Earth Science 7-Mbabane, Swaziland
Mbabane, Hhohho, Swaziland
Latitude/Longitude
26 19'02.46"S 31 07'59.69" [1]
Elevation 1,158 meters [1]
Major body of water
Mbabane River [1]
Contents
Climate
Climate Zone
Cfb (Marine West Coast) on the Koppen Climate Chart [2]
Mbabane has a similar climate with Seattle, Washington Earth Science 7-Seattle, Washington and Melbourne, Australia Earth Science 7-Melbourne, Australia
Average Temperature (C)
| Mbabane Temperature | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual Average |
| Avg. Temperature | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 17 |
| Avg. Max Temperature | 25 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 23 |
| Avg. Min Temperature | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 11 |
Average Precipitation (inches)
| Mbabane Precipitation | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual Total |
| Avg. Rainfall | 9.9 | 8.2 | 6.7 | 3.1 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 8.3 | 54.8 |
Factors that Regulate the Climate
Mbabane is located at 26 degrees latitude, making it fairly close to the equator. Being at that latitude means it's in mid latitudes high pressure zone. Prevailing winds mostly come from the North, from the ocean currents that are running to the South. Swaziland is a part of the only Marine West Coast climate region in Africa, the rest of Africa is tropical wet and dry, or dry and desert-like. Being a Marine West coast region makes it mild and rainy all year. Mbabane is close to the Indian Ocean, so most of the time it receives warm air currents. Since it is near the ocean it has has lots of vegetation, due to all the moisture.[1]
Geology
Tectonic Plate Boundary Near Mbabane
Because Mbabane is near the border of Africa, it's located 1,300 km from the boundary of the African Plate.[1]
Rocks that Underlie Mbabane
Mbabane has some of the oldest rocks in the world, with granite, an igneous rock, among the oldest ones. One can only see granite when it's stripped of the overlying rocks. Geologists have found that sandstones and mudstones even deeper under the surface preserve some of Earth's oldest fossils. These rocks have been metamorphosed for hundreds of years to become highly resistant quartzites, shales, gneissitic rocks, and talc schists. [5]
