Each continent has its own temperature, change of seasons, abundance or lack of moisture, diversity of vegetation, or vice versa - its complete absence. All this is formed under the influence of climatic zones, which create this or that climate.
In what climatic zones is Africa located, its climate, precipitation
The continent of Africa is the only continent in the world that stretches along 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.
Thus, the equatorial climatic zone forms winds that carry heat and moisture all year round. The temperature here is +25°-28°С, the rains fall evenly all year round and there is no division into seasons.
The subequatorial belt occupies the north and south of the land. Depending on the dry or rainy season of the year, clearly defined,changing types of air masses. During the summer season, equatorial winds carry heat and moisture, and in winter, tropical winds are drier and hotter.
The temperature stays within +24-28°С 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 the climatic zones in which Africa is located that led to the absence of severe colds on the continent, let alone frost.
The subtropical belt consists of two areas: 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.
The tropical belt has two types of climate. Depending on the location of the territory and the amount of precipitation falling on it, there are continental (desert) and tropical climates.
An area with a particularly dry climate is 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.
Eastern part gets enough moisture in the form of rains. The warm air coming from the Pacific Ocean has created a favorable climate in which the rainforest grows.
The subtropical belt covers the southern territory of 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°С, in June - up to +12°С.
The central part is completely desert. It has a continental climate with strong temperature fluctuations characteristic of it all year round - hot summers and not very warm winters, with little rain.
Southeast is a humid climate, the rains here fall equally throughout the year, in summer the air warms up to +24°С, in winter - up to +9°С.
If we compare in whichSince Africa and Australia are located in climatic zones, you can see a great similarity in the weather conditions of 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.
The Antarctic 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 the ice reflects up to 90% of sunlight, which makes it difficult for the surface of the mainland to warm up.
Arctic winter and summer
In the summer, on a polar day, the temperature in the Arctic is -32°C. In winter, during the polar night, it drops below -64 °C. The lowest temperature was -89°C, it was recorded at Vostok station. Strong winds, reaching 80-90 m/s.
The subantarctic belt is located in the northern part of Antarctica. Here the climate is milder, and the layer of ice is not so thick and in some places exposes the rocks, with mosses and lichens growing on them. Precipitation in the form of snow falls in small quantities. Summer temperatures are slightly above 0°C.
If we compare the climatic zones in which Africa and Antarctica are located, we can once again see how dramatically the weather conditions on our planet can differ.
