How come there aren't as many natural disasters in Africa?

[Anonymous]

There might be floods and droughts.

But I seldom hear of tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, etc.


Why is that? Does it have something to do with Africa being the motherland (the central starting point); therefore, it has more stability?

[Anonymous]

It's more likely the general dearth of news about Africa in most US sources. Do you feel you you have a good sense of what's happening in Africa, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's more likely the general dearth of news about Africa in most US sources. Do you feel you you have a good sense of what's happening in Africa, OP?

I was born there, and most of my relatives live there.

[Anonymous]

Lack of potable water, malaria, children dying from diarrhea, constant civil wars...maybe Jeebus thinks they have enough on their plate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's more likely the general dearth of news about Africa in most US sources. Do you feel you you have a good sense of what's happening in Africa, OP?

I was born there, and most of my relatives live there.

Good answer. Most Americans simply don't pay attention to Africa. But I'm also not sure we really have good information about what happens there anyway. As you know, it's a big continent. You really have to look to find information about what's going on throughout. So I would not assume that not hearing about certain types of natural disasters means they are less prevalent. It's possible, of course. But I would check first. There's probably some government group or NGO source that tracks this. Just don't know which. Hopefully someone else will post.

[Anonymous]

Well, here is a massive oversimplification of plate tectonics. The African plate is much larger than the African continent, so the plate movements that lead to earthquakes and volcanoes generally occur underwater. That said, the East African rift is well known for its volcanoes. Generally speaking, however, we only note volcanic eruptions when they are particularly devastating or unexpected. Most are neither.

Tsunamis are also seismic events, caused by earthquakes under the ocean floor. They occur most frequently in the Pacific because it is the most active area, seismically. That's why Japan has many of them. Africa does get them, too, but it is a rarer event.

As for hurricanes, their formation requires warm, open stretches of water. They thus generally form off the Atlantic coast of Africa and always travel west. Sometimes they do affect the Cape Verde islands, but usually before they become very strong. Cyclones form in the Pacific, but generally speaking, there are more land masses between the area where they form and Africa. However, they do hit Africa - just not as frequently.

We just don't hear about Africa much at all, as the PP pointed out.

[Anonymous]

Look up "Ring of fire" in Wikipedia. You'll see two graphics that will help explain why there are few volcano and earthquake disasters. In a nutshell, Africa sits on a huge tectonic plate that extends beyond the borders of the continent (except for a part in north eastern Africa). Earthquakes and volcanos occur where tectonic plates push into one another.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info, pps! Interesting!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look up "Ring of fire" in Wikipedia. You'll see two graphics that will help explain why there are few volcano and earthquake disasters. In a nutshell, Africa sits on a huge tectonic plate that extends beyond the borders of the continent (except for a part in north eastern Africa). Earthquakes and volcanos occur where tectonic plates push into one another.

+ what 8:24 said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There might be floods and droughts.

But I seldom hear of tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, etc.


Why is that? Does it have something to do with Africa being the motherland (the central starting point); therefore, it has more stability?

There are reported natural disasters in Africa. For example, On August 21, 1986, Nyos Lake in Cameroon suddenly released a lot of CO2, sufficating thousands of people. I remember it being reported. As for earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis, Algeria has had huge and devastating earthquakes. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_earthquakes_in_Algeria).

Tsunamis? Well there are no large scale subduction zones adjacent to Africa. So, tsunami sources are not likely. But, in 2004, 300 people in Somolia Drowned. Note that the east coast of aftrica was the only part of Indian Ocean to get warning from the Northern Sumatra/Nias Island tsunami.


Hurricans/Cyclones happen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South-West_Indian_Ocean_tropical_cyclone_season

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look up "Ring of fire" in Wikipedia. You'll see two graphics that will help explain why there are few volcano and earthquake disasters. In a nutshell, Africa sits on a huge tectonic plate that extends beyond the borders of the continent (except for a part in north eastern Africa). Earthquakes and volcanos occur where tectonic plates push into one another.

This is fascinating. Thanks for breaking it down.

--OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look up "Ring of fire" in Wikipedia. You'll see two graphics that will help explain why there are few volcano and earthquake disasters. In a nutshell, Africa sits on a huge tectonic plate that extends beyond the borders of the continent (except for a part in north eastern Africa). Earthquakes and volcanos occur where tectonic plates push into one another.

This is fascinating. Thanks for breaking it down.

--OP

Or split apart. Mount Kilimanjaro is a Volcano....in the East African Rift. Moderate earthquakes and volcanos occur along the rift.

There is a large scale convergent boundary in NW africa, where Africa and Europe are meeting, closing the Mediterranean. Mostly near Spain/Algeria/Morocco.

[Anonymous]

OP. perhaps some of your African relatives could explain the nature of natural disasters in Africa. They are living there and may experience unreported problems

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There might be floods and droughts.

But I seldom hear of tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, etc.


Why is that? Does it have something to do with Africa being the motherland (the central starting point); therefore, it has more stability?

Georgraphy and weather patterns.It's that simple.
Nothing to do with being the 'motherland'.

[Anonymous]

Tropical storms are dependent on a number of factors. First is that they can't form within 5 degrees either way of the equator. Second is that they are carried most often by westerly winds.

So take a look at Africa on the map. The west coast is not going to get hit because the prevailing winds go the other direction. On the East Coast, the equator is way down through Kenya. Most of the continent is above that dividing line. This area is sheltered by land and by India. The equatorial area is not going to get hit. So that leaves southeast Africa, and they do get hit. So if you live in Madagascar, you might read this:

http://www.irinnews.org/report/95025/madagascar-tropical-storm-irina-claims-72-lives

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_cyclone_basins#South-West_Indian_Ocean

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_cyclone#Locations