Solar Energy, Temperature and Rainfall

Abstract

AbstractThe climatic forces that determine Angola’s biodiversity and ecosystem patterns (and all life forms on Earth) are based on the energy that comes from the Sun. This chapter examines the concepts and functioning of solar radiation and photosynthesis, the basis of primary production. Strong seasonality of temperature and rainfall and their variation across latitude and altitude result in the diversity of Angola biomes, including Guineo-congolian lowland rain forest, Afromontane forest, mesic savanna, arid savanna, desert and mangrove biomes. Driving the climatic gradients are the oceanic and atmospheric systems, dominated in the north by the Intertropical Convergence Zone and in the south by the South Atlantic and Botswana Anticyclones. The physical processes driving these systems are described, and the local influences of maritime, continental, altitudinal and aspect factors that account for subtle changes from one ecoregion to the next are illustrated graphically and statistically. The recent impacts of El Niño events are described and the anticipated impacts of climate change on Angola are outlined.