Area:

1 246 700 km2

Population:

19 Million

Climate:

The climate of Angola is quite diverse due to a combination of factors such as its latitude (i.e. from 4 to 8 degrees), altitude (i.e. from 0 to 2,620 metres above mean sea level) and the landscape and the maritime currents, notably the Benguela Cold Current (BCC). Generally, the climate is characterized by, more or less, two well-defined seasons. The dry – Cacimbo – season is normally cool, and runs from June to September. The warm – season from October to May is normally humid and rainy. The humid coastal region receives average rainfall depths of over 600 mm, with the amount decreasing from the north to south. The Inland part of the country is mainly subdivided into three zones. The northern zone experiences heavy rainfall and high temperatures. The plateau zone is characterized by average annual temperatures close to 18ºC, with high minimum temperatures experienced during the dry season. The southwest zone is semi-arid due to its closeness to the Kalahari Desert with low temperatures in the hot season due to the great continental tropical air masses and the influence from the BCC.  

Natural Resources:

In terms of the GDP contribution, the primary sector comprising mainly agriculture, forestry and livestock is the second largest economic sector in the Angola with about 8% contribution to the GDP. The secondary sector contributes to about 60% of the GDP, with 54% of that corresponding to contributions from the Oil and diamond resources. About 31% of the countries GDP come from the tertiary or service sector.

Agriculture:

Currently agriculture is predominantly a subsistence activity for millions of small farmers who plant an average of 1.4 ha per family in two or three plots of land. The main crops grown include coffee and maize, as well as rice, sisal, bananas, tobacco and cassava. Livestock is also practiced largely at the small scale levels by the rural population. Both cattle and pigs are raised, but the production has tremendous decreased due to deterioration of facilities and services, especially vaccinations crucial for livestock production.

Climate Vulnerabilities:

The main climatic vulnerabilities are currently related to high temperatures, frequent floods and changes in rainy seasons. Along the coast, there are maritime coastal currents and coastal erosion due to the rise of the sea level as well as sedimentation and erosion alterations.

Source:

http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/napa/ago01.pdf

Terminologies:

Benguela- Is a broad, northward flowing ocean current that forms the eastern portion of the South Atlantic Ocean gyre. The current extends from around north of Cape of good hope in the south, to the position of the Angola-Benguela Front in the north, at around 16°S. The current is driven by the prevailing South Easterly Trade winds. Inshore of the Benguela Current proper, the south easterly winds drive coastal upwelling, forming the Benguela upwelling System. The cold, nutrient rich waters that upwell from around 200–300 m depth in turn fuel high rates of phytoplankton growth.

Cacimbo- Is the name given in Angola station "dry" (without rain) that runs from May to September. It is called the dry season as opposed to the season of rains from September to April, but in fact is quite wet. During this period occurs frequently a mist intense, also called water hole. Often there is an onshore wind.