Landscape evolution and palaeoclimates of Central Africa - Physical geographic
studies of tropical landscape development as evidenced by Quaternary
morphodynamics and changes in vegetation cover in D.R. Congo (Kivu, Kasai,
Upper Congo) and Central African Republic.
Central Africa is one of the least-studied and explored regions in the world.
Lack of infrastructure, a humid tropical climate, diseases and the ongoing
political and economic crisis in many of the Central African countries have
caused a severe regression of many scientific activities and large tracts of
Central Africa, most notably the former Republic of Zaire (since 1997 the
Democratic Republic of Congo) can be regarded as a terra incognita.
Still in the 1960ies is has been believed that the equatorial rain forest of
Africa is one of the earth's most stable ecosystems.
Therefore, the eastern Congo basin has been regarded to be a refugia ("core-
area") for the Central African rain forest during the glacial climatic shifts,
like aridification and the decline of temperature. According to the new
findings by the DFG-project "African palaeoclimates" also the rain forest
inside the refugia has shown a strong regression in size around 20.000 years
ago and has been largely replaced by a savanna environment. Periods with a
dense, warm-humid impressed forest cover seems now to have occurred mainly
during shorter periods in the Holocene. By applying geomorphological and
pedological studies supported by modern remote sensing techniques, the author
succeeded in describing a modified history of the more recent to Late
Pleistocene environmental history of Central Africa. Six coloured thematic maps
and satellite imageries are equally added.
The book outlines and discusses the geological and physical geographic features
of Central Africa from the geological past to the environmental conditions at
the onset of the 21st century. Recent aspects like bush fires, migration of
rural population and the modelling of Global Change topics are also included.
The author draws an extensive view of the climate and landscape history of
area") for the Central African rain forest during the glacial climatic shifts,
like aridification and the decline of temperature. According to the new
findings by the DFG-project "African palaeoclimates" also the rain forest
inside the refugia has shown a strong regression in size around 20.000 years
ago and has been largely replaced by a savanna environment. Periods with a
dense, warm-humid impressed forest cover seems now to have occurred mainly
during shorter periods in the Holocene. By applying geomorphological and
pedological studies supported by modern remote sensing techniques, the author
succeeded in describing a modified history of the more recent to Late
Pleistocene environmental history of Central Africa. Six coloured thematic maps
and satellite imageries are equally added.
The book outlines and discusses the geological and physical geographic features
of Central Africa from the geological past to the environmental conditions at
the onset of the 21st century. Recent aspects like bush fires, migration of
rural population and the modelling of Global Change topics are also included.
The author draws an extensive view of the climate and landscape history of
selected Central African regions that have been mostly unknown until recent
times.
