HAWAI'I'S CLIMATE CHANGES : HOW THE TRADE WINDS THAT MADE IT FAMOUS ARE DISAPPEARING

 

Hawai'i is famous for many things, but one of the most important qualities that made the islands so desirable were his trade winds, which blew mildly but almost constantly across its rugged terrain. 

Climate changes in the global environment are bringing changes to Hawai'i that could radically alter its climate and its aspect.

The trade winds are disappearing.  A muggy cloak now envelopes the island.  The humidity that was once swept away from the islands now sits immoble over them.  

The effects so far are not dramatic, but its subtlety is deceiving.  Mostly complaints are heard issuing from villagers unused to the humidity, and a more steady use of cooling systems. 

But another problem might soon put a dent on the idyllic islands.  The smoke from its  constantly belching volcanoes is no longer transported by the rotatory winds away from land. 

The winds, more importantly, are what gather the clouds that bring rain to the lush vegetation of the Hawai'i archipelago.  Less water means that the forests will have less hydration, which is already prompting some authorities to call for water conservation.  Already agronomists are devising different crops and farming methods to confront the coming changes. 

Scientists so far are not altogether sure what's causing the change in winds.  They point the finger at global warming as a possible suspect, but they have no hard evidence yet.  

The changes however, started a few years ago.  So a group of scientists have set out to study the 'new' patterns of the winds to plot future trade winds using data from existing ocean buoys and airport wind sensors.  

Another trademark of the Hawaiian islands were its giant waves.  Now the waves are becoming less powerful.  Surfers are already attesting to that. 

What scientists are also trying to understand is if this trend is the end of a cycle or a new cycle altogether with different characteristics from the preceding one.   

The results of diminishing trade winds is already visible: the Islands of Hawai'i are in drought.  Maui so far has had the driest April ever recorded. 

Source : Wtop  6.3.13