The Amazon Rainforests - Crown Jewel of the Natural World |
| |
next image>>
|
Misty sunset on the Amazonian forests along the Tambopata river, French Guiana |
The Amazon rainforest forms a pulsating network of water and trees: every year, its canopy receives between 1,500 mm and 3,000 mm of rainfall.
Eastern trade winds that blow from the Atlantic Ocean account for about half of the rainfall, with the other half due to evapotranspiration - the loss of water from the soil by evaporation and through transpiration from plants - in the Amazon River Basin.
Together with an average temperature of around 24 °C or more, the constant water cycle not only creates the typical humid and warm atmosphere of a tropical rainforest, but more importantly regulates local and regional climates.
If evapotranspiration and its role in maintaining ecological balance is disrupted, the climate throughout the region - and well beyond - will be significantly affected.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Send an E-card
|
|
| |
Click on a picture below to see a close-up image and detailed information about the photo |
- Who We Are:
- What We Do:
- About Our Earth:
- Biodiversity,
- Species,
- Climate,
- Forests,
- Oceans, seas & coasts,
- Rivers, lakes & wetlands,
- Agriculture,
- Places,
- Problems,
- Teachers,
- News,
- Publications,
- FAQ.
- How You Can Help:
- Donate Now!,
- Give a Unique Gift,
- Take Action!,
- Live Green!,
- Spread the word,
- Volunteer!,
- Invest in a Living Planet,
- Get WWF on your mobile,
- Games with a Message,
- Earth Hour,
- * Other ways to Help *,
- Join the conversation.
- News:
- Climate:
@import url('http://s3.amazonaws.com/getsatisfaction.com/feedback/feedback.css');
|
