Rainforest

A rainforest is a forested biome with high annual rainfall due to the Intertropical convergence zone. Some cite a minimum normal annual rainfall of 2000 mm (about 100 inches or 200 centimetres), with normal rainfall at least 60 mm during each of the twelve months of the year. Others set the minimum annual rainfall barrier as low as 1700 mm (about 67 inches). The soil can be poor because high rainfall tends to leach out soluble nutrients. This type of biome is found in both temperate and tropical climates. As well as prodigious rainfall, many rainforests are characterised by a high number of resident species and tremendous biodiversity.

Bibliography

• Richards, P. W. (1996). The tropical rainforest. 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press ISBN 0521421942
• Whitmore, T. C. (1998) An introduction to tropical rain forests. 2nd ed. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0198501471