Cloud forest, also called montane rainforest,
vegetation of tropical mountainous regions in which the rainfall is often heavy and persistent condensation occurs
because of cooling of moisture-laden air currents deflected upward by the mountains. The trees in a cloud forest are typically short and crooked.
How are cloud forests valuable to human beings?
Because they are often shrouded in warm mist, cloud forests
are very humid and wet places
. But that's what makes these forests so valuable. … Some people call cloud forests “water towers,” because they are so important for providing water to nearby villages and cities.
Why are cloud forests important?
Cloud forests are
a major source of water for rivers
, which are vital for many species and also of commercial importance. The local weather systems that form in cloud forests also impact on global weather systems and the Earth's climate.
Why are cloud forests rare?
They are usually characterized by a persistent, frequent and seasonal low-lying layer of mist and cloud cover usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests are
rare since the exceptional conditions that create these forests are only found in tropical areas with tall mountains
.
Where are the cloud forests?
For example, most cloud forests can be found along the sides of mountains at
elevations between 3,000-10,000 feet in tropical areas
. Some of the areas where you can find cloud forests include Central America, southern Mexico, South America, Africa, Madagascar, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and the Caribbean.
What animal is only found in cloud forests?
Mammals in the cloud forest include 68 species of
bats
, Howler Monkeys, White-faced Capuchin Monkeys, Pacas (a pig-like animal), Jaguars, and many others. Thousands of species of insects and arthropods live in the cloud forest, including Katydids, Walkingsticks, Leaf-cutter Ants, and Army Ants.
Are cloud forests endangered?
In Earth's Vanishing Cloud Forests, “Many Species Are Going to Be Lost” Home to a wide range of wildlife, these ecosystems are gravely threatened. … But these cloud forests
are threatened
, research published Wednesday in PLOS One shows, and the creatures that live there will soon be in considerable danger.
What is the difference between rainforest and cloud forest?
Rainforests are located at lower elevations, and as a result, they tend to be much warmer, especially during the dry season. Cloud forests, on the other hand, are usually located at much higher elevations, and are much cooler. … However, despite being a little cooler than rainforests,
cloud forests are very humid
.
Where is the biggest cloud forest?
In
Colombia
, one of the countries with the largest area of cloud forests, only 10–20% of the initial cloud forest cover remains.
Why is it called cloud forest?
Cloud forests take their name
from their very literal nature
. Often taking the form of fog, low-hanging clouds hover around the upper canopy of the forest before condensing onto the leaves of trees and dripping onto the plants below.
What are the 4 layers of the rainforest?
Most
rainforests
are structured in
four layers
: emergent, canopy, understory, and forest floor. Each
layer
has unique characteristics based on differing levels of water, sunlight, and air circulation.
How do clouds form in cloud forests?
As the wind forces the mass of air and water vapor up the side of the mountain,
it cools, and the water vapor begins to condense
, forming water droplets that appear as clouds.
Why is Monteverde popular?
Monteverde is one of Costa Rica's top tourist destinations
because of it's cloud and rain forests that have an incredible amount of biodiversity and many reserves
. … Monteverde remains both the most accessible and developed of all the cloud rain forests in Costa Rica, drawing in about 250,000 annual visitors.
Why are cloud forests dying?
SCORES OF animals are close to extinction because the cloud forests of central America
are being destroyed through climate change
. A study of the endangered Monteverde highlands of Costa Rica has revealed that rising temperatures are causing the moisture-laden mists to disappear.
What is the climate of the cloud forest?
The climate of cloud forests is highly variable from site to site, with an
average rainfall of c. 2000 mm year−1 and an average temperature of 17.7 °C
. … Cloud forests are found to be wetter (by 184 mm year−1 on average), cooler (by 4.2 °C on average), and less seasonally variable than other montane forests.
How big is the cloud forest?
The Cloud Forest is higher but slightly smaller at
0.8 hectares (2.0 acres)
. It replicates the cool moist conditions found in tropical mountain regions between 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) and 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) above sea level, found in South-East Asia, Central- and South America.
