What Is the Tropical Savanna Climate?

Are you looking for an easy way to teach your child about weather and climate? We’ve put together a set of free materials that parents and teachers can use right away. In this lesson, your child will dive into the fascinating world of the tropical savanna climate.

We’ll explore the causes and characteristics of this dual-season climate. Explore science in a more engaging way with captivating 3D videos and interactive quizzes. Download our app to get started!

What you will learn from this lesson

Where Is the Tropical Savanna Climate Found?

The tropical savanna climate is characterized by consistently hot temperatures throughout the entire year. Daytime temperatures in the savanna often exceed 30°C (86°F). This consistent heat is due to the savanna’s location in low-latitude regions, typically found between 10° and 30° north or south latitude. Unlike other tropical climates, the key feature of the tropical savanna climate is its distinct division of precipitation into two halves of the year: a dry season and a rainy season.

Why Does the Savanna Have Wet and Dry Seasons?

The distinctive dry and rainy seasons in the tropical savanna climate are directly related to its geographical position between the tropical desert climate and the tropical rainforest climate. These seasonal shifts are caused by the seasonal movement of pressure areas due to the Earth’s orbit.

• Dry Season: During the winter, the savanna is under the influence of dry, moisture-lacking wind blowing from the high-pressure desert region toward the low-pressure rainforest. This lack of water vapor prevents significant rainfall, resulting in the dry season.
• Rainy Season: In the summer, low-pressure areas, which are normally associated with the rainforest, shift and move over the savanna. Low pressure causes water vapor to rise, which in turn creates abundant rainfall, resulting in the rainy season.

What Unique Animals Live in the Savanna?

The seasonal changes create an environment called the savanna landscape, or sparse tree grassland. This climate supports the growth of grass but is not ideal for dense forests, leading to a landscape with comparatively sparse trees. The expansive grasslands of the tropical savanna climate attract many large herbivores, such as zebras and wildebeests. This unique environment sustains a diverse ecosystem of both large plant-eating and meat-eating animals, which is why African savannas are often considered amazing places for viewing wildlife.

Fun Fact

• Tropical savannas have an intense rainy season and an equally long dry period, sometimes lasting half the year.
• The dry season in a savanna occurs when dry wind is blowing from the neighboring desert climate.
• The wet season in a savanna occurs when low-pressure rain systems shift in from the nearby rainforest climate.
• The tropical savanna climate is situated in a buffer zone between the extremely wet rainforest and the extremely dry desert.
• Savanna grass is tough and resilient, helping to feed enormous herds of migrating animals, including zebras and wildebeests.

Vocabulary

• Tropical Savanna Climate: A climate zone in low latitudes characterized by consistently hot temperatures year-round and distinct wet and dry seasons.
• Low Pressure: An area where air rises, causing water vapor to condense and form clouds, which typically leads to rain and a wet climate.
• Dry Season: A period of the year in the savanna with little to no rainfall, caused by dry winds from the desert.
• Rainy Season: A period of the year in the savanna with abundant rainfall, caused by the seasonal shift of low-pressure areas from the rainforest.