LarTWe/68/1 (THE CLIMATE, BIOCLINATE AND LAND USB oF NORTH-WEST AFRICA Working document prepared by Juli. yan Baron Moria Soil Resources Office Romo, August 1968 115/18050‘TABLE oF CONTENTS ‘THE CLIMATE Introduction Horoceo Algeria Tunisia ‘THB BIOCLIMATE AND LAND USE Introduction the Classification of Bioclinate ~ UNBSOO-FAO Study. we Ghaseification of Bioelinate ~ Papadakis' syatea The Sioclinate ant Present Jand Use of North-West africa Woreeco Algeria ote on slope classes Mate on potential Land uss munieia APPENDIX. 1 oan Anous) Rainfall in Worth-Mest Africa ApPmNDIK 1 Bwlamtion of Climatic Classes, scoording to Papadakis APPENDIX TIT oabrotheraie Diagrans of Uorooco, Algerie and Tunieia ‘Acoouipanying maps on a scale of 111 williont BiocLimstio Map of Norocco (2 sheste) Bicelinatie Map of algeria Qiortn) BiocLimatic Yap of Tunisia Page 10 ae a 3 8 22 22 2 26 a1 29{THE CLINAT, BIOCLIMATE AMD LAND USB OF WORTH-WES? AFRICA ‘THB CLIMATE Introduotion ‘The climate of Northern Africa ia the result of two conflicting influoncest on the one hand, the Mediterranean with ito vare sumeers and mild wet winters, and on the other hand, the Sabarean with its winds, extrenes of hoat and cold, Gust storms and intonse dryness, It 4¢ the highlanis that fora a sore or Leos Gffective barrier to the daeert and, conversely, to the rain clouds. ‘me cLinate is of the Mediterranean type with two main seasons: a cold and seiny ono during the autuan ard winter and a hot and dry ono during most of ‘She pring end ail of the aianer, Atlantic influonces moderate the extreme of tonperaturo throughout the region and in Morocco they also control the procipi~ tations in Algeria and Tuneka, however, the precipitation is largely influen— cod by the Wediterrancan eva, In general, precipitation increases toth with aitituds and from south to north and is oxtrenoly irregular from year to year. Appendix T shows the moan snaual rainfall in Worth-Vost Africa, An important factor for agriculture is the annual and sonthly variation tut only anold snall-veale mop of Algeria and Tunisia was found on this subjoot 2/. These are shown in figures 1a and 1b, The avorago departuros are of the order of 100f in tho wore humid zones and they attain 00% in the seni-arid regions. Shon the eztrosoy are compared ona abéaine much wider departur ‘The epread of cultivation, though determined largely by rainfall, is aloo influenced ty temperature, Froete are froquont, except in areas bordering on the eos, Tho yielde of cfopa i very mich depondont on the availability of moisture in the growing soaton. Important elinatic and bieolimatic etudies of the thres countrice unter study, namely Noroceo, Algeria and Tunisia, are those listed below: comA/oSd Climatological Atlas of Africa, Lagos/Miairobi, 1961. Dutiet; J. Le CLinat du Sahara, 2 volumes, Université d'Algery Tnstitut dee Recherchos Saharionnos, Alger, 1959 and 1963. Muttonson, H.Y. The Phyaioal Environment ani Agriculture of Morocco, ‘Aigeria and Tunisia, American Institute of Crop Boology, Washington, 1961. ‘Thomson, BM. ‘The Climate of Africa, Oxford University Prose, Nairobi/ ‘uondon/tlew York, 1965, T7Terianl, Koy Wilae dialgério ot de Tuntsie, Algor, Parie, 1935?oon ‘oe-2e0%e Shook 2 and Punic!ae tesco/Pa BoeLinatic aap of the Mediterranean Zone, Paris, 1963+ waiter, H. and Hioth, H. Klinadiagrann Woltatias, Plachor Vertes, ‘Jona, 1967. ‘in interesting etady on the doLingation of the aria soned of Noraoce was penises by Toneeco 1/- Since the THBSO0/P40 publication 9 pence Se, see eee seatic tantere witoh have a definite aoticn on crop gravity i6, se toes clin ae date aap as the basic information for our stulies on the crop-olimatic conditions. hecorting to Huttonson (pogo 26) the clinate and land ure (rainfed ana 2Ogezting to Mectgesereliy correlated. Table { is copied rom hie SMa lontlon (eee next pose)» ‘hocording to FA0 Production Yearbook (volune 20, 1966) the Land use date are as follower TABLE 2 ‘uand Use Data of Korocoo, Algeria and Tunisia in 000 ha Arable land and Permanent Forested Other Total Vand under moadors fend area aos porasnont erope and. pasture 8 SS worosee 7860 7650 past 2368 44505 ingeria 1066 38405 yoqs 189658238174 munieta 4334 5652 aa. i6gl 12518 ‘Total 19260 51107 gee3 215007 | 295297 ‘leo copied fron Nuttonsons' roport (page 40) 40 figure 2t 2 map of Lend utilisation and erop distribution of Northclest Africa. 4/ Tononco, . Considérations aur Los zones arides du Warooy Tes Canine seta Recherche agrononique, Rabat, 1965+zone | Tyrell Mas | ogions | | by | oy oS ' i | 4 t } SESSeE SE] 0-2 Tila | Central Morceco | ! ee am Fog aL TB eee oneal ee eee i Meinl rors? (eocetiees gom in | PELE EOS Et ; Tarte of Herth janie | geted farming [ehifting cultivation P BES SIE] 0-305 | cold | Mgorion high | Mn places where sei- BQ "E98 ole \ Plato | ture sooumslates geuea ce t ; tee lJ UES acai ST T Tundelan Salus | trencrarpermmton Pa GEER gS i a ee | seaside grasing|betier soils. Olives, [so hPS~ GB | 250-400 | mild ral and of { Cereals snd (aluonds ete. in siicer Bg Beeee | certral plains { SSENE Seougnt lorwue. Bussiyptus one 2 IPE SERS E. soai-| tolerant tres iacaela Heeeseee f saa | Beerian Beh [ante | crops, Forosts ty SE FS Eas) ect] seen weaeae | | eee ri geser ge | Parte of North | ede, Ierdgate suet ode mia | African coastal filets [iterate 0} a are sna pet from Rabat | t Seninemaiic erecta, aatnly wheat pp FEES BES” to Tune | Grine poestiomaa seiayy teen” BO Et ger of - StS aoe on feotton, sotenmy pleeg gE EEE OES Tart of torts Feiottea Inet, esious} olives aad Sea hme g | 450-100 | cold | felon Soucttine Bicte cites’ foots in lovlanisy BES EPREES ewer nountal® | deguuiege Flan ames Bucaaztas 24 aoa te : BES Ties generellye inal Haruutes Breed daca ee Tprigeted for jehertmut, walmt eres gra oso eita | cet perth Suntetan |__| ines —__t eee BEBE Sinetel aountatnss Hemant —panain pilees, [Pe SESER EE | Sea a peas ioe eee Rig Sassy, Sree Tomivtaraing. vines, chestmst, BBO gE ee western slopes Sn | aig | teorcpes Cligaianis, Pinus nisra, EET ELE SEE 100+ Fea (ie geseatasiaall ag foreste, tn petsrs. ergeste Es! er area j aay scaly Eeedehage Sneek pees ERLE oT e tee alt (siiecsHp Ree S| dhs Ue ata } {au orasy 4n0n mao" JO BRET OSA THOT PIE eF8EETO(HD Atte tne FS ree ond Ser Lent Steppes ond Nomod Postres Shotts (Salt Mach or Lake)Relief is anong the principal detorainante of elisate, As a whole oxccpt for the higher sountain areae, the climate iu Kediterranesn with Guy hot summers and wet cool winters, In winter tho westerly winds bring Sait to the coastel belt and still more to the mountain ranges facing the Gcact, Southeast of the mountain rangos, the rainfall decreases rapidly, {Tn sumer a northeasterly wind brings no main, but blows steadily aorosi the land. ‘mo aoan annual procipitation, as given in climatological tables is subject to « large probably error if applica to any one year, Thie uncer {ainty grove 4 one proovods vast and south, In the drier aroas reinfall Yoooase sore and wore of an sccident and tonds to fall not only loss fre~ quently bat wore in torrential downfalls and loss in steady maine at predictable periods. Hail in froquent at elevations above 1000 aeters and oan be sost destru- otive. Snow is very rarely ween on the coast of Lorecen, but ax one leavoo he coast, snowfall ia common. Botwoon 600 ani 900 neters ocoseional snow hay fall, but will diesppear rapidly. Botween 1000 and 2000 noters tho Snow aay etay for » few days toa maxinwm of 2 aonth. Above 2000 motors it may Lie fron aix to nine monthe on north and west facing ground. ‘The country oan be divided into the following climatic regionst 5) ‘The Wortern Region - touporsturos along the Atlantic coast are equate but on the minnita of the kighlani enna frost and snoy are common features. There 1a euch aifforonee in tho anount of precipitation, from over 1000 am on the expoeed olopes in the highlands in the western areas Of tho Atlantic coast to 700 nm at Tetuan, loss than 400 um at Welilla to bout 250 am in many areas of the cactorn plains of the northorn gone, Taio sone is very mountainous and ie suitable only for pastures, tree and vine erepe, b). Tho Atlantic Coastal Plain - This climate, which is modified by tho cool Canaries atzean and by the sountain barriers, is equable and hoioty though at tinos the sumer sun nay bo very hot and winter tompe~ atures aay drop to the Frovzing point. Going from Tangiere south-oatvands the amount of snmsl precipita {ion decreases gradually frou 900 an to 625 nm at Larache, 520 un at Rabat, Less than 300 en at Nogador and 225 mm at Agadir. ‘The plains and plateaux facing the Atlantic and flanked ty the Atlao ranges form the most important agricultural arca of Woroceo. 0) Ths Interior Region - The tonperatures extremes are similar to ‘those for the mountain sone, but the precipitation is very auch lower. The sumere in the Stow valley oan be very Lot and the precipitation (380- 610m) is doterained ty the topography. ‘The Eastern Hoseta has a very continental elinte with bigh elmer touperatures ani cold winters (rainfall about 750 tm). The plaing of Tadla and the Haoua aro increasingly conti Rental and the valleys become increasingly hot and dry aa one goes south. ‘Tho annual precipitation goes fron 400 to 175 mm.=e 4) the Atlas Yountains ~ Winter teaperatures may ressin below freezing for weeks while the susere are hot, Precipitation ie high and middle Atlas fe about 500-150 sm on the vorth-estern slopes, while 1t ie only 150 um in the rain-shadow and in the Anti-Atlas. A large part of the mountain areas consist of fairly vell-vatered force? lande and grazing lands. fe) The Northeastern Plain - North of the Middle Atlas and east of the tesa corridor the climate is rather dry but temperatures are equable. The precipitation varies considerably with the topographical features of the Giftoront hile and the mountain elope. It ranges fron 200 (near the Atlas 400 (noar the Algerian border). £) The Bastern Plateaur ~ This region, rising to 2000 m is alternately hot and oold, desert-like, windevopt ami bare. Precipitation is from nearly sainleas to 250 ens 2) Tho Southwestern Desert ~ Extroso cumer temperatures, hot and dusty winds and winter froeBaro tather oonnon. Precipitation, usually occurring during storms, rangea fron 50 ~ 75 na per yoar and near the coast from 150- 200 tm. Ae a'whole, arid conditions prevail beyond the Anti-Atlas, Algeria The outstanding feature of the climate is the wide range of precipitation and tonporatures. In genetal, the precipitation decreases tovards the interior, ‘the rainfall tende to increase where the land is higher, and lower lying areas are exceptionally dry; aloo there is a sharp contrast betwoen the exposed wot forth ami west elopes of mountains and bills and the such drier south and eact Blopees The bulk of the precipitation falls in the utuan, winter and spring. As a result of the effects of the ova and the desert, and the altitudes ana exposure tenperatures often vary greatly within short distances. Frost is very rare in the coastal rogione, but avay fron the sea temperatures are much Tower, ‘The country oan be divided into four climatic regions. 8). The Coastal Region - The winter ie cool, mild and rainy, the susmor ie rainless, Lot and the atnoophore has a high humidity. The diurnal range of tenporature is saall, b) Tho Inner Tell Hogion = The summer is gonorally mild with cool nights, though the suamer heat about mid-day may be excessive during July and August, Winters are relatively old and are subject to considerstle snowfoll. The precipitation is fairly heavy in the wostern part of tho Tegion and especially the teas exposed to the sea winds are woll-watored, The high plsine in tho interior are relatively dry, hot and tho clinate is fairly continental with = considerable range of tomperature, Tao lover plain of the Cheliff is evon drier and hotter, Tue eastern part of Algoria ie subject to heavy rain and snow in the mountains of Djurdjura, the Kabylic des Tabors, the Katylic de Collo and the Biough mountains, he sountsin chains lying bobind have = more or lee naritine olinate, c) ligh Pleteaux - Mic aren and tho Saharan Atlas is excluded from the naritine influencos and ie subject to a continental climate, The High Platesur Of Oren and Algiore have very cold winters with heavy snows. Sunmers aro hot with high diureai rangos of teuperatures.ee In the higher land surrounding the High Flateaur the precipitation ie highor, while the summer tonporeture is somewhat lower. 4) Algerian Sshare - Tate region 1a characterised mainly by the great variation ani range of ite temperatures, the exceptionally great aridity of the Tikceplore and the almost completo absence of rain, he rain that does fal) Riusliy cease in heavy stores, somotinca accompanied by hail, ‘The runoff may featse must damage. Tunisia ‘mo climate rangee from typically Mediterranean in the north to steppe dike In’the contre aed to Baharan in the gouth, It is nodified by the proxi~ Aliy of the soa and the dosort and by variations in altitude, Tunisia receives Baty Sivery Limited share of the Atlantic rains and they often reseh only the northern part of the country. Prooipitation constitutes the olisatic factor that effects most directly crop poiuotion of the countsy. Precipitation consists mainly of rain, although cree Pelle in sono nountain districts (Kronixie, Doresle). Falls of soft bail ene toe frequent than enor. Precipitation is largely concentrated in tho winter ontha, frou October to April. ‘Tho annual precipitation fluctuates considerably in azount ao well as in its distribution from year to yoar, Tho further south one goes the sore prow AMinced are the local rainfall variations and the wore unstable 4s the loos) Gericulture, and Livestock production, ‘Tue Tunieion climate 40 rather continental and characterised by considers le seasonal and diurnal fluctuations of teuperature. ‘the cool winter season 40 generally ounny with cool northwest winde. Zn coastal districts the influonce of the sea is nost narkod at tiis tine of the Jost. Much of the interior 4e exposed to prolonged oold spells, Proste a3 Tn tho hot suener season average tomperstures are about 25°C though there de considerable variation fron year to yoar. Inland high tonperetures are ocmon everywhere, usually a a low relative husidity. jootated with CLinatically Tunisia can bo divided into three zones 14) The Yorthern Rogion t >-5°C = cold temperate ‘A day nonth 16 9 month in which the total of precipitations P (in am) ie equal tos Tose than twice the mean tonperature T of tho aonth (in °C), oF Peet ‘This relation, according to the UNBSCO-FAO study, works very voll for the Moditerrancan region. Tata on precipitation, P, and tonporsture, 7, are put together in the onbrothemie diagrans, in euch oror that the T ecsle is double that of P. Aluusid sonth ie defined a5 P27 Secsindry sonth is defined so 2T355) the climate is true desert, Subsdesort climates can be avibliwided ints ansantusted (250¢x-<300) ant attenuated (200-2250). Climates in Group I, with dry seasons of fron 1 to 8 months, are classed as Mediterranean if the dry seston coincides with tho period of longest day~ Light or tropiosl if it ooincidce with the period of shortest daylight. Thus in thie classifiostion Mediterranoan” 1a in somo sort tho converse of "tropi~ cal", CLinstos with two separate dzy oon no dxy vasons are axcric. ng azo called bixerio, and those with ‘The Mediterranean clinate ae a whole presents subdivisions according to ‘the valuco of x, We thus gut a) Xerothernomediterrancan, i.e.) wam and dry vhen 150< x< 2005 b) Thermouediterransan, aubdivided in turn into accentuated with a long ary season when 125- 200 and a sub-equatorial if 15%< t'<20°and on the other that of tenporate gxorio which may be aubdivioible into temperate axeric with seminary soacon, (Ge defined above), wam tosperete if 10°< t <15° or touperate 17 O'< %<10%. The transition fron Mediterranean to touperate axerie clivate is often via a gone of cligate with oosi-dzy soacon. On the other hand the transition fron tropioal to Nediterzanean climate is goncrally via 2 zone either of desert Gr subsdosert clinato ot of bizerio climste, Te first way the pure tropical Climate becones dnereasingly arid until vo got a desert (or gub-desert) clinate {nwhioh the bise ie first tropical thon inderterainato and finally Wedaterrancan, ‘Me second way) 4 susner rainfall minimus becomes increasingly aarked until io gota summer in aidition to the winter dxy season making the clinate bixeric. Then the winter ary season vatdahea and vo got a Moditerrancan climate. Obviously, in oither of the latter typos of transitional climate, the bias will be tropieal in gone years and Holiterrancan in other so that precise boun- derive are extronely diffioult to trace and valid only as mean pooitions. Group II: In the eeoond group of climates (cold ani cold tonperate) the season of frosts cones into the differentiation, Theso clinstes are divisible inte cold dagert wuen the season of Troete ani the dry season togethor total betwoon {1 and 12, cold sub-desert (9 to 10 onthe), cold steppic (5 to & wonths), cold eub-axerio (2 to 4 months) and cold axeric, which ie sub-divided sololy accor ding to tho lenght of the frosty svason. Group 111: The thint group consist of one climate only, the glacial with porasnont frost,-12- ‘The Classification of Bioolinat = Tapadakio! eyeten As in the case of the othor otulice carried out by the W.S.R.0. for the L.W.P, algo tho orep-ocological classification systen of J, Papadakia hae been used for North Atrios. There is no direct correlation botweon the eystous used for the UNESCO-FA0 study and the one of Popadalis. It vas, hovever, attempted to make a broad correlation for those olivatic stations for which the classification wae svatla~ dle in the to eyatena. Sinov the criteria of the classification of UNESCO-FiO and Papadakie sro aifterent, it happens that the como climatic class according to Papadakis does Secur in difforent bicolimatio sones, s@ delineated on the wap accompanying ‘the TNESCO-PAO stuay.. ‘The classification syston of Papadakis is based on the folloving climatic characteristics: = monthly average daily maxioun tonperature (Dg) sonthly average daily eininun teapereture (Du,) = monthly average lowest tonporature (MToy), and rainfall (R) ‘The data on Max, MTyins and Moy a7e combined in 6 types of winter ferity and 9 types of oussor eats “Thowe typos ovinoide vit the touperature Toquirekents of specific cropay c.g, Tritioun (whost), wintor typs, and Orysa (ico), cumer type. ‘The winter and unser typos are combined in 40 tonperature roginos. ‘mo € fundanontal humidity roginos and thor 14 subdivisions are sainly based on the combined information on the sonthly anounte of rainfell (R) and potential evapomtranepiration (Bp) plus their yearly distribution. Tele inforaction 2 givon in sonthe which are bunid (R>Bp), dxy R + water stored in the soil , takon troa the report of Huttonson (Page 52) shows the aistra— bution of erope and forests in relation to tue annus) rainfall.5 Piura 5 ROP DISTRTSUITON AMD TSCHYEDS MAP c# 7 sel cuer oF oases uEROA Is, ey, TS AGG= Teohyet Figure in ‘aitime ers js7° saeMEAN ANNUAL RAINFALL IN NORTH-WEST AFRICA setle 1: 10.000.000 © > 1900 mmShi APPENDIX. IL Explanation of Climatic Classes, according to Papadakie 1/ Desert Cropping is impossible without irrigation, but nediterransan desorte pro- vide some grazing in winter. 3:2 Hot Bubtroptoal Desert Seni-tropical or hot subtropical, absolute and mediterranean desert Gu2i, 3.23). “ALthough these clinates are non-frostlees, subdivieione 3.21-3.26 allow the cultivation of oitrus and in most parts even ‘Sugarcane and banana oan be grown. Cotton and rice axe important crops. In 3,21 winter is to warm for vheat and other oryophylous crops} it can be grom but it a aanginsls the other subdivieiorey 3.23, 3.24 and 3.27 have winters sufficiently cool for vheat and citer cryorhytous oropa. “Clinstos 3.24 and 3.21 provide sone grazing in winter, 3:43 In this somi-hot cubtropical moditerrancan desert wintor is suffi~ ciently mild for citrus and in owe parta of the region banana and sugarcane oan be growls Also cotton and rico are auitable crepe. Sons grasing ie provided in winter. Neajterranaan Characterized by ary summers und nore or lege husid winteres as a conse ucucy wdntur cereals and legusee, grapes, olives, Tage, simonda are the prim cipal rainfed crepe. 6.1 Subtropical Mediterrancan Without irrigation winter crops (whost, barley; ost, Fabs, chickpea, ste.), olives, grapes, alnondo and igh oan be grown. With irriga- tion cotton, eitrus, deciduous fruita, carly and late vegotatlee of very good quality oan be produced. Parts with very mild wintore fan support sugarcane and bananas. In 6,1}, @ hot subtropical, dzy mediterranean climate, oitmua can be grown, also early and Lato’ vogotablee. Souo arcas, where the dry Season begins in May (6.1312) conditions are difficult for rainted Maize, but good for whost. Clinate 6.131 hae a mild ("oitrus") winter and can bo subdivided intot 6.1311, where the dry season bogine with Juno, 6:1312, where the dry season begine with Hay and 61313, where the dry season begine with Apa] In Climate 6.132 the winter is lesa mild ("oat-winter") In 6.14, @ sini-not subtropical climate with } or lese dry months cone nize 18 grown without irrigation vhon the dxy season etarts in July. In clinate 6,15, vemi-hot subtropical, scist mediterranean, with 4 or nore dry fonths tho ary eencon begins with June, Y/ Clinstes of tho Yorld and their Agnicultural Potentialitics; edited by tho author, 1966.6.14 6 oe 6.8 6.93 In climate 6.16, scui-bot subtropical, dry mediterranean, the huni- ity index quotiont annus rainfall and annual potentia spiretion ie nore than 0.44. In 6.17 thie quotient is lese than 0.44. Im climate 6.19, also somi-hot subtropical, dry mediterranoan, the average daily winimm of all months is lover than 20°C, Thie cli mato with ita oocl nights is very suitable for maize and beans. A subdivision is uade according to the hunaity index, which 19 nore than 0.44 in 6,191 and Lees in 6.192. Ware continental, dry moditorrancan climate with « humidity index of Loss than 0.44) winter cozeale aro the principal rainfed crops: Tt ie the region of grapes, olives and figs. Also rice can be gronn. Maize nocde irrigation. Bomi-varn continentel, noiet acditorancan climate with 3 azy sonthe; winter coroals aro iuportant and maize can be rom without irrigation, Grapes and figa oan aleo be grown. Subtropical Soni-aria Mediterranean In those climates winter cereals euffer considerably trom drought. Whore the dry sesson bogins with April wheat and other winter eoreala can bs grown, but it is hazardsous, Where it starts with March cropping without irrigation ie practically not feasible. | Summer crope aro virtually excluded. With irrigation winter ofops, cotton and other sumercrops, deciduous fruits, vogetables ete. yield very voll. Tn 6.81, hot subtropieat with an annual Bundi ty intex of Loos than 0.2% citrus can be grown alco. In 6.50 the dry season bogins wiih April or later} in 6.612 vith March or earlier. In 6,83 tot or soni-hot subtropical and a annual huaidity index of ore than 0.22 the ary season begine with April (6.833); citrus can be grown. In this olisate, winter cereals suffer from drought wien the dry soa son tart with April (6.931) ; cropping without irrigation is not advisable, Potatoos can be grown under inrigation.in fai veo! AN Ne Re a7. smn