The dry steppe is a distinctive type of biome due to the scarce presence of rainfall, semi-arid soils, strong winds without humidity and extensive plains with very little vegetation; usually herbaceous, xerophilous or of small shrubs.
They are usually located in continental mountainous areas far from the sea for long distances, elevations of land and large 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 it had more rain it would become a forest and if it had less rain it would be a desert. In other words, it is a very dry region to form forests, but not dry enough to be desert.
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, constantly moving in search of sources of water, food and more fertile land.
Dry steppe in the world
The most famous steppe in the world is located between Hungary in the west to China in the east, known as "The Great Steppe", simply as "The Steppe" or the Eurasian steppe. The Himalayan mountain range blocks this steppe from the sea winds.
Popularly known for having been part of the ancient Silk Road, which connected Asia with Europe in a great commercial and cultural network without equal 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," which spans a long, thin strip from Saskatchenwan in southern Canada to northern Mexico with the US border in Texas.
The Rocky Mountain range blocks this steppe from sea winds.
Steppe area of the North American Plain
In South America there is another area of cold dry steppe, in the high lands of the eastern side of the southern Andean region and extending to Patagonia. The Andes mountain range blocks this steppe from the sea winds.
Dry steppe in Patagonia
Characteristics and climate
All 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 low rainfall.
Precipitation is below 400 mm and in some areas below 250 mm, where the steppe becomes more arid and semi-desert. In addition to the inclement sun, the absence of clouds and strong winds, the temperatures become extreme.
These vary quite a bit between day and night. On average it can range from 27 ° to 40 ° C during the day. At night and without clouds so that the heat remains at ground level, the land cools quickly and can approach 0 ° C.
Without trees to block the dry wind, the weather conditions become severe. Temperatures also vary a lot between seasons and touch extremes depending on the height and proximity to colder or hotter areas.
Very hot summers and very cold winters would be a good summary of the annual weather. The temperatures of the dry steppe in the summer can reach 45 ° C. On the other hand, in the winter they are capable of reaching around 40 ° C below zero.
Siberian steppe in the winter
In the steppes closest to the frozen mountains, it is not uncommon for the presence of snowfall in the winter that covers the plains and grasses showing famous landscapes.
On some very hot summers, dry grass catches fire and fire spreads rapidly.
The steppe climate tends to cycle, where unexpected long periods of rain may occur, followed by years of extreme drought.
With less rain the steppe would turn into a desert, but with a little more rain it would turn into a meadow.
This would change soil conditions, making it more fertile where it could support 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 can be covered by different types of grasses and low grass. The length varies depending on how much rain the area receives each month.
The highest foliage barely manages to exceed one meter in areas with rainfall close to 400 mm or close to forests.
The shortest grass is below half a meter and becomes scarce and clustered in the most arid terrain.
Herbaceous-type shrubs such as sagebrush and astragalus have adapted to the dry conditions and salinity of the soil.
They are plants with a deep root system to absorb as much moisture as possible, but they can develop shallow roots in rainy seasons.
Dry steppe in North America with short grass and sagebrush bushes
Occasional xerophilous cactus-like plants can also be found among grass or rocky terrain and some type of desert tumbleweed being blown away by strong winds.
Fauna
The most common animals of the steppes are grazing such as horses, camels (Eurasia), alpacas and vicuñas (South America), herds of antelope and species of cattle such as buffalo and sheep such as sheep.
Tiny rodents like mice and rabbits survive the conditions by hiding from the daytime sun to activate at night.
The open terrain offers little defense against predators, which is why they seek to live in burrows in the dirt or among rocks.
Several species of foxes and medium-sized cats, such as lynx, usually hunt in the steppes; also taking shelter during the day to search for prey at night. Cougars can be found in the steppes of North and South America.
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 often raised and used in falconry by the inhabitants of the famous tribes of the Mongolian steppes.
The South American condor also usually flies over the Andean steppe mountains and can be seen up to the Patagonian steppe.
References
- National Geographic Media Writers (2011). Steppe. National Geographic Society. Recovered from nationalgeographic.org
- NS Gill's (2017). The Steppes. Ancient / Classical History Glossary. ThoughtCo. Recovered from thoughtco.com
- Encyclopedia of Tasks. Steppe Dry Climate. Recovered from encyclopediadetareas.net
- Bone M., Johnson D., Kelaidis P., Kintgen M., Vickerman LG (2015). Steppes: The Plants and Ecology of the World's Semi-arid Regions (online abstract). Timber Press. Recovered from barnesandnoble.com
- WikiDiff. Steppe vs Desert - What's the difference? Recovered from
- Mary Elizabeth v. N. (2000). Steppe Biome. Blue Planet Biomes. Recovered from blueplanetbiomes.org.