ABSTRACT
The constant heat and humidity of the equatorial climate supports a characteristic vegetation type, the ‘equatorial rain forest’ or ‘selvas’, with its astounding profusion and vigour of growth, especially of foliage. The hot climates lie within the sphere of the N.E. and S.E. trade winds which meet in the equatorial belt of calms. The most noticeable influence of altitude is a lowering of temperature, and for this reason, if for no other, the climates of high altitudes in equatorial zones would merit separate treatment. A marked absence of seasonal rhythm results from the monotony of the climate, flowering, fruiting, seeding, growing and dying occurring side by side. Situated between the two great monsoon foci of Asia and Australia, the East Indian islands present a variety of the equatorial climate into which modifications are introduced by the seasonal wind changes.
