Welcome to the rainforest. The rainforest is a equatorial biome and is rich in biodiversity.

  • Distribution/location:
    •  Dsitribution: Tropical rainforests are primarily located in a band around the equator between the latitudes of  23.5 degrees north and south. (Tropic of Cancer) and (Tropic of Capricorn).
    • South and Central America: The Amazon Basin contains the world’s largest, covering parts of Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela. Other areas include Central America (Panama, Costa Rica, Belize, southern Mexico) and the Caribbean.
    • Africa: The Congo Basin holds the second-largest rainforest, covering parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea. It is also found in Madagascar. 
    • Southeast Asia and Oceania: Includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and parts of India.
    • Australia: A narrow band of rainforest exists along the northeastern coastline of Queensland.
  • Precipitation
    • Rainfall: Tropical rainforests experience high annual precipitation, typically ranging from 2,000 to 10,000 millimeters(79-394 inches).
  • Temperature
    • Temp: Tropical rainforests maintain a consistently warm and humid climate year-round, typically ranging between 70∘F and 90∘F.
  • Climate
    • Climate: Tropical rainforests are characterized by a consistently warm, wet, and humid climate located near the equator, with temperatures generally between 68 degrees fahrenheit and 90 degrees fahrenheit year round.
    • High Humidity: Relative humidity is often 70-80% during the day and can reach over 90% at night.
  • Are there seasons?
    • Seasons: Yes, the wet and dry seasons are annual climate cycles in tropical and subtropical regions characterized by dramatic shifts in precipitation rather than temperature.
    • Wet Season: Typically occurs during high-sun months (summer), bringing heavy rainfall, potential flooding, and high humidity. In many areas, this is often synonymous with hurricane or monsoon season. 
    • Dry Season: Characterized by significantly lower rainfall, reduced soil moisture, and high temperatures, leading to dry vegetation and potential water shortages.

Regional Differences: While many areas have one of each per year, some, like parts of East Africa, experience biannual wet and dry seasons (e.g., “long rains” and “short rains”)