Account for the variations in the temperature experienced in different areas of East Africa. 

Candidates are expected to define temperature, should give brief description of variations in the temperature experienced in different areas of East Africa with specific examples and then explain factors for the variations in temperature.

• Temperature is the amount of sensible heat or cold within the atmosphere. The main source of heat affecting the atmosphere and the earth’s surface is the solar radiation. This culminates into differences into temperatures.
• Different areas in East Africa experience different temperatures as shown below,
• Some areas experience extremely hot temperatures of over 30°C. These include, the Northern Kenya, North Eastern Uganda, Rift Valley areas of East Africa, Costal areas of East Africa
• Areas in East Africa with very low/ cool temperatures include, the highlands/ mountainous areas g. Kenya highlands, Kigezi highlands, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Rwenzori, Meru, Elgon etc.
• Other areas of East Africa experience moderate temperatures of 15-20° C e.g. the central plateau of East Africa
• Several factors contribute to variations in temperature of East Africa and these include,
• Altitude: It refers to height of land above sea level. Temperatures tend to drop as altitude increases by approx. 6°C for every l000m of ascent For this reason mountains like Kilimanjaro have low temperatures and are permanently snow capped at the top (the higher one goes the cooler it becomes).
• Latitude: Distance from the equator; Temperatures reduce one moves away from the tropics towards the Polar Regions. Given that East Africa is a stride the equator, temperatures are more less similar so no big variations.
• Prevailing winds: these have a modifying effect on temperatures over the lands within which they blow depending on their origin and fetch. The North Eastern trade wind bring hot conditions in Turkana land and North Eastern Uganda since they originate from the Arabian Desert. However the South Eastern trade winds and westeries bring moderate temperatures around the central plateau of East Africa.
• Continentality: This is the distance from the sea. It is responsible for the variations of temperatures between places near the coast and those in the interior. The South Eastern Trade winds transfer warmer conditions to the coastal areas of East Africa. This explains why Mombasa is relatively warmer than the interior of East Africa.
• Vegetation cover. Thick vegetation cover has a modifying effect on the temperatures of the surrounding areas through evaporation/transpiration. Forested areas have high humidity and relatively low temperatures e.g. areas around Mabira forests, Bundongo etc.
• Ocean currents also determine variations in temperatures in East Africa. Warm ocean currents e.g. warm Mozambique current raises the temperature of winds blowing over it. Therefore areas bordered by warm ocean currents e.g. Mombasa, Mtwara, Dar –es-salam experience hotter temperatures.
• Cloud cover also determines the temperature variations in East Africa. Thick clouds control the amount of solar insolation reaching the earth’s surface and at the same time trap the escaping radiation from the earth. For this reason, regions with thick. cloud cover like Lake Victoria basin experience small diurnal temperature range than Turkana land with limited cloud cover.
• Relief. In highlands, the cold dense air drains down wards filling valleys with cold air at night displacing the warm air in the valleys causing temperature inversion. This is common in Kigezi highlands, Kisoro, etc.
• Nature of surface/ Albedo: water bodies like ocean, seas, lakes are bright and reflects much of thee heat back to the atmosphere leading to cool temperatures over water surfaces during day.
• Human activities. deforestation, industrialization, bush burning etc. leading to destruction of the ozone layer leading to increase in temperatures. On the other hand afforestation reduces carbon concentration in the atmosphere since plants absorb carbon dioxide leading to moderate temperatu.res.