Geography Rainforest revision notes

The reason it is called a "rain" forest is because of the high amount of rainfall it gets per year. Rainforests have an annual rainfall of at least 254 millimetres and often much more. They are very important as the plants of the rainforest generate much of the Earth’s oxygen

Tropical rainforests are found close to the equator where temperatures and rainfall are very high all year round. The major areas of tropical rainforests are in South East Asia, West Africa and South and Central America. The best known rain forests are found in tropical regions between the Tropics of cancer and Capricorn. Temperate rainforests are found along coasts in the temperate zone. The largest temperate rainforests are found on North America's Pacific Coast and stretch from Northern California up into Canada. Temperate rainforests have one long wet winter/spring season, and a dry foggy summer.

Emergent Layer - very sunny because it is the very top. Only the tallest trees reach this level. Canopy Layer - much of the rain is stopped by the thick foliage. Most trees in the forest grow to this height. There are plants that grow in the canopy layer. Their roots don't reach the ground. These are called air plants. Understory Layer - many vines, dense vegetation and not much light.

Deforestation, clearance or clearing is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use. Largest number of plant and animal species of any natural region.

It is known as the worlds largest pharmacy due to the large amount of medicine produced from the rainforest Many large worldwide companies take advantage of cheap rainforest land to farm such as Mcdonalds. Also the hardwood is very expensive so a lot of it is cut down in the use of furniture and other materials.