September 1975
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| Photography by Dr. Sharon Johnson drsharonjohnson@comcast.net |
Imagery & site design by
Kat G. Kalamaras |
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September 1975 |
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| Because rain-bearing storms typically come from the west, east of the Sierran crest the climate is drier. This is effect is known as a "rainshadow" and is reflected in the biomes that develop here. This biome, called "steppe" typically consists of drought tolerant shrub species like sage (Artemisia) and grasses. Note the typical look of the landscape in this image. It is summer so the landscape is dry and any grasses have already been eaten by cattle. Leaves of shrubs are sparse or in reflective, greyish tones to reflect harsh sunlight and reduce evapotranspiration. | ||||||
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