Ethiopia is a mountainous country in East Africa, lying between 18° and 4°N. It is bordered by Sudan and South Sudan on the west, Kenya on the south, Somalia and Djibouti on the east, and Eritrea in the north.
Ethiopia features diverse climates and landscapes, ranging from equatorial rainforest with high rainfall and humidity in the south and southwest, to the Afro-Alpine summits of the Semien and Bale Mountains, to desert like conditions in the northeast, east and southeast lowlands. Large parts of the country are between 1,800 and 2,400 meters (6,000-8,000 feet) and the highest mountain reaches over 4,600 meters (15,000 feet).
Most of Ethiopia has a tropical climate, tempered by high altitude, with a pronounced rainy season during high sun. The eastern lowlands are much drier with a hot, semi-arid to desert climate.
The country is also endowed with rich water resources compared to most African countries. Ethiopia constitutes the bulk of the Horn of Africa, and as such spans subtropical and tropical east Africa.
Elevation is generally highest just before the point of descent to the Great Rift Valley, which splits the plateau diagonally. The physical aspect of the highlands is impressive.
Read also: Exploring the Moroccan Desert
In general, the further west one travels, the wetter it gets, with annual rainfall figures ranging from as low as 140mm in the north-east lowlands to in excess of 2300mm in the south-west.
Ethiopia has three main climate zones: the dega or cool zone; the weina dega or temperate zone; and the kolla, or hot zone. In Ethiopia, this variation in climate is traditionally divided into three main climatic zones: Dega, Weyna Dega and Kolla.
- The first of these - Dega - refers to coldish, less than temperate zones with altitudes ranging between 2,600 and 3,200m.
- The second zone - Weyna Dega - is warm, wet and lies below 2,600m.
- The last - Kolla - is drier (and much warmer) than Weyna Dega, and can be found in areas such as the Rift Valley.
In the highlands above 2,400 meters (7,800 feet), daytime temperatures range from near freezing to 16°C (61°F), with March, April, and May being the warmest months. Nights are typically cold year-round, and it's not uncommon to see a light frost at sunrise. On the higher mountains, the climate is alpine.
Above 1,800 meters (6,000 feet), daytime temperatures are quite similar to summertime in northern France or New England. The central plateau has a temperate climate with minimal seasonal temperature variation. The average minimum during the coldest season is 6°C (43°F), while the average maximum rarely exceeds 26°C (79°F).
Below 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) is the Kolla Zone with daily temperatures averaging 27°C (81°F) but rising to 40°C (104°F) increase during mid-year. In the northeastern lowlands, the Danakil Desert, and the southeastern lowlands, the Ogaden region, rainfall is low and temperatures high throughout the year. The temperature ranges in the lowlands are much larger and the heat in the desert and near the Red Sea is extreme, with occasional highs approaching 50°C (122°F).
Read also: Exploring the Sahara
Ethiopia is influenced by the seasonal Atlantic monsoon trade winds that cross the African continent. The year can be divided into three seasons.
Ethiopian seasons are classified into three: the driest season is called Bega (October to January), Belg (February to May) and the rainy season Kiremt (June to September). Ethiopia has distinct types of season: the Bega (October to January), Belg (February to May) and Kiremt (June to September). The driest season is Bega, whereas the main rainy season is Kiremt.
The winter or cold season lasts from October to February and is followed by a dry hot period giving way to the rainy season around mid-June. The country receives most of its rain, the main meher rains, from mid-June to mid-September, with the high plateau experiencing a second and light rainy season from December to February. Converging winds in April and May bring lighter rains known as balg.
Seasonal rains in Ethiopia are largely provided by the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which migrates up and down equatorial Africa, bringing rain to the northern highlands in July and August, and to the central highlands between June and September.
In the southwest, precipitation is more evenly distributed and also more abundant, reaching up to 2,000 millimeters (80 inches) per year. The relative humidity and rainfall decrease generally from south to north and also in the eastern lowlands.
Read also: The World's Most Famous Desert
Up to 1,200 millimeters (48 inches) of rain falls annually in the highlands. The northern provinces receive less precipitation and Ogaden to the east receives only 100 millimeters (4 inches), and precipitation in the Great Rift Valley and Danakil Depression is negligible.
In most parts of Ethiopia, sunshine is greatly reduced during the rainy season, when there are an average of two to four hours a day in July and August, compared to eight to nine hours in the months of November to February. Thunderstorms are very common in the wetter parts of the country and occur almost daily during the rainy season; In many places there are over a hundred thunderstorms a year.
During the mid-1970s and the late 2000s, rainfall decreased during Belg and Kiremt seasons by 15-20% across parts of southern, southwestern, and southeastern Ethiopia.
Ethiopia's climate is predicted to warm between 0.7°C and 2.3°C by the end of the 2020s and between 1.4°C and 2.9°C by the 2050s. The county's vulnerability to climate change could increase poverty and dependency on rain-fed agriculture.
In response to experience, the Ethiopian government began developing a green economy policy to counter climate change under a single policy: the 2011 Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy.
Below is a table summarizing the major climate zones in Ethiopia:
The Hot Desert Climate - Secrets of World Climate #4
| Climate Zone | Altitude | Temperature Characteristics | Rainfall Characteristics | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dega (Cool Zone) | Above 2,400 meters (7,800 feet) | Daytime temperatures range from near freezing to 16°C (61°F) | Higher rainfall compared to lowlands | Highlands |
| Weina Dega (Temperate Zone) | 1,500 to 2,400 meters (4,900 to 7,800 feet) | Temperate climate with minimal seasonal temperature variation | Moderate rainfall | Central Plateau |
| Kolla (Hot Zone) | Below 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) | Daily temperatures average 27°C (81°F) but rise to 40°C (104°F) | Low rainfall | Lowlands, Rift Valley |
Popular articles:
tags: #Ethiopia
