The Savanna biome has a wet/dry climate. Its Köppen climate group is Aw. The Astands for a tropical climate, and the wfor a dry season in the winter.
In the savanna climate there is a distinct dry season, which is in the winter. Savannas get all their rain in the summer months. During the distinct dry season of a savanna, most of the plants shrivel up and die. Some rivers and streams dry up. Most of the animals migrate to find food.
In the wet season all of the plants are lush and the rivers flow freely. The animals migrate back to graze. In West Africa the rainy season begins in May.
It is usually cooler during the dry season by a few degrees. Because it is in the tropical latitudes that is still hot enough. The savanna climate has a temperature range of 68° to 86° F (20° - 30° C). In the winter, it is usually about 68° to 78° F (20° - 25° C). In the summer the temperature ranges from 78° to 86° F (25° - 30° C). In a Savanna the temperature does not change a lot. When it does, its very gradual and not drastic.
There is an annual precipitation of 10 to 30 inches (100 to 150 cm) of rain. From December to February hardly any rain falls at all.
by Alex P. 2000
bibliography:
"Environment: Specials: Global Climate Map", http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/SUSTDEV/EIdirect/climate/EIsp0066.htm (5 June 2000)
"Wet Dry Tropical Climate", http://www.uwsp.edu/acaddept/geog/faculty/ritter/geog101/climates_tropical_wetdry.html (1 June 2000)
"Savannas," Macmillan Encyclopedia of the Environment. 1997. Vol 5
National Geographic Society (U.S.), Atlas of the World 7th edition, Washington, D.C. 1999.
The Australian Savanna is characterized by two very different seasons: the "wet" and the "dry". The dry season lasts 5 to 6 months, usually from May to October. The wet season lasts 5 to 6 months and lasts from December to March. The Australian tropical savanna is found along the north coast of Australia at a latitude range of 10° to 20° South.
Usually only grass grows in the savanna, with some scattered trees. If there was no dry season, trees would populate the savanna. Trees do not densely populate them since they need too much water. Because in the dry season it doesn't rain, trees can only grow in the wet season.
To survive the dry season, plants have grown long roots to suck all the moisture out of the ground. They grow thick bark to protect themselves from annual fires. They also have trunks that can store water, and leaves that drop off during the dry season to preserve water.
There are many kinds of animals, they each have a specific preference for what and when they eat. Certain herbivores eat only some parts of plants during specific times of the season, this way certain foods do not run out, and animals can survive.
The Köppen's Climate Classification of the Australian Savanna is Aw. The Australian Savanna is usually around 75° F to 80° F. The average temperature per year is about 78° F.
The wet season is during the summer. It is warmer in the rainy season than the dry season, because it is humid. The average temperature during the wet is about 85°F. It can get as high as 120° F. further away from the coast. The wet season has a lot of rain which is blown in from the equator to the north, and causes a lot flooding in local areas.
During the dry season, which is in the winter, there are cooler temperatures, clear skies and lower humidity. The average temperature during the dry is about 70°F. Through August and September the temperatures begin to rise as the sun moves more directly overhead.
In between both the wet and the dry, the seasons go through a gradual change from one season to the other.
The average precipitation per year in the Australian Savanna is around 20 to 40 in. In both the Australian, and the African savanna, the average precipitation in the dry season is about 4 in. The average precipitation in the Australian and the Africa savanna during the wet season is around 15 to 25 inches. Only rain falls in the Australian Savanna, there are no other forms of moisture. Most of the rain falls during the wet season.
2001
bibliography
"Savanna" http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna.html (11-6-00).
"World climate", http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/climate.html (11-6-00).
"Savanna" Microsoft Encarta. Copyright 1994 Microsoft corporation. Copyright 1994 Funk and Wragnalls Corporation.
"Köppen's Classification" http://www.tesarta.com/www/resorces/library/biomes.html (12-3-00)
Allaby, Michael. "Tropical Grasslands." Volume 9. Biomes of the World. Danbery: Grolier Educational, 1999.
Strahler, Alan, Strahler, Arthur, Elements of Physical Geography. New York: John Wiley & Sons. 1976
"Tropical Savanna CRC - Climate of the tropical savannas", http://savanna.ntu.edu.au/information/r0/t9/r0_t9.html, (may 2001).
The Savanna biome has a wet/dry climate. Its Köppen climate group is Aw. The Astands for a tropical climate, and the wfor a dry season in the winter.
In the savanna climate there is a distinct dry season, which is in the winter. Savannas get all their rain in the summer months. During the distinct dry season of a savanna, most of the plants shrivel up and die. Some rivers and streams dry up. Most of the animals migrate to find food.
In the wet season all of the plants are lush and the rivers flow freely. The animals migrate back to graze. In West Africa the rainy season begins in May.
It is usually cooler during the dry season by a few degrees. Because it is in the tropical latitudes that is still hot enough. The savanna climate has a temperature range of 68° to 86° F (20° - 30° C). In the winter, it is usually about 68° to 78° F (20° - 25° C). In the summer the temperature ranges from 78° to 86° F (25° - 30° C). In a Savanna the temperature does not change a lot. When it does, its very gradual and not drastic.
There is an annual precipitation of 10 to 30 inches (100 to 150 cm) of rain. From December to February hardly any rain falls at all.
by Alex Parker
Bibliography:
"Environment: Specials: Global Climate Map", http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/SUSTDEV/EIdirect/climate/EIsp0066.htm (5 June 2000)
"Wet Dry Tropical Climate", http://www.uwsp.edu/acaddept/geog/faculty/ritter/geog101/climates_tropical_wetdry.html (1 June 2000)
"Savannas," Macmillan Encyclopedia of the Environment. 1997. Vol 5
National Geographic Society (U.S.), Atlas of the World 7th edition, Washington, D.C. 1999.