Cloud Forests and Montane Rainforests

Tropical montane cloud forests occur where mountain slopes intercept persistent or frequent cloud cover, typically between roughly 1,500 and 3,000 meters in the tropics, though the exact band shifts with humidity, wind exposure, and local topography. Beyond ordinary rainfall, these forests capture substantial additional moisture as fog droplets condense directly on leaves and branches, a process called horizontal precipitation or fog interception; studies compiled by L.A. Bruijnzeel and John Proctor estimate this can supply anywhere from roughly 5 to 40 percent of a cloud forest's total water input depending on site exposure.