Climatic Regions: The Savannah

Introduction 

Savannah (also spelled savanna), also known as the Sudan Climate, is a Tropical Grassland with distinct wet and dry seasons. This type of climate is found in the transitional, and it is confined to the Tropic of Capricorn and Tropic of Cancer. Regions in the Tropics such as Africa, Australia, Brazil, South America, and India experience the savannah climate. The temperature in the region ranges from 18 oC to 30 oC, depending on the season. The vegetation and landscape of savannah countries are fascinating, though there are certain limitations in its development prospects. Countries in the savannah could play a role in resolving future world problems with strategic and inclusive development in the region. 

The Savannah Climate

The savannah climatic regions are generally located in transitional areas between hot deserts and equatorial forests. The savannah climatic region is characterised by two distinct seasons— one with cool and dry weather and another with hot and rainy weather. Between May to September, the Northern Hemisphere experiences the hot, rainy season followed by cool, dry seasons for the rest of the year. In contrast, in the Southern Hemisphere, the rainy season is between October and March. The temperature of regions varies seasonally. It is the highest just before the rainy season.

It experiences high temperatures in the day and low temperatures at night. This extreme daily range of temperature is one of the unique features of the savannah climate. The region experiences trade winds, including the famous local winds of harmattan. These winds have a cooling effect on the land, providing relief from the humidity and resulting in rainfall in the coastal areas. The trade winds cause disturbance to inland navigation of the countries near the savannah. The rainfall ranges from 80 to 160 cm in a year. 

In temperate regions, the savannah spread in the form of forests. The varied climatic patterns, both dry and wet, differ from the climate of any other region. 

Vegetation 

The vegetation of the savannah is described as bushveld or parkland, with scattered trees of varied heights forming an open tree canopy amidst the grasses. The vegetation varies depending on the region. The growth (height and density) of the trees is higher towards the equator and decreases away from the equator. The trees are deciduous, meaning they shed their leaves in the dry season. The grass in savannah lands grows tall, up to 12 feet high. The trees have specific characteristics adapted to the environment. For example, umbrella-shaped trees act as a barrier to the strong trade winds. Similarly, the broad trunks of the trees store water, which helps to survive during droughts. The luxuriance of vegetation can be observed in the rainy season when trees grow new leaves. As the rainfall starts diminishing, the savannah transitions into a thorny scrub. 

Human life 

Two major groups in the savannah region are the Masai (cattle pastoralists from eastern Africa) and the Hausa (cultivators from northern Nigeria). 

Initially, the Masai grazing grounds were Kenyan Highlands. They were occupied by African farmers after Independence. Today, the Masai live in the Serengeti plains of Tanzania. Their livelihood is heavily dependent on cattle, which is primarily used in the production of milk. They do not use the cattle for meat or agriculture.

The Hausa tribe inhabits the Bauchi Plateau of Nigeria. The main occupation of these tribes is cultivation. They use advanced methods of cultivation like crop rotation, in which they grow different crops seasonally on the same piece of land. 

Animal Life 

The Savannah in Africa is home to thousands of wild animals. The two main groups of animals are herbivorous animals like giraffes, zebras, and elephants and carnivorous animals like leopards, lions, and panthers. Historically, these animals have been hunted in vast numbers. As a result, national parks have been set up in the southern and eastern regions of Africa to protect regional wildlife.

Development prospects and limitations 

The extreme weather conditions in the region are a barrier to commercial or industrial development. Plantation agriculture is practised in Northern Australia, Africa, and Brazil in tropical Savannah climates. Cotton, sugarcane, and groundnut are among some crops grown. Crop failures and droughts are significant problems for agriculture in the savannah. The fertility of the soil is decreased due to the varied climatic conditions. Leaching and poor lateritic soils are barriers to the growth of healthy crops. 

The cattle industry in the savannah regions can be improved by implementing scientific methods and bringing about development. 

One of the major threats to the ecosystem is fire, which has natural and human causes. Fires affect plant and animal life in the region in various ways.