Climate and Vegetation in Sub-Saharan

Africa

Climate and Vegetation in Sub-Saharan

Africa

DirectionsDirections• Create a Four-

Door Foldable • Use the labels

on the example shown here

• Take Notes inside the correct door

• Create a Four-Door Foldable

• Use the labels on the example shown here

• Take Notes inside the correct door

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What Determines Climate?What Determines Climate?

• Rainfall• Ocean Currents• Prevailing Winds• Elevation• Latitude• MOST IMPORTANTLY - most of the

region lies within the tropics

• Rainfall• Ocean Currents• Prevailing Winds• Elevation• Latitude• MOST IMPORTANTLY - most of the

region lies within the tropics

Tropical Climates:Rain Forest

Tropical Climates:Rain Forest

• Wettest climate in region

• Near the equator• Warm temps.• 60 inches of

annual rainfall• Canopy trees

grow up to 150 ft

• Wettest climate in region

• Near the equator• Warm temps.• 60 inches of

annual rainfall• Canopy trees

grow up to 150 ft

Human - Environment Interaction

Human - Environment Interaction

• Rain leaches soil• Can still grow cash crops: banana,

pineapples, cocoa, tea, coffee, palms for oil, rubber and cotton

• Rain forest threatened by farmers and loggers

• Rain leaches soil• Can still grow cash crops: banana,

pineapples, cocoa, tea, coffee, palms for oil, rubber and cotton

• Rain forest threatened by farmers and loggers

Tropical SavannasTropical Savannas• Grasslands

w/scattered trees• Cover almost 1/2 of

Africa• Seasonal rainfall -

wetter near equator• Dry air from Sahara

carried by harmattan drys moisture

• Grass as tall as 15 ft

• Grasslands w/scattered trees

• Cover almost 1/2 of Africa

• Seasonal rainfall - wetter near equator

• Dry air from Sahara carried by harmattan drys moisture

• Grass as tall as 15 ft

Serengeti PlainsSerengeti Plains

Dry Climates: SteppeDry Climates: Steppe

• Semi-arid land between savannas and deserts

• Northern steppe is called the Sahel

• Semi-arid land between savannas and deserts

• Northern steppe is called the Sahel

SahelSahel• Means “shore” -

represents “coast” of the Sahara

• Dry land between Senegal and Sudan

• Expanding due to decline in rain, climate change, overgrazing and population growth

• Means “shore” - represents “coast” of the Sahara

• Dry land between Senegal and Sudan

• Expanding due to decline in rain, climate change, overgrazing and population growth

DesertDesert

• South - Namib and Kalahari

• North - Sahara• Kenya and

Somalia are mostly deserts in the east

• South - Namib and Kalahari

• North - Sahara• Kenya and

Somalia are mostly deserts in the east

Namib DesertNamib Desert

KalahariKalahari