Ethnoclimatology in the Andes
By Benjamin Orlove, John Chiang, Mark Cane
A cross-disciplinary study uncovers a scientific basis for the scheme Andean potato farmers traditionally use to predict the coming rains
This Article From Issue
September-October 2002
Volume 90, Number 5
Page 428
DOI: 10.1511/2002.33.428
Across the Andes in Peru and Bolivia, farmers gather in small groups in the middle of the night in late June. They climb high ridges and often ascend to the peaks of mountains. Coming right after the winter solstice, these nights are the longest of the year and among the coldest as well. Hundreds of such groups of villagers assemble on these nights in a large area that extends from Huancayo, located some 12 degrees south of the equator, to Potosí, which lies at 19 degrees south. The farmers huddle together in eager expectancy.
Photograph courtesy of Bruce Winterhalder, University of California, Davis.
American Scientist Comments and Discussion
To discuss our articles or comment on them, please share them and tag American Scientist on social media platforms. Here are links to our profiles on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
If we re-share your post, we will moderate comments/discussion following our comments policy.