Welcome to this deck on tropical rainforests. We'll explore the unique climate, soil, and layered structure of these vital ecosystems. You'll also learn about the adaptations of plants and animals, and critically for your GCSE exam, the causes and impacts of deforestation. This knowledge is essential for Paper 1, The Living World.

Tropical rainforests are found near the equator, between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Their climate is consistent all year round: it's hot, typically around 27 degrees Celsius, and very wet, with high rainfall, often over two thousand millimetres a year. There are no distinct seasons like we have in the UK.

You might think the soil in a rainforest would be incredibly fertile with all that life, but it's actually surprisingly poor. The soil is called a latosol. Heavy daily rainfall washes away nutrients in a process called leaching. Most nutrients are not in the soil, but are locked up in the vegetation itself. When plants or animals die, they decompose very quickly in the hot, humid conditions, and the nutrients are rapidly absorbed by other plants. This is known as the nutrient cycle.