It is estimated grasslands cover 20 to 40% of the Earth's land, this variation is due to the debate of what constitutes grassland. Subcategories of grasslands include:
Precipitation
The climate the ecosystem is potentially the single most important Abiotic factor, a key component of this being annual rain levels. Grasslands receive 500-900 mm of rain per year, compared to the desert which receive an average of 250 mm annually. Similarly, rain forests receive in excess of 2,000 mm of rainfall per year. The rainfall of an environment greatly impacts the organisms living in the community of the ecosystem and also the habitats health as a biome.
Wind
At the Atmore Agricultural Drought Monitoring Station (Grassland, Alberta, Canada) a weather station over the course of an average year monitored weather activities from 2005 to 2012.
Annually wind speeds vary from 0 m/s to 6 m/s (calm to moderate breeze), rarely exceeding 9 m/s (fresh breeze).
The highest average wind speed of 4 m/s (gentle breeze) occurs approximately on May 13, at which time the average daily maximum wind speed is 6 m/s (moderate breeze).
The lowest average wind speed of 2 m/s (light breeze) occurs around December 26, at which time the average daily maximum wind speed is 4 m/s (gentle breeze).
- tropical and subtroipical grasslands
- temperate grasslands
- flooded grasslands
- montane grasslands
- Tundra grassland
- Xeric and desert grassland
Precipitation
The climate the ecosystem is potentially the single most important Abiotic factor, a key component of this being annual rain levels. Grasslands receive 500-900 mm of rain per year, compared to the desert which receive an average of 250 mm annually. Similarly, rain forests receive in excess of 2,000 mm of rainfall per year. The rainfall of an environment greatly impacts the organisms living in the community of the ecosystem and also the habitats health as a biome.
Wind
At the Atmore Agricultural Drought Monitoring Station (Grassland, Alberta, Canada) a weather station over the course of an average year monitored weather activities from 2005 to 2012.
Annually wind speeds vary from 0 m/s to 6 m/s (calm to moderate breeze), rarely exceeding 9 m/s (fresh breeze).
The highest average wind speed of 4 m/s (gentle breeze) occurs approximately on May 13, at which time the average daily maximum wind speed is 6 m/s (moderate breeze).
The lowest average wind speed of 2 m/s (light breeze) occurs around December 26, at which time the average daily maximum wind speed is 4 m/s (gentle breeze).
Humidity
In the The South American Campos is an ecological area between 24°S and 35°S, which covers parts of southern Brazil, southern Paraguay and northeastern Argentina, and the whole of Uruguay. An area of approximately 500 000 km2. Campos refers to grasslands or pastures with a vegetation cover consisting mainly grasses, herbs, scattered small shrubs and trees are occasionally found, generally by the banks of streams.
In this specific area average annual relative humidity ranges between 70 and 75 percent, the lower values in summer and the higher in winter.
Photo below depicts the Campos area
In the The South American Campos is an ecological area between 24°S and 35°S, which covers parts of southern Brazil, southern Paraguay and northeastern Argentina, and the whole of Uruguay. An area of approximately 500 000 km2. Campos refers to grasslands or pastures with a vegetation cover consisting mainly grasses, herbs, scattered small shrubs and trees are occasionally found, generally by the banks of streams.
In this specific area average annual relative humidity ranges between 70 and 75 percent, the lower values in summer and the higher in winter.
Photo below depicts the Campos area
Air Temperature
Due to the large variance in Grasslands temperature for these areas can range between -20ºC to 30ºC, even allowing ice to form in higher altitudes.
Light
As demonstrated by the below table, open grasslands receive higher average light intensity than ecosystems with canopies.
Due to the large variance in Grasslands temperature for these areas can range between -20ºC to 30ºC, even allowing ice to form in higher altitudes.
Light
As demonstrated by the below table, open grasslands receive higher average light intensity than ecosystems with canopies.
Soil
The defining factors of soil quality are:
Climate, Organisms, Landscape ,Parental Material & Time
These all influences factors such as nutrients, moisture, Ph, composition of soil and temperature.
The term parental material refers to the bedrock on which the soil is covering, this bedrock can influence the health, salinity, nutrient value and mineral content of the soil. Grasslands typically have a thick layer of soil which stores and manages the various minerals. This layer is mainly composed of decaying plant material.
A grassland will typically have nutrient rich soil due to the decay of many root systems. These rotting toots also hold the soil together and provide a food source for living plants. The eastern prairies of the US, the pampas South America and the steppes of Ukraine and Russia are all cited as the most fertile soils.
Since a large portion of grassland space is utilised for farming the Ph levels are closely monitored. Over a period of two years the Ph levels of untreated soil can be seen fluctuating from a Ph of 4.9 up to 5.32. Whereas the treated soil has a variance of up to over 2 units.
Water
While grasslands may not appear to have a diverse water ecosystem they play an important role as the 'collectors' of water. For example, in the Montane grasslands of South Africa they reduce erosion by restricting immediate runoff. This water is held in the ground and slowly seeps up to the surface throughout the year. Seepage zones are vital for this as they act almost sponge like and allow water to be present, even in the dry seasons. In Mpumalanga of the southern region of South Africa, this grassland provides year round water which is essential for not only the biomes community but the Highveld power station which is cooled by this water, without it 70% of South Africas electricity would be jeopardised.