Coupled climate and sea-level changes deduced from Huon Peninsula coral terraces of the last ice age
Huon Peninsula, Papua New Guinea, is a tectonically unstable, uplifting shoreline ringed by emergent coral terraces. The terraces were formed during episodes of rapid sea-level rise when corals constructed large, discrete coral platforms that were subsequently uplifted. Uranium series ages of four prominent Huon Peninsula last glacial (OIS 3) coral terraces coincide with the timing of major North Atlantic climate reversals at intervals of 6000^7000 yr between 30 000 yr and 60 000 yr ago.
This chapter provides a brief description of Papua New Guinea, its past and present climate as well as projections for the future. The climate observation network and the availability of atmospheric and oceanic data records are outlined. The annual mean climate, seasonal cycles and the influences of large-scale climate features such as the West Pacific Monsoon and patterns of climate variability (e.g. the El Niño‑Southern Oscillation) are analysed and discussed.
Forest
Papua New Guinea has large tracts of intact mangrove forest with a high species diversity extending over many thousands of shore kilometers and, in many regions, penetrating quite deeply inland.
Mangrove ecosystem is very useful and critical to PNG coastal communities. Its uses ranges from carbon sequestration, buffers coastlines against storm surges and sea level rise, breeding ground for fisheries, building, firewood, medicinal purposes to name a few.
The 2020 State of Environment Report is the first for Papua New Guinea.