Secular temperature changes in Hawai‘i

While the upward trend in global mean temperature has been intensively studied, some regional temperature trends are less well known. We document secular temperature changes in the Hawaiian Islands for the past ∼85 years based on an index of 21 stations. Results show a relatively rapid rise in surfa...

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Main Authors: Thomas W. Giambelluca, Henry F. Diaz, Mark S. A. Luke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2008-06-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GL034377
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author Thomas W. Giambelluca
Henry F. Diaz
Mark S. A. Luke
author_facet Thomas W. Giambelluca
Henry F. Diaz
Mark S. A. Luke
author_sort Thomas W. Giambelluca
collection DOAJ
description While the upward trend in global mean temperature has been intensively studied, some regional temperature trends are less well known. We document secular temperature changes in the Hawaiian Islands for the past ∼85 years based on an index of 21 stations. Results show a relatively rapid rise in surface temperature in the last ∼30 years, with stronger warming at the higher elevations. The bulk of the increase in mean temperature is related to a much larger increase in minimum temperatures compared to the maximum—a net warming about 3 times as large—resulting in a reduction of the diurnal range. For much of the period of record analyzed here, surface temperature in Hawai‘i has varied coherently with changes in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). However, in recent decades, the secular warming has begun to predominate, such that despite the recent cooling associated with the PDO, surface temperatures in Hawai‘i have remained elevated. The greater warming trend at the higher elevations may have significant ecological impacts.
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spelling doaj-art-e2b59d6199cd4e01b31d87695c4d0aca2025-08-20T01:52:19ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072008-06-013512n/an/a10.1029/2008GL034377Secular temperature changes in Hawai‘iThomas W. Giambelluca0Henry F. Diaz1Mark S. A. Luke2Department of Geography University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Honolulu Hawai‘i USADepartment of Geography University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Honolulu Hawai‘i USADepartment of Geography University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Honolulu Hawai‘i USAWhile the upward trend in global mean temperature has been intensively studied, some regional temperature trends are less well known. We document secular temperature changes in the Hawaiian Islands for the past ∼85 years based on an index of 21 stations. Results show a relatively rapid rise in surface temperature in the last ∼30 years, with stronger warming at the higher elevations. The bulk of the increase in mean temperature is related to a much larger increase in minimum temperatures compared to the maximum—a net warming about 3 times as large—resulting in a reduction of the diurnal range. For much of the period of record analyzed here, surface temperature in Hawai‘i has varied coherently with changes in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). However, in recent decades, the secular warming has begun to predominate, such that despite the recent cooling associated with the PDO, surface temperatures in Hawai‘i have remained elevated. The greater warming trend at the higher elevations may have significant ecological impacts.https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GL034377global warmingmountain environmentsnighttime temperature change
spellingShingle Thomas W. Giambelluca
Henry F. Diaz
Mark S. A. Luke
Secular temperature changes in Hawai‘i
Geophysical Research Letters
global warming
mountain environments
nighttime temperature change
title Secular temperature changes in Hawai‘i
title_full Secular temperature changes in Hawai‘i
title_fullStr Secular temperature changes in Hawai‘i
title_full_unstemmed Secular temperature changes in Hawai‘i
title_short Secular temperature changes in Hawai‘i
title_sort secular temperature changes in hawai i
topic global warming
mountain environments
nighttime temperature change
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2008GL034377
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AT henryfdiaz seculartemperaturechangesinhawaii
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