UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, WINNEBA.

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE.

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
LECTURER: DR. ISHMAEL YAW DADSON
COURSE: CLIMATOLOGY
COURSE CODE: GEOG 123
END OF SEMESTER TAKE HOME ASSINGNMENT
STUDENT’S NAME: KINGSLEY SEDOMFIA MATTEY
INDEX NUMBER: 200010514

QUESTION 5
TO WHAT EXTENT DOES DROOUGHTS AFFECT THE FOLLOWING?
 CROP PRODUCTION
 WATER SUPPLY
 HUMAN HEALTH

AND

QUESTION 4
DISCUSS THE ROLE OF THE NORTH EAST TRADE WINDS AND THE SOUTH
WEST TRADE WINDS IN SEASONAL CHANGES OVER WEST AFRICA.
INTRODUCTION: Droughts is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall leading to
shortage of water. A drought can also be explained as a period of time when an area or region
experiences below normal precipitation. The lack of adequate precipitation either rain or
snow can cause reduced soil moisture or groundwater, diminished stream flow, crop damage,
and a general water shortage. Droughts can last for months or years or may be declared after
few days depending on the conditions. The impacts or effects of droughts is in many
dimensions. However, it shall be discussed on the following topic sentences.
CROP PRODUCTON
Firstly, Crop production is a branch of agriculture that deals with growing crops for use
as food and fibre. Droughts have greater impacts on the production of crops as far as its
impact on water supply is concerned. Due to the shortage in supply of water there is a
reduction in the number of production of crops as a results of stunted growth in plants and
plants losing their lives hence, low crop production.
Also, as a result of droughts soil may lose their quality, that’s to say lose nutrients
hence, low agriculture yield can lead to continuous shortage of food leading to famine and
eventually lead to death as it happened in East Africa and in Sahel in 1984-1985,2006,2011-
2012 and caused an estimated death of about 50,000 to 150,000 deaths.
Again, the impact of drought on crop production may have an economic effect as
farmers may lose money if the drought destroys their crops and incurred more cost in
irrigation and as a result consumers would have to pay more money for food.
WATER SUPPLY
Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations,
community endeavours or by individual usually via a system of pumps and pipes. Destruction
of water supply after major catastrophes like drought can lead to shortage in water supply
which affects lives on earth. It impact is great in terms of economic and, social activities.
Droughts affect our lives in many ways as we need water to live and so do animals and
plants. Water is needed to grow food we eat. We also use water for domestic activities such
as washing, cooking etc. hence inadequate supply of water as a results of droughts will
affects living things immensely.
Water is also used to generate electricity to run industries and also for domestic usage.
Low supply of water due to droughts will affect lives greatly.
Droughts economic implications are that; too low water supply will make farmers spend
more money on irrigation which may even be affected when the drought is severe. In the
same way ranchers may have to spend more money on feed and water for their animals.
Also, companies that normally rely on hydroelectric power may have to spend more on
other fuel sources if drought dries up too much of the water supply. The power company
customers would also have to pay more.
Again, water companies may have to spend more money on new additional water
supply.
 In addition, barges and ships may have difficulty navigating streams, rivers and canals
because of low water levels which would affect businessmen that depend on water
transportation for receiving or sending goods and materials.
The environmental impact of droughts is that animals’ food supply can shrink and their
habitat can damage. For instance, fishes and wildlife may lose their habitat due to low water
supply.
As a result of all the above explained droughts can cause both humans and animals to migrate
in search for food and water so as to survive.
HUMAN HEALTH
The health implications of severe droughts conditions can negatively affect air quality.
During droughts there is an increased risk of wildfires and dust storms. Particulate matter
suspended in the air from these events can irritate the bronchial passages and lungs and cause
chronic respiratory illness worse and increase the risk for respiratory infections like
bronchitis and pneumonia.
Also, the health implications of drought can be indirect hence, monitoring it is
complicated as possible public health implication of droughts may include a reduction in the
quality and quantity of drinking water, affects air quality, compromise food and nutrition
which will increase illness and disease and again make our immune system weak.

QUESTION 4.
Trade winds are also known as Monsoons. These winds are therefore seasonal winds
as their movement is marked by clear seasonal changes. The movement of the winds is
reversed by seasons as a result of the difference in heating and cooling between land and sea.
Thus, the easterly winds that blow in the tropics near the equator are called trade winds.
Therefore north east trade winds are winds blowing obliquely towards the equator either from
the northeast in the northern hemisphere or the southeast in the southern hemisphere
approximately between latitudes 30ᵒN and S forming part of the planetary wind system.
As said, monsoons or trade winds are marked by clear seasonal changes hence are significant
in the seasonal changes over West Africa as the characteristics of the seasons are well
defined.
Below are discussed role of the north east trade winds and the south west trade winds in
seasonal changes over West Africa.
The West Africa sub regions are mainly under the influence of the North East Trade
Winds (NETW) which moves from the subtropical high pressure belt in the Sahara to the
south in winter between November and March. The North East Trade Winds are the hamattan
winds which prevail at an altitude of about 3000meters and bring about dry and stable air
masses which are oppressed with dust over West Africa.
In relation to the Inter-Tropical Boundary (ITB) or the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone
(ITCZ), which is formed as result of North East Trade Winds and South West winds
converging; between the months of November and March, the dry prevailing NETW from the
Sahara moves the ITB which pushes the South West Trade Winds (SWTW/SETW) deep to
the sea hence brings a prevailing dry seasonal change, thus dry seasons as these winds will
bring about dry, dusty conditions over West Africa.
During these period, it is characterised by worm or hot temperature during the daytime but
cold conditions at night. In other words temperature invariably is high and relative humidity
is also low hence, no rainfall except area along the coast and with other favourable conditions
that will induce some rains.
Therefore to conclude on the North East Trade Winds, this winds are significant in bringing
about dry seasons over West Africa.
In summer in the northern hemisphere, the ITB or ITCZ moves northwards hence
pushing the NETW and making the SETW or SWTW the dominant and prevailing winds
over West Africa. There is because high pressure is developed over the southern areas with
low pressure developing over the Sahara. The SWTW become stronger and move deeper into
the northern parts of West Africa. As a result, most of West Africa receives rainfall from the
months of May to October. Thus wet season is experienced during such events.
During this period, the weather is characterised by cool or cold temperature conditions and
relative humidity is also high and as a matter produce rains all over West Africa. Thus wet
season.
In conclusion, the North East Trade Winds and South West Trade Winds are very crucial and
significant in seasonal changes over West Africa as they bring about dry seasons and wet
seasons respectively in relation to the position of the Inter-Tropical Boundary or Inter-
Tropical Convergence Zone.
REFERENCES
Dadson, Y.I. (2019). Understanding climatology (3rd ed.).UCC Press.

https://www.britannica.com
https://www.dc.gov
https://drought.unl.edu