Contributions on the Physical Geography of Tropical Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID20153154
AuthorsL K Jeje (Ekiti State University, corresponding author)
Year1993
Volume14
Issue2
Pages191-211
Publication date1993-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSingapore Journal of Tropical Geography (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0129-7619 • E-ISSN: 1467-9493
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1467-9493.1993.tb00048.x
OpenAlexW2163295824
LanguageEN
References cited80

Of the various aspects of physical geography on tropical Africa, geomorphology appears to have received the greatest attention both in depth and spread of research efforts. Several themes have been developed, among which are individual landform studies with emphasis on the description and explanation of the origin of several landforms, the most important being inselbergs. Applied geomorphology with emphasis on accelerated soil erosion is also an important theme. Up to the 1960s research was generally descriptive and speculative, but with the advances in soil erosion studies in the USA and South Africa, researchers have embarked on programmes involving the measurement of runoff, soil loss, and the determination of several indices of rainfall erosivity and soil erodibility. Coastal studies have also received considerable attention. While earlier studies were largely descriptive, recent studies involve the application of sedimentological principles. Wave parameters and beach profiles are being quantified to facilitate the quantitative study of coastal processes. Palaeogeomorphology was largely focused on the study of the morphology of old sand dunes in the current Sahel zone, on past lake levels and on the formation of stonelines. However, current efforts have moved on to the significance of palaeo deposits for purposes of mineral exploitation. Possibly the most significant new theme relates to hydrology and fluvial studies. Current research efforts in these areas include detailed morphometric analyses of small drainage basins, instrumentation and measurement of stream and sediment discharge, and detailed studies of basin topographic attributes. The paper concludes that future efforts should focus more on empirical studies so that physical geographers can make a fundamental impact on the development of the discipline in tropical Africa

Cartography · Coastal geography · Current (fluid) · Drainage basin · Erosion · Fluvial · Geography · Geomorphology · Gully Erosion · Hydrology (agriculture) · Landform · Physical geography · Structural basin · Surface runoff · Ecology · Geology · Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes · Oceanography · Soil erosion and sediment transport

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