(a) Name any four ocean currents along the coast of Africa (b) Highlight the effects of any two different types of currents on the climate of Africa

Answer Details

(a) Ocean currents along the coast of Africa

• Canary Current (cold) - north-west coast
• Benguela Current (cold) - south-west coast
• Guinea Current (warm) - Gulf of Guinea, West Africa
• Mozambique/Agulhas Current (warm) - south-east coast

(Other acceptable currents: the cold Somali Current and the warm Somali Current during the monsoon reversal.)

(b) Effects of the two types of currents on the climate of Africa

Warm currents (e.g. the Mozambique/Agulhas Current):

• Raise the temperature of the coastal areas they wash, giving warmer conditions.
• Warm the air above them so it can hold more moisture, bringing rainfall to the adjacent coast (the south-east coast of Africa is well watered).

Cold currents (e.g. the Benguela and Canary Currents):

• Lower the temperature of the coastal areas, giving cool conditions.
• Cool the air above them so little moisture is released; this produces dryness and coastal deserts (the Namib Desert beside the Benguela Current and the aridity of the north-west coast beside the Canary Current). Cold currents also cause coastal fogs.