How Can It Snow on Carstensz Summit?

Papua is well-known for its tropical and humid climate. Yet, surprisingly, amid Indonesia's warm weather and lush rainforests lies a place covered in eternal snow-Carstensz Summit. This unique phenomenon often sparks curiosity: how can there be snow in a tropical country like Indonesia?

Geographically, Carstensz Summit (also known as Puncak Jaya) is part of the Sudirman Range, towering over 4,800 meters above sea level. This extreme altitude is the main reason snow can form there. The higher the altitude, the lower the temperature. At elevations above 4,500 meters, temperatures at Carstensz can drop below 0°C, allowing snow and ice to form naturally.

In addition to altitude, atmospheric conditions also play a major role. Carstensz lies within the path of cold air currents blowing from the southern Pacific Ocean. As the moist air rises to higher altitudes, it cools rapidly, causing water vapor to freeze into ice crystals and fall as snow. This makes Carstensz the only place in Indonesia where natural snowfall occurs.

However, scientists have observed that the snow on Carstensz is gradually disappearing due to global warming. The once-thick glaciers are melting year by year. If this trend continues, Indonesia's only eternal snow may vanish completely in the coming decades.

The snowfall at Carstensz Summit serves as a remarkable reminder of Indonesia's diverse natural wonders-not only in its tropical seas and forests, but also atop its highest mountain, where extreme climates coexist. It's a call to protect and preserve this extraordinary natural heritage.