(a) Describe the characteristics of the equatorial climate.
The temperature is constantly high all the year round. Mean monthly temperature is 27°C, and has a very small annual range of less than 3°C. It has a high humidity and its relative humidity is over 80%. Large amount of clouds in the sky and daily range of temperature is small. Annual rainfall is over 2000mm or 200cm and it rains throughout the year. There is no marked dry season hence rainfall is convectional in nature. There is an intermittent shower caused by convergence of air masses at the doldrums. Relief rainfall is usually observed at mountainous areas. Throughout the year it is hot and wet.
(b) Vegetation;
It is an equatorial rain forest and evergreen. Some trees shed their leaves and others bear flowers, others fruit simultaneously. Trees do not occur in pure stand as there exists different species. The trees are in three (3) distinct layers. The common trees are Mahogany, Ebony, African walnut, Iroko, Sapele wood, etc. In this vegetation type, there are climbers, creepers and parasites. The trees have buttressed roots and are umbrella-shape or form canopies on top which only permit this growth.