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Twenty-three per cent of the world's terrestrial surface can be classified as
grassland. This type of terrain is generally open and continuous, and fairly flat. There are three major types of grassland —
[ prairie ],
[ savannah ] and
[ steppe ] — which are differentiated by the annual precipitation each type receives.
Steppes are found in the interiors of all continents except Australia and Antarctica. They are dry areas of grassland, which receive 25–51cm (10–20 inches) of rainfall per year. As in the case of [
semi-arid deserts ] — which are frequently classified as steppes — the low rainfall is often due to the presence of mountains, which produce a
rainshadow effect.
Summer on the steppes is usually warm — temperatures can exceed 38°C (100°F) — and droughts are not uncommon. Grassfires frequently occur during the drier months. Winters, on the other hand, are very cold — sometimes temperatures are as low as −40°C (−40°F) — with snow in the northern steppes.
The soil mantle of the steppes is deep and dark, with fertile topsoils. It is rich in nutrients, which are provided by the decomposition of deep, intricate root systems. These roots also hold the soil together.
Although trees and large shrubs may be found along the margins of water-courses, grasses dominate the steppes. They seldom exceed heights of 30–45cm (12–18 inches), however, because of the low annual precipitation.
Diminished cover on the steppes presents several challenges for designers of camouflage uniforms. For one thing, the tactical ranges can be much longer. For another, the general absence of shade necessitates a modified approach to the implementation of macropatterns.
Although most Roggenwolf macropatterns can be adapted for deployment on steppes, the most successful are those that are either horizontally-aligned or omnidirectional with a bias toward horizontality, to disrupt the geometry of the human shape at longer ranges.
Still, a well-devised macropattern can do only so much; the choice and arrangement of colours is also important. If the colours displayed in a camouflage pattern differ too much from the colours present in the immediate surroundings, the target shape can still be discerned and successful recognition shall occur.
Appropriate colours help a camouflage pattern to blend with its surroundings. In some cases, the colours displayed in Roggenwolf steppe digital camouflage patterns have been derived from computer-aided analyses of colour satellite photographs; the Steppe 4.1 palette is illustrated on this page. Alternatively, more localised palettes may be created, to match specific tactical settings, through computer-aided analyses of ground-level photographs.
notice: All materials, including photos, camouflage patterns, simulations and text embodied within the pages of this Web site are the property of their respective copyright holders and may not be used elsewhere without explicit written permission from the copyright holder.
All original camouflage patterns and simulations shown on this Web site are copyright © 2005–2006
[ Brad Turner ]. All rights reserved.
