• Main Climatic Regions In African
  
  • Characteristics Of The Main Climatic Regions Of Eastern Africa
  • Characteristics Of Modified Equatorial
  • Characteristics Topical Climatic Region
  • Characteristics Mountain Climatic Region
  • Sub Tropical Climatic Region
  • Characteristics Of Semi Arid Climatic Region
  • Characteristics Of Desert Climatic Region
  • Characteristics Of Semi Arid Climatic Region
• Influence Of Climatic Regions On Human Activities In Eastern Africa

Main Climatic Regions In African

• Climate is the average weather condition of a given place for a very long period of time.
• Climatic regions refer to continuous geographic area with similar climatic characteristics.
• Areas with similar climatic characteristics conditions are grouped together to form a climatic region
• Climatic regions in Eastern Africa include
  
  1. Equatorial
  2. Tropical
  3. Sub tropical
  4. Desert
  5. Mountain
  6. Semi desert
  7. Modified equatorial

Characteristics Of The Main Climatic Regions Of Eastern Africa

• Characteristics of equatorial region
• High rainfall throughout the year above 1500mm
• Receives convectional rainfall
•  Rainfall is well distributed throughout the year
• High temperatures throughout the year
• Annual average temperatures of about 26 ̊ C
• High humidity throughout the year
• Two rainfall peaks between April - May and November - December
• Small range of temperatures
• No distinct dry season

Characteristics Of Modified Equatorial

• High rainfall between 1000m-2000mm per year
•  Moderate temperature of about 22ºC (due to low altitude
• Convectional rainfall due to nearness to large water bodies
• High humidity throughout the year due to high rate of evaporation
• it has two main seasons wet and dry
• Long rains between march-may
• Short rains between October – December.

Characteristics Topical Climatic Region

• Has hot wet seasons and cool dry seasons
• Cooler seasons have no rainfall hence remains dry
• Hotter seasons receives a lot of rainfall hence they are wet
• Rainfall is between 750mm – 1200mm
• Has two distinct rainy seasons
• Long rains between march-may
• Short rains between September – October.
• Temperature average is 21 ̊ c – 32 ̊ c

Characteristics Mountain Climatic Region

• High relief rainfall between 1100mm – 2500mm
• Cool/low temperatures due to high altitude (at the peak of the mountain
• Leeward sides are cool and dry
• Peaks of high mountains are permanently covered by snow

Sub Tropical Climatic Region

• Cool or moderate temperature between 18c and 23 c
• High rainfall between 1100mm and 2500mm per year
• Rainfall is throughout the year

Characteristics Of Desert Climatic Region

• Low/unreliable rainfall below 250mm per year
• Rainfall is irregular
• High temperatures of up to 40 ̊
• Clear/cloudless skies throughout the year
• Very high diurnal range of temperatures
• Hot and dry most of the months of the year
• Prolonged drought

Characteristics Of Semi Arid Climatic Region

• Long dry season
• High throughout the year.
• Rainfall range between 250mm- 680mm per year
• In arid and semi arid areas, pastoralism is the main economic activity. The areas receives low rainfall that cannot support crop farming
• In tropical areas where rainfall is reliable crop farming is practised as the main economic activities
• Too much rain leads to flooding ad destruction of crops and property
• Drought leads to famine and loss of livestock
• Appreciating the climatic regions of Eastern Africa

Influence Of Climatic Regions On Human Activities In Eastern Africa

• In arid and semi arid areas, pastoralism is the main economic activity. The areas receives low rainfall that cannot support crop farming
• In tropical areas where rainfall is reliable crop farming is practised as the main economic activities
• Too much rain leads to flooding ad destruction of crops and property
• Drought leads to famine and loss of livestock

• Weather instruments
• Factors that influence climate in Eastern Africa
  • Latitude
  • Relief and altitude
  • Nearness to large water bodies
  • Prevailing winds
  • Shape of the coastline
• Climatic regions of Eastern Africa
  • The equatorial climatic region
  • The modified climatic region
  • The tropical climatic region
  • Mountain climatic region
  • Semi arid climatic region
  • Desert climatic region

What is Climate?

• Climate is the average weather conditions of a place

Weather instruments

• Are devices used to measure and record conditions and changes in the elements of weather Weather refers to the atmospheric conditions of a place at a given time

Factors that influence climate in Eastern Africa

1. Latitude
2. Relief and altitude
3. Nearness to large water bodies
4. Prevailing winds
5. Shape of the coastline

1. Latitude

   • This refers to how far a place is from the equator.
   • Eastern sfrica region is between the tropics
   • The region receives warm temperatures
   • Latitude affects;
     1. Temperatures
     2. Rainfall
     3. Winds

2. Relief(altitude)

   • Relief refers to the nature of the land
   • Relief refers to the presence of physical features such as hills, mountains, plateau and plains.
   • Altitude is the height of a place above sea level
   • Altitude influences
     1. Temperature
     2. Rainfall
     3. Wind
     4. Air pressure
        
        Exercise: Draw a relief rainfall diagram
        
        

3. Nearness to large water bodies.

   • Areas near large water bodies receives convectional rainfall
   • Distance from large water bodies affects rainfall,humidity,temperature and winds breeze.
   • Breezes are cool winds meant to lower temperatures of where they blow towards.
     
     Exercise: Draw convectional rainfall and sea and land breezes
     
     

4. Prevailing Winds

   • Wind is moving air or air in motion
   • They transfer water vapour from one area to another.
   • Winds that have great effects on climatte of Eastern Africa are seasonal(monsoons)
   • North-east monsoons bring short rains
   • South-east monsoon brings long rains
     
     

5. Shape of the coastline

   • Winds blowing parallel to the coast do not cause rainfall
   • Winds blowing directly to the coast causes a lot of rainfall

Climatic regions of Eastern Africa

• A climatic region is a large area that experiences more or less similar climatic conditions
• They include:
  1. The equatorial climatic
  2. The modified climatic
  3. The tropical climatic
  4. Mountain climatic
  5. Semi arid climatic
  6. Desert climatic

1. Equatorial climatic region

   • Covers
     1. South Western Uganda
     2. North Western Tanzania
   • Is slightly modified due to altitude and latitude
     
     Characteristics
     1. High rainfall above 1500mm
     2. Receives convectional rainfall
     3. Rainfall is well distributed throughout the year
     4. High temperatures throughout the year
     5. Annual average temperatures of about 26 ̊ C
     6. High humidity throughout the year
     7. Two rainfall peaks between April-May and November-December
     8. Small range of temperatures
        
        

2. Modified equatorial climatic region

   • is modified because of the high relief(altitude)
   • covers;
     1. Lake region
     2. Coastal region
     3. Western Uganda
     4. Western South Sudan
     5. Rwanda
     6. Burundi
        
        Characteristics
        1. High rainfall between 1000m-2000m
        2. High temperatures due to low altitude
        3. Convectional rainfall due to nearness to large water bodies
        4. High humidity due to high rate of evaporation
        5. Long rains between March-May
        6. Short rains between October-December
           
           

3. Tropical climatic region

   • Also called savannah climate
   • Is the largest climatic region of Eastern Africa
   • It lies between the tropics
   • covers;
     1. Large parts of Tanzania and Ethiopia
     2. Northern Uganda
     3. South Sudan
     4. Nyika Plateau in Kenya
        
        Characteristics
        1. Has hot wet seasons and cool dry seasons
        2. Cooler seasons have no rainfall hence remains dry
        3. Hotter seasons receives a lot of rainfall hence they are wet
        4. Rainfall is between 750mm – 1200mm
        5. Has two distinct rainy seasons
           1. Long rains between march-may
           2. Short rains between september-october
        6. Temperature average is 15 ̊ C – 15 ̊ C
           
           

4. Mountain climatic region

   • Experienced on slopes of high mountains and highlands
     
     Characteristics
     1. High relief rainfall betwee 1100mm – 250mm
     2. Cool/low temperatures due to high altitude
     3. Leeward sides are cool and dry
     4. Peaks of high mountains are permanently covered by snow
        
        

5. Semi-arid climatic region

   • Covers
     1. Eastern and northern kenya
     2. North-Eastern Uganda
     3. Central sudan
     4. Eritrea
     5. Somalia
     6. Djibouti
     7. Central Tanzania
        
        Characteristics
        1. Low and unreliable rainfall 250mm – 750mm
        2. High temperatures throughout the year 21 ̊ C – 28 ̊ C
        3. Prolonged dry season of over six months
        4. Low humidity
        5. High temperatures at day time and low temperatures at night

6. Desert climatic region

   • Covers
     1. Sudan
     2. Northern Ethiopia
     3. North-Eastern Somalia
     4. Central part of Northern Kenya
     5. Parts of Eritrea
     6. Parts of Djibouti
        Characteristics
        1. Low/unreliable rainfall below 250mm per year
        2. Rainfall is irregular
        3. High temperatures of upto 40 ̊
        4. Clear/cloudless skies
        5. Very high diurnal range of temperatures

• Physical Environment
  
  • Types of Environment
• Map Reading And Intepretation
  • Elements of a Map
    • Use of Elements of a Map
  • Map Reading
  • Features That Can Be Interpreted From a Map
    • Human Activities Commonly Found in a Map
    • Features on a Map That Represents Administration
    • Features That Show Drainage Systems on a Map
  • Human Settlement on the Map
    • Types of Settlement
  • How to Identify Functions of a Town on a Map
• Physical Features
  • Effects of Physical Features of Human Activities
  • Negative Effects of Physical Features
• Climate
  • Traditional Methods of Observing Weather
  • Observation, Measurement and Recording of Weather Elements
    • Wind
    • Air Pressure
    • Rainfall
    • Temperature
  • Factors Influencing Climate Change
  • Impact of Climate Change on Human Activities
• Soil
  • Major soil types in Kenya
  • Characters of types of soil
    • Volcanic Soil
    • Clay(Black Cotton) Soil
    • Sandy Soil
    • Loamy Soil
    • Alluvial(Young) Soil
  • Major causes of soil erosion
  • Effects of Soil Erosion on Human Activities
  • Soil Conservation Measures

Physical Environment

What is Environment?

The things around us or in our surrounding make up the environment.
Examples

1. Trees
2. Animals
3. Water etc.
4. Grass
5. Rivers
6. Buildings
7. Birds

Types of Environment

1. Natural environment
   These were things that were made by God. E.g Mountains ,Lakes, Rivers, Vegetation etc.
2. Human environment
   These are things made through man`s efforts e.g Dams, buildings, roads, etc.
3. Physical environment
   The non – living part of the environment which consists of Soils, air, rocks, water, hills, mountains, rivers and lakes form the physical environment.

Map Reading And Interpretation.

A map is a drawing on a flat surface that represents a whole part of the earth.

Elements of a Map

Elements of a map helps a reader to understand the information on a given
map.
The main element of a map are:

1. Title
2. Key
3. Compress
4. Frame
5. Scales

Uses of Elements of a Map

Map Reading

This is the ability to read, understand, and interpret information given on a
map.
Symbols of a map contained in the key should be fully understood and
interpreted correctly.

Features That Can be Interpreted From a Map

1. Relief and drainage patterns in the area.
2. Human and economic activities in the area.
3. Types of climate experienced in the area.
4. Transport facilities in the area.
5. Vegetation found in the area.
6. Human settlement pattern in the area.
7. Administrative boundaries in the area.
8. Social activities (services) found in the area.

Human Activities Commonly Found in a Map

Economic activities are the objectives that people carry out in order to get
income (money).
Examples

Social Activities on a Map

1. Religious activities : Churches, mosques, temples, shrines.
2. Medical services : Clinics, dispensaries, health centers, district hospital, provincial hospitals and National hospitals.
3. Education: Schools, colleges, polytechnics, universities.
4. Recreation : Cinema halls, Social halls, play grounds, theatres.

Features on a Map That Represents Administration

1. Government offices e.g. Assistant chief`s offices or chief`s camp.
2. Police post.
3. Administrative boundaries.

Features That Show Drainage Systems on a Map

Human Settlement on the Map

Settlement is the pattern of population distribution in an area shown by dots and black shades.

Types of Settlement

How to Identify the Functions of a Town on a Map

Physical Features

These are things we see on the surface of the earth. They include natural physical features and man-made(human)

Natural features: Mountains, plateaus, hills, plains, valleys, rivers, lakes, etc.

Man-made: dams, lakes etc.

The Effects of Physical Features on Human Activities

Negative Effects of Physical Features

1. Flooding.
2. Water borne diseases e.g. Malaria and Bilharzia.

Climate

Traditional Methods of Observing Weather

1. Observing the sky
   • Thick grey clouds: rain.
   • Certain stars arranged in a particular manner: dry spell.
2. Phases of the moon
   • New moon: rain.
   • Full moon: It would rarely rain.
3. Appearance of the rainbow
   • Some communities believed that it would not rain if the rainbow appears in the sky when it was about to ran
4. Condition of the environment
   • Very hot and humid: Coming of the rain.
5. Blowing of wind
   • Strong winds blowing after a dry weather: Showed the coming of the rains
   • Wind blowing during the rainy season: Meant chasing away of the rain to give way to a dry spell.
6. Behavior of birds:
   • Happy and playful birds in the sky would signify the coming of rains.
7. Trail of ants: Signified the coming of rains.
8. Croaking of frogs: Signified the coming of the rain.
9. Appearance of toads: Signified the coming of the rains.
10. Behavior of cattle: Coming of the rains(showing happiness by jumping up and down)
11. Shedding of leaves after a rainy season: This Signified a dry spell.

Observation, Measurement and Recording of Weather Elements

What is meteorology?

It is the science of observing and measuring weather elements.

1. Wind

   
   
   
   
   

2. Air Pressure

   
   
   
   

3. Rainfall

   
   
   The raingauge is dug into the ground as shown above.
   
   

4. Temperature

   
   
   1. Minimum and maximum thermometer
      
      
      Used to measure temperature for the day.
      It is U-shaped.
      Minimum records coldest temperature.
      Maximum records warmest temperatures.
      
      
   2. Single-tube thermometer
      
      
      Used to measure coldness and / or hotness of the air.
      It is marked in o Celsius.
      It may contain alcohol or mercury.

Factors Influencing Climate Change

Climate change is the occurrence of unexpected change of climatic condition in a particular region. The main factors influencing climate change include:-

1. Deforestation
   Cutting down of trees leads to reduced amount of rainfall.
   It creates desert – like conditions in the areas previously occupied by forests.
   It contributes to increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
   
   
2. Afforestration and re-afforestration
   Planting of more trees will increase the amount of rainfall.
   Both afforestration and re-afforestration reduce soil erosion and evaporation, hence protecting water catchment areas.
   
   
3. Industrialization
   Heat and smoke from industries cause pollution and increase temperature in the atmosphere.
   
   
4. Excess use of chemicals
   Such as fertilizers causes atmospheric change due to the gasses they produce.
   The growing of rice under irrigation contributes to warming of the atmosphere. The rice in water release a gas known as methane, which
   contributes to global warming. The same applies to the use of fertilizers.
   Global warming is also caused by the use of petroleum to run vehicles .Machines give off a gas known as carbon monoxide, which makes
   the air warmer.
   
   
5. Clearing of vegetation for agriculture
   This exposes the soil to agents of soil erosion.
   
   
6. Building of dams
   Human-made lakes which form behind the dam modify the climate.
   
   
7. Ocean currents
   These leads to temperature change along the coastal areas.

Impact of Climate Change on Human Activities

Positive effects

1. Increase in food production due to increased amount of rainfall
2. Increased generation of hidro-electric power due to high rainfall.
3. Promotion of fishing due to adequate water in rivers.

Negative effects

1. Low agricultural production due to lack of rains.
2. Displacement of people due to floods.
3. Global warming as a result of general increase in temperature worldwide.
4. Increase of water-borne diseases such as malaria and bilharzias due to increased rains.
5. Damage of transport systems e.g. roads.
6. Migration of people migration of people to favourable climate.
7. Death of human beings.

Soil

Soil is formed through a process called weathering. Soil contains:

1. Organic matter
2. Rock particles
3. Humus
4. Air
5. Minerals
6. Water
7. Living organisms

Major Soil Types in Kenya

1. Volcanic soils.
2. Clay (black cotton) soil.
3. Sandy soil.
4. Loamy soil.
5. Alluvial (young) soil.

Characteristics of Types of Soil

Volcanic Soil

1. Red in colour.
2. Deep fertile and well-drained.
3. Occur in layers.
4. Medium – sized soil particles.
5. Mainly found in the highlands.

Clay( Black Cotton) Soil

1. Small – sized particles.
2. Dark in colour
3. Deep and fertile
4. Poorly drained.
5. Muddy and sticky during the rainy season.
6. Big cracks during dry seasons.

Sandy Soil

1. Large soil particles.
2. Shallow and dry.
3. Contains a lot of air.
4. Water seeps through them fast.
5. Low water retention capacity.
6. Loose nutrients mainly through leaching.

Loamy Soil

1. It has a mixture of small, medium and large soil particles.
2. It retains a reasonable amount of water fertile, deep and well drained.
3. Appears in different colours e.g. light grey, dark brown and dark grey.

Alluvial (Young) Soil

1. They are found in river valleys and flood plains.
2. They are made of slits.
3. Soil particles are of medium size.
4. Have a smooth texture.
5. They are deep and fertile.

Major Causes of Soil Erosion

Soil erosion is the natural displacement of soil from the original place of formation to another by agents of erosion like wind, water and human beings.

The major causes of soil erosion are as follows:

1. Deforestation- Cutting down of trees which exposes the soil to agents of soil erosion.
2. Overstocking- Keeping large herds of livestock beyond the capacity of land leading to overgrazing
3. Overgrazing-Livestock grazing on all pasture (vegetation) leaving the ground bare.
4. Monocropping-Growing of one type of crop on the same peace of land year after year exhausts soil fertility.
5. Over-cropping-Growing of many different types of crops which compete for nutrients. The soil finally becomes loose and infertile
6. Up-the-slope (hill) cultivation-This promotes gulley erosion.
7. Mining and quarrying-Results to displacement of soil.

Effects of Soil Erosion on Human Activities

1. Destocking (reducing the number of livestock on the farm)
2. Application of fertilizers to the soil in order to increase its fertility.
3. Introduction of afforestration and re-afforestrationprogrammes
4. Promotion of agriculture in the flood plain where fertile soil (alluvial) is deposited.
5. Adoption of good farming methods to reduce soil erosion.
6. Additional expense to the government in building dams, dykes and canals.

Soil Conservation Measures

1. Afforestration :
   Planting of trees.
2. Re- afforestration:
   Planting of trees where they had been cut down.
3. Agro-forestry:
   Planting of trees together with crops.
4. Crop rotation:-
   Growing of different crops on the same peace of land in alternate planting seasons.
5. Mulching: The covering of the bare ground with grass to prevent moisture loss.
6. Cover cropping:
   Planting of perennial crops like coffee and bananas together with food crops likepotatoes, beans and maize.
7. Construction of gabions:
   Pilling up of stones in iron cages to prevent further movement of soil downhill.
8. Terracing:
   Making of horizontal steps on sides of hilly areas.
9. Fallowing:
   Leaving the land idle for some time in order to retain its fertility.
10. Creation of cut-off- drainage:
    This is the digging of trenches to divert water from hill tops
11. Controlled grazing:
    This is done by subdividing land into paddocks.
12. Use of fertilizers and manure:
    This helps the soil to regain its fertility.
13. Contour ploughing:
    This is ploughing of farm across the land guarded by the contours.