Africa: Difference between revisions

 

The climate of Africa ranges from tropical to subarctic on its highest peaks. Its northern half is primarily desert, or arid, while its central and southern areas contain both savanna plains and dense jungle (rainforest) regions. In between, there is a convergence, where vegetation patterns such as sahel and steppe dominate. Africa is the hottest continent on earth and 60% of the entire land surface consists of drylands and deserts.<ref name="environmentalatlas">[http://www.africa.upenn.edu/afrfocus/afrfocus061708.html "Africa: Environmental Atlas, 06/17/08."] [http://www.africa.upenn.edu African Studies Center], University of Pennsylvania. Accessed June 2011.</ref> The record for the highest-ever recorded temperature, in Libya in 1922 ({{convert|58|C|F}}), was discredited in 2013.<ref name=newRecord>{{cite journal|last=El Fadli|first=KI|title=World Meteorological Organization Assessment of the Purported World Record 58°C Temperature Extreme at El Azizia, Libya (13 September 1922)|url=http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/pdf/10.1175/BAMS-D-12-00093.1|journal=Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society|date=September 2012|doi=10.1175/BAMS-D-12-00093.1|volume=94|issue=2|pages=199|display-authors=etal}} (The 136 °F (57.8 °C), claimed by 'Aziziya, Libya, on 13 September 1922, has been officially deemed invalid by the World Meteorological Organization.)</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=World Meteorological Organization World Weather / Climate Extremes Archive |url=http://wmo.asu.edu/world-highest-temperature |accessdate=10 January 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104143844/http://wmo.asu.edu:80/world-highest-temperature |archivedate=4 January 2013 |df= }}</ref>