Distinguish between the tropical grassland and... | WAEC SSCE - Geography - 1996 (Essay)

Question 1 Report

Distinguish between the tropical grassland and temperate grassland under the following headings

(a) Location (b) Climate (c) Vegetation characteristics

Answer

Distinction between tropical grassland and temperate grassland

(a) Location

Tropical grassland (savanna)	Temperate grassland
Lies within the tropics, roughly between latitudes 5° and 15° north and south of the Equator.	Lies in the interiors of continents in the mid-latitudes, roughly between 30° and 55° north and south.
Examples: savanna of West Africa and East Africa, llanos and campos of South America, northern Australia.	Examples: prairies of North America, pampas of Argentina, steppes of Eurasia, veld of South Africa, downs of Australia.

(b) Climate

Tropical grassland	Temperate grassland
Hot throughout the year (about 21-32°C), with a distinct wet season and dry season.	A wide annual temperature range with hot summers and cold winters (often below freezing).
Moderate rainfall (about 500-1500 mm) mainly in the high-sun (summer) season.	Moderate to low rainfall (about 250-750 mm), mostly in summer, with dry winters and occasional snow.

(c) Vegetation characteristics

Tropical grassland	Temperate grassland
Tall, coarse grasses (up to 3-4 metres) that turn brown in the dry season.	Short, fine, nutritious grasses forming a continuous carpet.
Scattered, drought- and fire-resistant trees (acacia, baobab) with flat crowns; a mixed grass-and-tree landscape.	Almost treeless; trees are found only along river courses.
Grasses grow in tufts and trees are deciduous and fire-adapted.	Grasses have deep roots and lie dormant in winter; provide excellent pasture and cereal land.

Answer Details

Distinction between tropical grassland and temperate grassland

(a) Location

Tropical grassland (savanna)	Temperate grassland
Lies within the tropics, roughly between latitudes 5° and 15° north and south of the Equator.	Lies in the interiors of continents in the mid-latitudes, roughly between 30° and 55° north and south.
Examples: savanna of West Africa and East Africa, llanos and campos of South America, northern Australia.	Examples: prairies of North America, pampas of Argentina, steppes of Eurasia, veld of South Africa, downs of Australia.

(b) Climate

Tropical grassland	Temperate grassland
Hot throughout the year (about 21-32°C), with a distinct wet season and dry season.	A wide annual temperature range with hot summers and cold winters (often below freezing).
Moderate rainfall (about 500-1500 mm) mainly in the high-sun (summer) season.	Moderate to low rainfall (about 250-750 mm), mostly in summer, with dry winters and occasional snow.

(c) Vegetation characteristics

Tropical grassland	Temperate grassland
Tall, coarse grasses (up to 3-4 metres) that turn brown in the dry season.	Short, fine, nutritious grasses forming a continuous carpet.
Scattered, drought- and fire-resistant trees (acacia, baobab) with flat crowns; a mixed grass-and-tree landscape.	Almost treeless; trees are found only along river courses.
Grasses grow in tufts and trees are deciduous and fire-adapted.	Grasses have deep roots and lie dormant in winter; provide excellent pasture and cereal land.

Distinguish between the tropical grassland and temperate grassland under the following headings (a) Location (b) Climate (c) Vegetation characteristics