### Temperate Forest

Temperate or mid-lattitude grasslands lies in the interior of continents and therefore, recieves low rainfall. Interior locaton is also resposible for high annual range of temperature between warm summer and cold winter. Rainfall occurs as a result of convectional ascent of air during summer. The natural vegetation is predominantly short grasses. The grasslands are the Steppes of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the Prairies of North America, the Pampas of Argentina, the Veld of South Africa and the Downs of Australia. Owing to low rainfall and cold winter, trees are generally absent. The region has fertile black soils which are rich in organic matter.
Temperate or mid-lattitude deserts are located in the interior plateaus and basins in Asia and North America. They are surrounded by high mountain regions. Tibet and Gobi are typical examples. The region recieves scanty rainfall as interior location surrounded by high mountains prevents inflow of moist air. Interior location also results in greater extremes of temperature between summer and winter. Light snowfall occurs in winter.
Warm East Margin Region occurs on the eastern margins of continents in the sub-tropical belt. During summer, rainfall decreases towards the interior. During winter Westerly winds blowing over land do notcause rainfall and therefore winters are dry. The main region are Central and South China, South-eastern US, Brazil and Uruguay and the coast of New South Wales. Natural vegetation consists of a mixture of both deciduous and evergreen trees in the lowlands and coniferous trees in the highlands. Valuable trees like oak, pine and eucalyptus are common.
Cool East Margin Region lies above the Warm East Margin region. The region has warm wet summers and cold dry winters. North-eastern US, North China, Korea and Northern Japan are the main regions. Natural vegetation consists of mixed deciduous and coniferous forests.
Cool West Margin Region undergoes influence of westerlies throughout the year. As winds blow from warm oceans towards the coast, winters are warmer and annual rainfall is higher and often cyclonic. Deciduous forests are the natural vegetation. Coniferous forests occur on hill slopes.