Final answer:
An environment that receives more than 100 inches of rain per year is generally a tropical rainforest or tropical wet forest. Areas like Mount Waialeale on Kauai in Hawaii exemplify the high rainfall levels due to the rain shadow effect, whereas globally, tropical rainforests receive between 125 to 660 cm of rain annually with seasonal variation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The environment that receives more than 100 inches of rain per year is typically found in a tropical rainforest or tropical wet forest climate. These regions experience high levels of rainfall due to their geographic location near the equator and the presence of dense forest canopy. For instance, on the island of Kauai in Hawaii, particularly near Mount Waialeale, we observe the rain shadow effect, which results in some of the world's highest rainfalls, with amounts exceeding 460 inches annually on the windward side. Conversely, the leeward side witnesses semi-desert conditions due to this effect. Furthermore, tropical rainforests around the globe are known for their high annual rainfall, reaching between 125 to 660 cm (50-200 inches), with significant seasonal variation and periods of intense wet months.
In addition to tropical rainforests, tropical wet forest environments are renowned for their moisture-rich conditions, having wet months with more than 30 cm (11-12 inches) of precipitation and even the driest month surpassing the annual rainfall levels of many deserts. These environments support a high net primary productivity because of the consistent temperature and copious precipitation, which supports rapid plant growth, despite the leaching of soil nutrients due to the abundant rainfall.