THE TEMPERATURE CONTINENTAL (STEPPE) CLIMATE

1. Distribution

• Bordering the deserts, away from the Mediterranean regions and in the interiors of continents are the temperate grasslands. The grasslands are practically treeless and distinctive in their natural vegetation.
• In the southern hemisphere have a much more moderate climate; they are often dealt with together.
• In the northern hemisphere, the grasslands are far more extensive and are entirely continental.
• In Eurasia, they are called the Steppes and stretch eastwards from the shores of the Black Sea across the Great Russian plain to the foothills of the Altai Mountains, a distance of well over 2.000 miles. They are broken in a few places, being interrupted by the highlands.
• There are isolated sections in the Pustaz of Hungary and the plains of Manchuria.  In North America, the grasslands are also quite extensive and are called Prairies. They lie between the foothills of the Rockies and the Great Lakes astride the American-Canadian border. In the Pampas of Argentina and Uruguay, the grasslands extend right to the sea.
• In the south- Africa the grasslands are sandwiched between the Drakensberg and the Kalahari Desert and are further subdivided into more tropical Bush-veld to the north and more temperature High-veld to the south.
• Downs grasslands are found in Murray- the Darling Basin of Southern Australia. 

2. Climate

Temperature: Summer is very warm with 66°F in July and the winter months are below freezing point. vaw

 Precipitation

• The average rainfall may be taken as about 45 cm, but this varies according to the different locations.
• Most of the winter months have about 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. There are three months (June, July and August) without any rain.
• This is the period of drought that may have such a disastrous effect on the sheep-rearing industry here.
• It comes with the depressions in winter or early spring from the Pacific coast ascending the Rockies and then descending to the Prairies.

3. Natural Vegetation

• Though the term ' steppe vegetation' geographically refers to the scanty vegetation of the sub-arid land of continental Eurasia.
• Their greatest difference from the tropical savanna is that they are practically treeless and the grasses are much shorter.
• Where the rainfall is moderate, above 20 inches, the grasses arc tall fresh and nutritious and are better described as long prairie grass.
• 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 (less than 20 inches) or unreliable or the soil is poor, as in the continental interiors of Asia the short steppe type of grass prevails.
• These areas are less suitable for arable farming and are used for some form of ranching as in the High Plains of the U.S.A.
• Their growth is not abruptly checked by summer droughts or winter cold. The steppe grass can lie dormant throughout the prolonged drought.
• The appearance of the temperate grasslands varies with seasons. In spring, the grass begins to appear, green, fresh and blooming with small, colourful flowers.
• In summer, there is so much heat and evaporation that the grass is scorched.
• Towards autumn, the grass withers and dies, but the roots remain alive and lie dormant throughout the cold winter.
• The winter is harsh and long, but the snow' is never of great depth.
• Trees are very scarce in the steppes, because of the scanty rainfall, long droughts and severe winters.
• 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 winds which come unobstructed across miles of level ground.

4. Economic Development

• The temperate grasslands were once the home of grazing animals; wild horses in the Asiatic Steppes, swift-footed bison in the Prairies and untamed buffaloes in the Pampas.
• These grasslands were dominated by nomadic and semi-nomadic peoples like the Kirghiz of the Asiatic Steppes.
• The Red Indians of North America were mostly hunters who moved around after the bison and other animals.
• Cultivation was unknown and the region was one of the most sparsely populated parts of the world.
• The grasslands have been ploughed up for extensive, mechanized wheat cultivation and are now the ‘granaries of the world.

5. Nomadic herding

• This type of migratory animal grazing has almost disappeared from the major grasslands.
• The herders were wandering tribes e.g. The Kirghiz, the Kazakhs, and the Kalniuk.
• They used to travel over long distances like the Bedouins of the Arabian Desert, in search of grass and water for their animals, sheep, goats and horses.
• From these domesticated animals they obtained meat, milk, wool, hides, bones and horns.
• The wool was woven into felt for tents and garments.
• The leather was used for making boots, saddles and belts,
• The bones and horns were not wasted but made into tools, utensils and weapons.

6. Extensive mechanized wheat cultivation

• The temperature grasslands are ideal for extensive wheat cultivation, in the prairies, the Argentina pampas and Ukraine steppes and down of Australia, Canada, Australia, UK, Denmark and Netherlands.
• The extensive mechanized farming is the consequent low yield. 75 per cent of the Wheat is grown in the winter. In the warmer, wetter regions the Maize is grown.

7. Pastoral Farming

• The natural conditions suit animal farming. With the introduction of cattle, pigs, sheep and horses the temperate grasslands became major pastoral regions.
• Exporting large quantities of beef, mutton, wool, hides, milk, butter, cheese and other dairy products is important in some parts of the northern American grasslands.
• In the southern hemisphere the winter is mild and the rainfall is very distributed.
• The pampas became so involved with the pastoral industry that it took the lead in the world’s export of beef.
• Large estancias (ranches) were established, linked to the frigorificos (meat-packing factories) in the coastal ports by a dense network of roads and railways.
• Australia became the world’s largest wool exporter with one-third of its total production.