Hawaii's Diverse Microclimates and Environments

Hawaii is perhaps one of the World’s best natural laboratories based on its diverse climatic zones and environmental conditions in a relatively small region. The mountainous topography of the Hawaiian Islands makes the climate one of the most spatially diverse on Earth, and represents a miniature continent (T.W. Giambelluca, and T.A. Schroeder, “Climate,” Chapter in Atlas of Hawaii, Third Edition, ed. by S.P. Juvik, and J.O. Juvik, University of Hawaii Press, 1998.).

Rainfall, solar radiation, temperature, humidity, and wind vary significantly over relatively short distances. Humid tropical rain forest including the World’s wettest spot, arid and semi arid deserts, temperate, and frozen alpine ecosystems all exist in Hawaii. In addition, environmental conditions such as marine, volcanic, rural, etc. also add to the diversity of corrosion test sites.

Marine environments are particularly corrosive due to the ubiquitous chloride from sea water. The persistent trade winds in the Pacific which flow from northeast to southwest generate onshore winds on the northeastern shores and offshore winds on the southwestern shores of the islands. The onshore winds may carry sea spray and have higher moisture content than offshore winds and, therefore, contribute to diversity of corrosive environments.

Hawaii’s unique climate and environmental diversity enable the setup of a network of test sites representing a wide range of climatic zones and environmental conditions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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