The warm, tropical climate of Singapore leads to plenty of biodiversity in the area. Not only that, but the climate also helps make it more comfortable for people to live there. The average temperature for any given month is about 89 degrees fahrenheit, and there is minimal fluctuation throughout the year. When I asked my Singaporean friends about the different seasons in Singapore, they answered that there are two main seasons. There is the dry season, and then there is the wet season. Even though the temperature is fairly constant, there are periods of the year where Singapore experiences more rainfall than others. For instance, I was in Singapore during the wet season, and I spent those rainy days mostly inside. This was a new experience for me because although it was raining outside, the air was still warm. It almost felt like I was taking a shower outside!
One challenge that Singaporeans face from living in this environment is the annual haze and smoky air that comes from neighboring countries. The tropical climate of Southeast Asia makes it ideal for farmers in Indonesia and Malaysia to grow oil palm trees. These trees produce palm seed kernels, which get harvested and sent off to factories so that the oil can be extracted. After a plantation of trees is no longer producing seeds, the plantation must be cleared out to make space for the next generation of trees. There are various ways to clear out oil palm trees, and one of the less expensive methods is by slash-and-burn. This means that the farmers cut down the old trees and proceed to burn the land.
