SOUTH AFRICA'S CLIMATE
KEY CONCEPTS:
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Physical map:
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Coastal zone:
Plateau:
Escarpment:
A map that uses the physical characteristics to indicate what the area looks like.
Physical features include:
o
Height above sea level
o
Rivers, lakes and dams
o
Mountains
o
Seas and Oceans
An area along the coastline.
A highland consisting of a relatively flat terrain.
A steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively
level areas of differing elevations.
FIGURE 1: PHYSICAL MAP OF SOUTH AFRICA (Note - see example on page 82)
SOUTH AFRICA CAN BE DEVIDED IN TO THREE PHISYCAL CHARACTERISTICS:
1. Coastal Zone – SA’s coastline is narrow and low-lying, the temperature and rainfall is mainly
influenced by the ocean currents and wind. On the east coast (e.g. Durban) we get the warm
Mozambique current, which causes high temperature and high rainfall. On the west coast flows the
cold Benguela current, which causes low night temperatures and low rainfall. The coastal area is
drained by short fast flowing rivers (Look at Figure 3)
2. Escarpment - Stretch from the Roggeveld Mountains in the Western Cape (1500m above sea level)
to the Drakensberg mountains in Kwazulu-Natal (3500m above sea level) and to the Transvaal
Drakensberg mountains in Limpopo (2800m above sea level). Temperature and rainfall are
influenced by mountains, altitude (meters above sea level) and distance from the sea.
3. Plato – In the inside of the escarpment 9centre of SA) is the plateau. South Africa's plateau is a
relatively high-lying flat area between 600m (Kalahari) and 3000m (Lesotho) above sea level. The
plateau is drained by long gently rivers. (Look at Figure 3)
FIGURE 2: THE MOUNTAIN RANGES OF SOUTH AFRICA
FIGURE 3: THE RIVERS OF SOUTH AFRICA
CLIMATE REGIONS OF SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa is located in the southern hemisphere sub-tropical zone. However, it experiences a wide
variety of climates because of factors such as distance from sea, distance from the equator, altitude, ocean
currents and relief.
There are six climatic zones in South Africa:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Temperate coastal
Subtropical coast
Temperate interior
Hot interior
Arid interior
Cold interior
FIGURE 4: THE CLIMATE REGIONS OF SOUTH AFRICA
Temperate coastal
Main citys and towns in zone:
Latitude
Distance from sea
Altitude
Sea currants
Mountains
Port Nolloth, Cape Town, George
Between 30 ° and 34 ° 'South of Equator, which makes it close
enough to be relatively warm throughout the year.
On the coast, and the climate is influenced by Atlantic Ocean
Less than 200m above sea level making it relatively warm.
Most of the West Coast are situated next to the cold Benguela
current and get little rainfall. The Southern Cape (George) is against
the Warm Mozambique current and received rain throughout the
year, about 700mm per year.
Coastal area on the leeward side of the mountains and is much
cooler than the interior.
Subtropical coast
Main citys and towns in zone:
Latitude
Distance from sea
Altitude
Sea currants
Mountains
Richards Bay, Durban, East London
Between 29 ° and 33 ° South of the equator, this makes it close
enough to be relatively warm throughout the year.
On the coast and the climate is influencing by the Indian Ocean.
Less than 200m above sea level which make it relatively warm.
Located next to the hot Mozambique current, which means high
rainfall throughout the year (1009 mm) and the temperature remains
consistently high, during the day and night.
The coastal area is enclosed by the Drakensberg mountains. The
mountains form a barrier for clouds, which means the rainfall along
the coast is very high.
Temperate interior
Main citys and towns in zone:
Latitude
Distance from sea
Altitude
Sea currants
Mountains
Beaufort West, Polokwane, Mmabatho
Between 23 ° and 33 ° South of the equator, this makes it close
enough to be relatively warm throughout the year.
The interior is quite far from the sea but borders coastal areas, so
no actual influence by the sea. Temperatures range from very cold
in the night and very hot during the day because there is no sea
close enough to keep the temperature constant.
Altitude ranges from 800 to 1400m above sea level. This makes the
area colder in winter and at night Day and summer temperatures are
very hot because of proximity to equator.
The eastern interior receives more rainfall than the west because it
is closer to the warm Mozambique current.
Northern front of mountains are warmer and drier than southern
slopes of mountains in this area
Hot interior
Main citys and towns in zone:
Latitude
Distance from sea
Altitude
Sea currants
Mountains
Nelspruit, Mussina, Ellisras
Between 22 ° 30 'and 24 ° South of Equator. The closest to the
equator of all regions in South Africa and therefore the hottest
region because it has more direct sun.
Quite far from the sea, and the sea has little influence on this region.
Temperatures range from very cold in the night and very hot during
the day because there is no sea close enough to keep the
temperature constant.
400m - 800m above sea level. Much lower than its surrounding
interior and therefore significantly warmer. Also called the Lowveld.
Located far from sea and ocean currents have little effect on this
region, although higher rainfall is caused by the warm Mozambique
current.
Northern slopes very hot and dry and southern slopes slightly cooler
and wetter. E.g. Mussina is north and Louis Trichardt south of the
Soutpansberg.
Arid interior
Main citys and towns in zone:
Latitude
Distance from sea
Altitude
Sea currants
Mountains
Upington, Kimberley
Between 23 ° and 29 ° south of the equator, this makes it close
enough to be relatively warm throughout the year.
Quite far from the sea, and the sea has little influence on this region.
Temperatures range from very cold in the night and very hot during
the day because there is no sea close enough to keep the
temperature constant.
Approximately 800m-1200m above sea level. The area should
actually be colder (like their night temperatures) but the desert
climate makes it very hot.
Closer to cold Benguela current which means less rainfall because
cold water does not evaporate easily. Hence the dry desert climate.
Northern slopes warmer than South.
Cold interior
Main citys and towns in zone:
Latitude
Distance from sea
Altitude
Sea currants
Mountains
Bloemfontein, Johannesburg
Between 26 ° and 33 ° south of the equator, which is close enough
to the make hot summer temperatures
Quite far from the sea, and the sea has little influence on this region.
Temperatures range from very cold in the night and very hot during
the day because there is no sea close enough to keep the
temperature constant.
Winter is very cold even with snow due to the very high altitude.
1200m to 2500m above sea level.
Ocean currents have little effect on the cold interior because it is
located so far from the sea. The eastern interior receives more
rainfall than the West can be attributed to the warm Mozambique on
the east side of South Africa.
Northern slopes always warmer than southern slopes and the
windward side of mountains get more rain. (eg north and south of
Magaliesberg)