Weather & Climate data for Hawaii - Research Paper Example

? Weather & Climate Data for Hawaii Introduction The of Hawaii has a very intriguing climate and weatherpatterns that make it unique besides the negative effects that it encounters, especially occasional storm episodes. The storms normally hit the islands where they yield to immense life loss and property destruction. The state has two distinct seasons that characterize its weather pattern commonly known as Kau (summer) from May to October and Ho'oilo (winter) from November to April. Its location is at the south Tropic of Cancer, which implies that it experiences intense sun that result in sunburns. An exposure of 20 minutes is enough for serious sunburn that may be severe especially when it recurs. This is evident especially in the warmest month of August and September which temperatures may rise probably to 890F, for instance, in Honolulu. However, heat in this state ranges with altitude where heading towards the Mt. Waialeale, the effects are rarely experienced, which is similar to rainfall pattern. Besides having two distinct weather seasons, Hawaii’s day climate trend is unpredictable, hence localized, where two regions can have diverse weather patterns at the same instant. Data collection Figure 1: Hawaii Day’s Temperature & humidity, Retrieved from http://www.hawaiiss.com/weather/wx4.htm Months Mean high Temp. in °F Mean low Temp. in °F Mean precipitation –(inches) Precipitation Days Sunshine Hours Jan 80 66 2.72 14 227 Feb 81 65 2.36 12 202 March 82 67 1.89 13 251 April 83 68 1.1 12 255 May 85 70 0.79 11 276 June 87 72 0.43 12 280 July 88 74 0.51 14 294 August 89 75 0.47 13 290 September 89 74 0.75 13 279 October 87 73 2.17 13 257 November 84 72 2.28 13 221 December 82 68 2.83 15 212 Figure 2: Hawaii (Honolulu) Climate, Retrieved from http://www.usclimatedata.com/climate.php?location=USHI0026 Figure 3: Honolulu Climate Graph - Hawaii Climate Chart. Retrieved from http://www.usclimatedata.com/climate.php?location=USHI0026 High Temperature 84.70F Low Temperature 710F Mean Temperature 780F Precipitation 18.2 d. Precipitation days 155 d. Sunshine hours 3042 h. Figure 4: Annual Mean and Total statistics. Differing Rainfall Data Figure 5: mountain View rainfall statistics, Retrieved from http://rainfall.geography.hawaii.edu/rainfall.html Figure 6: Hono Wb Airport statistics, retrieved from http://rainfall.geography.hawaii.edu/rainfall.html Figure 7: Honaunau rainfall statistics, Retrieved from http://rainfall.geography.hawaii.edu/rainfall.html Figure 8: Waterspouts produced as fierce storms lashed Hawaii, yielding to power outages. Retrieved from < http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1383230/Rare-twin-waterspouts-tower-Hawaii-storms-lash-island.html> Discussion Hawaii climate normally varies divergently across its islands. Therefore, they do experience varying solar radiations at assorted times throughout the year. All other aspects that comprise its climate pattern normally rely on solar radiation, especially the duration exposure. This, besides altering weather aspects like rainfall, may also have adverse impacts like sunburns that are evident mostly in the months of August and September (Villinger 86). Mainly, this is when temperatures are high, specifically at 890F. Hawaiian daily prediction states that it experiences high temperatures mainly in the afternoon characterized by low humidity. This is evident in Fig.1 where, according to the graph, high humidity is in the morning periods, but in the afternoon, it tends to reduce. So, solar radiation normally heats the earth’s surface plus the air, making the air become dry, hence eliminating high quantity of humidity (Pao-Shin, Chen Ying, and Schroeder 4889). In addition, the ocean trade winds also contribute to increasing humidity of the Hawaiian climate. Alternatively, Hawaii, compared to other states, has high humidity, especially when it experiences intense trade winds. For instance, tourists or people from hotter states, when they alight at the airport, experience chilling on their skins, which is contrary to when one is in Colorado (Villinger 87). During the days when it is cloudy and there are no trade winds, the air one feels is too thick, where an individual may notice water droplets on others’ hair as misty. According to Fig.1, the highest recordings of humidity in the morning normally reach approximately 65% contrary to the afternoon, which are at 40%. Additionally, day’s highest and lowest temperatures are roughly 10% and 89% respectively. The figures bearing monthly combined data regarding temperature, precipitation and sun rays exposure depict that the latter (precipitation) statistics are high in the extreme months of the year (Pao-Shin, Chen Ying, and Schroeder 4881). These encompass January to March and October to December where the temperatures are not that high. This is contrary to the months of August and September in which the state has high augmented statistics regarding temperature besides less periods of sunshine exposure. The presented data emanates from the Honolulu station where it may vary significantly with other stations due to regional climatic patterns (Otkin and Jonathan 1512). Hawaiian rainfall distribution across the state similarly varies like temperature and precipitation recordings. This is evident in Figs. 5, 6 & 7, which characterize the Mountain View, Hono Wb Airport and Honaunau stations climate. The three stations experience varied rainfall distribution whereas Mountain View shows almost evenly distributed statistics. This is contrary to the other two stations that depict having a certain trend. For instance, Hono Wb Airport has high rainfall statistics in the extreme months of the year (Pao-Shin, Chen Ying, and Schroeder 4885). The station’s records show that during the year, especially from April to September, figures reveal no significant rainfall quantities. Conversely, Honaunau’s rainfall distribution dominates the middle months, which is contrary to Hono Wb Airport’s statistics. Hence, it implies that Hawaii has numerous localized weather trends that constitute the two distinct seasons experienced in the country. This emanates from the trade winds that normally sweep over the islands from the ocean and result in diverse climatic characteristics (Badertscher 1). In addition, solar radiations, which have a total exposure of 3042 h annually, contribute to the alterations of the state’s climate (Hsi-Chyi 968). The Hawaiian region in reference to other continental states is approximately 2,000 miles from the nearest land mass which makes it have a distinct climatic trend that normally is not stable (Pao-Shin, Chen Ying, and Schroeder 4890). Besides short interval alterations experienced generally by the state, its inner regions have distinct or localized trends evident throughout the year. For instance, this is evident especially when an individual decides to travel across a short distance in the state and finds that his destination region’s rainfall rate is converse to the place he has departed (Badertscher 1). In addition, the state’s experiencing of high temperatures throughout the year is due to ample and prolonged time the wind has while travelling over the ocean before it reaches the Hawaiian land at elevated temperatures. This yields to temperature increase, which characterizes the islands. The state enjoys warm tropical climate all throughout the year where cold breeze sweeps over the islands to lower the high temperatures and sometimes causing rain from nowhere (Otkin and Jonathan 1505). The state does not experience occurrences of tornados or similar related incidences, except the tropical storms accelerated by trade winds (Hsi-Chyi 968). Storms and lightening normally result in grievous effects that entail destruction of property and sometimes people’s death (Badertscher 1). Water swells and floods characterize weather calamities, which are evident in Hawaii. Recent occurrences were in March this year, where news revealed that Hawaiian Kauai and Oahu islands were under a flash flood due to the then impending storms (UPI.com). This was an attempt to seek aid from other able states like U.S (Villinger 88). Afterwards, news revealed that on March 12Th there were flooding, storm and landslides that yielded to destruction of property together with turning numerous roads impassable. Hawaii’s economy mainly is based on agriculture, besides industry, tourism and trade. These vital activities normally suffer immensely when storms hit their diverse islands. Since they yield to flooding, this contributes to water pollution besides a potential hazard to humanity, especially those inhabiting the affected areas. This acts as a source of diseases like cholera and other related waterborne predicaments (Stern 467). Other adverse impacts encompass destruction of commercial structures and infrastructures, hence making the state incur losses in restructuring the facilities instead of erecting other new or doing development of the existing ones. Calamities also affect tourism and industry despite the state sometimes boasting of the view of the waterspouts at the ocean, which yields to halting the activities for sometime (Hsi-Chyi 966). The intense scorching sunrays usually yield to severe burns on human’s skin (Stern 470). In absence of excellent health care practices at an individual level, sunburns may yield to an advanced degree and then to a carcinogenic one. In addition, storm drains and landslides in Hawaii form the basis of environmental pollution especially in rain seasons. Storm drains normally run through already damaged sewers and underground septic tanks where they result in water contamination (Villinger 87). Due to absence of pure water except the rainwater, inhabitants have no alternative than to use the already contaminated one. Additionally, the already polluted water drains into diverse water catchment besides the ocean where it poisons and destroys aquatic life. The landslide-affected regions become dangerous to people where some structures or formed features like deep pits become hazards (Stern 471), hence rendering those sites unproductive, especially if they were in agricultural regions, which is an additional expense to the state for reclamation. Summary Hawaii, unlike other states, occupies the tropic of cancer region, which is the reason of its distinct climatic pattern. In addition, its location in the ocean besides the solar radiation, contributes to climate alterations. Trade winds from the ocean also accelerate in changing the weather trends, which the states experienced. High humidity and temperatures normally characterize Hawaii besides frequently reported storms that cause immense property destructions (Caruso & Businger 200). Besides having two distinct seasons, Hawaii has rainfall that varies across its islands within short distances, where bordering regions may experience quite opposite weather aspects from the next region (Stern 469). Additionally, the state also experiences climatic catastrophes like storms and floods. This usually causes water pollution that has an adverse impact on humanity, which entail spreading of waterborne predicaments like cholera among the victims. Landslides create deep pits that normally entail the state to incur expenses while trying to refill them with the aim of making the land resourceful again (Caruso and Businger 200). Hawaii’s economy is based mainly on agriculture, hence implying that the state depends much on rain. The adverse climatic calamities also affect industry and commercial activities like tourism; though, according to the state, some of its events attract tourists. These encompass the waterspouts, its location in the midst of ocean and temperate climate. The remedy for these adverse calamities entail proper planning of the government to ensure adequate and competent agencies meant to intervene in time of rescue. The state cannot have any better way to handle the storms, but through their local authorities, they are capable commercial regions in the places that are not prone to calamities. Additionally, weather forecast organizations need improvements so that they are able to attain the required information early and warn the inhabitants to vacate to safer regions since relying on other states’ scientific prowess will not assist them in managing its disasters. Works Cited Badertscher, Eric. “Hawaii's Environment & Geography.” Let's Take A Look At Hawaii (2010): 1. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. Caruso, Steven J., and Steven Businger. “Subtropical Cyclogenesis over The Central North Pacific.” Weather & Forecasting 21.2 (2006): 193-205. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. Hsi-Chyi, Yeh. “Application of Satellite-Derived Ocean Surface Winds to The Detection of Weather Systems and The Prediction of Near-Ocean Surface Winds Around Hawaii.” Terrestrial, Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences 21.6 (2010): 955-969. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. Otkin, Jason A., and Jonathan B. Martin. A Synoptic Climatology Of The Subtropical Kona Storm. Monthly Weather Review 132.6 (2004): 1502-1517. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. Pao-Shin, Chu, Chen Ying, Ruan, and Thomas Schroeder. “Changes in Precipitation Extremes in the Hawaiian Islands in a Warming Climate.” Journal of Climate 23.18 (2010): 4881- 4900. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. Stern, Bernard W. “The Factors Determining Hawaii's Industrial Relations "Climate." Labor Law Journal 34.8 (1983): 465-471. International Security & Counter Terrorism Reference Center. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. UPI.com. U.S News: Storms batter Hawaiian Islands. March 9, 2012. Web. 19Th April 2012 from Villinger, Niti, D. “In Search of Paradise: Why People Choose to Live and Work in Hawaii.” Journal of Global Business Issues 5.2 (2011): 85-88. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. Read More