South Africa Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! === Climate === {{Main|Climate of South Africa}} [[File:South Africa Köppen.svg|thumb|[[Köppen climate classification|Köppen climate types]] of South Africa]] South Africa has a generally [[temperate climate]] because it is surrounded by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans on three sides, because it is located in the climatically milder [[Southern Hemisphere]], and because its average elevation rises steadily toward the north (toward the equator) and further inland. This varied topography and oceanic influence result in a great variety of climatic zones. The climatic zones range from the extreme desert of the southern [[Namib]] in the farthest northwest to the lush subtropical climate in the east along the border with Mozambique and the Indian Ocean. Winters in South Africa occur between June and August. The extreme southwest has a climate similar to that of the [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] with wet winters and hot, dry summers, hosting the famous [[fynbos]] [[biome]] of shrubland and [[Albany thickets|thicket]]. This area produces much of the wine in South Africa and is known for its wind, which blows intermittently almost all year. The severity of this wind made passing around the Cape of Good Hope particularly treacherous for sailors, causing many shipwrecks. Further east on the south coast, rainfall is distributed more evenly throughout the year, producing a green landscape. The annual rainfall increases south of the Lowveld, especially near the coast, which is [[Subtropics|subtropical]]. The Free State is particularly flat because it lies centrally on the high plateau. North of the [[Vaal River]], the Highveld becomes better watered and does not experience subtropical extremes of heat. Johannesburg, in the centre of the Highveld, is at {{convert|abbr=on|1740|m|ft|0}} above sea level and receives an annual rainfall of {{convert|abbr=on|760|mm|in|1}}. Winters in this region are cold, although snow is rare.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/11/pure-magic-snow-falls-on-johannesburg-for-first-time-in-11-years#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIt%20happens%20once%20every%2010,little%20rain%20in%20winter%20months |title='Pure magic': snow falls on Johannesburg for first time in 11 years |work=The Guardian |last=Sullivan |first=Helen |date=11 July 2023 |access-date=29 December 2023}}</ref> The coldest place on mainland South Africa is Buffelsfontein in the [[Eastern Cape]], where a temperature of {{convert|abbr=on|-20.1|C|F}} was recorded in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 July 2018|title=These are the lowest ever temperatures recorded in South Africa|url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/lowest-temperature-recorded-south-africa/|access-date=11 September 2020|website=The South African|language=en-US|archive-date=11 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911142956/https://www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/lowest-temperature-recorded-south-africa/|url-status=live }}</ref> The Prince Edward Islands have colder average annual temperatures, but Buffelsfontein has colder extremes. The deep interior of mainland South Africa has the hottest temperatures: a temperature of {{convert|abbr=on|51.7|C|F|2}} was recorded in 1948 in the Northern Cape Kalahari near [[Upington]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=South Africa's geography|url=http://www.safrica.info/about/geography/geography.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608121736/http://www.safrica.info/about/geography/geography.htm|archive-date=8 June 2010|access-date=30 October 2011|publisher=Safrica.info}}</ref> but this temperature is unofficial and was not recorded with standard equipment; the official highest temperature is {{convert|abbr=on|48.8|C|F|2}} at [[Vioolsdrif]] in January 1993.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SMdzAAAAMAAJ|title=South Africa yearbook|publisher=South African Communication Service|year=1997|isbn=9780797035447|page=3|access-date=14 October 2015|archive-date=24 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124000311/https://books.google.com/books?id=SMdzAAAAMAAJ|url-status=live }}</ref> [[Climate change in South Africa]] is leading to increased temperatures and rainfall variability. [[Extreme weather]] events are becoming more prominent.<ref name=":4">Republic of South Africa, ''[https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/docs/nationalclimatechange_adaptationstrategy_ue10november2019.pdf National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (NCCAS)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612014043/https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/docs/nationalclimatechange_adaptationstrategy_ue10november2019.pdf|date=12 June 2021 }},'' Version UE10, 13 November 2019.</ref> This is a critical concern for South Africans as climate change will affect the overall status and wellbeing of the country, for example with regards to [[water resources]]. Speedy environmental changes are resulting in clear effects on the community and environmental level in different ways and aspects, starting with air quality, to temperature and weather patterns, reaching out to food security and disease burden.<ref>{{Cite web|title=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health|url=https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph|access-date=26 November 2020|website=www.mdpi.com|language=en|archive-date=10 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610212414/https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph|url-status=live}}</ref> According to computer-generated climate modelling produced by the South African National Biodiversity Institute,<ref name="SANBI">{{Cite web|date=30 September 2011|title=South African National Biodiversity Institute|url=http://www.sanbi.org/|access-date=30 October 2011|publisher=Sanbi.org|archive-date=1 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901083818/http://www.sanbi.org/|url-status=live }}</ref> parts of southern Africa will see an increase in temperature by about {{Convert|1|C-change|}} along the coast to more than {{Convert|4|C-change|}} in the already hot [[hinterland]] such as the Northern Cape in late spring and summertime by 2050. The Cape Floral Region is predicted to be hit very hard by climate change. Drought, increased intensity and frequency of fire, and climbing temperatures are expected to push many rare species towards extinction. South Africa has published two national climate change reports in 2011 and 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 2017|title=South Africa's Second National Climate Change Report|url=https://www.environment.gov.za/otherdocuments/reports/southafricas_secondnational_climatechange|access-date=17 May 2020|archive-date=14 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614170504/https://www.environment.gov.za/otherdocuments/reports/southafricas_secondnational_climatechange|url-status=live }}</ref> South Africa contributes considerable [[Greenhouse gas emissions|carbon dioxide emissions]], being the 14th largest emitter of carbon dioxide,<ref name=":32">{{Cite web|date=15 October 2018|title=The Carbon Brief Profile: South Africa|url=https://www.carbonbrief.org/the-carbon-brief-profile-south-africa|access-date=3 August 2020|website=Carbon Brief|language=en|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509123731/https://www.carbonbrief.org/the-carbon-brief-profile-south-africa|url-status=live}}</ref> primarily from its heavy reliance on coal and oil for [[Energy development|energy production]].<ref name=":32"/> As part of its international commitments, South Africa has pledged to peak emissions between 2020 and 2025.<ref name=":32"/> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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