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Aim To provide the first regional analysis of contemporary drivers of Pacific Island fire regimes. Location Islands of Palau, Yap, Guam, Rota, Tinian, Saipan, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae. Time Period 1950-present. Methods We used land cover, soil maps and contemporary fire histories to (1) describe the relationships among fire activity, vegetation, rainfall and island geography and population; (2) examine the spatial associations of forest and savanna vegetation with respect to fire and soil types; and (3) link fire and savanna distribution to intra-annual and inter-annual rainfall variability. Results Savanna extent was positively correlated with island age and the range of mean monthly rainfall. The percent of area...
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Drought is a signifcant climate feature in Hawai‘i and the U.S.-Affliated Pacifc Islands (USAPI), at times causing severe impacts across multiple sectors. Below-average precipitation anomalies are often accompanied by higher-than-average temperatures and reduced cloud cover. The resulting higher insolation and evapotranspiration can exacerbate the effects of reduced rainfall. These altered meteorological conditions lead to less soil moisture. Depending on the persistence and severity of the conditions, drier soil can cause plant stress, affecting both agricultural and natural systems. Hydrological effects of drought include reductions in streamfow, groundwater recharge, and groundwater discharge to springs, streams,...
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