Geography Notes: Steppe Climate Type

Steppe Climate Type: Temperate Continental Climate

Climate (Temperature & Precipitation)

Climate is continental with extremes of temperature.
Summers are very warm in North America.
Winters are very cold in the continental steppes of Eurasia.
In the Southern hemisphere, the steppe type of climate is never severe because of the moderating effects of oceans.
The great annual range of temperature.
There is a tremendous difference between the annual temperature range of the northern and southern hemispheres because of continentality.
Annual precipitation is light about 20 inches, varies from 10 to 30 inches according to location.
June and July are the months of heaviest rainfall.
Occasional depressions of Westerlies bring little precipitation and in the form of snow, in Winters.
In the Southern hemisphere, annual precipitation is more because of maritime influence.

Distribution

They lie in interiors of continents, bordering deserts and away from the Mediterranean region.
Placed under the Westerly wind belt.
In the northern hemisphere, grasslands are entirely continental and extensive.
In Eurasia, they are called Steppes stretched from shores of the Black sea eastwards to foothills of the Altai Mountains.
Grasslands are known by different names as given below:

Region	Grassland
Hungary and plains of Manchuria	Pustaz
North America	Prairies
Argentina and Uruguay	Pampas
Northern South Africa	Bush-Veld (more tropical)
Southern South Africa	High Veld (more Temperate)
Murray-Darling basin of Australia	Downs
New Zealand	Canterbury

Vegetation & Wildlife

Steppes are practically treeless and grasses are much shorter.
Long Prairie grass is tall, fresh and nutritious. They are found in regions like Russian Ukraine and some areas of Asiatic Steppes.
Short Steppe type of grass prevails in continental interiors of Asia.
Temperate grasslands vary in their appearance with seasons.
Towards equator, steppe grass becomes shorter and sparser, till it merges into the desert with thorny scrub.
With an increase in precipitation polewards, it gives rise to wooded steppes.

Major Tribes