Temperate Grasslands Flashcards
Where are temperate grasslands found
Mid latitudes between 30 and 40 N/S of the equator
Examples of temperate grasslands
Prairies, North America
Russian steppes
Argentina pampas
The Veld, Southern Africa
Describe the TEMPERATURES in temperate grasslands and give example
Climate of the prairies in North America have very hot summers of 35 and very cold winters of -25
Why do temperate grasslands experience hot summers and cold winters
Latitude
Continentality
Explain reason for continentality
Liquids like the sea hold onto their temperatures for longer than land. Areas closer to the sea will have moderate temperatures throughout the entire year as in summer sea will retain and hold heat from increased summer insulation and release moist heat winds that are relatively warm
Temperate grasslands are situated further inwards and therefore do not relieve this
Explain reason for latitude
30-40N/S equator
Suns rays more overhead and direct, therefore suns rays have less distance to travel and are concentrated in one spot, making it very hot
Why is temperate grasslands so cold in winter, -25
Areas close to the seas will receive moist and relatively colder winds from the sea over winter as sea has retained and held onto the cold air
Temperate grasslands are further in and and don’t get this either
What are the PRECIPITATION levels in temperate grasslands and give examples of a place
I’m the Russian Steppes, the precipitation is relatively low, around 400-500 per year
Reasons why rainfall levels are relatively low
Convectional rainfall
Continentality
Explain reason for convectional rainfall
In the summer, the intense heating of the Steppe air results in it becoming warmer, lighter and it is forced to rise and cool. Relative humidity increases, dew point is reached condensation occurs when water droplets form around a nuclei and these water droplets grow due to collision theory and they become too heavy and the clouds burst
Explain reasons for continentality
Temperate grasslands are situated far from the sea meaning little moisture will reach the land in the Steppe. With little moisture in the air, means little moist air rising that can fall as rain
Describe the fertility of the SOILS in temperate grasslands and give example
Soils in the Veld in Southern Africa are very fertile
What are the soils called in temperate grasslands
Mollisol
Why are soils very fertile
Due to Mull Humus and the soil organisms of worms and bacteria along with the lose wind blown loess limestone
How is there continued nutrient input and what is the effect
With continued nutrient input from rainwater during summer thunderstorms and the weathering of this post glacial loess rock, a crumb structure is created which makes the most fertile soil on the planet
Describe the appearance of the soil in temperate grasslands and give an example
Soil of the Argentina Pampas is a MOLLISOL.
Mollisol is brown/black in colour with a depth of 2m
Why is the Mollisol deep
Due to fast growth and decay and death of the blue and buffalo grasses that live here. When these grasses die in winter, the easy decomposition prevents humid acids being released and this adds a fertile brown Mull Humus to the top A horizon, creating the brown/black colour and 2+m depth
Describe the moisture levels in the summer months
The hot 35 degrees summer months and the evaporation of the water from the surface of the mollisol can draw water upwards through capillary action to create deficit of water. This annual change of water direction, however, balances out and provides grass enough moisture to thrive and grow
Describe the soil moisture in springtime
Snowmelt can increase the amount of water moving through the soil and leaching of some of the nutrients to form calcium carbonate nodes
