Geography of the Sahara and Rift Valley

The largest hot desert on Earth, covering much of North Africa.

A vast, flat, sandy expanse within the Sahara desert.

A flat, rocky surface composed of pebbles and gravel, found in parts of the Sahara desert.

A semi-arid transition zone, characterized by grasslands and savannahs, located south of the Sahara desert.

A type of vegetation common in the Sahel, known for its drought-resistant qualities.

A deep valley formed when the Earth's crust is stretched and pulled apart by forces moving in opposite directions.

An elongated block of the Earth's crust that sinks downward between two faults, creating a rift valley.

A series of lakes located in the East African Rift Valley, stretching from Ethiopia in the north to Malawi in the south.

The northernmost part of the East African Rift Valley, located in Ethiopia, which splits the Ethiopian highlands into two halves.

The largest lake in Africa, located in a depression between the eastern and western rifts, not within the rift valley itself.

The high plateau in Ethiopia, characterized by a central highland complex of mountains, divided by the Great Rift Valley and surrounded by lowlands.

The diversity of terrain in Ethiopia, resulting in variations in climate, vegetation, soil, and settlement patterns.

The natural and human-driven changes in a planet's climate over extended periods, usually decades or more.

The natural variations in a region's climate over shorter periods like seasons or years.

A set of interconnected parts that influence a planet's climate, such as the atmosphere, oceans, ice, and land.

Policies designed to guide economic development and improve people's lives in a sustainable way.

The impact of climate change on a region's ability to prosper and achieve sustainable development.

The impact of climate variability on a region's ability to prosper and achieve sustainable development.

A complex interplay of human-caused and natural factors that make people susceptible to the effects of climate change.

A set of development goals adopted by the United Nations in 2000 to address poverty, hunger, disease, and other global challenges.

The goal of achieving a prosperous and sustainable future for the people of Africa.

Climate change is projected to significantly impact agriculture and food security in much of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), leading to food shortages and potentially challenging the achievement of development goals like the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Africa 2063.

The Sahel is a region in Africa that is especially vulnerable to drought because of its semi-arid climate. The region experiences frequent and prolonged periods of dryness.

Tropical desert climates are characterized by extremely high temperatures during the day, but these extreme temperatures are offset by relatively cool nights, causing a wide difference in daily temperatures.

The influence of climate on human activities can be both beneficial and detrimental. For example, a favorable climate can boost agricultural production, but adverse conditions due to climate change can lead to crop failures and famine.

The climate of East Africa is primarily shaped by factors such as latitude, altitude, ocean currents, and winds.

The desert climatic region of Africa is known for its extreme rainfall variability. The region can experience extended periods of drought as well as sudden, unpredictable heavy rainfall events.

Africa is greatly influenced by tropical climates, with over two-thirds of its landmass situated within the tropics.

The Mediterranean climatic region of Africa is characterized by mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers.

Africa's ability to withstand the increasing pressures of climate change is limited due to its low adaptive capacity. Factors contributing to this low capacity include poverty, lack of infrastructure, and limited access to technology and resources.