. In this zone, the highest average monthly rates are noted: +35 ... 40 ° С.

The North African massif receives a lot of solar radiation and very little moisture. Daytime temperatures rarely drop below 20°C. Snow lies on the mountain peaks in the tropics, and desert and semi-desert territories lie at the foot. The most extensive lifeless areas: in the north - the Sahara, in the south - the Namib.

Deserts and semi-deserts

There are areas in the Sahara where temperature minimums and maximums (-3 and +58 °С) were recorded. The daytime temperature on hot sand and stones reaches +60 ... 70 °С, at night it can drop to +10 °С. Daily temperature fluctuations reach 50 °С.

Precipitation in the deserts of Africa falls from 0 to 100 mm / year, which is extremely small. Rains sometimes do not reach the surface of the earth - they dry up in the air. Humidification is poor, Kuvl. = 0.1-0.3. The life of the desert population is concentrated in oases - places where groundwater comes out. Agriculture, cattle breeding, tourist services are developed.

Subtropics of Africa

The extreme south and a narrow strip of the northern coast are occupied by areas of subtropical climate. This is a transitional zone, the features of which are determined by the properties of air masses in temperate and tropical latitudes. The subtropical climate is characterized by dry and rainy seasons, a significant influx of moisture, which contributes to the development of agriculture. The maximum number of rains in the northwestern and southwestern regions of the African continent falls on winter months, in the southeast the rainy season is summer.

The subtropics of Africa and other areas of the mainland attract numerous tourists. World-famous resorts are located on the coast of the Mediterranean and Red Seas, the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. The main direction of tourism development and types of recreation in North Africa- beach, sightseeing. In the savannas - safari, jeep. Less visited areas - impassable moist forests and uninhabited desert areas.

What is the climate in Africa now and in the past? The answer to this question lies in the beds of dry rivers (wadis), the ruins of once prosperous cities, covered by the sands of the Sahara. African climate is becoming arid, deserts are advancing in the north and south. A striking contrast to this phenomenon are floods, when rivers overflow their banks and flood coastal areas. Scientists suggest that catastrophic natural processes may be associated with intensive felling of tree plantations, the widespread construction of cities, roads, the development of agriculture and cattle breeding.

Since childhood, we all know such a large and beautiful mainland as Africa. We also know that the first life originated there. I have always been interested in the question why Africa became the center of the origin of civilization? Studying geography at school, we learn that this continent is the second in area after Eurasia and lies in several climatic zones. The African continent extends from the northern subtropical zone to the southern subtropical.

Climate zones of Africa

I'll start with the equator. He practically divides Africa in half because of this, the belts of the southern and northern parts are duplicated. The following climatic zones are distinguished:

• 2 subtropical belts.
• 2 tropical belts.
• 2 Subequatorial belts.
• 1 Equatorial belt.

equatorial belt

equatorial belt- goes through central part mainland. Mostly humid and warm air currents prevail here, so there is only one type of climate - equatorial.

subequatorial belt

Subequatorial belts- located on either side of the equator. The temperature in these zones is the same as in the equatorial zone - quite high (+25…28°С). However, the change between the wet and dry cycles is clearly visible here. A feature of the subequatorial belts is Availabilitytwo rainy periods. People call them "long rains" and "short rains". Rainy periods alternate with dry winters.

tropical belt

tropical belts- occupy vast area of ​​the continent. Continental tropical air currents form in the Sahara and South Africa desert climate. In the Sahara, for several years, absent any precipitation, and the smallest dust hangs in the sky, which makes it almost impossible to see it blue. suffocating heat afternoon and cruel cold at night, severe aridity and incessant winds kill all life in the area.

So why did life originate in Africa? I think it's all about her natural conditions equatorial zone. According to one of the hypotheses, active volcanism existed in the region of the East African Rift Belt. He gave rise to many hot springs that warmed primitive people and their offspring on cold nights.

In what climate zones is the continent of Africa located?

Africa is a large continent (the second in the world after Eurasia), strongly elongated from north to south on both sides of the equator. There are four climatic zones. In the very north and south of the mainland - Subtropical(southern South Africa and northern Sahara). Next comes tropical belt(almost the entire Sahara, northern South Africa, Namibia, Angola, southern Madagascar). It takes up a small space near the equator equatorial belt. And around him almost all over central Africa largest in area subequatorial belt.




A continent like Africa is located in the following climatic zones:

the first climate zone: subtropical,

second climatic zone: tropical,

third climatic zone: subequatorial,

fourth climatic zone: equatorial,

fifth climatic zone: subequatorial,

sixth climatic zone: tropical,

seventh climatic zone: subtropical.

The belts are listed in order from north to south.

Africa is not in vain called the hottest continent on Earth, it really is. The central part of this continent lies in the equatorial zone, characterized by high temperature and humidity. The famous equatorial forests and impenetrable jungles grow here. To the south, east and north lie subequatorial climatic zones characterized by a mixed climate - both humid equatorial air masses and tropical dry ones can enter here. Farther from the equator lie the tropics, the driest places on the planet with high temperatures. Here lie the Sahara, the Kalahari and the Namib. The most extreme points of the continent belong to the subtropical climate and in winter, air masses from temperate latitudes can even bring snow here.

Africa is divided almost in half by the equator line. What climate zones is Africa in?

• equatorial;
• tropical;
• subequatorial and subtropical.

Features of Africa's climate are due to its location on the climate map of the world. Because of its position, the largest desert, the Sahara, is located there.




Africa is located in the following climatic zones. Table

The climate of the African belts is very similar, but there are differences. There are areas where precipitation occurs seasonally, and there are areas where the climate is milder. Animals of Africa move in a caravan in search of water bodies. During the drought, crocodiles and giraffes drink from the same stream, establishing a truce for this time.

The climate of Africa is quite hot since it is located in the following climatic zones, namely this: equatorial, 2 subtropical, tropical and subequatorial. The equator passes through this continent, and it is washed by two oceans, the Indian and the Atlantic. Also in Africa is one of the largest deserts in the world, the Sahara.

The African continent is the only continent in the world located on both sides of the equator. In Africa, there are already seven climatic zones, and each of them has its own characteristics.

For example, equatorial The climate zone is supported by winds that constantly bring moisture and heat. It rains evenly throughout the year and there is no division into seasons.

North and south occupies subequatorial a belt where winds from the equator bring heat and moisture in summer. Tropical, hot and dry winds are typical for winter time.

The largest part of Africa is subject to tropical climate where tropical winds rule the whole year. Which creates a climate with savannahs and deserts.

Subtropical the belt is represented by two regions in the northern and southern territories. Available in Africa and subtropical-mediterranean climatic zone in the northern and southwestern parts of the continent.




The entire territory of Africa is one way or another included in various hot climate zones. It is crossed by the equator line approximately in the middle.

But the specific manifestations of the hot climate in Africa are heterogeneous. Dry deserts (such as the Sahara and Kalahari) predominate in the north and south of the continent. The central part is dominated by tropical forests, separated from the desert belt by savannah steppes, which are characterized by alternating wet and dry seasons.

Accordingly, the center of Africa is the zone of the equatorial climate, then the subequatorial, tropical, and at the southern and northern extremities, the zone of the subtropical climate is distinguished.

Africa, in size, is the second continent after Eurasia and is washed by two oceans:

• Atlantic
• Indian.

The climatic zones of Africa begin with the equatorial, followed by the subequatorial, then the tropical climatic zone, the subtropical zone.

Africa is located in seven climatic zones, namely:

1. in the equatorial
2. in two subequatorial
3. in two tropical
4. in two subtropical

The largest area is occupied by the subequatorial belt.

It should be noted that although Africa is considered a very hot continent, it is conditionally divided into several climatic zones, the conditions for existence on which are different. Therefore, when choosing a place of residence, it is imperative to coordinate climatic preferences.

So, there are 7 (SEVEN) belts. We look in more detail.

In what climatic zones is Africa located, its climate, precipitation

The African continent is the only continent in the world that lies on the sides of the equator. By the way, it has seven climatic zones, since the same zone, depending on which hemisphere it is located in, has its own climatic features.

Yes, equatorial climatic belt, forms winds that carry heat and moisture all year round. The temperature here is +25°-28°C, the rain falls evenly throughout the year and there is no division into seasons.

subequatorial the belt occupies the north and south of the land. Depending on the dry or rainy season of the year, clearly formed, the types of air masses change. In the summer season, equatorial winds carry heat and moisture, and in winter, tropical winds are drier and hotter.

The temperature stays within +24-28°C all year round, there is little rain, they fall during the summer season. By the way, no matter what climatic zones Africa is located in, everywhere on this continent there is a lack of moisture.

African tropics

The tropics cover the largest part of the country. Tropical winds dominate the whole year and form a climate with deserts and savannahs. The temperature in July is 32°С, in January +18°С. Precipitation is rare, no more than 100 mm per year. It is precisely in which climatic zones that Africa is located that led to the absence of severe colds on the continent, and even more so frost.

Subtropical the belt consists of two regions: the extreme northern and southern territories of the African continent. The temperature here is +24°С in summer, +10°С in winter. In the northern and southwestern regions of Africa, the subtropical-Mediterranean type of climate.

From the above, we can conclude in which climatic zones Africa is located. The map also demonstrates that it can safely be considered the hottest continent on our planet.

distant australia

Australia is the smallest and driest continent on Earth. It has three climatic zones: subequatorial, tropical and subtropical.

Subequatorial occupies the northern part of the mainland. In summer, equatorial wind blows here, in winter - tropical. The air temperature is +25°C all year round. Uneven rainfall affects the clear separation of the seasons. Summers are warm, with frequent thunderstorms and showers up to 2000 mm per year, while winters are hot and dry.

Tropical the belt has two types of climate. Depending on the location of the territory and the amount of precipitation falling on it, a continental (desert) and tropical climate is distinguished.

An area with a particularly dry climate is located far from the ocean. There are desert areas here. The air temperature in the summer season here is +30 °С, in winter +16 °С. The west of the tropical zone was formed under the influence of the West Australian Current. Deserts stretch to the shores of the Indian Ocean.

The eastern part receives a sufficient amount of moisture in the form of rain. Warm air coming from the Pacific Ocean has formed a favorable climate here, in which a tropical forest grows.

Subtropical belt covers southern territory Australia and is divided into three zones. The southwest is characterized by dry and hot summers and warm and rainy winters. The air temperature in January rises to +23°C, in June - up to +12°C.

The central part is completely desert. There is a continental climate with its characteristic strong temperature fluctuations all year round - hot summers and not very hot ones. warm winter, with little rain.

The southeast is a humid climate, the rains here fall equally throughout the year, in summer the air warms up to + 24 ° C, in winter - up to + 9 ° C.

If we compare the climatic zones in which Africa and Australia are located, we can see a great similarity in weather conditions both continents.

Land of ice and snow

Antarctica is a continent of cold and ice. It is located in two climatic zones: Antarctic and subantarctic.

Antarctic the belt makes up almost the entire territory of the mainland, which is covered by a layer of ice up to 4.5 km thick. And this is of great importance in shaping the climate of Antarctica, since ice reflects up to 90% of sunlight, which makes it difficult to warm the surface of the mainland.