Figure 1

Rainfall regions in South Africa

Each of them is discussed briefly below.

This occurs only in the southwestern part of the RSA, particularly in the Cape Peninsula. It stretches more or less from the mouth of the Olifants River (northwest) to the mouth of the Breede River (south). The cyclonic rain falls softly and persistently from May to August and the rain therefore gets a chance to drain into the soil. Little erosion occurs.

The average rainfall is between 500 and 1 000 mm per year. The rain-bringing winds are the northwest winds that cause the well-known cold fronts.

The vegetation in the winter rainfall regions consists of indeciduous (evergreen) shrubs and the well-known Cape fynbos like the protea and various types of heath. These plants are very well adapted to survive the dry summers. Types of root systems or bulbs with small, waxy leaves with fine hairs ensure that the plants lose the minimum water in the summer.

Graphic representation of the rainfall in Cape Town

Figure 2

The biggest part of our country gets rain in summer, particularly from October to February, in the form of thunderstorms. During these warm months the earth’s surface is heated intensely and upwards or convection air currents develop. The southeast winds bring moisture-laden air in, and after condensation has occurred, large cumulonimbus clouds are formed. Such a thunderstorm is accompanied by a short, hard shower of rain, thunder and lightning. Because the rain falls so hard and quickly, erosion is a serious problem in these regions. Hail also occurs regularly during thunderstorms, which can cause great damage to crops.

Because the region is so big, all the parts do not get an equal amount of rain. The east is much wetter (300 - 500 mm), because the air that is blown across the escarpment still contains a lot of moisture. Further to the west the air loses virtually all this moisture and that is why it also becomes increasingly dry to the west (50 - 300 mm).

The vegetation in the summer rainfall regions consists of grass plains with sparse trees. In the east of the country the grass plains are higher, with more trees, reducing to the west.

[LO 1.4; 1.7]

Table 1

Months	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rainfall in mm	138	120	102	50	25	5	10	10	18	70	110	130

Graphic representation of rainfall for Pretoria

Figure 3

1. (i) Rain throughout the year

The area from the Breede River to Port Elizabeth gets the same amount of rain throughout the year. This varies between 500 and 1 000 mm per year. The region runs further up the coast up to the KwaZulu-Natal region, but here most of the rain falls in summer, although it rains in winter too.

The moisture-laden winds from the warm Mozambique and Agulhas currents are blocked by the escarpment and forced upwards. Condensation occurs and clouds on the seaward side of the escarpment cause the so-called relief rain.

Very thick natural forests occur in the southeast (Knysna). Indeciduous broad-leaved trees like yellowwood, stinkwood and blackwood trees are found here. Creepers like wild vines and many ferns and moss grow here in the dense shade of the gigantic trees. In the northeast the forests change to subtropical, with palm trees and mixed grasslands.

[LO 1.4; 1.7]

Record the rainfall information of Mossel Bay graphically in a bar graph below.

Table 2

Months	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rainfall in mm	72	85	90	65	60	50	55	68	80	90	95	80

Graphic representation of rainfall for Mossel Bay

Figure 4

1. (i) The dry regions

The major part of our country is dry. Convection rain in the form of isolated thunderstorms does bring rain. Because it is so dry, there is little vegetation, and erosion in these areas is therefore a big problem.

In the half-dry regions like the Karoo the vegetation consists of low, grey karoo shrubs like guarri and rhenoster bush and hardy grasses. In the drier areas along the west coast sparsely distributed succulents occur. These succulents have thick, fleshy leaves to store water. Some of them can survive for years without water.

[LO 1.1; 1.3]

Answer the questions that follow:

Table 3

	Area where it rains	Type of rainfall	Amount of rain	Type of vegetation
Winter
Summer
Throughout the year
Dry

Use the rainfall map on page 1 and your atlas to say which of the following towns/cities receive the most rain:

Durban or Bloemfontein

Port Nolloth or Port Elizabeth

Cape Town or De Aar

Mossel Bay or Pretoria

Read the following statement:

Figure 5

• The average rainfall per year for the following places will give you an idea of this situation. Find the places in your atlas.

Durban 1 065 mm per year

Ficksburg: 680 mm per year

Kimberley: 402 mm per year

Pofadder: 142 mm per year

Port Nolloth: 50 mm per year

What can you deduce from this data?

The graphs below show the annual rainfall for two places in South Africa.

Figure 6

Bar Graph 1

Figure 7

Bar Graph 2

- In what season does the most rain fall at each of the two places as depicted in the graphs?

Graph 1

Graph 2

- Would either of these places be suitable for successful maize farming? Maize requires summer rainfall of more than 400 mm per year.

- Do the graphs show any month with a rainfall of less than 30 mm?

LO 1

GEOGRAPHICAL ENQUIRY

The learner will be able to use enquiry skills to investigate geographical and environmental concepts and processes.

We know this when the learner:

1.1 with guidance, selects and uses sources of useful geographical information (including graphs, maps and fieldwork outside the classroom) [finds sources];

1.7 demonstrates knowledge and under-standing of the issue through projects, discussion, debate and charts [communicates the answer].

ACTIVITY 3