Observed Climate Trends South Africa
The most recent national level analysis of climate trends (DEA, 2018) found that the largest warming trends have occurred over the drier western parts of the country (Northern Cape and Western Cape) and in the northeast (Limpopo and Mpumalanga, extending to the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal), as well as Gauteng (although this may have elements of an urban ‘heat island’ effect). The South African Weather Service (2016) stated that the countrywide trend in mean annual temperature from 1951 to 2015 was approximately 0.14°C per decade. For that period, the global trend was just under 0.1°C. More detailed information on the impacts and risks of climate change in Southern Africa can be found in the publication “Climate Risk and Vulnerability: A Handbook for Southern Africa” (Davis-Reddy and Vincent, 2017).
Measured changes in atmospheric CO2 concentrations (in parts per million) in the recent past until April 2021 (top), and observed global temperature differences (anomalies) from 1880 until 2020 relative to the 20th century average (bottom). (Sources: https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/ and https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-temperature)