A steppe (from Russian степь, "step", via German Steppe, hence the spelling) in physical geography refers to an ecoregion, in the Montane grasslands and shrublands and Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biomes, characterized by grassland plains without trees apart from those near rivers and lakes. The prairie (especially the shortgrass and mixed prairie) is an example of a steppe, though it is not usually called such. It may be semi-desert, or covered with grass or shrubs or both, depending on the season and latitude. The term is also used to denote the climate encountered in regions too dry to support a forest, but not dry enough to be a desert. Soil type is typically chernozem.

Steppes are usually characterized by a semi-arid and continental climate. Extremes can be recorded in the summer of up to 40 °C (104 °F) and in winter, -40 °C (-40 °F). Besides this huge difference between summer and winter, the differences between day and night are also very great. In the highlands of Mongolia, 30 °C (86 °F) can be reached during the day with sub-zero °C (sub 32 °F) readings at night.

Also, the mid-latitude steppes can be summarised by hot summers and cold winters, averaging 250–500 mm (10-20 inches) of precipitation per year. Precipitation level alone is not what defines a steppe climate, potential evapotranspiration must also be taken into account.

Two types of steppe

Peculiar types of steppe include Shrub-steppe and Alpine-steppe.

Locations

Cold steppe

The inner parts of Anatolia in Turkey, Central Anatolia and East Anatolia in particular and also some parts of Southeast Anatolia, are cold steppe.

The Pannonian Plain conforms another steppe climate in South Eastern Europe.

Another large steppe area (prairie) is located in the central United States and western Canada. The shortgrass prairie steppe is the westernmost part of the Great Plains region. The Channeled Scablands in Southern British Columbia and Washington State are an example of a steppe region in North America outside of the Great Plains.

Patagonia is another land dominated by a steppe. Relatively small steppes can be found in the inner part of the South Island of New Zealand..

Subtropical steppe

In Asia, a subtropical steppe can be found in semi-arid lands that fringe the Thar Desert of the Indian subcontinent; in Australia it 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, and the inner part of California. In South America the most important zone with a warm steppe is the Pampa.

Tropical grasslands and shrublands similar to steppe

Another significant "tropical steppe", noteworthy for not grading into desert, is the Sertão of northeastern Brazil.

See also

References

Notes

Sources

External links

Category:Grasslands Category:Montane grasslands and shrublands Category:Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands Category:Ecoregions Category:Plains Category:Plains of Russia Category:Prairies Category:Climate Category:Russian loanwords

Michał Jelonek also known as Jelonek, is a musician and composer. He specializes in violin.

Early life

Work

Michal Jelonek has been featured on over 30 albums ranging from classical to pop, folk, rock and roll and heavy metal. He has performed over 1600 concerts in Poland, Brazil, Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Mexico, Germany, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, and Ukraine. He has also recorded music for movies and commercials. He released his first solo album in 2007 titled Jelonek.

He has received several nominations for best Polish instrumentalist, in 1993 by Tylko Rock magazine and in 1994 by Siedlce Rock 94 among others.

Discography

External links

Category:Polish musicians Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people