STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT
THEME ARTICLES
STATE OF CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN SOUTH AFRICA
The State of Climate and Weather in South Africa
restricted eventually to the study of the
atmosphere. Various weather phenomena
INTRODUCTION
Meteorology is the study of the Earth's
atmosphere
and
the
variations
in
temperature and moisture patterns that
produce
different
weather
conditions.
Some of the major subjects of study are
such phenomena as precipitation (rain and
snow),
thunderstorms,
tornadoes,
and
hurricanes and typhoons.
are still referred to as "meteors," such as
hydrometeors (liquid or frozen water rain,
snow
and
snowflakes,
clouds,
fog),
lithometeors (dry particles sand, dust, or
smoke), photometeors (optical phenomena
halos, mirages, rainbows, coronas), and
electrometeors
(electrical
phenomena
lightning, Saint Elmo's fire).
The importance of meteorological events
is felt in various ways. For example, a
drought results in water shortages, crop
damage,
low
river
flow
rates,
and
increased wildfire potential. In addition,
these effects may lead to restricted river
travel, saltwater infiltration in aquifers and
coastal bays, stress on various plant and
animal
species,
population
shifts,
economic hardship, and even political
unrest. The critical impact of weather on
human activity has led to the development
of the uncertain science of weather
forecasting.
Source: SA Tourism
Modern meteorology focuses primarily on
the typical weather patterns observed,
including
thunderstorms,
extratropical
The word meteorology derives from the
cyclones, fronts, hurricanes, typhoons, and
Greek word meteoron, which refers to any
various tropical water waves. Meteorology
phenomenon
Aristotle's
is usually considered to describe and study
Meteorologica (340 B.C.) concerned all
the physical basis for individual events. In
phenomena above the ground. Astronomy,
contrast, climatology describes and studies
including
the
the
in
the
study
sky.
of
meteors,
or
origin
of
atmospheric
patterns
"shooting stars," later became a separate
observed over time. Several important
discipline. The science of meteorology was
phenomena, such as monsoons and the El
The State of Climate and Weather in South Africa
NiñoSouthern Oscillation, are considered
in both meteorology and climatology
because they exhibit large changes on
seasonal time scales.
Source:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/
meteorology
trapping sediment and holding the soil is
reduced. This reduces the benefits that
society receives from the wetland in
purifying water and controlling erosion.
Impacts on wetlands result from both onsite activities at the wetland site (e.g.
drainage, disturbance through cultivation,
IMPACTS OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES
infiling and flooding by dams) and from
ON CLIMATE AND WEATHER
off-site
activities
in
wetland’s
the
surrounding catchment (e.g. afforestation,
Human activities contribute to climate
mining and crop production)
change by causing changes in Earth’s
atmosphere in the amounts of greenhouse
Observations show that there have been
gases, aerosols (small particles), and
changes in weather. As climate changes,
cloudiness. The largest known contribution
the probabilities of certain types of
comes from the burning of fossil fuels,
weather events are affected. Changes have
which releases carbon dioxide gas to the
been observed in the amount, intensity,
atmosphere. Greenhouse gases and aero-
frequency, and type of precipitation.
sols affect climate by altering incoming
Widespread
solar radiation and out-going infrared
precipitation have occurred, even in places
(thermal) radiation that are part of Earth’s
where total rain amounts have decreased.
energy balance. Changing the atmospheric
With medium confidence. IPCC (2012)
abundance or properties of these gases and
concluded that human influences had
particles can lead to a warming or cooling
contributed to an increase in heavy
of the climate system. Since the start of the
precipitation events at the global scale.
industrial era (about 1750), the overall
effect of human activities on climate has
been a warming influence. The human
impact on climate during this era greatly
exceeds that due to known changes in
natural processes, such as solar changes
and volcanic eruptions.
Projections
increases
of
future
in
heavy
changes
in
precipitation show overall increases in the
global average, but with substantial shifts
in where and how precipitation falls.
Projections suggest a reduction in rainfall
in the subtropics, and an increase in
precipitation in subpolar latitudes and
The State of Climate and Weather in South Africa
some equatorial regions. In other words,
previous year, and some years show
regions which are dry at present will in
greater changes than others. These year-to-
general become even drier, while regions
year fluctuations in temperature are due to
that are currently wet will in general
natural processes, such as the effects of El
become even wetter. This projection does
Niños, La Niñas, and the eruption of large
not apply to every locale, and in some
volcanoes. Notably, the 20 warmest years
cases can be modified by local conditions.
have all occurred since 1981, and the 10
warmest have all occurred in the past 12
years.
Source:
http://za.ask.com/wiki/Physical_impacts_o
f_climate_change?qsrc=3044
THE STATE OF CLIMATE AND
WEATHER IN SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa’s rainfall is already highly
variable
in
spatial
distribution
and
unpredictable, both within and between
Source:
years. Much of the country is arid or semi-
http://za.ask.com/wiki/Effects_of_global_
arid and the whole country is subject to
warming?lang=en#Effects_on_weather
droughts and floods. Bulk water supplies
are largely provided via a system of large
Global average temperature is one of the
most-cited indicators of global climate
change,
and
shows
an
increase
of
approximately 1.4°F since the early 20th
Century. The global surface temperature is
based on air temperature data over land
and sea-surface temperatures observed
from ships, buoys and satellites. There is a
clear long-term global warming trend,
while each individual year does not always
show a temperature increase relative to the
storage dams and interbasin water transfer
schemes and such infrastructure takes
years to develop. Thus a reduction in the
amount or reliability of rainfall, or an
increase in evaporation would exacerbate
the already serious lack of surface and
ground water resources. Water availability
in the arid and semi-arid regions, which
cover nearly half of South Africa, is
particularly
precipitation.
sensitive
to
changes
in
The State of Climate and Weather in South Africa
The temperature in south Africa is

making a fair contribution to the
projected to increase by between a and 3
global
degrees and the country’s rainfall is
stabilisation
projected to decrease by 5-10%. That
concentrations in the atmosphere at a
means more extremely hot days of greater
level
consequence for south Africa as a semi-
anthropogenic interference with the
arid country is the prediction that a broad
climate system; and
reduction of rainfall in the range 5% to

10% ce be expected in the summer rainfall
rainfall
greenhouse
gas
prevents
dangerous
effectively adapt to and manage
South Africa’s social, economic and
followed by intense storms. A marginal
winter
the
interventions that build and sustain
floods with prolonged dry spells being
early
of
achieve
climate change impacts through
increasing incidence of both droughts and
in
that
to
unavoidable and potential damaging
region. This will be accompanied by an
increase
effort
environmental
is
resilience
and
emergency response capacity.
predicted for the winter rainfall region of
the country.
2. United Nations Framework Convention
on climate change, the ultimate objective
Source: A National Climate Change
Response Strategy for South Africa,
September 2004
of this Convention and any related legal
instruments that the Conference of the
SOUTH AFRICA’S RESPONSE TO
CLIMATE CHANGE
Parties may adopt is to achieve, in
accordance with the relevant provisions of
the
Convention,
stabilization
of
The key responses and interventions
greenhouse gas concentrations in the
towards remedying impacts of climate are:
atmosphere at a level that would prevent
1. National Climate change response
strategy, South Africa, taking into account
equity and the common but differentiated
responsibilities and respective capabilities
of all nations as well as the intergenerational
commitment
of
the
Environmental Right contained in Section
24 the country’s Constitution, has the
climate change response objective of –
dangerous anthropogenic interference with
the climate system. Such a level should be
achieved within a time frame sufficient to
allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to
climate change, to ensure that food
production is not threatened and to enable
economic development to proceed in a
sustainable manner.
The State of Climate and Weather in South Africa
3. National Environmental Management:
meteorological
Air Quality Act no.
World Meteorological Day around a
4. National Environmental Management
Act, No 107 of 1998 is the legislation for
environmental protection and sustainable
development.
Management in the Republic of South
celebrate
chosen theme. This day commemorates the
entry into force, on that date in 1950, of
the
WMO
Convention
Organization.
WMO
6. National Framework for Air Quality
community
was
creating
Subsequently,
designated
a
in
the
1951,
specialized
agency of the United Nations System.
Important facts:
Africa, the establishment of the 2007
National Framework for Air Quality
Management~
is
a
milestone

in
government’s attempts to introduce a new
efficient
and
effective
air
quality
management regime in South Africa. For
the first time, all interested South Africans.
have contributed to the establishment of
the first national plan to clear our skies of
pollution and ensure ambient air that is not

harmful to health and well-being.
WORLD METEOROLOGICAL DAY
Climatological data collected and
processed over many years by the
South African Weather Service
play an extremely important role
during the planning phase in the
construction industry (buildings,
dams, bridges, etc.), in agriculture,
forestry and aviation, determining
flood levels, etc.
Timely forecasts of hazardous
weather (extremes of cold and heat,
heavy rain, etc.) can save the
country millions of rand every
year.
2013
Source:
http://www.wmo.int/worldmetday/index_e
n.html
REFERENCES
The 2013 World Meteorological Day will
be celebrated under the theme "Watching
the weather to protect life and property".
Each year, on 23 March, the World
Meteorological
Members
Organization,
and
the
its
191
worldwide
1. A National Climate Change Response
Strategy for South Africa, September
2004
2. Effects on weather
http://za.ask.com/wiki/Effects_of_global_
warming?lang=en#Effects_on_weather
The State of Climate and Weather in South Africa
3. Meteorology
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/art
icle/meteorology
4. Physical impacts of climate change
http://za.ask.com/wiki/Physical_impact
s_of_climate_change?qsrc=3044
5. http://www.wmo.int/worldmetday/inde
x_en.html