Rainforests, Savannas, Coniferous Forests: Climates & Human Impact
Tropical Rainforest
Tropical rainforests have an equatorial climate, with temperatures around 25ºC year-round and rainfall exceeding 3000mm annually. A constant growing season exists.
- Location: Regions with an equatorial climate.
- Vegetation: Trees have adapted to this climate by growing very tall to reach sunlight. They have an evergreen appearance, and leaves feature drip tips to shed excess rainfall.
Rivers flood for several months each year, and both soils and floods have adapted to the climate. Human activities significantly impact rainforests, leading to land infertility. This forces people to relocate and create new clearings, resulting in shifting cultivation. Vast areas have been destroyed due to deforestation.
Savanna Grassland
Savanna grasslands experience a tropical continental climate. They have a very warm climate with a pronounced wet season, often followed by a longer, dry season where rainfall is unreliable.
- Location: Savanna regions.
- Vegetation: Plants adapt to the local environment, forming a transition zone between tropical rainforests and hot deserts. Scattered trees are the natural vegetation.
Overgrazing and tree cutting are significant issues in this area.
Coniferous Forest
Coniferous forests, also referred to as taiga, are the natural vegetation in places with a cold climate.
- Climate: Harsh, with short, cool summers and very cold winters. Precipitation is low, occurring as summer rain and winter snow.
- Location: Primarily in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Vegetation: Trees adapt to local conditions. The forest contains a limited number of species (pine, fir, spruce) that can grow up to 30m tall.
Humans utilize timber from these forests for various products, ideally managed on a sustainable basis.
Environmental Issues
- Acid Rain: Rainfall with a higher-than-normal acid level, caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
- Deforestation: The felling and clearance of forest land, driven by government policies, transnational companies, and local populations.
- Soil Erosion: A process by which soil is removed by wind or running water.
- Desertification: The transformation of land into desert, caused by a combination of climate change and human activities.
Settlement and Urbanization
Site
The actual place where people decided to locate their settlements. Factors influencing site selection include:
- Proximity to water supplies.
- Avoidance of marshy areas.
- Defensibility.
- Availability of building materials.
- Ability to sustain food production.
- Access to other locations.
- Shelter from adverse weather.
- Proximity to fuel sources.
CBD (Central Business District)
The focal point of a town, containing three major types of land use: shops and offices, industry, and housing. It is the most accessible area, where main roads converge. Land value is highest due to limited space and high competition. Issues include crime, graffiti, homelessness, high land values, expensive housing, traffic congestion, noise and air pollution, and waste management challenges. Factors contributing to CBD challenges include increased traffic and pollution, a decline in shoppers, growth in internet shopping, increased security concerns, and more leisure activities.
Urban Sprawl
The unplanned, uncontrolled growth of urban areas.
Rural-Urban Fringe
The area where the city and countryside meet. Issues include crime, expensive housing, commuting costs, noise and air pollution, and loss of greenfield sites. Increased competition for land use arises from factors like cheaper land, reduced traffic and pollution, easier access, and a more pleasant environment.
Counter-Urbanization
The movement of people and employment away from large cities to smaller settlements.
Suburbanized Village
Small settlements that have grown in size and become urban areas.
Commuter
A person who travels some distance from their home to their workplace.
Traffic
Traffic volume has increased due to rising car ownership, reduced public transport, increased goods transport, and more commuters. The effects of traffic are:
- Economic: Time wasted, cost of fuel and roads, loss of property, congestion.
- Environmental: Pollution, noise, visual pollution, loss of land.
- Social: Accident risk, health problems, property damage.
Traffic can be reduced by using public transport, walking, cycling, or carpooling.
Shanty Settlements
Areas characterized by poor-quality housing and a lack of basic services like electricity and water supply.