Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 1. Physical Setting of the Islands
Draft 1 March 2007
Garnett (1983a) reported that the inferred mean annual rainfall of McKean was 80 cm (0.8 m)
(see also Stoddart 1976).
NIKUMARORO (GARDNER)
Winds – The prevailing winds were easterly trades (Garnett 1983a).
Rain - Wiens (1962) reported that the annual rainfall on Nikumaroro (Gardner) was 117 cm
(46.06 inches).
Average annual rainfall for Nikumaroro (Gardner) was estimated to be 152 cm (60 inches)
per year (Knudsen 1965).
Nikumaroro (Gardner) had a mean annual rainfall of 131.9 cm (51.9 inches) (based on 1951
to 1961 data) with the highest annual rainfall of 272.2 cm (107.2 inches), and the lowest
annual rainfall of 27.5 cm (10.8 inches) (Fosberg and Stoddart 1994).
Garnett (1983a) reported that inferred mean annual rainfall on Nikumaror (Gardner) was 130
cm (51.2 inches) (see also Stoddart 1976). Nikumaroro (Gardner) was subject to periodic and
severe droughts.
Storms - In about 1990, there was a large storm that hit Nikumaroro (King et al 2001). The
only thing left of the landing monument was the foundation. The storm wash was 46 m (150
ft) back in the trees.
ORONA (HULL)
Rain - The rainy season was primarily from January to March and June (Bryan 1934).
Wiens (1962) reported that the annual rainfall on Orona (Hull) was 83 cm (32.68 inches).
Between 1952 and 1963), the mean annual rainfall at Orona (Hull) was 117.1 cm (46.1
inches), with a highest recorded annual total of 259.9 cm (102.3 inches) and a lowest of 56.5
cm (22.3 inches) (Fosberg and Stoddart 1994).
Garnett (1983) reported that the inferred mean annual rainfall on Orona (Hull) was 120 cm
(1.2 m) (see also Stoddart 1976). Orona (Hull) suffered from periodic and severe droughts.
Temperture - The average daily temperature was 27 0 C (Garnett 1983). The prevailing winds
were easterly trades (see also Maude 1937).
RAWAKI (PHOENIX)
Wind - Winds are easterly, varying from east-northeast to east-southeast (Hydrographic
Office 1940; easterly trades according to Garnett 1983).
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