Explain the influence of ocean currents on the climate of Africa.

• Africa’s coastline is affected by the following ocean currents. The warm Mozambique/Agulhas ocean current on the Eastern coast of Southern Africa, the Benguela cool current on the west coast of Africa near Namibia and South Africa, the warm Guinea current along the coast of west Africa and the cool canary current on the North western coast of Africa orIllllp.

The warm ocean currents above have influenced climate in Africa in the following ways:

• They increase temperature of water which in tum warms the on-shore winds thereby increasing temperatures of the adjacent land masses e.g. Durban has a temperature of 24.4°C.
• There is high evaporation on the surface water causing increased moisture/humidity in the atmosphere. The onshore winds pick up the moisture, condensation occurs causing cumulo-nimbus clouds and thereby causing heavy to moderate rain fall which occurs along the coastal areas e.g. Durban.
• The moisture carried by the onshore wind leads to the formation of thick cloud cover e.g. port-Elizabeth.

The cold ocean currents I.e. Benguela and cool canaries have influenced climate in the following ways.

• The cold water reduces the temperatures of cold the onshore winds hence temperatures of the adjacent land masses are also reduced e.g. Port Nolloth in Namibia has an average temperature of 12⁰
• The low temperatures of the surface water limit evaporation in the atmosphere and therefore low water vapour/humidity. The onshore winds have limited/low moist causing dry conditions on the adjacent shores e.g. the cold Namibia Desert on the west coast
• Advection for/foggy conditions also occur along the areas when the onshore winds blow over the cold water e.g. along the coast of Namibia.
• There is an also limited cloud cover/clear sky due to the low humidity in the atmosphere.