Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan: 01. Introduction

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Chapter 1:Introduction Located between 19 and 22 degrees north latitude at the northern edge of the tropical zone, Hawaii's mild salubrious climate is due in part to location within the tradewind zone. Hawaii's climate is notable for its low day-to-day and month-to-month variability. The annual variation in mean monthly temperatures is only about 9 degrees F for areas at sea level. While the climate is equable,the mountainous topography makes Hawaii Island one of the most spatially diverse anywhere. From 20 inches in leeward areas to 300 inches in the upper windward areas, this island experiences a range of moisture and temperature regimes exceeding that found across the breadth of a continent. The tropical conditions of the eastern Pacific are ideal for hurricane formation-- i.e., the warm ocean water near the equator (combined with the cyclonic spin) within 10-20 degrees north of the equator (see Figure 1-3). As the easternmost island in the State, Hawaii Island has a slightly higher probability of tropical cyclone landfall, but historically very few events have actually occurred. Figure 1-3. Map of Tropical Cyclones Formed Worldwide from 1985 to 20055 6 5 Image from Wikipedia Website,Retrieved October 5,2009 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Global tropical cyclone tracks-edit2.jpg 6 The points in the map show the locations of the storms at six-hourly intervals. 1-10 Hawaii County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan