Tropical Steppe Climate (BSh)

Latitude/Longitude: 16.25^oS N; 133.3^oE
Average Annual Temperature (C) = 26.5^o
Annual Temperature Range (C) = 10^o
Total Annual Precipitation (mm) = 536.2
Summer Precipitation (mm) =500
Winter Precipitation (mm) = 36.2

Cattle drinking from a river bank in the tropical steppe of Ethiopia.

(Photo credit: M. Marzot, FAO #17085)
(Used with permission)

Geographic Distribution

Peripheral to deserts especially in:

• Australia

• northern and southern Africa

• southwest Asia

• Argentina

• western United States

Controlling Factors

• Descending, diverging, circulation of subtropical highs

• Continentality linked often with rainshadow location.

• cT;mT

Characteristics

• Semiarid

• Annual rainfall distribution similar to nearest humid climate

• Annual precipitation more than half, but less than annual potential evapotranspiration

• Mean annual temperatures above 64.4^oF (18^oC)