You might very well know that the Earth’s axis is slightly tilted and that the climatic behaviour of any geographical area is largely dependent on its position on the globe. For this reason, the regions farther from the equator, in both the northern and southern hemispheres, spend a major part of the year away from the sun. The temperate rainforests in these regions therefore experience distinct climates and ‘dry seasons’ which are less constant in pattern.
On the other hand, tropical rainforests are positioned along the equator and are hence, closer to the sun. The amount of heat received from sunlight and the spread of total annual rainfall remains constant throughout the year and hence, they experience no distinct or dry seasons. The temperature seldom drops below 16 degree Celsius and the annual rainfall received ranges from 406.4 to 1016 cm.
The tropical rainforests of Africa, Central, and South America, Asia, and Australia receive ample sunlight and experience consistent warm and wet weather most of the year. This favourable environment fosters the well-being of both flora and fauna. The characteristic gigantic trees, which form the basic structure of tropical rainforests, can live up to hundreds or thousands of years and attain heights that can range from 18 to 46 metres into the air!
Picture Credit : Google
