EcologistEcologist

By, will-turner By, will-turner

• In an average year in a tropical rain In an average year in a tropical rain forest, the climate is very humid forest, the climate is very humid because of all the rainfall, which because of all the rainfall, which amounts to about 250 cm per year. amounts to about 250 cm per year. The rain forest has lots of rain The rain forest has lots of rain because it is very hot and wet. because it is very hot and wet.

• This climate is found near the This climate is found near the equator. That means that there is equator. That means that there is more direct sunlight hitting the land more direct sunlight hitting the land and sea there than anywhere else. and sea there than anywhere else. The sun warms the land and sea and The sun warms the land and sea and the water evaporates into the air. the water evaporates into the air.

The warm air can hold a lot of water vapor. As the air rises, it cools. That means it can hold less water vapor. Then as warm meets cold, condensation takes place and the vapor forms droplets, and clouds form. The clouds then produce rain. It rains more than ninety days a year and the sun usually shines between the storms.

The main plants in this biome are trees. A The main plants in this biome are trees. A lot of the rain that falls on the rain forest lot of the rain that falls on the rain forest never reaches the ground. It stays on the never reaches the ground. It stays on the trees because the leaves act as a shield, trees because the leaves act as a shield, and some rain never gets past the trees to and some rain never gets past the trees to the smaller plants and grounds below. the smaller plants and grounds below. Trees in this climate reach a height of Trees in this climate reach a height of more than 164 feet. The average more than 164 feet. The average temperature of a rain forest is about 77° temperature of a rain forest is about 77° Fahrenheit. Fahrenheit.

The rain forest is about the same The rain forest is about the same temperature year round. The temperature temperature year round. The temperature never drops below 64° Fahrenheit. The never drops below 64° Fahrenheit. The tropical rain forest is classified as AF tropical rain forest is classified as AF meaning tropical forest The A is given to meaning tropical forest The A is given to tropical climates that are moist for all tropical climates that are moist for all months which have average temperatures months which have average temperatures above 18 degrees Celsius. The f stands for above 18 degrees Celsius. The f stands for sufficient precipitation for all months. The sufficient precipitation for all months. The latitude range for rainforest climate is 15° latitude range for rainforest climate is 15° to 25° North and South of the equator. to 25° North and South of the equator.

The best time toThe best time tovisit a rainforest is in visit a rainforest is in July-September and July-September and December-January. These periods are within the December-January. These periods are within the low water season (July-February). But there are low water season (July-February). But there are some disadvantages for your travel also: some disadvantages for your travel also: temperatures are higher (specially before temperatures are higher (specially before December), some waterways are more clogged December), some waterways are more clogged with vegetation, limiting access to wildlife zones; with vegetation, limiting access to wildlife zones;

the forest life is less visible except for the forest life is less visible except for aquatic life in isolated lakes (the best aquatic life in isolated lakes (the best period for viewing wildlife, in Manaus period for viewing wildlife, in Manaus region, is March-June; this is also a region, is March-June; this is also a «cooler» period, and a nicer one for your «cooler» period, and a nicer one for your Amazon tours: waterside plants such as Amazon tours: waterside plants such as acacias, morning glories, or cecropias, acacias, morning glories, or cecropias, flourish at these months).flourish at these months).