Steppe Climate (Temperate Grassland Climate)
Steppe Climate or Temperate Continental Climate or Temperate Grassland Climate
Distribution
- They lie in the interiors of the continents.
- Lie in the Westerly wind belt [mid-latitudes or temperate region].
- Grasslands are practically treeless due to continentiality [deep within the interiors of the continents where rain bearing winds don’t reach].
- In Eurasia, they are called the Steppes, and stretch eastwards from the shores of the Black Sea to the foothills of the Altai Mountains. [2,000 miles long belt].
Name of the Temperate Grassland |
Region |
Pustaz | Hungary and surrounding regions |
Prairies | North America [between the foothills of the Rockies and the Great Lakes] |
Pampas | Argentina and Uruguay [Rain-shadow effect] |
Bush-veld (more tropical) | Northern South Africa |
High Veld (more temperate) | Southern South Africa |
Downs | Australia: Murray-Darling basin of southern Australia |
Canterbury | New Zealand |
Steppe Climate
Temperature
- Climate is continental with extremes of temperature.
- Temperatures vary greatly between summer and winter.
- The summers are hot and the winters are cold.
- Summers are very warm, over 18 – 20° C.
- The steppe type of climate in the southern hemisphere is never severe.
Precipitation
- The average rainfall may be taken as about 45 cm, but this varies according to location from 25 cm to 75 cm.
- The heaviest rain comes in June and July (late spring and early summer).
- Most of the winter months have about an 2.5 cm of precipitation, brought by the occasional depressions of the Westerlies and coming in the form of snow.
- The maritime influence in the southern hemisphere causes more rainfall.
Chinook: Local winds in Steppe regions
- On the eastern slopes of the Rockies in Canada and U.S.A. a local wind, similar to the Fohn in Switzerland, called the Chinook, comes in a south-westerly direction to the Prairies and has a considerable effect on the local pastures.
- It actually comes with the depressions in winter or early spring from the Pacific coast ascending the Rockies and then descending to the Prairies [katabatic wind].
- It is a hot wind and may raise the temperature by 5° C within a matter of 20 minutes.
- It melts the snow-covered pastures and animals can be driven out of doors to graze in the open fields. The agricultural year is thus accelerated.
- Local farmers welcome the Chinook for frequent. Chinooks [Snow eaters] mean mild winters.
[Other important Local Winds in different regions: Loo, Mistral, Sirocco, Foehn etc.]
Natural Vegetation of Steppe Climate
Grasses
- Greatest difference from the tropical savanna is that steppes are practically treeless and the grasses are much shorter.
- Grasses are tall, fresh and nutritious. This is typical of the grass of the wheat-lands in North America, the rich black earth or chernozem areas of Russian Ukraine and the better watered areas of the Asiatic Steppes.
- Where the rainfall is light or unreliable, or the soil is poor, as in the continental interiors of Asia the short steppe type of grass prevails.
- The grasses are not only shorter but also wiry [lean, tough] and sparse [thinly dispersed or scattered].
- These areas are less suitable for arable farming and are used for some form of ranching as in the High Plains of U.S.A.
- The growth of grasses is not abruptly checked by summer droughts or winter cold.
Trees
- Polewards, an increase in precipitation gives rise to a transitional zone of wooded steppes where some conifers gradually appear.
- In the cultivated regions, such as the wheat farms of the Prairies, double rows of trees are planted around the house to shield the occupants from the strong wind.
Animals
- Does not have much animal diversity.
- Horses are common in Asian Steppes.
Economic Development of Steppes
Wheat and Maize Cultivation
- Cultivation was unknown just before a century and the region was one of the most sparsely populated parts of the world.
- In recent years, the grasslands have been ploughed up for extensive, mechanized wheat cultivation and are now the ‘granaries of the world’ [Prairies].
- Besides wheat, maize is increasingly cultivated in the warmer and wetter areas.
Ranching
- The tufted grasses have been replaced by the more nutritious Lucerne or alfalfa grass for cattle and sheep rearing.
- These temperate grasslands are now the leading ranching regions of the globe.
Nomadic herding in Asian Steppes
- This type of migratory animal grazing has almost disappeared from the major grasslands. The herders were wandering tribes e.g. the Kirghiz, and the Kazakhs.
- The harsh environment of the nomads, with long droughts and unreliable showers made the Kirghiz a tough and fearless people, and they long resisted subjugation by the Russians.
- Now, however, under the Communist regime they are being forced to settle down.
- The steppes have been made into huge collective farms and state farms for ranching or producing cereals.
Extensive mechanized wheat cultivation
- The temperate grasslands are ideal for extensive wheat cultivation.
- The level ness of the Steppes and other temperate grasslands all over the world makes ploughing and harvesting a comparatively easy job.
- In the Prairies, the Argentinian Pampas, the Ukrainian Steppes and the Downs of Australia, agriculture is completely mechanized.
Pastoral farming
- The natural conditions suit animal farming.
- With the development of refrigerated ships in the late nineteenth century, the temperate grasslands became major pastoral regions, exporting large quantities of beef, mutton, wool, hides.
- Milk, butter, cheese and other dairy products are also important in some parts of the North American grasslands.
Grassland |
Major Economic Activity |
Prairies | Wheat Granaries
Extensive Ranching |
Pustaz | Rich black soil
Abundant wheat production Sugar from Sugar beet [Beta vulgaris, is a plant whose root contains a high concentration of sucrose] Countries like Hungary, Ukraine, Romania etc. |
Pampas | Alfalfa: nutrient rich grass.
Ranching, cattle rearing; Dairy products Extensive wheat producing region Economy depends on wheat and beef export |
Downs and Canterbury | Sheep and Cattle rearing,
Merino sheep: wool production |
Veldts | Maize farms
Sheep and Cattle rearing |
QUESTIONS
Compare and contrast tropical and temperate grasslands in respect of
- their seasonal responses to climatic changes
- their economic importance
For any three of them, give a reasoned account
- Asiatic Steppes: nomadic herding
- Canadian Prairies: spring wheat cultivation
- Argentine Pampas: beef cattle ranching
- S. African Veld: maize growing
- Australian Downs: sheep grazing
Explain why
- When Chinooks are more frequent in the Prairies, the winters are milder.
Primary References: NCERT Geography, Certificate Physical and Human Geography [Amazon and Flipkart]
Last updated on April 17, 2025 11:39 AM