Goh Cheng Leong Chapter 20 β Warm Temperate Continental (Steppe) Climate YouTube Lecture Handouts
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Goh Cheng Leong Chapter 20: Warm Temperate Continental (Steppe) Climate
- Border desert and lie in interior of continents: Temperate Grasslands
- Lie on Westerly belt
- Away from maritime influence and are treeless
- South Hemisphere: Moderate climate
- North hemisphere: extensive and continental
- Steppes: Black Sea to Altai Mts (broken, isolated area of Pustaz in Hungary & Manchurian plains)
- Prairies: Rockies & Great Lakes
- Pampas: Argentina & Uruguay
- S. Africa: b/w Drakensburg & Kalahari (Bushveld in north & Highveld in south)
- Downs: Australia (Murray Darling Basin)
Climate
- Continental
- Temperature extremes
- Summers are warm (upto 66 - 76 )
- Winters are cold (negative temperatures) β snow covered
- South hemisphere β temperature is mild β moderating effect of ocean on climate
Precipitation
- Rainfall will be light
- Varies from 10 to 30 inches- average 20 inches
- Convectional sources of rainfall β intense heat
- Occasional depression of Westerlies (as snow)
- South Hemisphere: More rain than north hemisphere due to warm ocean currents that wash shores of steppes β average 26 inches
- South Hemisphere: June, July & August (rain free) , Nov to Feb (rainfall)
- Drought is dangerous for sheep rearing industry in S. H.
- Mildura: fringe of Mallee scrub of Great Australian Desert
- Winds: Chinook (USA) from SW direction of Prairies & depression in winters ascending in Rockies & descending in Prairies β hot wind, melt snow covered areas; Fohn (Switzerland)
Natural Vegetation
- Scanty vegetation
- Grass covered with differences in density and quality of grass
- Treeless with short grasses
- If rain > 20 inch β tall grass β Prairies (wheatland in N. America) or chernozem in Russian Ukraine & Asiatic Steppes
- Rain < 20 inch β short steppes β discontinuous clump and bare soil
- Grass dormant in prolonged drought
- Spring: green, fresh and blooming with small flowers β herdsman are busiest
- Summer: heat & evaporation, grass turns yellow and brown
- Autumn: grass dies, roots alive
- Winter: harsh and long
- Few trees: willows, poplar, alder
- Precipitation as transitional zone β conifers appear
- Double rows of trees around houses to avoid strong winds
Economic Development
- Home to grazing animals
- Steppes: wild horse, Kirghiz (roamed with herds)
- Prairies: Swift-footed bison, Red Indians, most sparsely populated area of world, extensive mechanized wheat cultivation and granaries of world (wheat & maize)
- Pampas: untamed buffaloes, alfalfa grass or lucerne grass, leading ranching region of world
Nomadic Herding
- Kirghiz, Kazakh & Kalmuk
- Travel long distance for grass and water
- Domesticate animals
- Wool: tent and garment
- Leather: boots, saddles and belts
- Bones & horns: tools, utensils and weapons
- Trading post and exchange of commodities β gum, canned food, tea, coffee, sugar etc.
- Collective and state farms for ranching
- Kirghiz as tough and fearless people (Tartars)
Extensive Mechanized Wheat Cultivation
- Extensive wheat cultivation
- Cool moist spring β early growth and light showers for ripening yield
- Warm & sunny summer: harvesting and straw to be dried
- Levelness β ploughing and harvesting easy
- Mechanized plough β loosen the soil
- Combine-harvesters, winnows etc. are used
- Low yield (Prairies: 23 bushel/acre, one bushel = 60 lb. in weight and 8 gallons by volume) ; Pampas: 20 bushel/acre; UK: 50 bushel/acre; Netherlands: 59 bushel/acre
- Yield per man is higher in extensive farms
- Greatest quantity of wheat per capita amongst worldΥs wheat growing nations β greatest exporter of wheat
- 3β4th of wheat from Canada is exported to Europe
- 3β4th of worldΥs wheat is winter wheat (sown in winter) β hard wheat β low moisture & ripened in hot summer β best for bread making & is traded, Great Lakes in USA
- Spring Wheat: Moving polewards winter temperature are too cold, soft wheat for cakes, biscuits, Canadian Prairies
- Maize in warm area
- Wheat upto Peace river in Canada
Pastoral Farming
- Initially few animals
- Cattle, sheep, pig, horse
- Development of refrigerated ships in 19th century
- Export beef, mutton, wool and hides
- Dairy products: milk, butter and cheese
- Tuft grass ploughed up and replaced by sown alfalfa
- Semi-wild cattles crossed with imported pedigree stock from Europe
- Pampas: lead world in export of beef, estancias (ranches) were established & linked to frigorificos (meat processing factories) in coastal ports β towns like Buenos Aires, Bahia Blanca, Fray Bentos & Monteviedeo
- Australia: worldΥs leading wool exporter (one third of total production)
- Steppes: ranching for meat production
β Manishika