He Dry steppe Is a distinctive type of biome due to the scarce presence of precipitation, semi-arid soils, strong winds without humidity and extensive plains with very little vegetation; Usually herbaceous, xerophytic or of small shrubs.
They are usually located in continental mountainous areas far from the sea for long distances, elevations of terrain and great mountain ranges. In any case, it does not receive moisture from the currents of ocean winds since the mountains function as a barrier.
This type of biome can be located between the c and the forest. If I had more rain it would become forest and if I had less rain would be a desert. In other words, it is a very dry region to form forests, but not enough to be deserted.
It also has similarities with the savannah but without being so hot, the prairie but with much less water and the famous veld of South Africa but less arid.
Likewise and depending on the climatic extremes, it is usually related to the cold desert.
Human life in these regions is not very sustainable. Historically, the usual people of the area lead a nomadic life, moving continually in search of sources of water, food and more fertile land.
Dry steppe in the world
The world's most famous steppe is located between Hungary to the west to China to the east, known as"La Gran Estepa", simply as"La Estepa"or the Eurasian steppe. The mountain range of the Himalayas blocks this steppe from the sea winds.
Popularly known for being part of the ancient silk route, it communicated Asia to Europe in a great commercial and cultural network unparalleled for many centuries.
Its flat landscapes are well known, especially in areas of Mongolia and Siberia where caravans of camels and horses that cross the steppe and connect with the deserts of the Middle East are common.
There is a similar zone in North America to the west of the well-known"Great Plain", that includes a long and thin strip from Saskatchenwan in the south of Canada to the north of Mexico with the border of E.E.U.U. in Texas.
The Rocky Mountain Range blocks this steppe from the sea winds.
Steppe area of the North American Plain
In South America is another zone of cold dry steppe, in the high lands of the eastern side of the Andean south and that extends until the Patagonia. The Andes mountains Blocks this steppe from the sea winds.
Dry steppe in Patagonia
Characteristics and climate
Every steppe by definition indicates semi-arid, dry and cold mountainous territories above 1000 meters above sea level, of vast plains with little vegetation. But the dry quality of the steppe is due to the lack of rain.
Precipitations are below 400 mm and in some areas below 250 mm, where the steppe becomes more arid and semi-desert.
Added to the inclement sun, the absence of clouds and strong winds, the temperatures become extreme.
These vary greatly between day and night. On average it can range from 27 ° to 40 ° C on the day. At night and without clouds so that the heat is maintained at ground level, the earth cools quickly and can approach at 0 ° C.
Without trees to block the dry wind, the weather conditions become severe. Also the temperatures vary widely between seasons and touches the extremes depending on the height and the proximity to colder or hot zones.
Very hot summers and very cold winters would be a good summary of the annual climate. The temperatures of the dry steppe in the summer can reach 45 ° C. Moreover, in the winter they are able to reach around 40 ° C below zero.
Siberian steppe in the winter
In the steppes closest to the icy mountains, it is not uncommon to see snowfall in the winter that covers the plains and grasses showing famous landscapes.
In some very hot summers, the dry grass burns down and the fire spreads with speed.
The climate of the steppe tends to go in cycles, where there could be unexpected long rainy seasons, followed by years of extreme drought.
With less rain the steppe would become desert, but with a little more rain it would become a meadow.
This would change the soil conditions, making it more fertile where it could sustain denser vegetation; Eventually becoming a forest. Certainly the soil lacking water and abundant vegetation does not attract many animals.
Therefore the organic matter of the earth is very low and the salinity is very high, making the soil not very fertile.
Flora
Generally the dry steppe plains may be covered by different types of grass and low grass. The length varies depending on how much rain the area receives monthly.
The foliage of greater height barely exceeds the meter in the areas with precipitations near the 400 mm or near the forests.
The shorter grass is below the half meter and is made scarce and grouped in the more arid lands.
Herbaceous-type shrubs such as frigid sagebrush and astragalus have adapted to dry conditions and soil salinity.
They are plants with a deep root system to absorb as much moisture as possible, but can develop surface roots in rainy seasons.
Dry steppe in North America with short grass and sagebrush shrubs
You can also find occasional xerophytic cactus plants among grass or rocky terrain and some kind of desert rolling plant being swept away by the strong winds.
Fauna
The most common steppe animals are grazing such as horses, camels (Eurasia), alpacas and vicuñas (South America), herds of antelopes and cattle species such as buffalo and sheep such as sheep.
Small rodents such as mice and rabbits survive conditions hiding from the daytime sun to activate at night.
The open land offers very little defense against predators, which is why they seek to live in burrows on the land or between rocks.
Several species of foxes and medium-sized cats such as lynxes usually hunt in steppes; Also sheltering during the day to look for prey during the night. In the steppes of North America and South America you can find pumas.
Mongol falconer with his falcon in the Asian steppe
Hawks and eagles prowl the air looking for small mammals and reptiles in the territories near trees and rocky hills.
These birds are usually bred and used in falconry by the inhabitants of the famous Mongolian steppe tribes.
The South American condor also tends to fly over the Andean steppe mountains and can be seen to the steppe of Patagonia.
References
- National Geographic Media Writers (2011). Steppe. National Geographic Society. Retrieved from nationalgeographic.org
- N.S. Gill's (2017). The Steppes. Ancient / Classical History Glossary. ThoughtCo. Retrieved from thoughtco.com
- Encyclopedia of Tasks. Dry Weather Steppe. Recovered from encyclopediadetareas.net
- Bone M., Johnson D., Kelaidis P., Kintgen M., Vickerman L. G. (2015). Steppes: The Plants and Ecology of the World's Semi-arid Regions (online abstract). Timber Press. Retrieved from barnesandnoble.com
- WikiDiff. Steppe vs. Desert - What's the difference? Retrieved from http://wikidiff.com/
- Mary Elizabeth v. N. (2000). Steppe Biome. Blue Planet Biomes. Retrieved from blueplanetbiomes.org.