Transcript Climate of Hawaii

Climates of Hawai‘i
Ka Hana ÔImi NaÔa
uao ĞA Science Careers Curriculum Resource Go to: www.cds.hawaii.edu/kahana
Climates of Hawai‘i
 Only state surrounded by ocean
 Only state within tropics
 Both contribute to its climate
 50% above 2000 ft
 10% above 7000 ft
2 Native Hawaiian Seasons
Kau - Summer
 May thru Oct
 Tradewinds prevalent
 Cloudy Windward areas
2 Native Hawaiian Seasons
Ho‘oilo - Winter
Nov thru April
Winds light and variable
Leeward areas cloudier
Hawaiian Climates
 Kona
 Ko‘olau
 Puna
 Moa‘e
Elevation Changes
Natural Communities
 ELEVATION
 Temperature
 Rainfall (Moisture)
 Soil type
 Air temperature drops
 ~ 5.5° C/km rise in elevation
 ~ 3° F/1,000 ft
7 climatic regions of Hawai‘i
1.Windward Lowlands
< 2000 ft, North to NE sides
–
–
–
–
Trade wind
Moderately rainy
Partly cloudy to cloudy
Nearly uniform temperatures
7 climatic regions of Hawai‘i
2. Leeward Lowlands
(not Kona coast)
- Higher daytime temps
- Lower nighttime temps
- Mostly dry with occasional
light showers
7 climatic regions of Hawai‘i
3. Interior Lowlands
- O‘ahu & Maui
- Occasional intense local
afternoon showers
7 climatic regions of Hawai‘i
4. Kona Coast
- Summer rains
- Winter dry
- Warmer than windward
- Drier than windward
7 climatic regions of Hawai‘i
5. Windward mountain slopes
- Lots of rain
- Lots of clouds
-In winter & summer
- High humidity
7 climatic regions of Hawai‘i
6. Leeward mountain slopes
- Rains more than lowlands
but less than windward
- Greater temperature
fluctuations
7 climatic regions of Hawai‘i
7. High Mountains
> 2000 ft or 3000 ft on Mauna Kea, Mauna
Loa, & Haleakalā
- Rain decreases rapidly with
elevation
- Near summit rain is scant with
clear skies
- Low humidity, low temperatures
Lee wave clouds at sunset. Lenticular, or lee wave, clouds form downwind of
an obstacle in the path of a strong air current. Since air cools as it rises and
warms as it falls, it is at the peak of a standing wave where moisture
condenses and clouds form.
Towering cumulus clouds (cumulus
congestus). These very large and
vertically developed cumulus clouds
resembles the head of a cauliflower
and are known as a cumulus
congestus or towering cumulus.
Rain showers may result from this
type of cloud, which often develop
into a cumulonimbus, or
thunderstorm cloud.
Clouds
Moonbow
Tornado
In ‘Ewa