Rainforests

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Overview of Tropical Rainforests

Tropical rainforests have the following general characteristics:

What is the climate (abiotic) in tropical rainforests?

There aren't really seasons in tropical rainforests.
All year, the temperature is in the range of 21°C and 30°C.
There is lots of rain/precipitation in tropical rainforests. For example, there's roughly 80 inches (2,000mm) of rainfall each year in the Amazon rainforest.

What's the soil (abiotic) like in tropical rainforests?

Rainforests have up to 80 inches of rainfall each year.
This heavy rain washes away minerals and nutrients from the soil.
This means that the soil left behind is infertile (bad for crop growth).
One layer of soil on the rainforest floor is fertile and nutrient-rich, but this does not extend deep into the soil further underground.

What're the plants (biotic) like in tropical rainforests?

The climate is almost the same in all months, so plants grow all year. Most plants in rainforests are evergreen (and don't shed their leaves in winter).
There is a battle for sunlight because trees put each other in the shade (and trees need sunlight to grow). Because of this, trees grow to be very tall (up to 46 metres high).
There is interdependence between the vegetation living on the forest floor. For example, plants called epiphytes (vegetation or plants that live off and grow on other plants) are common.

What animals (biotic) live in tropical rainforests?

Rainforests are full of biodiversity.
Mammals like Gorillas (in the Congo), Jaguars (in the Amazon rainforest) and Sloths (in Central America) live in rainforests.
Reptiles and amphibians like frogs, snakes, lizards, and crocodiles inhabit tropical rainforests.
There are diverse insect and bird species in rainforests.
Many of these animals have adapted by evolution & natural selection to survive in the tropical rainforest biome.

What is life (biotic) like in tropical rainforests?

The Uncontacted Indians are a tribe living in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil.
They survive by hunting animals, eating the fish, vegetables, pulses, and berries that grow in the rainforest.

Water (abiotic)

There is a high level of annual rainfall in tropical rainforests. This means that soil can be easily washed into rivers.
The wet conditions help plants that are suited to this environment grow well.
Some of the world's biggest rivers are found in rainforests (e.g. the Amazon) and are fed by many smaller tributaries.
- These waterways support rich freshwater ecosystems.

1Physical Geography

1.1River Environments

1.1.1Weathering

1.1.2Mass Movement

1.1.3Erosion

1.1.4Transportation

1.1.5Deposition

1.1.6River Landforms: Waterfalls & Gorges

1.1.7River Landforms: Interlocking Spurs

1.1.8River Landforms: Flood Plains

1.1.9River Landforms: Point Bars

1.1.10River Landforms: Levees

1.1.11River Landforms: Meanders

1.1.12River Landforms: Oxbow Lakes

1.1.13River Landscape Changes: Long Profile

1.1.14River Landscape Changes: Cross Profile

1.1.15Vertical & Lateral Erosion

1.1.16Flood Risk Factors

1.1.17Human Activities on Rivers

1.1.18River Management: Hard Engineering

1.1.19River Management: Soft Engineering

1.1.20Case Study: The River Eden - Landforms

1.1.21Case Study: The River Eden - Climate

1.1.22Case Study: The River Eden - Geology

1.1.23Case Study: The River Eden - Management

1.1.24Case Study: The River Eden - Human Activity

1.1.25End of Topic Test - River Environments

1.2Coastal Environments

1.3Hazardous Environments - Tropical Cyclones

1.3.1Characteristics of a Tropical Cyclone

1.3.2Structure of a Tropical Cyclone

1.3.3Physical Hazards of Tropical Cyclones

1.3.4The Impacts of Tropical Cyclones

1.3.5Responses to Tropical Cyclones

1.3.6Vulnerability to Tropical Cyclones

1.3.7Preparing for Tropical Cyclones

1.3.8Case Study: Katrina

1.3.9Case Study: Nargis

1.4Hazardous Environments - Earthquakes & Volcanoes

1.4.1Earthquakes

1.4.2Features of an Earthquake

1.4.3Types of Earthquake

1.4.4Case Study: L'Aquila

1.4.5Case Study: Chile

1.4.6Case Study: Japan & Pakistan - Planning

1.4.7Volcanoes

1.4.8Types of Volcanoes

1.4.9Volcanic Eruptions

2Human Geography

2.1Economic Activity & Energy

2.1.1Increasing Energy Consumption

2.1.2Non-Renewable Energy - Nuclear

2.1.3Non-Renewable Energy - Fossil Fuels

2.1.4Renewable Energy - Solar

2.1.5Renewable Energy - Water & Bio

2.1.6Renewable Energy - Hydro

2.1.7Energy - Statistical Skills

2.2Rural Environments

2.2.1Rainforests

2.2.2Temperate Forests

2.2.3Characteristics of a Temperate Forest

2.2.4Goods & Services in Temperate Forests

2.2.5Deserts

2.2.6Tundra

2.3Urban Environments

2.3.1Urbanisation in Different Countries

2.3.2Causes of Urbanisation

2.3.3Consequences of Urbanisation

2.3.4Sustainable Urbanisation

2.3.5Case Study: Rapid Urbanisation in Mexico City

2.3.6End of Topic Test - Urbanisation

3Global Issues

3.1Fragile Environments & Climate Change

3.1.1Natural Causes of Climate Change

3.1.2Effects of Climate Change on the Environment

3.1.3Effects of Climate Change on People

3.1.4Impacts of Deforestation

3.1.5End of Topic Test - Climate Change

3.1.6Increasing Water Supply

3.1.7Sustainable Rainforest Management

3.2Globalisation & Migration

3.2.1Globalisation - Transport

3.2.2Globalisation - Communication Networks & Banking

3.2.3Push & Pull Factors

3.2.4TNCs & Globalisation

3.2.5Tourism Landscapes

3.2.6The Growth of Tourism

3.2.7The Economic Benefits of Tourism

3.2.8The Social & Cultural Benefits of Tourism

3.2.9The Economic Costs of Tourism

3.2.10The Social & Cultural Costs of Tourism

3.2.11Managing Tourism - Sustainability

3.2.12Managing Tourism - Quotas & Tourism Hubs

3.3Development & Human Welfare

3.3.1Ways of Defining Development

3.3.2Different Ways of Measuring Development

3.3.3Environmental Factors Causing Uneven Development

3.3.4Historical Factors Causing Uneven Development

3.3.5Economic Factors Causing Uneven Development

3.3.6Patterns of Development

3.3.7How Can we Reduce the Global Development Gap?

3.3.8Top-Down & Bottom-Up Development

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