How Can A Rainforest Receiving 2,500Mm Of Annual Rain Dry Out? The Threat To Monteverde
MONTEVERDE, Costa Rica - In Monteverde, it rains heavily-over 2,500mm annually. Yet, scientists warn that rising cloud decks and loss of fog are causing this famed cloud forest to dry out from within.
Horizontal Precipitation: The Missing Piece of the Water CycleIn cloud forests, water arrives not only as rain, but as fog intercepted by canopy plants (epiphytes). These epiphytes-representing nearly 30% of local flora-act as sponges that trap and slowly release moisture.
Why Cloud Forests Are Drying Despite Rain-
Rising Cloud Decks: Warming temperatures force clouds higher, passing over the forest canopy without touching vegetation.
Direct Sunlight: Reduced fog cover exposes mosses and epiphytes to higher solar radiation, speeding up evaporation.
Wind & El Niño: Stronger trade winds strip moisture directly off tree leaves.
The post How Can a Rainforest Receiving 2,500mm of Annual Rain Dry Out? The Threat to Monteverde appeared first on The Costa Rica News.
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