S5 & S6 Geog 1 Section C Caltec S.5

1 CALTEC ACADEMY MAKERERE GEOGRAPHY PAPER 1 Section C FACTORS INFLUENCING THE CLIMATE OF E.AFRICA The climate of E.Africa varies from one region to another ranging from Equatorial to Tropical, Semi arid and MoS5ntane climate although the region is located across the equator. The variations in E.Africa’s climate are as a result of the following factors: a. Altitude It refers to the height of the land above sea level. High altitude areas especially highlands like Mt Rwenzori, Mt Elgon, Mt Kenya and Mt Kilimanjaro experience cool temperatures because temperatures decrease with increase in altitude and heavy rainfall ranging between 1000-1500mm re sulting into montane climate. Cool temperatures in high altitude areas are due to the effe ct of the environmental lapse rate i.e For every 1000metres of ascent, temperatures fall by 6.5oc. Equally, high altitude areas experience low pressure because pressure reduces with an increase in altitude. It is also due to a small column of air pressing down on the earth’s surface. High altitude are as experience low humidity due to the cool temperatures On the other hand, low altitude are as such as the rift valley region, the foothills of mountains and coastal areas experience hot temperatures due to intense heating by both solar and terrestrial radiation as well as the excessive impurities in the air such as dust particles, water molecules and carbondioxide which absorb heat that is radiated in the low altitudes. This explains why Mombasa is hotter than Nairobi. Low altitude areas experience high pressure because pressure increases with a decrease in altitude. This is also because of a big column of air pressing over the earth’s surface. Low altitude areas such as the Nyika plateau in Kenya are dry, recei ving rainfall of less than 700mm. Low altitude are as experience high humidity due …