Elevational patterns of climate on the leeward slope of East Maui, Hawaii

Abstract

The climate of the main Hawaiian islands is strongly influenced by persistent subsidence inversion and trade winds characteristic of the region. In the middle and upper elevations of the high volcanic peaks climate is directly affected by the presence and movement of this inversion. Five climate stations have been operating on an altitudinal transect between 950 meters and 3000 meters elevation on the leeward side of East Maui in order to measure and describe the climate zones created by the inversion layer. Hourly measurements of solar radiation, net radiation, air temperature, relative humidity, wind, rainfall and atmometer evaporation were made. This report documents the results of these measurements in terms of elevational, annual and diurnal patterns, as well as addressing some aspects of climate variability and the applications of this data in estimating rates of potential evapotranspiration. This report summarizes two to three years of data from these climate stations and can be used as a reference for future research on the relationship between native ecosystems and climate within the area of study.