Low-level clouds are key components in many regions but are usually not well represented in weather and climate models. Recently it has been shown that an extensive low-level cloud cover develops during the June-September main dry season in western Central Africa (Dommo et al 2018), from the coastal plains of Gabon and Congo-Brazzaville to the inland plateaus downstream of the Chaillu mountains. Such a cloudy main dry season – which is the longest ( 4 months) and driest (<1mm/day) in Central Africa – is unique in the moist tropics and likely explains the presence of the densest evergreen forests in this region (Philippon et al 2019).

Mis à jour le 1 February 2020