From en.wikipedia.org:
[Ecoregion of plain grasslands without trees] [steppe] [the ecological zone
type] [image1=BS climate.png] In physical geography, a STEPPE ([s]) is an
ecoregion characterized by grassland plains without closed forests except near
rivers and lakes.[1] Steppe biomes may include:
- the montane grasslands and shrublands biome
- the tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome
- the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome
A steppe is usually covered with grass and shrubs, depending on the season and
latitude. The term _steppe climate_ denotes a semi-arid climate, which is
encountered in regions too dry to support a forest, but not dry enough to be a
desert.[2][3]
Steppes are usually characterized by a semi-arid or continental[date=October
2023] climate. Temperature extremes can be recorded in the summer of up to
[45] and in winter of down to [-55]. Besides this major seasonal difference,
fluctuations between day and night are also significant: in both the highlands
of Mongolia and northern Nevada, [30] can be reached during the day with
sub-freezing readings at night.
Steppes average [250-500] of annual precipitation and feature hot summers and
cold winters when located in mid-latitudes. In addition to the precipitation
level, its combination with potential evapotranspiration defines a steppe
climate.
** Classification
Steppe can be classified by climate:<ref name=
ecoregions>[url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/land/pubs/ecoregions/ecoregions.html]
- Temperate steppe: the _true_ steppe, found in continental climate s [date=October 2023] can be further subdivided, as in the Rocky Mountains Steppes <ref name="ecoregions"/>
- Subtropical steppe: a similar association of plants occurring in the driest areas with a Mediterranean climate ; [date=October 2023] it usually has a short wet period
It can also be classified by vegetation type, e.g. shrub-steppe and
alpine-steppe.
*** Cold steppe
The world's largest steppe region, often referred to as "the Great Steppe", is
found in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and neighbouring countries
stretching from Ukraine in the west through Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan
and Uzbekistan to the Altai, Koppet Dag and Tian Shan ranges in China. The
Eurasian Steppe had a significant role in the spread of the horse, the wheel
and Indo-European languages.[4] In the Eurasian steppe, soils often consist of
chernozem.
The inner parts of Anatolia in Turkey, Central Anatolia and East Anatolia in
particular and also some parts of Southeast Anatolia, as well as much of
Armenia and Iran are largely dominated by cold steppe.
The Pannonian Plain is another steppe region in Central Europe, centered in
Hungary but also including portions of Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, Romania,
Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, and Austria. Another large steppe area (prairie)
is located in the central United States, western Canada and the northern part
of Mexico. The shortgrass prairie steppe is the westernmost part of the Great
Plains region. The Columbia Plateau in southern British Columbia, Oregon,
Idaho, and Washington state, is an example of a steppe region in North America
outside of the Great Plains.
In South America, cold steppe can be found in Patagonia and much of the high
elevation regions east of the southern Andes.
Relatively small steppe areas can be found in the interior of the South Island
of New Zealand.
In Australia, a moderately sized temperate steppe region exists in the
northern and northwest regions of Victoria, extending to the southern and mid
regions of New South Wales. This area borders the semi-arid and arid
Australian Outback which is found farther inland on the continent.
*** Subtropical steppe
In Europe, some Mediterranean areas have a steppe-like vegetation, such as
central Sicily in Italy, southern Portugal, parts of Greece in the southern
Athens area,[5] and central-eastern Spain, especially the southeastern coast
(around Murcia), and places cut off from adequate moisture due to rain shadow
effects such as Zaragoza.
In northern Africa, the Mediterranean area also hosts the same steppe-like
vegetation, such as the Algerian-Moroccan Hautes Plaines and by extension the
North Saharan steppe and woodlands.
In Asia, a subtropical steppe can be found in semi-arid lands that fringe the
Thar Desert of the Indian subcontinent as well as much of the Deccan Plateau
in the rain shadow of the Western Ghats, and the Badia of the Levant.
In Australia, subtropical steppe can be found in a belt surrounding the most
severe deserts of the continent and around the Musgrave Ranges.
In North America this environment is typical of transition areas between zones
with a Mediterranean climate and true deserts, such as Reno, Nevada, the inner
part of California, and much of western Texas and adjacent areas in Mexico.
** Human impact
Humans have severe impacts on their environments. Among many examples the
following two give only an impression.
- The formation of the forest steppe of Eastern Europe in the fourth millennium BC appeared in the context of the Trypillia culture and very probably, the economy of this culture with its large settlements contributed to the process. [6]
- The formation of the Błędów Desert in Poland in the Middle Ages was certainly man-made. [7]
<gallery class="center"> Naadam rider 2.jpg| Steppe in Mongolia Steppe of
western Kazakhstan in the early spring.jpg| Steppe in Kazakhstan Чубовская
степь.JPG|Steppe in Russia Hortobágy.jpg|Steppe in Hungary Patagonian plains
argentina.jpg|Cold Patagonian steppe near Fitz Roy, Argentina Prairie
Alberta.jpg|Prairie in Alberta, Canada 2013-07-04 15 37 14 Sagebrush-steppe
along U.S. Route 93 in central Elko County in Nevada.jpg|Sagebrush steppe in
northeastern Nevada (U.S. Route 93) West Texas Hwy 302 west of NoTrees.jpg|
Steppe in West Texas </gallery>
** See also
- Grassland
- Plain
- Prairie
- Savanna
- Tugay
- Tundra
** References
[reflist]
*** Sources
- _Ecology and Conservation of Steppe-land Birds_ (see http://www.hbw.com/lynx/en/lynx-edicions/monografias-naturaleza/MON0009-ecology-conservation-steppe-land-birds.html) by Manuel B.Morales, Santi Mañosa, Jordi Camprodón, Gerard Bota. International Symposium on Ecology and Conservation of steppe-land birds. Lleida, Spain. December 2004. [978-84-87334-99-3]
[ steppe]
** External links
[Steppes]
- [title=The Steppes]
[Vegetation] [Earth's landforms] [Biomes]
[Authority control]
Category:Grasslands Category:Montane grasslands and shrublands
Category:Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands Category:Ecoregions
Category:Plains Category:Prairies