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Geography of Antigua and Barbuda#Climate

{{Short description|none}}

{{Infobox country geography

| name = Antigua and Barbuda

| map = Ac-map.png

| continent =

| region = Caribbean

| coordinates = {{coord|17|03|N|61|48|W|type:country}}

| area ranking = 181st

| km area = 442.6

| percent land = 95.33

| km coastline = 153

| exclusive economic zone = {{convert|110,089|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}

| borders = No land borders

| geographic center =

| highest point = Boggy Peak
{{convert|402|m|ft|sp=us}}

| lowest point = Atlantic Ocean
{{convert|0|m}}

| longest river = None

| largest lake = Potsworks Reservoir
{{convert| 2.430|ha|acre|abbr=on}}

| terrain = low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas

| natural resources = marine resources, cotton

| natural hazards = hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts

| environmental issues = water management, deforestation

}}

Image:Satellite image of Antigua And Barbuda in September 2002.jpg

Antigua and Barbuda lie in the eastern arc of the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, separating the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean Sea.{{Cite encyclopedia|title=Islands of the Commonwealth Caribbean: a regional study|publisher=Federal Research Division, Library of Congress|location=Washington, D.C.|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/88600483/|last=Sturges-Vera|first=Karen|date=1987|editor1-last=Meditz|editor1-first=Sandra W.|pages=435–437|language=English|oclc=49361510|postscript=. {{PD-notice}}|editor2-last=Hanratty|editor2-first=Dennis M.|entry=Antigua and Barbuda: Geography}} Antigua is {{Convert|650|km||abbr=on}} southeast of Puerto Rico; Barbuda lies {{Convert|48|km||abbr=on}} due north of Antigua, and the uninhabited island of Redonda is {{Convert|56|km||abbr=on}} southwest of Antigua.

The largest island of Antigua, is 21 km (about a dozen miles) across and 281 km2 (about a hundred square miles) in area. Barbuda covers {{Convert|161|km2||abbr=on}} while Redonda encompasses {{Convert|2.6|km2||abbr=on}}. The capital of Antigua and Barbuda is St. John's, located at St. John's Harbour on the northwest coast of Antigua. The principal city of Barbuda is Codrington, located on Codrington Lagoon.

In Antigua and Barbuda forest cover is around 18% of the total land area, equivalent to 8,120 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, down from 10,110 hectares (ha) in 1990.{{Cite book |url=https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/a6e225da-4a31-4e06-818d-ca3aeadfd635/content |title=Terms and Definitions FRA 2025 Forest Resources Assessment, Working Paper 194 |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |year=2023}}{{Cite web |title=Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020, Antigua and Barbuda |url=https://fra-data.fao.org/assessments/fra/2020/ATG/home/overview |website=Food Agriculture Organization of the United Nations}}

Geology

{{main|Geology of Antigua and Barbuda}}

Antigua and Barbuda both are generally low-lying islands whose terrain has been influenced more by limestone formations than volcanic activity. The highest point on Antigua is Boggy Peak, the remnant of a volcanic crater rising 402 meters (1,319 ft). This mountain is located amid a bulge of hills of volcanic origin in the southwestern part of the island. Lake Estate is the third tallest recorded point on Antigua.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}

The limestone formations in the northeast and northwest are separated from the southwestern volcanic area by a central plain of clay formations. The map of northeastern Antigua features several small and tiny islands, some inhabited. Barbuda's highest elevation is {{Convert|44.5|m}}, part of the highland plateau east of Codrington.{{rp|435}} The shorelines of both islands are greatly indented with beaches, lagoons, and natural harbors. The islands are rimmed by reefs and shoals. There are few streams as rainfall is slight. Both islands lack adequate amounts of fresh groundwater. Tiny Redonda rises to {{Convert|246|m||abbr=}} and has very little level ground, while Barbuda is very flat with few if any hills.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Oceanography

Due to the spread out islands it has an Exclusive Economic Zone of {{convert|110,089|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Islands

{{div col|content=

}}

Climate

The islands' climate is classified as Tropical Maritime{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}} and is moderated by fairly constant northeast tradewinds, with velocities ranging between {{convert|30|and|48|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}}. There is little precipitation because of the islands' low elevations. The pleasant climate fosters tourism.

Rainfall averages {{convert|990|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} per year, with the amount varying widely from season to season. In general the wettest period is between September and November. The islands generally experience low humidity and recurrent droughts.

Hurricanes strike on an average of once a year between July and October.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}} Temperatures average {{convert|27|°C|1}}, with a range from {{convert|23|°C|1}} in the winter to {{convert|30|°C}} in the summer and autumn. On 12 August 1995, a temperature of {{convert|34.9|C|F|abbr=on}} was recorded at St. John's. This is the highest temperature to have ever been recorded in Antigua and Barbuda.{{cite web |url=http://www.antiguamet.com/Climate/Our_Climate.html |title=Our Climate |publisher=Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service |access-date=30 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305012206/http://www.antiguamet.com/Climate/Our_Climate.html |archive-date=5 March 2017 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.antiguamet.com/Climate/STATS/coolidge_dailytemp.html |title=Normal Daily Temperature: TEMPERATURE AT V.C. Bird International Airport |publisher=Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service |access-date=30 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031025855/http://www.antiguamet.com/Climate/STATS/coolidge_dailytemp.html |archive-date=31 October 2016 |url-status=live }} The coolest period is between December and February.

{{Weather box

|location = St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda (V. C. Bird International Airport)

|metric first = yes

|single line = yes

|Jan record high C = 31.2

|Feb record high C = 31.8

|Mar record high C = 32.9

|Apr record high C = 32.7

|May record high C = 34.1

|Jun record high C = 32.9

|Jul record high C = 33.5

|Aug record high C = 34.9

|Sep record high C = 34.3

|Oct record high C = 34.1

|Nov record high C = 32.6

|Dec record high C = 31.5

|year record high C = 34.9

|Jan high C = 28.3

|Feb high C = 28.4

|Mar high C = 28.8

|Apr high C = 29.4

|May high C = 30.2

|Jun high C = 30.6

|Jul high C = 30.9

|Aug high C = 31.2

|Sep high C = 31.1

|Oct high C = 30.6

|Nov high C = 29.8

|Dec high C = 28.8

|year high C = 29.8

|Jan mean C = 25.4

|Feb mean C = 25.2

|Mar mean C = 25.6

|Apr mean C = 26.3

|May mean C = 27.2

|Jun mean C = 27.9

|Jul mean C = 28.2

|Aug mean C = 28.3

|Sep mean C = 28.1

|Oct mean C = 27.5

|Nov mean C = 26.8

|Dec mean C = 25.9

|year mean C = 26.9

|Jan low C = 22.4

|Feb low C = 22.2

|Mar low C = 22.7

|Apr low C = 23.4

|May low C = 24.5

|Jun low C = 25.3

|Jul low C = 25.3

|Aug low C = 25.5

|Sep low C = 25.0

|Oct low C = 24.4

|Nov low C = 23.9

|Dec low C = 23.0

|year low C = 24.0

|Jan record low C = 15.5

|Feb record low C = 16.6

|Mar record low C = 17.0

|Apr record low C = 16.6

|May record low C = 17.8

|Jun record low C = 19.7

|Jul record low C = 20.6

|Aug record low C = 19.3

|Sep record low C = 20.0

|Oct record low C = 20.0

|Nov record low C = 17.7

|Dec record low C = 16.1

|year record low C = 15.5

|precipitation colour=green

|Jan precipitation mm = 56.6

|Feb precipitation mm = 44.9

|Mar precipitation mm = 46.0

|Apr precipitation mm = 72.0

|May precipitation mm = 89.6

|Jun precipitation mm = 62.0

|Jul precipitation mm = 86.5

|Aug precipitation mm = 99.4

|Sep precipitation mm = 131.6

|Oct precipitation mm = 142.2

|Nov precipitation mm = 135.1

|Dec precipitation mm = 83.4

|year precipitation mm = 1049.2

|Jan precipitation days = 11.1

|Feb precipitation days = 8.7

|Mar precipitation days = 7.3

|Apr precipitation days = 7.2

|May precipitation days = 8.6

|Jun precipitation days = 8.3

|Jul precipitation days = 11.8

|Aug precipitation days = 12.7

|Sep precipitation days = 12.0

|Oct precipitation days = 12.9

|Nov precipitation days = 12.4

|Dec precipitation days = 12.1

|year precipitation days = 124.7

|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

|source 1 = Antigua/Barbuda Meteorological Services{{cite web

|url= http://www.antiguamet.com/Climate/STATS/coolidge_dailytemp.html

|publisher= Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services

|title= Normals and averages: temperature at V.C Bird International Airport

|access-date= 14 October 2012

|archive-date= 23 August 2019

|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190823025952/http://www.antiguamet.com/Climate/STATS/coolidge_dailytemp.html

|url-status= dead

}}{{cite web

|url= http://www.antiguamet.com/Climate/STATS/coolidge_monthlyrainfall.html

|publisher= Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services

|title= Normals and averages: rainfall at V.C Bird International Airport

|access-date= 14 October 2012

|archive-date= 24 February 2020

|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200224191743/http://www.antiguamet.com/Climate/STATS/coolidge_monthlyrainfall.html

|url-status= dead

}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?ind=78862&ano=2021&mes=10&day=17&hora=0&min=0&ndays=30 |title=78862: Vc Bird International Airport Antigua (Antigua and Barbuda) |author= |date= 17 October 2021|website=ogimet.com |publisher=OGIMET |access-date= 17 October 2021|quote=}}

|date=October 2012

}}

File:Valley Rd, Antigua and Barbuda - panoramio (1).jpg

File:Antigua_Southern_Shore.JPG

File:Antigua_beach_view.jpg

Environmental issues

{{Excerpt|Environmental issues in Antigua and Barbuda}}

Statistics

; Location:

: Antigua and Barbuda are Caribbean islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico.

; Geographic coordinates:

: {{coord|17|03|N|61|48|W|type:country}}

; Area

:* Total: {{Convert|442.6|km2||abbr=on}} (Antigua {{Convert|280|km2||abbr=on}}; Barbuda {{Convert|161|km2||abbr=on}})

:*country comparison to the world: 205

:* Land: {{Convert|442.6|km2||abbr=on}}

:* Note: Includes Redonda, {{Convert|1.6|km2||abbr=on}}:

; Maritime claims:

:* Territorial sea: {{convert|12|nmi|km mi|1}}

:* Contiguous zone: {{convert|24|nmi|km mi|1|lk=in}}

:* Exclusive economic zone: {{convert|110,089|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} and {{convert|200|nmi|km mi|1}}

:* Continental shelf: {{convert|200|nmi|km mi|1}} or to the edge of the continental margin

; Terrain:Mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas

; Land use

:* Arable land: 20.5%

:* Permanent crops: 2.3%

:* Permanent pasture: 9.1%

:* Forest: 22.3%

:* Other: 57.2% (2011)

; Irrigated land:{{Convert|1.3|km2||abbr=on}} (2012)

; Total renewable water resources

: {{convert|0.05|km3|cumi|abbr=on}} (2011)

; Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

:* Total: {{convert|0.01|km3|cumi|abbr=on}}/yr (63%/21%/15%)

:* Per capita: {{convert|97.67|m3|cuyd|abbr=on|0}}/yr (2005)

; Environment - current issues

: Water management, a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources, is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly

; Environment:international agreements

:* Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

; Geography - note

: Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors and beaches. Antigua's southernmost point is Cape Shirley.

: Barbuda has a large western harbor.

Extreme points

=Antigua=

  • Northernmost point – Boon Point
  • Easternmost point - Man of War Point, Green Island
  • Easternmost point (mainland only) - Neck of Land
  • Southernmost point - Nanton Point
  • Southernmost point (including Redonda) - headland on southern coast of Redonda (also the southernmost point in Antigua and Barbuda)
  • Westernmost point - Five Islands
  • Westernmost point (including Redonda) - headland on Western coast of Redonda (also the westernmost point in Antigua and Barbuda)
  • Westernmost point (mainland only) - Pearns Point
  • Lowest point: Caribbean Sea: 0 m
  • Highest point: Boggy Peak: {{Convert|402|m||abbr=on}}

=Barbuda=

  • Northernmost point – Goat Point (also the northernmost point in Antigua and Barbuda)
  • Easternmost point – unnamed headland on eastern coast (also the easternmost point in Antigua and Barbuda)
  • Southernmost point – Coco Point
  • Westernmost point – Cedar Tree Point
  • Highest point – the northern edge of the eastern plateau (44.5m)

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{CIA World Factbook}}

{{Antigua and Barbuda topics}}

{{Geography of North America}}

{{North America topic|Climate of}}

{{Portal bar|Caribbean|North America}}

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