Scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa have observed a decrease in the frequency of northeast trade winds and an increase in eastern trade winds over the past nearly four decades, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research.
For example, northeast trade wind days, which occurred 291 days per year 37 years ago at the Honolulu International Airport, now only occur 210 days per year.
Jessica Garza, a meteorology graduate assistant at the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, Pao-Shin Chu, meteorology professor and head of the Hawaiʻi State Climate Office; Chase Norton and Thomas Schroeder analyzed 37 years of wind speed and direction, and sea level pressure data from land-based weather stations, buoys and reanalysis data.
Persistent northeast trade winds are important to the Hawaiian Islands because they affect wave height, cloud formation, and precipitation over specific areas of the region. When trades fail to develop the air can become dormant and unpleasant weather can develop.
Furthermore, Chu explained that the trades are the primary source of moisture for rain, and that a dramatic reduction could fundamentally change Hawaiʻi’s overall climate.
Read more about their research as featured in Civil Beat, Hawaii News Now, Honolulu Star-Advertiser (subscription required),Maui Time, Our Amazing Planet, Raising Islands, RedOrbit, and Science Daily.
UH in the News for October 12–18, 2012
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- The Chronicle of Higher Education, October 18, 2012: “‘Wonder Blunder’ puts Hawaiʻi’s president on the hot seat” (subscription required)
- Hawaii News Now, October 18, 2012: “UH regents consider Greenwood’s fate in closed-door meeting”
- Hawaii Reporter, October 18, 2012: “No Regents Decision on Greenwood Expected Today”
- Honolulu Star-Advertiser, October 18, 2012: “UH regents have no comment after meeting on Greenwood’s future”
- Honolulu Star-Advertiser, October 18, 2012: “Regents call in $15K consultant to talk about governing” (subscription required)
- Honolulu Star-Advertiser, October 18, 2012: “University autonomy imperiled by concert troubles” (subscription required)
- KHON, October 18, 2012: “UH Manoa’s Hamilton Library now open on Saturdays”
- KHON, October 18, 2012: “UH Board of Regents approve biennium budget”
- KHON, October 18, 2012: “Hawaii County Food Self-Sufficiency Baseline study gets award”
- KITV, October 18, 2012: “UH Regents approve budget proposal, Greenwood job in limbo”
- Radio Australia, October 18, 2012: “Jobs, agriculture on agenda of Hawaii research forum”
- Civil Beat, October 17, 2012: “Hawaii Monitor: What’s Behind the UH Athletics Debacle”
- The Garden Island, October 17, 2012: “Bee pests update, workshop starts Friday”
- Hawaii News Now, October 17, 2012: “KCC students teach high school teens at Health-E Fair”
- Hawaii News Now, October 17, 2012: “UH faculty senate postpones no confidence vote on Greenwood”
- Hawaii Reporter, October 17, 2012: “Greenwood: University of Hawaii threatened by ‘political pressure’”
- KHON, October 17, 2012: “Open Table Diners names UHMC’s Leis Class Act Restaurant No. 1 in Hawaiʻi”
- The Maui News, October 17, 2012: “Kahana Canoe Club awards three academic scholarships”
- Maui Now, October 17, 2012: “UHMC’s ‘Class Act’ Chosen as Best Hawaii Restaurant”
- MidWeek, October 17, 2012: “eWaste Disposal Days 2012”
- NBCNews.com, October 17, 2012: “Astronomers take first 3-D look at giant strand of dark matter”
- The Garden Island, October 16, 2012: “Domestic Violence Awareness launches at KCC”
- Hawaii Reporter, October 16, 2012: “University President to Address Unhappy Faculty?”
- Honolulu Star-Advertiser, October 16, 2012: “Faculty weighs Greenwood censure” (subscription required)
- Pacific Business News, October 16, 2012: “Hawaiʻi basketball spends little to field winning team”
- Big Island Now, October 15, 2012: “School flu vaccination program begins statewide”
- Big Island Video News, October 15, 2012: “VIDEO: 2012 UH Hilo College of Pharmacy White Coat Ceremony”
- Hawaii News Now, October 15, 2012: “Alaska Republican says he now backs Lingle”
- Hawaii News Now, October 15, 2012: “No review of applications yet for UH Mānoa Athletics Director”
- Honolulu Star-Advertiser, October 15, 2012: “Public’s unease magnified by big UH salaries” (subscription required)
- Hydrogen Fuel News, October 15, 2012: “Hawaii Natural Energy Institute launches new hydrogen fuel project”
- KPUA, October 15, 2012: “Grant to support Native Hawaiians in medicine”
- Pacific Business News, October 15, 2012: “Hawaii football uniforms to support Wounded Warrior Project”
- The Garden Island, October 13, 2012: “Beach cleaners ponder tsunami debris question”
- Honolulu Star-Advertiser, October 13, 2012: “UH West Oʻahu should aim high” (subscription required)
- Hawaii News Now, October 12, 2012: “Computer thieves strike Saunders Hall at UH Manoa”
- Honolulu Star-Advertiser, October 12, 2012: “Greenwood’s goals released”
- Honolulu Star-Advertiser, October 12, 2012: “Don’t act rashly on Greenwood” (subscription required)
- Honolulu Star-Advertiser, October 12, 2012: “UH’s Apple responds to senator’s query” (subscription required)
- Honolulu Star-Advertiser, October 12, 2012: “UH fails to release Greenwood documents” (subscription required)
- KHON, October 12, 2012: “Thieves steal six computers from UH Manoa building”
- KITV, October 12, 2012: “Board of Regents discusses Greenwood’s appointment”
