The science of climate change in Africa: impacts and adaptation

the African climate is determined at the macro-level by three major processes or drivers: tropical convection, the alternation of the monsoons, and the el niño-southern oscillation of the Pacific ocean. the first two are local processes that determine the regional and seasonal patterns of temperature and rainfall. the last is more remote in its origin, but strongly influences the year to year rainfall and temperature patterns in Africa. despite the importance of all three processes, we poorly understand how they interact and how they are affected by climate change.