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. Observed trends and analysis of air temperature, rainfall,