A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a dry climate sub-type. It is located on regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not as low as a desert climate. There are different kinds of semi-arid climates, depending on variables such as temperature, and they give rise to different biomes.
A more precise definition is given by the Köppen climate classification, which treats steppe climates (BSk and BSh) as intermediates between desert climates (BW) and humid climates (A, C, D) in ecological characteristics and agricultural potential. Semi-arid climates tend to support short, thorny or scrubby vegetation and are usually dominated by either grasses or shrubs as they usually cannot support forests.
To determine if a location has a semi-arid climate, the precipitation threshold must first be determined. The method used to find the precipitation threshold (in millimeters):
multiply by 20 the average annual temperature in degrees Celsius and then
add 280 if at least 70% of the total precipitation falls in the summer half of the year (April–September in the northern hemisphere, October–March in the southern hemisphere)
add 140 if 30–70% of the total precipitation falls in the summer half of the year
add nothing if less than 30% of the total precipitation falls in the summer half of the year
If the area's annual precipitation in millimeters is less than the threshold but more than half or 50% the threshold, it is classified as a BS (steppe or semi-arid climate).[1]
Furthermore, to delineate hot semi-arid climates from cold semi-arid climates, a mean annual temperature of 18 °C (64.4 °F) is used as an isotherm. A location with a BS-type climate is classified as hot semi-arid (BSh) if its mean temperature is above this isotherm, and cold semi-arid (BSk) if not.
Hot semi-arid climates (type "BSh") tend to be located in the 20s and 30s latitudes of the tropics and subtropics, typically in proximity to regions with a tropical savanna, Mediterranean, and hot desert climates. These climates tend to have hot, or sometimes extremely hot, summers and warm to cool winters, with some to minimal precipitation. Hot semi-arid climates are most commonly found around the fringes of subtropical deserts.
Hot semi-arid climates are most commonly found in Africa, Australia, and South Asia. In Australia, a large portion of the Outback surrounding the central desert regions lies within the hot semi-arid climate region.[2][clarification needed] In South Asia, both India and parts of Pakistan experience the seasonal effects of monsoons and feature short but well-defined wet seasons, but are not sufficiently wet overall to qualify as either a tropical savanna or a humid subtropical climate.
Cold semi-arid climates (type "BSk") tend to be located in elevated portions of temperate zones, typically bordering a humid continental climate or a Mediterranean climate. They are also typically found in continental interiors some distance from large bodies of water. Cold semi-arid climates usually feature warm to hot dry summers, though their summers are typically not quite as hot as those of hot semi-arid climates. Unlike hot semi-arid climates, areas with cold semi-arid climates tend to have cold and possibly freezing winters. These areas usually see some snowfall during the winter, though snowfall is much lower than at locations at similar latitudes with more humid climates.
Areas featuring cold semi-arid climates tend to have higher elevations than areas with hot semi-arid climates, and tend to feature major temperature swings between day and night, sometimes by as much as 20 °C (36 °F) or more. These large diurnal temperature variations are seldom seen in hot semi-arid climates. Cold semi-arid climates at higher latitudes tend to have dry winters and wetter summers, while cold semi-arid climates at lower latitudes tend to have precipitation patterns more akin to subtropical climates, with dry summers, relatively wet winters, and even wetter springs and autumns.
Cold semi-arid climates are most commonly found in East Asia, the Middle East, including other parts of Asia, and Western North America. However, they can also be found in Northern Africa, South Africa, Europe, sections of South America and sections of interior southern Australia (e.g. Kalgoorlie and Mildura) and southern New Zealand (Alexandra).
^Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (March 1, 2007). "Updated world map of the Koppen-Geiger climate classification" (PDF). hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net. University of Melbourne: Hydrology and Earth System Sciences. pp. 1633–1644. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
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January 14, 2024
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A semi arid climate semi desert climate or steppe climate is a dry climate sub type It is located on regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration but not as low as a desert climate There are different kinds of semi arid climates depending on variables such as temperature and they give rise to different biomes Regions with semi arid climates BSh BSk Contents 1 Defining attributes of semi arid climates 2 Hot semi arid climates 3 Cold semi arid climates 4 Charts of selected cities 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksDefining attributes of semi arid climates editA more precise definition is given by the Koppen climate classification which treats steppe climates BSk and BSh as intermediates between desert climates BW and humid climates A C D in ecological characteristics and agricultural potential Semi arid climates tend to support short thorny or scrubby vegetation and are usually dominated by either grasses or shrubs as they usually cannot support forests nbsp Sahel region of MaliTo determine if a location has a semi arid climate the precipitation threshold must first be determined The method used to find the precipitation threshold in millimeters multiply by 20 the average annual temperature in degrees Celsius and then add 280 if at least 70 of the total precipitation falls in the summer half of the year April September in the northern hemisphere October March in the southern hemisphere add 140 if 30 70 of the total precipitation falls in the summer half of the year add nothing if less than 30 of the total precipitation falls in the summer half of the yearIf the area s annual precipitation in millimeters is less than the threshold but more than half or 50 the threshold it is classified as a BS steppe or semi arid climate 1 Furthermore to delineate hot semi arid climates from cold semi arid climates a mean annual temperature of 18 C 64 4 F is used as an isotherm A location with a BS type climate is classified as hot semi arid BSh if its mean temperature is above this isotherm and cold semi arid BSk if not Hot semi arid climates edit BSh redirects here For other uses see BSH nbsp Regions with hot semi arid climatesHot semi arid climates type BSh tend to be located in the 20s and 30s latitudes of the tropics and subtropics typically in proximity to regions with a tropical savanna Mediterranean and hot desert climates These climates tend to have hot or sometimes extremely hot summers and warm to cool winters with some to minimal precipitation Hot semi arid climates are most commonly found around the fringes of subtropical deserts Hot semi arid climates are most commonly found in Africa Australia and South Asia In Australia a large portion of the Outback surrounding the central desert regions lies within the hot semi arid climate region 2 clarification needed In South Asia both India and parts of Pakistan experience the seasonal effects of monsoons and feature short but well defined wet seasons but are not sufficiently wet overall to qualify as either a tropical savanna or a humid subtropical climate Hot semi arid climates can be also found in parts of North America such as most of northern Mexico the ABC Islands the rain shadows of Hispaniola s mountain ranges in the Dominican Republic and Haiti parts of the Southwestern United States and sections of South America such as the sertao the Gran Chaco and the poleward side of the arid deserts where they typically feature a Mediterranean precipitation pattern with generally rainless summers and wetter winters They are also found in few areas of Europe surrounding the Mediterranean Basin In Europe BSh climates are primarily found in southeastern Spain 3 4 some parts of south Greece 5 6 and marginal areas of Cyprus Cold semi arid climates edit BSk redirects here For other uses see BSK nbsp Regions with cold semi arid climatesCold semi arid climates type BSk tend to be located in elevated portions of temperate zones typically bordering a humid continental climate or a Mediterranean climate They are also typically found in continental interiors some distance from large bodies of water Cold semi arid climates usually feature warm to hot dry summers though their summers are typically not quite as hot as those of hot semi arid climates Unlike hot semi arid climates areas with cold semi arid climates tend to have cold and possibly freezing winters These areas usually see some snowfall during the winter though snowfall is much lower than at locations at similar latitudes with more humid climates Areas featuring cold semi arid climates tend to have higher elevations than areas with hot semi arid climates and tend to feature major temperature swings between day and night sometimes by as much as 20 C 36 F or more These large diurnal temperature variations are seldom seen in hot semi arid climates Cold semi arid climates at higher latitudes tend to have dry winters and wetter summers while cold semi arid climates at lower latitudes tend to have precipitation patterns more akin to subtropical climates with dry summers relatively wet winters and even wetter springs and autumns Cold semi arid climates are most commonly found in East Asia the Middle East including other parts of Asia and Western North America However they can also be found in Northern Africa South Africa Europe sections of South America and sections of interior southern Australia e g Kalgoorlie and Mildura and southern New Zealand Alexandra Charts of selected cities editPatos Paraiba BrazilClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 66 32 22 139 32 22 213 31 22 177 30 22 55 29 21 28 27 21 12 27 20 3 28 20 1 30 20 4 31 21 8 32 21 22 32 21 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource 7 Imperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 2 6 90 71 5 5 89 71 8 4 88 71 7 86 71 2 2 84 71 1 1 81 69 0 5 81 67 0 1 82 67 0 85 69 0 2 88 69 0 3 89 70 0 9 90 71 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesKalgoorlie AustraliaClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 27 34 18 32 32 18 25 30 16 20 25 13 25 21 9 27 18 6 24 17 5 21 19 6 14 22 8 16 26 11 19 29 14 16 32 17 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource 8 Imperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 1 1 92 65 1 3 90 64 1 85 61 0 8 78 55 1 69 48 1 1 64 43 1 62 41 0 8 66 42 0 5 72 47 0 6 79 52 0 7 84 58 0 6 90 62 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesJaipur Sanganer IndiaClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 8 19 4 12 22 7 6 29 12 4 34 17 16 38 21 66 38 23 216 31 22 231 29 20 80 30 19 23 30 15 3 25 9 3 20 5 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource India Weather On WebImperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 0 3 66 39 0 5 72 45 0 2 84 54 0 2 93 63 0 6 100 70 2 6 100 73 8 5 88 72 9 1 84 68 3 1 86 66 0 9 86 59 0 1 77 48 0 1 68 41 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesNiamey NigerClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 0 33 16 0 36 19 3 9 39 23 5 7 41 27 35 40 28 69 37 26 154 34 24 171 33 23 92 34 24 9 7 38 24 0 7 36 20 0 33 17 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource Deutscher Wetterdienst 9 Imperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 0 91 61 0 96 66 0 2 102 73 0 2 106 80 1 4 104 82 2 7 99 78 6 1 93 75 6 7 91 74 3 6 94 74 0 4 100 76 0 97 67 0 92 62 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesMurcia SpainClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 25 17 5 28 18 6 30 21 8 27 23 10 32 27 13 20 31 17 5 34 20 10 34 21 27 30 18 44 26 14 32 20 9 21 17 6 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia 10 Imperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 1 62 40 1 1 65 43 1 2 70 46 1 1 74 49 1 3 80 56 0 8 88 63 0 2 93 69 0 4 94 70 1 1 87 64 1 7 78 57 1 3 69 48 0 8 63 42 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesReno Nevada United StatesClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 26 8 4 26 11 2 19 14 1 12 18 3 12 23 8 13 29 11 4 6 33 14 5 8 33 13 8 9 28 9 13 21 4 21 13 1 26 8 4 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource NOAA 11 Imperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 1 46 25 1 51 29 0 8 58 33 0 5 64 38 0 5 74 46 0 5 83 52 0 2 92 58 0 2 91 56 0 4 82 49 0 5 69 39 0 8 55 31 1 46 25 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesSee also editContinental climate Dry climate Desert climate Dust Bowl an era of devastating dust storms mostly in the 1930s in semi arid areas on the Great Plains of the United States and Prairies of Canada Goyder s Line a boundary marking the limit of semi arid climates in the Australian state of South Australia Koppen climate classification Palliser s Triangle semi arid area of Canada Ustic Soil Moisture Regime Wave heightReferences edit Peel M C Finlayson B L McMahon T A March 1 2007 Updated world map of the Koppen Geiger climate classification PDF hydrol earth syst sci net University of Melbourne Hydrology and Earth System Sciences pp 1633 1644 Retrieved May 8 2017 Bureau of Meteorology climate classification maps permanent dead link ATLAS CLIMATICO IBERICO PDF administracion gob es Instituto de Meteorologia de Portugal Retrieved May 8 2017 Evolucion de los climas de Koppen en Espana 1951 2020 PDF Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia Retrieved 2024 01 08 Climate Atlas of Greece PDF Hellenic National Meteorological Service Archived from the original PDF on 21 September 2017 Retrieved 30 December 2019 Monthly Bulletins National Observatory of Athens Retrieved 9 April 2023 Climate of Patos Access on January 16th 2016 1 Access on August 14 2021 Klimatafel von Niamey Aero Niger PDF Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure Retrieved 14 June 2016 Valores Climatologicos Normales Murcia Alcantarilla Aemet es Archived from the original on 2009 12 14 Retrieved 2013 09 08 NowData NOAA Online Weather Data National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved June 6 2015 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Semi arid climate Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Semi arid climate amp oldid 1194402582, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
