Steppe Climate

It is the second driest climate (Köppen's BS climate) after the desert climate (BW climate), and is also called the steppe climate or semi-arid climate. Semi-arid climate zones are divided into prairie (long grass) and steppe (short grass), the former having a relatively high and stable amount of precipitation, while the latter has little precipitation. Steppe climates are defined as areas with precipitation more than half the aridity limit, and are distributed in the transition zone between the desert climate and the humid climate zone. Annual precipitation is approximately 250 to 500 mm, with large interannual fluctuations. According to Köppen, boreal grasslands are called tundra, and temperate or tropical grasslands are called steppes. In this climate zone, livestock farming is the main practice, and agriculture is also practiced in areas where irrigation is possible.

[Kazuo Fukaishi]

"Japan and World Climate Maps" edited by Eiichiro Fukui et al. (1985, Tokyodo Publishing) " "Climatology and Meteorology Dictionary" edited by Masatoshi Yoshino et al. (1985, Ninomiya Shoten)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

砂漠気候（BW気候）に次いで乾燥した気候（ケッペンのBS気候）で、草原気候、半乾燥気候ともいう。半乾燥気候地帯はプレーリー（長草）とステップ（短草）に区分され、前者の地域ではやや降水量が多く安定しているのに対し、後者では降水量は少ない。ステップ気候は乾燥限界の半分以上の降水のある地域と定義され、砂漠気候の周辺で湿潤気候地帯との漸移帯に分布する。年降水量はほぼ250～500ミリメートルで、経年変動が大きい。ケッペンによれば、寒帯草原をツンドラといい、温帯ないし熱帯の草原をステップという。この気候地域ではおもに牧畜が行われ、灌漑(かんがい)可能な地域では農耕も行われる。

［深石一夫］

『福井英一郎他編『日本・世界の気候図』（1985・東京堂出版）』▽『吉野正敏他編『気候学・気象学辞典』（1985・二宮書店）』

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