Climate of the Savannas
Tropical grasslands are known for their distinct wet (summer) and dry (winter) seasons. Savannas tend to be on the warmer side for most of the year, but do experience some cooling during their dry season. Typically, the dry season is longer than the wet season. During the dry season, savannas only receive about 4 inches of precipitation, if that much. The savannas in the Northern Hemisphere experience their wet season approximately between April and October, whereas in the Southern Hemisphere, the savannas' wet season is between October and April. This goes along with the hemispheres having opposite seasons, due to the degree of exposure to the sun either hemisphere has over the course of the year. The distinct seasonality of the savannas is attributed to their location between the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and the subtropical high, which contributes to their wet and dry seasons, respectively. The dry season of the savanna biome is what helps to prevent it from inhabiting too many trees.
The wind and ocean currents are especially important to understanding the climate of savanna grasslands. Because savannas are located around the equator, they receive the effects of the warmer ocean water in the equatorial region, which contributes to their very wet summer seasons. The warm water at the equator rises in the ocean through convection currents and is released to the air by way of evaporation. The evaporated water then falls as rain on land masses, like those that make up the tropical grasslands. Wind currents and their effects on ocean currents and climate are very important to biomes, and irregularities, such as El Niño, tend to have extreme effects on different regions. The savannas of Australia in particular suffer great changes in climate during El Niño years.
The wind and ocean currents are especially important to understanding the climate of savanna grasslands. Because savannas are located around the equator, they receive the effects of the warmer ocean water in the equatorial region, which contributes to their very wet summer seasons. The warm water at the equator rises in the ocean through convection currents and is released to the air by way of evaporation. The evaporated water then falls as rain on land masses, like those that make up the tropical grasslands. Wind currents and their effects on ocean currents and climate are very important to biomes, and irregularities, such as El Niño, tend to have extreme effects on different regions. The savannas of Australia in particular suffer great changes in climate during El Niño years.