Tropical Rainforest Characteristics | AQA GCSE 9-1 Geography

Where are tropical rainforests found? What are their characteristics? What are the four layers of tropical storms?

This is the twenty-fourth video for the AQA GCSE 9-1 Geography course, and the fourth video of The Living World topic.

The Living World Playlist:
» https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWsYRBnBKKrsVqZX6z1SDei5jXyJxgbIL

Follow me on all platforms:
» https://linktr.ee/keducate

Do you have a video suggestion?
» https://forms.gle/gxc3xHQ1b1wUeANT9

Video Script:
Tropical rainforests are found around the Equator, in Central & South America, Central Africa, South East Asia and Northern Australia.

They have over 2000mm of rainfall a year, due to the low pressure causing air to rise and create clouds, resulting in precipitation. The amount of rainfall varies throughout the year, as can be seen in this climate graph of Manaus in Brazil. There is a distinct wet season, from December to May, with the rainfall being significantly higher than the rest of the year; over 300mm in March as opposed to just over 50mm in August. The temperature is also very high, with the average temperature being around 27°C throughout the year. This doesn’t vary much, and is due to the Sun being overhead for the majority of the year.

Tropical rainforests are made up of four layers: the emergent layer, canopy, under canopy and forest floor/shrub layer. In the emergent layer, trees are very tall with thick leaves so that they can take in more sunlight for photosynthesis. In the canopy, trees are tall as they are competing for sunlight for photosynthesis. Little light reaches the under canopy, where trees are shorter but have large leaves to take in as much sunlight as possible. Finally, the forest floor is dark and humid, with only 2% of light reaching this layer. Plants also have large leaves here to allow for maximum sunlight intake.

Then we have the soil. Nutrients are mostly found at the surface, where they are absorbed by the roots of trees and plants. Fungi also grows on the roots, and transfers nutrients from the air. On top of this, due to the very heavy rainfall, nutrients can often be washed away or even dissolved. This is known as leaching, and leaves behind an infertile soil called latosol.

--
GCSE Geography
04/05/2023
Keducate

Видео Tropical Rainforest Characteristics | AQA GCSE 9-1 Geography канала Keducate