Climate and Weather

Climate is perhaps the single most important driver with respect to determining the amount, distribution and to some extent, the availability of water in the environment. The climate of a particular region is affected by its latitude, terrain, altitude, ice or snow cover, as well as nearby water bodies and their currents. Climate is commonly defined as the weather averaged over a period of around 30 years.

The temporal and spatial distribution of water, the intensity of precipitation, and temperatures all drive elements of the hydrologic cycle and many other physical and chemical processes that shape the landscape.

There is now little argument that our global climate is changing. The questions are now focused on how, when and where these changes will take place and what the impacts will be on local environment and livelihoods.

Chapter Summary

This chapter covers the following concepts and material:

• The Principles of Climate and Weather, including the Hydrologic Cycle, Climate Variability, Climate Classification, Water Scarcity and Drought;
• An overview of the Climate of the Kunene River basin;
• An overview of the Regional Climate of southern Africa; and
• The basic principles of Climate Change and an outline of the projected impacts of Climate Change on the climate and environment of  the Kunene River basin.

The rising sun reflected in the clouds along the Lower Kunene.

Source: Wikimedia Commons, Hillewaert 2007

( click to enlarge )