Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 1. Physical Setting of the Islands
Draft 1 March 2007
Nunn (1994) noted that between 5 0 N to 5 0 S particularly in the central Pacific Ocean (where
the Phoenix Islands are located), there was persistent high pressure preventing the
development of tropical cyclones (hurricanes).
Lehodey et al (1997) examined the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in relationship to
the western equatorial Pacific warm pool. During ENSO events this warm water pool shifts
to the east and skipjack catches also shift to the east extending to the Phoenix Islands.
Mueller-Dombois and Fosberg (1998) presented a climate diagram map with climate zones in
the central Pacific (including the Phoenix Islands) with rainfall isohyets (see Figure III-1.37
below).
Figure III-1.37. Climate diagram map with climate zones in the central Pacific
(including the Phoenix Islands) with rainfall isohyets
(source: Mueller-Dombois and Fosberg 1998).
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