OBJECTIVES To understand causes of various meteorological conditions in East AFRICA To understand distributions of average weather in different areas in East Africa in different months To understand distributions of weather hazards and times of highest frequencies at different Aerodromes
2 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012
GENERAL CIRCULATION If the earth had a uniform surface, and not rotating the flow of air (or circulation) would rising at the equator and settling and cooling over the poles. Much more intense insolation received at the equator than at the poles. at the equator, the air is warmed, expands creates low pressure at the surface. At the poles, due to the low surface temperature, air subsides Hence a general movement of air towards the poles at high levels At the surface the flow of air would be from the high surface pressure at the poles towards the low surface pressure at the equator. 9 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012 10 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012 GENERAL CIRCULATION cont… The circulation realised give rise to the following Equatorial Low (Equatorial Trough) Subtropical Highs Trade Winds Westerly Winds Easterly winds Polar Front Depressions
11 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012
FEATURES INFLUENCING EAST AFRICA WEATHER Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) Zone over which two airstreams consisting of North East Trade and South East trade winds meet Covers a fairly large area over which the air generally rising and clouds forming It is a belt round the globe and its position moves with the position of the sun Monsoon Over large continents in summer a large thermal low develops which controls the circulation of air. Sub Tropical Highs Mascarine High, Arabian High, Azores High and St. Hellena 12 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012 high, Mozambique channel INFLUENCING EAST AFRICA WEATHER cont.. Tropical Revolving Storms Tropical disturbances that develop greater surface winds than other tropical or extra - tropical disturbances. The violent winds and associated tidal waves are a serious hazard to shipping. Tropical revolving storms known by different names in different regions. The common names are:- Tropical cyclones in the Indian Ocean Hurricanes in North region Typhoon in Northwest Pacific Willy - willy in Western Australia.
13 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012
POSITION OF ITCZ
14 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012
NE MONSOON
15 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012
SE MONSOON
16 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012
TROPICAL REVOLVING STORMS
17 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012
CLIMATOLOGY OF EAST AFRICA • East Africa – covers an area of 1.5 million square kilometres astride the equator and – runs from 120S to about 50N and bounded by longitude 29 0E and 420E.
• Due to the large diversity of topographic features in
East Africa – a wide range of climatic conditions experienced. – Ranging from the • hot and humid coastal regions to the arid zones of North Eastern Kenya and the snow-capped mountains.
18 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012
CAUSE OF CLIMATE • Major cause of climate in East Africa – the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) – North to South or South to North movements determines • type of wind flow observed during a particular period of the year. • Topographic feature greatly distort the general pattern of the ITCZ, • Introducing their own climatic condition • Hence the seasons in East Africa cannot be taken to strictly follow the ITCZ pattern.
19 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012
SEASONS IN EAST AFRICA • JANUARY • East Africa is predominantly under a North-easterly wind flow – Turning to Northerly over the Kenyan coast and become North Westerly upon crossing the Equator • Inland however – the thermal low over Central Africa and Congo regions does dictate the wind flow • that North easterly regime maintains its direction. • North easterly wind regime originates from the continental high pressure over Asia – hence fairly dry.
20 99Referred to as the North East monsoon in East Africa. 3/13/2012
• Flying School-JOAOK SEASONS IN EAST AFRICA
21 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012
SEASONS IN EAST AFRICA cont.. JULY • Region predominately under a South-easterly wind flow • Turning Southerly over the Kenyan coast • Becoming South westerly upon crossing the equator especially over Somalia and the horn of Africa • The Ethiopian highlands, heat up so much – part of the South Easterly flow maintains its direction even after crossing the equator. • The South easterly wind regime – originates from the maritime Mascarine anticyclone in the Indian Ocean – Fairly moist as compared with regime in January. • Madagascar island acts as a shadow effect – most of the moisture is deposited on the Eastern side of it – therefore there is very little moisture in flux into East Africa. • The South easterly wind regime – referred to as the South East monsoon of East Africa. 22 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012 SEASONS IN EAST AFRICA cont..
23 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012
SEASONS IN EAST AFRICA cont.. APRIL AND OCTOBER These are transition periods N.E trade winds and S.E trade winds converge in the equatorial zones. ITCZ has its influence in East Africa hence the long rains season (March, April, May) and the short rain season (October, November, December).
24 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012
SEASONS IN EAST AFRICA cont..
25 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012
SEASONS IN Seasons realized EAST AFRICA cont.. The hot-season (Jan-Feb) The warmest and the driest of all. The predominant wind flow is North-Easterly which is fairly dry. The long rain season (March - May) Main growing season and about half of the mean annual rainfall falls Low level convergence of N.E & S.E trades takes place. The cool-season (June-September) Characterized by mainly drizzly precipitation especially in the highlands East of the Rift valley. Over Western Kenya, a local rainfall maximum occurs during this season. The short rain season (October-December) Half of the rainfall of the long rains is experienced. Four regimes are common to Kenya and Uganda. In other tropical East Africa regions (North and South), only one rainy season noticeably. E.g. in Southern Tanzania South of 40S The rains set in October and continue up to April.
26 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012
EAST AFRICAN WEATHER (KENYA) Divided in regions North Eastern Region, plus Turkana, Marsabit, Isiolo and Tana River Districts Nyanza and Western Regions Rift Valley Region (excluding Turkana District) Nairobi Districts, Central and Eastern Regions (excluding Marsabit and Isiolo Districts) Coast Regions (excluding Tana River District)
27 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012
28 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012 North Eastern region, Turkana, Marsabit, Isiolo & Tana River Districts Most of the area low-lying, hot & dry Max temp often above 350 C, March being the hottest month Minimum Temp generally above 200 C Rainfall almost everywhere below 500 mm & less than 250 mm in many parts Violent but generally short-lived storms may occur in the afternoon or evening during MAM & OND Severe squalls accompanied by thick rising sand may sometimes reduce visibility to few metres especially near lake Turkana Low clouds form early morning in eastern areas & over high ground during South East Monsoon & Marsabit mountain often 29 covered 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012 Nyanza & Western Regions Conditions vary considerably from hot & relatively low-lying plains north & south of Kisumu With annual rainfall only about 1000 mm To the hills of Kakamega & Kisii where nights are cool & afternoon temperatures not too high Annual rainfall be over 1750 mm Well marked Lake Breeze near Lake Victoria keeps temperature down in the afternoon From October to March max temp at Kisumu exceeds 300 C
30 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012
Rift Valley Region (excluding Turkana District) Altitudes above 6000 feet has large diurnal range of temperature at times over 200 C during hot dry season Annual rainfall generally over 1000 mm with as much as 1750 mm in Kericho some parts like Naivasha are rather dry Western Districts Trans-Nzoia & Uasin Gishu main rainy season is from April to September & August being the wettest Further east & south April is the wettest with slight maxima in August & November January in all cases the driest Most rainfall during the afternoon when showers & thunderstorms often develop over the hills 31 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012 Rift Valley Region (excluding Turkana District) cont.. Severe hailstorms may occur in the evening Narok & Kajiado are dry with annual rainfall below 500 mm throughout Kajiado District During cool season, weather often cloudy throughout the day although no rain falls Very hot from October to April in low-lying areas Magadi frequently records temperature of over 400 C with night temperature not falling much below 250 C
32 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012
Nairobi Districts, Central & Eastern Regions (excluding Marsabit & Isiolo) Most the area has daily range of temperature of about 150 C during hot, dry season (mid December – mid March) Main rainy season (MAM) secondary rainy season (OND) Parts of Eastern Region November usually the wettest month of the year Afternoon or evening showers & thunderstorms may develop but much rain fall during night & early morning June to August being cloudy & cool but generally dry Day time temperature in Nairobi sometimes do not reach 200 C & night temperature may fall to 50 C September and early October warmer and sunny 33 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012 January to March being the hottest months Nairobi Districts, Central & Eastern Regions (excluding Marsabit & Isiolo) cont.. Most of the year mornings are often overcast especially around Nairobi (low clouds i.e stratus) Fog sometimes occur mainly on the plains south- east of Nairobi Average annual rainfall about 875 mm in Nairobi but low-lying parts of Eastern Region much drier.
34 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012
Coast regions (excluding Tana River) Temperature fairly high during day & night with diurnal variation of only about 7-90 C Afternoon temperature usually exceed 300 C during January to March & night temperature no falling much below 250 C Coolest months being July and August with afternoon temp about 280 C & night temp as low as 200 C Wettest months April and May & driest being January and February Light & generally short-lived showers may develop during morning in most months of the year From Cumulus clouds with tops well above 00 C 35 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012 Coast regions (excluding Tana River) cont.. During rainy seasons (April to June and October and November) There are occasions of continuous rain for several hours and sometimes may last a whole day Taita District rather hot and dry Voi altitude about 2000 ft and 100 miles inland has average annual rainfall about 500 mm while Mombasa has over 1100 mm Afternoon showers develop inland Considerable rainfall occurs in November and December than in April & May Afternoon temperatures may be as high as on the coast but 36 nights generally cooler inland 99 Flying School-JOAOK 3/13/2012