High-altitude occupation and environment

Abstract

This paper introduces the New Guinea highland environment, settlement history, and agriculture. The conditions conducive to frost formation in the high valleys are then analysed, both in regard to the meteorological environment, and to the terrain and ground cover. There follows a brief review of the El Nino/Southern Oscillation phenomenon, as a major force in creating the conditions for periodic severe frost of wide extent in the mountains. Finally, the hazards of frost and drought are put in perspective with that of excessive rain. -from Authors Show more