Climate, environment and development in the Sudan

Abstract

Climate is one of the most important aspects of the earth's physical environment. It represents the summation of a number of critical elements such as temperature, precipitation, pressure, winds, evapotranspiration and sun-shine. Each of these elements contributes to Man's existence on planet earth and plays a direct or an indirect role in controlling and shaping Man's social, economic and physical activities. Agriculture, which is a major economic activity on earth, becomes possible when water, energy and sunshine are available in the required amounts and in the required spatial and temporal patterns. Plants grow only when water is available in the right quantity and during the right season. Thus plant coverage over the world tends to differ in time and space according to the differences in the amount of water and the differences in the seasons during which water is obtained. Water obtained through the natural mechanism of precipitation forms the main controlling factor for the natural vegetation as well as for the agricultural activities in the traditional societies. Thus what sort of plants should grow or be grown and what season should witness the sowing of seeds are to a large extent a function of the precipitation regimes in the different parts of the world. In addition to this, plants need energy and sunshine in order to make their own food and thus flourish and produce fruits. Both energy and sunshine are critical climatic elements. Their magnitude is a function of location and season. They tend to vary with time and space and in this respect they play a significant role in determining the sort of agricultural activities that may be practiced in the different environments.