Test: The Temperate Continental or Steppe Climate - UPSC MCQ

The grasslands in Eurasia are known as Steppes and stretch eastward from the shores of the Baltic Sea across the Great Russian plains to the foothills of the Altai Mountains, covering approximately 2000 miles.

The Steppes in the Northern Hemisphere lie in the heart of continents and have little maritime influence, resulting in a continental climate with extremes of temperature. Summers are very warm, approximately 25 degrees Celsius, while winters are chillingly cold, with well below freezing point temperatures, approximately -20 degrees Celsius. Hence, the annual range of temperature is very high.

The grasslands in the southern hemisphere have a much milder climate than those in the northern hemisphere due to the coastal effects of the seas and warm currents alongside. In South Africa, the grasslands are sandwiched between the Drakensberg and Kalahari deserts and are further divided into the more tropical Bush Veld in the north and more temperate High Veld in the south.

On the eastern slopes of the Rockies in Canada and the USA, a local wind similar to Fohn (Switzerland), called Chinook, comes in a southwest direction to the Prairies, descending from the Rockies. It is a hot wind that raises the temperature and melts snow-covered pastures, generally in winters and early springs. Hence, frequent chinook means mild winters in the region.

Due to the maritime influence in the southern hemisphere, the mean annual rainfall always averages more than 50 cm, mainly due to warm ocean currents that wash the shores of steppe lands. In contrast, the annual precipitation in the northern hemisphere has a mean annual of approximately 50 cm, with the majority of rainfall in summers from conventional sources, and winter rainfall of approximately 25 mm/month is occasional by depressions of the westerlies and in the form of snow.

The natural vegetation of steppes is generally referred to as temperate grasslands, differing only in density and quality of grass.

The greatest difference between steppes and tropical savannas is that steppes are practically treeless and grasses are much shorter.

In areas with less than 50 cm of rainfall or poor soil, the short steppe type of grass prevails. The grasses are not only shorter but also wiry and sparse, often found in discontinuous clumps, with bare soil exposed between them.

In regions in the northern hemisphere where the rainfall averages above 50 cm, the grasses are tall, fresh and nutritious, and are better described as long prairie grass.

Because of the scanty rainfall and long droughts, and because of the severe winters. Trees are very scarce in steppes because of the climatic conditions, including scanty rainfall, long droughts, and severe winters.