ISLA's WATER ECOLOGY

Isla's Water ecology is simple and effective. As pointed out in other chapters, Isla is a tropical rain forest. Since temperatures on Isla range from 20 to 28 degrees Celsius, Isla never gets cold enough to have ice or snow pack, and the poles are not frozen. As a result of not having a snow pack, Isla is dependent upon the two to three hours of rain which fall each day. The annual precipitation on Isla normally averages over 2400 centimeters, and most of this comes at night.

The Watery Planet

Approximately 65% of the rain which falls on Isla is absorbed by the tree canopy. The remaining 35% falls to the ground where it runs off to low points on the planet. Only 4% of Isla's water is fresh water, stored in lakes, streams and ponds. Each day millions of cubic meters of water evaporate from Isla's salt water oceans. As the water evaporates it leaves the salt and minerals behind and ends up as clouds of fresh clean water in the atmosphere. Much of the rain on Isla falls during the night hours when temperatures are cooler. The warm clouds filled with clean water drift over the cooling landscape. As the clouds come in contact with trees, mountains and other colder surfaces, water condenses and dew and rain fall to the ground.

The Ocean

The small amount of water which actually reaches the ground eventually returns to the sea. In the process of returning to the sea the water forms underground rivers which return to the sea. These underground rivers act as filters which help purify the water. The salt content of Isla's oceans is increasing due to the salts which are being washed back into the ocean from under ground rivers. In the past 1000 years the density of Isla's ocean water has changed from 1.08 grams per cubic centimeter to 1.09 grams per cubic centimeter. It is unclear how this will affect Isla's future. If the salinity continues to rise, animals will either find a way to adapt or they will die.

This page Authored by: Jack Ellis