Solomon Sea environment and people

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All photos by W. Kessler

Typical afternoon thunderhead over Kolombangara Volcano, Solomon Islands.

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View of sea and sky over Kolombangara Volcano, Solomon Islands

Landing at Gizo in a Solomon Airlines Twin Otter. Every airstrip is grass except the capital.

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Landing at Gizo on grass airstrip

Traditional "panpipe" band. The marimba-like bamboo instruments are tuned to give both percussion and melody.

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Traditional "panpipe" band

Waterfront at Gizo. Boats bring people, produce and fish to and from the daily market.

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Waterfront and multiple boats at Gizo

Reef fish for sale in the Gizo market.

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Colorful reef fish for sale in the Gizo market

Vegetables for sale in the Gizo market.

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Vegetables for sale in the Gizo market

Main street, Gizo. All the buildings open to the water in back.

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Buildings lining Main street, Gizo

Woman leaving Gizo market in late afternoon. These hand-carved canoes are very hard to balance, but everyone there is a skilled boater.

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Woman leaving Gizo market in hand-carved canoe

On the slopes of the Kolombangara rainforest.

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The slopes of the Kolombangara rainforest

Women coming to see the glider work, Ponam Island, Papua New Guinea. Note the facial tattoos that show their origin village, and their betelnut-stained lips and teeth.

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Women coming to see the glider work, Ponam Island, Papua New Guinea

Loading copra (dried coconut), the main export crop in Gizo.

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Loading copra (dried coconut) onto a boat

Several of the thousands of Solomon Islands.

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Aerial view of several of the thousands of Solomon Islands

Reef islet.

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Aerial view of reef islet

Islet and reef. This is a raised coral island. Extremely sharp coral rocks make these very difficult to walk on, even with strong shoes.

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Raised coral island and reef

The Solomon Islands are under the South Pacific Convergence Zone, with daily rainstorms always around.

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Rainstorm over the sea and island

Clouds are taller in the tropics because the tropopause (boundary with the stratosphere) is about twice as high as in mid-latitudes.

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Clouds over island

Lifted coral rock cliffs, undercut by wave action. Misima Island, Papua New Guinea.

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Lifted coral rock cliffs undercut by wave action

Rainstorms over Kolombangara Volcano. The daily rain produces a luxuriant rainforest.

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Rainstorms over Kolombangara Volcano

From the hill looking over Gizo town. The frequent clouds of the South Pacific Convergence Zone.

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Lush hills looking over Gizo town

The open Solomon Sea near New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.

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Open sea and sky - Solomon Sea

Sunset over Gizo town.

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Clouds, water, and sunset over Gizo town