Atmosphere: Africa

The African continent is climatically diverse. Humid tropical conditions prevail in Western and Central Africa and in the Western Indian Ocean islands; most Southern African countries experience arid and semiarid conditions, while semi-deserts and deserts are features of Northern Africa. The region experiences a high degree of variability and uncertainty in climatic conditions. Climate variability is therefore the single most important atmospheric phenomenon in Africa.

In comparison to other regions, African countries emit negligible amounts of air pollutants and anthropogenic greenhouse gases. For example, Africa contributes less than 3.5 per cent of global emissions of CO₂ (Marland, Boden and Andres 2001). Nevertheless, anthropogenic atmospheric pollution is a problem in Northern and Southern Africa, and in some large cities.