Chapter 2: Environmental Setting

• Main Authors: Costa, BM, Poti, M, Winship, AJ, Miller, PI, Gove, J
• Other Authors: Kendall, MS
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2016
• Subjects: Conservation; Ecology and Environment; Marine Sciences; Planning; Policies; Pacific; aleutian low
• Online Access: http://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/7257/; http://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/7257/1/MHI_BioAssess%2012.08.2016%20Final_hawaii_ch2_env_setting.pdf; http://www2.coastalscience.noaa.gov/publications/handler.aspx?key=9208

Atmospheric and oceanographic patterns were mapped using satellite imagery and oceanographic models. These maps were used to describe the regional environment, and to develop models predicting deep-coral, cetacean, and seabird distributions. Seasons around the MHI are driven by changes in the North Pacific Subtropical High and the Aleutian Low. Winter (November to April) is cooler, rainier, and dominated by the North Pacific swell. Summer (May to October) is warmer, less rainy, and dominated by the northeasterly trade winds and swell. Mountains and submerged topography change the direction and speed of winds and currents. These interactions cause the leeward sides of the island to be warmer and drier, and create frequent convergence, mixing, upwelling, fronts and eddies in the channels between the islands (e.g., the Kaiwi, Pailolo and ʻAlenuihānā Channels), and on the leeward sides of the islands (e.g., Kona Coast, Hawaiʻi).