Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Thursday afternoon:

Lihue, Kauai -  85
Honolulu, Oahu -  86
Kaneohe, Oahu -  84
Kaunakakai, Molokai – 85
Kahului, Maui – 87
Hilo, Hawaii -   83
Kailua-kona –   81

Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level – and on the highest mountain tops too…as of 5am Friday morning:

Barking Sands, Kauai - 78
Hilo, Hawaii - 71

Haleakala Crater -    52 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea summit – 41 (near 14,000 feet on the Big Island)

Precipitation Totals - The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Friday morning: 

0.46 Mount Waialeale, Kauai  
0.35 Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu
0.16 Molokai 
0.00 Lanai
0.13 Kahoolawe
0.84 Puu Kukui, Maui
2.06 Kawainui Stream, Big Island

Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing a 1033 millibar high pressure system to the northeast of the islands. Our local trade winds will remain active Friday and Saturday…locally strong and gusty.

Satellite and Radar Images: To view the cloud conditions we have here in Hawaii, please use the following satellite links, starting off with this Infrared Satellite Image of the islands to see all the clouds around during the day and night. This next image is one that gives close images of the islands only during the daytime hours, and is referred to as a Close-up visible image. This next image shows a larger view of the Pacific…giving perspective to the wider ranging cloud patterns in the Pacific Ocean. Finally, here’s a Looping IR satellite image, making viewable the clouds around the islands 24 hours a day. To help you keep track of where any showers may be around the islands, here’s the latest animated radar image.

Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live webcam on the summit of near 14,000 foot Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. The tallest peak on the island of Maui is the Haleakala Crater, which is near 10,000 feet in elevation. These two webcams are available during the daylight hours here in the islands…and when there’s a big moon rising just after sunset for an hour or two! Plus, during the nights and early mornings you will be able to see stars, and the sunrise too…depending upon weather conditions.

Tropical Cyclone activity in the eastern and central Pacific - Here’s the latest weather information coming out of the National Hurricane Center, covering the eastern north Pacific. You can find the latest tropical cyclone information for the central north Pacific (where Hawaii is located) by clicking on this link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Here’s a tracking map covering both the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. A satellite image, which shows the entire ocean area between Hawaii and the Mexican coast…can be found here. Of course, as we know, our hurricane season won’t begin again until June 1st here in the central Pacific.

 Aloha Paragraphs

 
       Hawaiian hula dancer…with Plumeria flowers
 
    

The trade winds are moderately strong Friday morning, although are expected to increase a notch as we push through the next couple of days…diminishing a little moving into the new work week ahead. As the trade winds are stronger now, the small craft wind advisories remain active around Maui and the Big Island. This weather map shows a 1033 millibar high pressure system positioned to the northeast of the islands…the source of our current trade wind flow. The models are suggesting that our trade winds may taper off a little after the weekend…taking us into the first couple of days of August.

Despite the occasional windward shower, fairly dry conditions will prevail through the weekend…then a little wetter as we move into the new week ahead. Satellite imagery shows clear to partly cloudy conditions to the east and northeast of the islands…as we see on this IR satellite image. There are areas of thunderstorms in the area southeast and southwest of the islands. These are positioned in the inter-tropical convergence zone, too far south of the islands, to bring rain our way. Please be careful with matches, as with the strong trade winds, and dry conditions…wild fire potential is increasing now.

It’s Friday as I begin writing this last section of this morning’s narrative update.  As noted above, our trade winds will be quite breezy over the next several days. The Haleakala Crater on Maui, and the summits on the Big Island remain windy enough now, so the wind advisory for those summits remain active. To get an idea how strong the trade winds are now, in gusts…these were the highest as of mid-day Friday on each of the islands:

~~~ Those wind gusts above aren’t all that impressive early this morning, although they will be likely gusting up above 40 mph, like they did on Thursday…during the day Friday. These winds will be the primary weather feature here in the islands for the time being. Like Lanai, which was blocked from the strong trade winds, here in Kula, Maui, it is totally calm as well. The air temperature was 56.5F degrees at 550am. It’s clear to partly cloudy upcountry Maui, and the start to what looks like another nice summer day. I’ll be back later with more weather updates, along with more interesting news stories below, and with a sunset commentary too. I hope you have a great Friday until then! Aloha for now…Glenn.

Interesting: Researchers have identified rocks that they say could contain the fossilized remains of life on early Mars. The team made their discovery in the ancient rocks of Nili Fossae. Their work has revealed that this trench on Mars is a "dead ringer" for a region in Australia where some of the earliest evidence of life on Earth has been buried and preserved in mineral form.

They report the findings in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters. The team, led by a scientist from the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (Seti) in California, believes that the same "hydrothermal" processes that preserved these markers of life on Earth could have taken place on Mars at Nili Fossae.

The rocks there are up to four billion years old, which means they have been around for three-quarters of the history of Mars. When, in 2008, scientists first discovered carbonate in those rocks the Mars science community reacted with great excitement; carbonate had long been sought as definitive evidence that the Red planet was habitable – that life could have existed there.

Carbonate is what life – or at least the mineral portion of a living organism – turns into, in many cases, when it is buried. The white cliffs of Dover, for example, are white because they contain limestone, or calcium carbonate. The mineral comes from the fossilized remains shells and bones and provides a way to investigate the ancient life that existed on early Earth.

In this new research, scientists have taken the identification of carbonate on Mars a step further. Adrian Brown from the Seti Institute, who led the research, used an instrument aboard Nasa’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter called Crism to study the Nilae Fossae rocks with infrared light. Then he and his team used exactly the same technique to study rocks in an area in north-west Australia called the Pilbara.

"The Pilbara is very cool," Dr Brown told BBC News. "It’s part of the Earth that has managed to stay at the surface for around 3.5 billion years – so about three quarters of the history of the Earth." "It allows us a little window into what was happening on the Earth at its very early stages." And all those billions of years ago, scientists believe that microbes formed some distinctive features in the Pilbara rocks – features called "stromatolites" that can be seen and studied today.

"Life made these features. We can tell that by the fact that only life could make those shapes; no geological process could." This latest study has revealed that the rocks at Nili Fossae are very similar to the Pilbara rocks – in terms of the minerals they contain. And Dr Brown and his colleagues believe that this shows that the remnants of life on early Mars could be buried at this site.

"If there was enough life to make layers, to make corals or some sort of microbial homes, and if it was buried on Mars, the same physics that took place on Earth could have happened there," he said. That, he suggests, is why the two sites are such a close match. Dr Brown and many other scientists had hoped that they would soon have the opportunity to get much closer to these rocks.

Nili Fossae was put forward as a potential landing site for Nasa’a ambitious new rover, the Mars Science Laboratory, which will be launched in 2011. The site was championed by other geologists, including John Mustard from Brown University in Rhode Island, whose team made the case to Nasa to have it included in the landing site shortlist for MSL. But Nilae Fossae was eventually deemed too dangerous a landing site and it was finally removed from the list in June of this year.

"The rover is being landed remotely – so there’s no human pilot involved; it’s all up to the robot. And [that's] a very dangerous thing," said Dr Brown. "You need 20km of smooth terrain and unfortunately at this site it is pretty rocky – those ancient rocks are pretty weathered and the surface is rocky and uneven." "It will be visiting another interesting site when it lands, but this is the place that we should be checking out for life on early Mars."

John Grant, a scientist from the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, and a member of the planetary sciences panel that advises Nasa on the MSL mission, spoke to BBC News earlier this year about the choice of landing site. He said that the objective of mission was a search for "habitability".

It was not, he said, a life detection mission. "[It] entails looking at geologic environments that may not only have been habitable but where signals associated with that habitability have been preserved," he told BBC News in February. But that does not alleviate the disappointment that many feel over having Nili Fossae and all its secrets taken off the table for the mission.

And what makes Mars Science Laboratory even more of a crucial mission for scientists is the fact that it will be the last rover to explore the surface of Mars until 2018 – partly because funding the mission has been so extraordinarily expensive. Dr Brown described the experience of having his favored landing site removed from the shortlist as the geological equivalent of having "your city’s Olympic bid rejected".

"I also see a race happening here," he said. "It might take us a couple of decades to build our capability to land [unmanned] rovers somewhere geologically interesting on Mars. "And in those decades, human space flight capabilities are going to develop and we could have the capability to send humans to Mars."

So in this race of the human versus the robots, which will win? "It’s my personal belief," said Dr Brown, "that by the time real human geologists get to go to Mars, the question of whether there is life on Mars will still be open."

Interesting2: China is struggling to clean up what has being described as the country’s worst oil spill, a fortnight after a fire at an oil depot caused crude to leak into the sea for several days. An army of volunteers and fishermen has been mobilized to help clean up the pollution from the area around the port of Dalian, one of China’s most important strategic oil reserves. But conditions are grim for those involved.

The scene at a small harbor where they are collecting the oil is like something out of the 19th Century. Fishermen covered in oil, some of them working just in their underwear, scrape up the toxic sludge that spilled out of the jars they have brought back from the open sea. No one is wearing protective goggles, facemasks or even gloves to protect them from the hazardous chemicals in the oil.

It takes them four or five hours to sail back from where they collect the oil on the open sea. They have to wait until nightfall, when the temperature drops, and the oil is at its most viscous, to scoop it out. "Cleaning the oil from the sea is tough, and it’s dangerous," says Qu Benhong, a fisherman who has taking a rest in the shade under a bridge. His overalls are covered in the shiny crude.

Next to him his friend’s bare legs are black, like they have been dipped in treacle. "We work day and night, around the clock, we can’t sleep," Mr Qu says. "Out there the waves are huge, it’s quite frightening." And yet every few minutes a new boat, laden with the jars of oil, arrives.

This is a massive operation, and although officials admit it is "arduous", the rows of hundreds of jars sitting on the quayside – each about half meter high, all filled to the brim – suggest a great deal of oil is being taken from the sea. Hundreds of thousands of gallons were spilled when two massive pipelines exploded at the depot.

The scars of the fire can still be seen – some of the massive storage silos are covered in black soot, two weeks after the devastating explosions there. China says the oil slick is under control and has not reached international waters. That is thanks in no small part to the efforts of the fishermen.

"I’ve been at sea for five days," another man says as he unloads his jars onto the back of a flat-bed truck. He is hoarse with exhaustion: "I didn’t sleep last night at all." Some here complain of headaches, vomiting and rashes on the skin. It is a horrible job, dirty, difficult and dangerous, but everyone here says they have no choice; their environment, their livelihoods are at risk, the have to do it.

Further down the coast on a beach that housed a shellfish farm before the spill contaminated it, Chai Chun Mei is squeezing oil from a rope into a bucket. She is using her bare hands. She needs to get the beach clean, though, if her family is to have a chance of getting the farm up and running again.

Further along the beach, environmental activists from the pressure group Greenpeace have brought an American expert to see the damage for himself. Zhong Yu from Greenpeace points out that it is more than a week since the government said the oil stretched across 430sq km. "Since then there have been no updates," she says. "That makes it hard for the people to work out where the oil will spread to next."

The expert she has brought with her, Prof Rick Steiner, who describes himself as an independent marine conservation consultant, listens as she and her colleagues try to explain to the locals the dangers of constant exposure to the oil. He believes this could turn out to be the worst oil spill this country has suffered.

"This is certainly the largest oil spill in China’s history, and I do find it ironic that U.S. and China have both had their largest oil spills at the same time. These hidden costs of oil are there whether we see them or not," he says. The government pays cash for oil ready for recycling.

But the fishermen may find getting proper compensation will be harder. The state owns the firm that spilled the crude so who will put pressure on them, people here are asking. "The pollution will harm our business for a long time," a fisherman grumbles as he loads up jars of oil collected from the beach onto his boat to be taken to the collection point for recycling.

"But I can’t do anything about it." His family struggles on – wading through the toxic sludge to push the boat off the beach – because they feel have no choice. They have to try to make a living while they can for once the clean up is finished, what then?

Interesting3: Emergency teams in north-east China are continuing to search a major river for barrels of toxic chemicals. Some 7,000 barrels were swept into the river in Jilin province on Wednesday; 3,000 contained the liquid chemicals. Officials said 2,978 drums had been retrieved, but it was unclear if they were empty or full, said state media.

China is suffering its worst seasonal flooding in a decade, which has left hundreds dead and missing across the country. Teams of workers using cranes and nets had managed to retrieve the 2,978 barrels from the Songhua river by midday on Friday, said the Xinhua news agency.

But there are concerns that some of the barrels, which were swept away from a factory in Jilin city, could have sunk to the riverbed, making them harder to find, the agency reports. The Songhua River is the largest tributary of the Heilongjiang river, also known as the Amur river in Russia, on the China-Russia border.

It is a source of drinking-water for several million people and is being tested for possible contamination, but officials have said there is no sign that the chemicals have leaked into the water. Water supplies in the city of 4.5 million people were briefly suspended and panic-buying reported as residents stocked up on bottled water.

But by Thursday morning water supplies had been mostly restored, reports said. Large parts of Jilin province remain under water after the intense flooding, which officials say has affected some 150,000 people. In Yongji County, at least 27 people have been killed since Sunday, officials told Xinhua, while 21,875 buildings were destroyed and 254,000 people evacuated.

Others were trapped as roads became impassable and bridges were swept away. "We can not go to the Yongji town as you can see the bridge has collapsed. Another bridge connecting Jilin City and Yongji has also collapsed," said local resident Zhang Weidong. "There is no way for us to go."

The Chinese authorities say a total of 134 million people in 28 provinces have been affected by the severe weather which has hit the country. Floods and landslides have left nearly 1,000 people dead and tens of thousands homeless.

Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Thursday afternoon:

Lihue, Kauai -  85
Honolulu, Oahu -  86
Kaneohe, Oahu -  84
Kaunakakai, Molokai – 85
Kahului, Maui – 87
Hilo, Hawaii -   83
Kailua-kona –   81

Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level – and on the highest mountain tops too…as of 5pm Thursday evening:

Port Allen, Kauai - 86
Kapalua, Maui - 77

Haleakala Crater -    59 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea summit – 45 (near 14,000 feet on the Big Island)

Precipitation Totals - The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Thursday afternoon: 

0.59 Mount Waialeale, Kauai  
0.51 Manoa Valley, Oahu
0.17 Molokai 
0.00 Lanai
0.14 Kahoolawe
0.77 West Wailuaiki, Maui
1.07 Kawainui Stream, Big Island

Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing a 1031 millibar high pressure system to the northeast of the islands. Our local trade winds will remain active Friday and Saturday…locally strong and gusty.

Satellite and Radar Images: To view the cloud conditions we have here in Hawaii, please use the following satellite links, starting off with this Infrared Satellite Image of the islands to see all the clouds around during the day and night. This next image is one that gives close images of the islands only during the daytime hours, and is referred to as a Close-up visible image. This next image shows a larger view of the Pacific…giving perspective to the wider ranging cloud patterns in the Pacific Ocean. Finally, here’s a Looping IR satellite image, making viewable the clouds around the islands 24 hours a day. To help you keep track of where any showers may be around the islands, here’s the latest animated radar image.

Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live webcam on the summit of near 14,000 foot Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. The tallest peak on the island of Maui is the Haleakala Crater, which is near 10,000 feet in elevation. These two webcams are available during the daylight hours here in the islands…and when there’s a big moon rising just after sunset for an hour or two! Plus, during the nights and early mornings you will be able to see stars, and the sunrise too…depending upon weather conditions.

Tropical Cyclone activity in the eastern and central Pacific - Here’s the latest weather information coming out of the National Hurricane Center, covering the eastern north Pacific. You can find the latest tropical cyclone information for the central north Pacific (where Hawaii is located) by clicking on this link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Here’s a tracking map covering both the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. A satellite image, which shows the entire ocean area between Hawaii and the Mexican coast…can be found here. Of course, as we know, our hurricane season won’t begin again until June 1st here in the central Pacific.

 Aloha Paragraphs

 
       The natural beauty of Kauai
 
    

The trade winds are light to moderately strong at the moment, although are still expected to increase a notch as we push through the next couple of days…remaining active through the weekend into early next week. As this increase in strength occurs, we’ve seen small craft wind advisories going up around Maui and the Big Island now. This weather map shows a 1031 millibar high pressure system positioned to the northeast of the islands Thursday night…the source of our current trade wind flow. The models are suggesting that our trade winds may taper off a little after the weekend…taking us into the first couple of days of August.

The windward sides have been a bit showery, although should take a break for a while…before picking up again. Satellite imagery shows clear to partly cloudy conditions to the east and northeast of the islands…as we see on this IR satellite image. This same satellite image shows more clouds upstream of the islands however, which will bring more showers with them. There are ares of thunderstorms in the area southeast and southwest of the islands. The leeward sides will see some clouds at times, although a few will sneak over into those areas on the strengthening trade wind flow.

It’s Thursday evening as I begin writing this last section of today’s narrative update.  As noted above, our trade winds will be quite breezy over the next several days. The mountain peaks on both Maui and the Big Island are windy now too, so the NWS has issued a wind advisory for those summits into Friday. The showers that have been falling along our windward sides, will take a short break, before resuming on Friday. To get an idea how strong the trade winds are now, in gusts, these were the highest as of early Thursday evening on each of the islands:

Interesting: Scientists from around the world are providing even more evidence of global warming, one day after President Barack Obama renewed his call for climate legislation. "A comprehensive review of key climate indicators confirms the world is warming and the past decade was the warmest on record," the annual State of the Climate report declares.

Compiled by more than 300 scientists from 48 countries, the report said its analysis of 10 indicators that are "clearly and directly related to surface temperatures, all tell the same story: Global warming is undeniable."

Concern about rising temperatures has been growing in recent years as atmospheric scientists report rising temperatures associated with greenhouse gases released into the air by industrial and other human processes. At the same time, some skeptics have questioned the conclusions.

The new report, the 20th in a series, focuses only on global warming and does not specify a cause.

"The evidence in this report would say unequivocally yes, there is no doubt," that the Earth is warming, said Tom Karl, the transitional director of the planned NOAA Climate Service.

Deke Arndt, chief of the Climate Monitoring Branch at the National Climatic Data Center, noted that the 1980s was the warmest decade up to that point, but each year in the 1990s was warmer than the ’80s average.

That makes the ’90s the warmest decade, he said.

But each year in the 2000s has been warmer than the ’90s average, so the first 10 years of the 2000s is now the warmest decade on record.

The new report noted that continuing warming will threaten coastal cities, infrastructure, water supply, health and agriculture.

"At first glance, the amount of increase each decade – about a fifth of a degree Fahrenheit – may seem small," the report said.

"But," it adds, "the temperature increase of about 1 degree Fahrenheit experienced during the past 50 years has already altered the planet. Glaciers and sea ice are melting, heavy rainfall is intensifying and heat waves are becoming more common and more intense."

Last month was the warmest June on record and this year has had the warmest average temperature for January-June since record keeping began, NOAA reported last week.

And a study by Princeton University researchers released Monday suggested that continued warming could cause as many as 6.7 million more Mexicans to move to the United States because of drought affecting crops in their country.

The new climate report, released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and published as a supplement to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, focused on 10 indicators of a warming world, seven which are increasing and three declining.

Rising over decades are average air temperature, the ratio of water vapor to air, ocean heat content, sea surface temperature, sea level, air temperature over the ocean and air temperature over land.

Indicators that are declining are snow cover, glaciers and sea ice.

The 10 were selected "because they were the most obviously related indicators of global temperature," explained Peter Thorne of the Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites, who helped develop the list when at the British weather service, known as the Met Office.

"What this data is doing is, it is screaming that the world is warming," Thorne concluded.

Interesting2: This past June and July have been some of the hottest months ever for the northeastern United States. The unwelcome heat wave has not only raised the mercury, but also the concentration of ground-level ozone. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has predicted that the elevated ozone will significantly decrease air quality in parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine.

Temperature and humidity have a large role in how much ozone is produced, and this summer has seen its share of both. In fact, ozone production is almost doubled when the ambient air is very humid rather than very dry. So far in 2010, New England has had 19 days in which ozone concentrations exceeded the 2008 ozone air quality health standard set by the EPA which is 0.075 parts per million.

Hot, sticky conditions also add to overall energy usage, and the burning of fossil fuels is a primary source for ozone. First of all, it is the heart of the summer driving season, so there are more cars on the road. Most of the cars are cranking up the air conditioning which requires more gasoline combustion. Also, more small motors are being used such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, dirt bikes, etc.

Furthermore, there are also lots of power boats out on the water which can consume large quantities of fuel. Last of all, energy use in buildings has increased due to air conditioning, so power plants have ramped up operations. Add to this mix an abundant number of sunny days (ozone is formed by reaction of gas emissions to sunlight), and you get the perfect storm of ozone formation in the northeast.

Elevated levels of this air pollutant can cause serious breathing problems, especially for those with a history of respiratory dysfunction. People must be mindful of the situation should they have to perform outdoor work. "As this hot summer weather continues, we’re expecting another day tomorrow where parts of New England will experience unhealthy air quality," said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office.

"When air quality is unhealthy, EPA and the medical community suggest that people limit their strenuous outdoor activity." The EPA encourages people to take the following actions to help reduce ozone/smog:

- Decrease driving (use public transit, car pool, combining trips)
- Refuel cars at night (gasoline vapors react with sunlight to form ozone)
- Avoid using small gasoline powered engines (lawn care, recreational vehicles)
- Set air conditioning thermostats a few degrees higher.

Interesting3: The Arctic still has unmapped and unknown areas. In particular, there is the continental shelf that extends out from the American and Canadian northern lands. Who controls it? Who has the right to drill for example which then leads into the complicated morass of environmental rules and controls.

American and Canadian scientists are setting sail this summer to map the Arctic seafloor and gather data to help define the outer limits of the continental shelf. Each coastal nation may exercise sovereign rights over the natural resources of their continental shelf, which includes the seabed and subsoil.

These rights include control over minerals, petroleum, and sedentary organisms such as clams, crabs and coral. Under international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, every coastal nation automatically has a continental shelf out to 200 nautical miles or to a maritime boundary.

The Convention also states that a nation is entitled to continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles if certain criteria are met, an area that is referred to as the extended continental shelf. Just off shore is the continental shelf which is part of the tectonic plate that is a continent. From the shelf is a slope that goes to the abyssal ocean bottom.

These shelf criteria include the continental margin comprising the submerged portion adjacent to the coastal State. It does not include the deep ocean floor with its oceanic ridges. What has to happen is that the edge of the continental shelf has to be measured based on the geology and sediments present.

Where this has most impacts is in the Arctic and Atlantic coasts where the shelf extends a bit. For example, just off Alaska are a series of islands that are portion of this shelf that are not submerged. In between the islands and Alaska is part of this extended shelf.

In other parts of the world such as the East China Sea, the North Sea and the borders of Brunei and Malaysia, there is and has long been considerable dispute of who owns what rights to what part of this shelf. Establishing clear rights will reduce not only the threat of war but the problems of interfering operations infringing on the environmental controls of each others operations.

The U.S. Geological Survey is the lead science agency for the United States in the 2010 mission. ‘In this expedition, Canada and the U.S. are working together to delineate the extended continental shelf in the Arctic to better determine where the Convention’s criteria can be met," said USGS scientist Brian Edwards, chief scientist on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy.

The Healy will sail August 2 — September 6, 2010, meeting up with the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Louis S. St-Laurent at sea. The ships will alternately break through the Arctic sea ice for each other. The Healy will map the shape of the seafloor using a multi-beam echo sounder, and the Louis S. St-Laurent will collect multi-channel seismic reflection and refraction data to determine sediment thickness. This is the third year the United States and Canada have collaborated in extended continental shelf data collection in the Arctic.

"The Arctic Ocean is an area of great interest for science, resource conservation, and possible economic development,” said USGS scientist Deborah Hutchinson. “Because there is an area with considerable overlap between the U.S. and Canadian extended continental shelves, it makes sense to share data sets and work together in the remote and challenging environments of the Arctic Ocean."

Interesting4: When purchasing a hybrid car, consumers have become accustomed to paying up to several thousand dollars extra in order to buy that set of wheels with the fuel-saving regenerative braking system. It’s almost hard to believe over 10 years have passed since the Prius first hit the roads, the inaugural hybrid has evolved from a curiosity to the milestone of one million in sales during 2008.

Many consumers have become comfortable with hybrid cars’ higher sticker price, figuring they will save money on gas in the long run. Some would debate the environmental factors, but obviously decreasing fuel consumption is a factor in purchasing decision as well. Now Ford is turning hybrid pricing on its head.

Its 2011 Lincoln MKZ hybrid, upon this fall’s release, will have a sticker price identical to its twin that runs solely on gasoline. Ford touts that it is the first automaker to offer a luxury hybrid vehicle with a manufacturer’s suggest retail price equal to the same model only using gas. Naturally some questions arise.

I admit I was surprised to learn that Ford was still manufacturing Lincoln cars. Then I wondered why a carmaker would bother offering both if the pricing is the same—which of course is because the difference comes down to horsepower. The standard gas model offers 263 horsepower, while its hybrid twin falls behind at 191 horsepower.

For many consumers, however, the miles per gallon difference will be the selling point: the hybrid boasts a combined rating of 39 mpg—the conventional model, 21 mpg. Will this shift in pricing motivate other automobiles to slash the price of its hybrid models? That’s a nice thought, but doubtful: hybrid cars are more expensive simply because their powertrain technology remains relatively costly.

Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Wednesday afternoon:

Lihue, Kauai -  84
Honolulu, Oahu -  87
Kaneohe, Oahu -  83
Kaunakakai, Molokai – 86
Kahului, Maui – 88
Hilo, Hawaii -   84
Kailua-kona –   84

Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level – and on the highest mountain tops too…as of 5pm Wednesday evening:

Port Allen, Kauai - 86
Lihue, Kauai – 79

Haleakala Crater -    59 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea summit – 50 (near 14,000 feet on the Big Island)

Precipitation Totals - The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Wednesday afternoon: 

0.27 Mount Waialeale, Kauai  
0.11 Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu
0.00 Molokai 
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.04 West Wailuaiki, Maui
0.10 Honaunau, Big Island

Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing a 1030 millibar high pressure system to the northeast of the islands. Our local trade winds will remain active Thursday and Friday…gradually gaining strength.

Satellite and Radar Images: To view the cloud conditions we have here in Hawaii, please use the following satellite links, starting off with this Infrared Satellite Image of the islands to see all the clouds around during the day and night. This next image is one that gives close images of the islands only during the daytime hours, and is referred to as a Close-up visible image. This next image shows a larger view of the Pacific…giving perspective to the wider ranging cloud patterns in the Pacific Ocean. Finally, here’s a Looping IR satellite image, making viewable the clouds around the islands 24 hours a day. To help you keep track of where any showers may be around the islands, here’s the latest animated radar image.

Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live webcam on the summit of near 14,000 foot Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. The tallest peak on the island of Maui is the Haleakala Crater, which is near 10,000 feet in elevation. These two webcams are available during the daylight hours here in the islands…and when there’s a big moon rising just after sunset for an hour or two! Plus, during the nights and early mornings you will be able to see stars, and the sunrise too…depending upon weather conditions.

Tropical Cyclone activity in the eastern and central Pacific - Here’s the latest weather information coming out of the National Hurricane Center, covering the eastern north Pacific. You can find the latest tropical cyclone information for the central north Pacific (where Hawaii is located) by clicking on this link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Here’s a tracking map covering both the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. A satellite image, which shows the entire ocean area between Hawaii and the Mexican coast…can be found here. Of course, as we know, our hurricane season won’t begin again until June 1st here in the central Pacific.

 Aloha Paragraphs

 
       Nice summer surf…leeward beaches
 
    

The trade winds were light to moderately strong at mid-week, ready to increase a notch as we push into the next couple of days…remaining active through the weekend into early next week. As this increase in strength occurs, over the next few days, this will lead to small craft wind advisory flags going up around Maui and the Big Island with time. This weather map shows a 1030 millibar high pressure system positioned to the northeast of the islands Wednesday night…the source of our current trade wind flow.

As usual, there continues to be the normal cloud patches being carried our way on the trade winds…whose showers will fall most readily along our windward coasts and slopes. This fairly dry rainfall pattern isn’t expected to change much through the rest of this week however. Satellite imagery shows partly cloudy conditions to the east and northeast of the islands…as we see on this IR satellite image. We can see some minor high cirrus clouds moving by to the north of the island chain. This same satellite image shows two cloud swirls, one to the southeast, and the other to the southwest. There are a couple of minor thunderstorms at the bases of these swirls…although neither looks likely to influence our weather.

It’s Wednesday evening as I begin writing this last section of today’s narrative update.  As noted above, our trade winds will be on the rise over the next several days, and our relatively dry precipitation pattern won’t be changing anytime soon. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of our local weather will occur in the marine environment into Friday. A storm in the southern hemisphere last week, generated a south swell in our direction. It’s a little too early to know for sure, although there’s a chance it could be large enough, by the time it reaches our leeward beaches…that it could prompt a high surf advisory. ~~~  Here in Kihei, Maui, before I leave for the drive back upcountry to Kula, I see partly cloudy conditions out the window. The winds are blowing of course, which will be somewhat stronger Thursday. I’ll be back in the morning with your next new weather narrative, I hope you have a great Wednesday night until then! Aloha for now…Glenn.

Interesting: Scientists from around the world are providing even more evidence of global warming, one day after President Barack Obama renewed his call for climate legislation. "A comprehensive review of key climate indicators confirms the world is warming and the past decade was the warmest on record," the annual State of the Climate report declares.

Compiled by more than 300 scientists from 48 countries, the report said its analysis of 10 indicators that are "clearly and directly related to surface temperatures, all tell the same story: Global warming is undeniable."

Concern about rising temperatures has been growing in recent years as atmospheric scientists report rising temperatures associated with greenhouse gases released into the air by industrial and other human processes. At the same time, some skeptics have questioned the conclusions.

The new report, the 20th in a series, focuses only on global warming and does not specify a cause.

"The evidence in this report would say unequivocally yes, there is no doubt," that the Earth is warming, said Tom Karl, the transitional director of the planned NOAA Climate Service.

Deke Arndt, chief of the Climate Monitoring Branch at the National Climatic Data Center, noted that the 1980s was the warmest decade up to that point, but each year in the 1990s was warmer than the ’80s average.

That makes the ’90s the warmest decade, he said.

But each year in the 2000s has been warmer than the ’90s average, so the first 10 years of the 2000s is now the warmest decade on record.

The new report noted that continuing warming will threaten coastal cities, infrastructure, water supply, health and agriculture.

"At first glance, the amount of increase each decade – about a fifth of a degree Fahrenheit – may seem small," the report said.

"But," it adds, "the temperature increase of about 1 degree Fahrenheit experienced during the past 50 years has already altered the planet. Glaciers and sea ice are melting, heavy rainfall is intensifying and heat waves are becoming more common and more intense."

Last month was the warmest June on record and this year has had the warmest average temperature for January-June since record keeping began, NOAA reported last week.

And a study by Princeton University researchers released Monday suggested that continued warming could cause as many as 6.7 million more Mexicans to move to the United States because of drought affecting crops in their country.

The new climate report, released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and published as a supplement to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, focused on 10 indicators of a warming world, seven which are increasing and three declining.

Rising over decades are average air temperature, the ratio of water vapor to air, ocean heat content, sea surface temperature, sea level, air temperature over the ocean and air temperature over land.

Indicators that are declining are snow cover, glaciers and sea ice.

The 10 were selected "because they were the most obviously related indicators of global temperature," explained Peter Thorne of the Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites, who helped develop the list when at the British weather service, known as the Met Office.

"What this data is doing is, it is screaming that the world is warming," Thorne concluded.

Interesting2: This past June and July have been some of the hottest months ever for the northeastern United States. The unwelcome heat wave has not only raised the mercury, but also the concentration of ground-level ozone. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has predicted that the elevated ozone will significantly decrease air quality in parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine.

Temperature and humidity have a large role in how much ozone is produced, and this summer has seen its share of both. In fact, ozone production is almost doubled when the ambient air is very humid rather than very dry. So far in 2010, New England has had 19 days in which ozone concentrations exceeded the 2008 ozone air quality health standard set by the EPA which is 0.075 parts per million.

Hot, sticky conditions also add to overall energy usage, and the burning of fossil fuels is a primary source for ozone. First of all, it is the heart of the summer driving season, so there are more cars on the road. Most of the cars are cranking up the air conditioning which requires more gasoline combustion. Also, more small motors are being used such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, dirt bikes, etc.

Furthermore, there are also lots of power boats out on the water which can consume large quantities of fuel. Last of all, energy use in buildings has increased due to air conditioning, so power plants have ramped up operations. Add to this mix an abundant number of sunny days (ozone is formed by reaction of gas emissions to sunlight), and you get the perfect storm of ozone formation in the northeast.

Elevated levels of this air pollutant can cause serious breathing problems, especially for those with a history of respiratory dysfunction. People must be mindful of the situation should they have to perform outdoor work. "As this hot summer weather continues, we’re expecting another day tomorrow where parts of New England will experience unhealthy air quality," said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office.

"When air quality is unhealthy, EPA and the medical community suggest that people limit their strenuous outdoor activity." The EPA encourages people to take the following actions to help reduce ozone/smog:

- Decrease driving (use public transit, car pool, combining trips)
- Refuel cars at night (gasoline vapors react with sunlight to form ozone)
- Avoid using small gasoline powered engines (lawn care, recreational vehicles)
- Set air conditioning thermostats a few degrees higher.

Interesting3: The Arctic still has unmapped and unknown areas. In particular, there is the continental shelf that extends out from the American and Canadian northern lands. Who controls it? Who has the right to drill for example which then leads into the complicated morass of environmental rules and controls.

American and Canadian scientists are setting sail this summer to map the Arctic seafloor and gather data to help define the outer limits of the continental shelf. Each coastal nation may exercise sovereign rights over the natural resources of their continental shelf, which includes the seabed and subsoil.

These rights include control over minerals, petroleum, and sedentary organisms such as clams, crabs and coral. Under international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, every coastal nation automatically has a continental shelf out to 200 nautical miles or to a maritime boundary.

The Convention also states that a nation is entitled to continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles if certain criteria are met, an area that is referred to as the extended continental shelf. Just off shore is the continental shelf which is part of the tectonic plate that is a continent. From the shelf is a slope that goes to the abyssal ocean bottom.

These shelf criteria include the continental margin comprising the submerged portion adjacent to the coastal State. It does not include the deep ocean floor with its oceanic ridges. What has to happen is that the edge of the continental shelf has to be measured based on the geology and sediments present.

Where this has most impacts is in the Arctic and Atlantic coasts where the shelf extends a bit. For example, just off Alaska are a series of islands that are portion of this shelf that are not submerged. In between the islands and Alaska is part of this extended shelf.

In other parts of the world such as the East China Sea, the North Sea and the borders of Brunei and Malaysia, there is and has long been considerable dispute of who owns what rights to what part of this shelf. Establishing clear rights will reduce not only the threat of war but the problems of interfering operations infringing on the environmental controls of each others operations.

The U.S. Geological Survey is the lead science agency for the United States in the 2010 mission. ‘In this expedition, Canada and the U.S. are working together to delineate the extended continental shelf in the Arctic to better determine where the Convention’s criteria can be met," said USGS scientist Brian Edwards, chief scientist on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy.

The Healy will sail August 2 — September 6, 2010, meeting up with the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Louis S. St-Laurent at sea. The ships will alternately break through the Arctic sea ice for each other. The Healy will map the shape of the seafloor using a multi-beam echo sounder, and the Louis S. St-Laurent will collect multi-channel seismic reflection and refraction data to determine sediment thickness. This is the third year the United States and Canada have collaborated in extended continental shelf data collection in the Arctic.

"The Arctic Ocean is an area of great interest for science, resource conservation, and possible economic development,” said USGS scientist Deborah Hutchinson. “Because there is an area with considerable overlap between the U.S. and Canadian extended continental shelves, it makes sense to share data sets and work together in the remote and challenging environments of the Arctic Ocean."

Interesting4: When purchasing a hybrid car, consumers have become accustomed to paying up to several thousand dollars extra in order to buy that set of wheels with the fuel-saving regenerative braking system. It’s almost hard to believe over 10 years have passed since the Prius first hit the roads, the inaugural hybrid has evolved from a curiosity to the milestone of one million in sales during 2008.

Many consumers have become comfortable with hybrid cars’ higher sticker price, figuring they will save money on gas in the long run. Some would debate the environmental factors, but obviously decreasing fuel consumption is a factor in purchasing decision as well. Now Ford is turning hybrid pricing on its head.

Its 2011 Lincoln MKZ hybrid, upon this fall’s release, will have a sticker price identical to its twin that runs solely on gasoline. Ford touts that it is the first automaker to offer a luxury hybrid vehicle with a manufacturer’s suggest retail price equal to the same model only using gas. Naturally some questions arise.

I admit I was surprised to learn that Ford was still manufacturing Lincoln cars. Then I wondered why a carmaker would bother offering both if the pricing is the same—which of course is because the difference comes down to horsepower. The standard gas model offers 263 horsepower, while its hybrid twin falls behind at 191 horsepower.

For many consumers, however, the miles per gallon difference will be the selling point: the hybrid boasts a combined rating of 39 mpg—the conventional model, 21 mpg. Will this shift in pricing motivate other automobiles to slash the price of its hybrid models? That’s a nice thought, but doubtful: hybrid cars are more expensive simply because their powertrain technology remains relatively costly.

Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Tuesday afternoon:

Lihue, Kauai -  83
Honolulu, Oahu -  87
Kaneohe, Oahu -  83
Kaunakakai, Molokai – 88
Kahului, Maui – 90
Hilo, Hawaii -   81
Kailua-kona –   83

Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level – and on the highest mountain tops too…as of 5pm Tuesday evening:

Port Allen, Kauai - 86
Hilo, Hawaii – 80

Haleakala Crater -    59 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea summit – 46 (near 14,000 feet on the Big Island)

Precipitation Totals - The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Tuesday afternoon: 

0.72 Mount Waialeale, Kauai  
0.77 Punaluu Stream, Oahu
0.01 Molokai 
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.53 West Wailuaiki, Maui
0.19 Kawainui Stream, Big Island

Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing high pressure systems far to the northeast of the islands. Our local trade winds will remain active Wednesday and Thursday…gradually gaining strength.

Satellite and Radar Images: To view the cloud conditions we have here in Hawaii, please use the following satellite links, starting off with this Infrared Satellite Image of the islands to see all the clouds around during the day and night. This next image is one that gives close images of the islands only during the daytime hours, and is referred to as a Close-up visible image. This next image shows a larger view of the Pacific…giving perspective to the wider ranging cloud patterns in the Pacific Ocean. Finally, here’s a Looping IR satellite image, making viewable the clouds around the islands 24 hours a day. To help you keep track of where any showers may be around the islands, here’s the latest animated radar image.

Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live webcam on the summit of near 14,000 foot Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. The tallest peak on the island of Maui is the Haleakala Crater, which is near 10,000 feet in elevation. These two webcams are available during the daylight hours here in the islands…and when there’s a big moon rising just after sunset for an hour or two! Plus, during the nights and early mornings you will be able to see stars, and the sunrise too…depending upon weather conditions.

Tropical Cyclone activity in the eastern and central Pacific - Here’s the latest weather information coming out of the National Hurricane Center, covering the eastern north Pacific. You can find the latest tropical cyclone information for the central north Pacific (where Hawaii is located) by clicking on this link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Here’s a tracking map covering both the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. A satellite image, which shows the entire ocean area between Hawaii and the Mexican coast…can be found here. Of course, as we know, our hurricane season won’t begin again until June 1st here in the central Pacific.

 Aloha Paragraphs

 
       An old travel poster
 
    

The trade winds are lighter today than they have been, qualifying for the light to moderately strong category in most areas Tuesday afternoon. There’s expected to be a gradual rise in strength over the next few days, leading to small craft wind advisory flags going up around Maui and the BigIsland with time. This weather map shows two 1028 millibar high pressure systems positioned to the northeast of the islands. It’s been a while since we haven’t seen our local trade winds gusting up to 30 mph or over…in those windiest areas of the Aloha state.

Precipitation has been generally on the light side, with a few exceptions on each of the islands. This limited rainfall pattern isn’t expected to change much through the rest of this week. Satellite imagery shows both cloudy spots and clear areas to the east and northeast of the islands…as we see on this IR satellite image. We can see some high cirrus clouds coming up towards the Kauai end of the island chain…from the deeper tropics to our southwest as well. If we tighten our view more, by using this next satellite picture, we see those cloud patches upstream, with embedded light showers, falling most notably during the night and early mornings…along our windward sides.

It’s Tuesday evening as I begin writing this last section of today’s narrative update.  As noted above, our trade winds will be on the rise over the next several days, and our precipitation pattern won’t be anything unusual. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of our local weather will occur in the marine environment later Wednesday or Thursday into Friday. A storm in the southern hemisphere last week, generated a south swell in our direction. It’s a little too early to know for sure, although there’s a chance it could be large enough, by the time it reaches our leeward beaches…that it could prompt a high surf advisory. ~~~ In a more immediate sense, the internet was down in many parts of the state today, and I’m not sure how long that will last? Apparently the undersea fiber optic cable coming from Oahu was somehow broken last night, taking down phones, TV, and the internet! This occurred about 3,000 feet deep in the Molokai channel. I understand from unofficial sources that this problem may be fixed later today, although I’m not sure about that. I was able to use the internet at work, where we have a special connection. I’ll have a wireless connection this evening when I get home, and again tomorrow morning too, so I should be able to do my regular updating. Aloha for now…Glenn.

Interesting: Public swimming pools are more dangerous than you might think, a new study suggests. When sweat and urine, among other organics, mix with the disinfectants in pool water, the result can be hazardous to health. The findings, announced this week, link the application of disinfectants in recreational pools to genetic cell damage that has been shown to be linked with adverse health outcomes such as asthma and bladder cancer.

Pool water represents extreme cases of disinfection that differ from the disinfection of drinking water as pools are continuously exposed to disinfectants. But with so many people cooling off and exercising in pools and water parks (339 million visits across the United States each year), the disinfectants are a must to prevent outbreaks of infectious disease. The problem occurs when the sanitizers mix with organic matter.

"All sources of water possess organic matter that comes from decaying leaves, microbes and other dead life forms," said study researcher Michael Plewa, University of Illinois professor of genetics. "In addition to organic matter and disinfectants, pool waters contain sweat, hair, skin, urine [1 in 5 adults admits peeing in the pool] and consumer products such as cosmetics and sunscreens from swimmers."

These consumer products are often nitrogen-rich, and when mixed with disinfectants, these products may become chemically modified and converted into more toxic agents. Long-term exposure to these disinfection byproducts can mutate genes, induce birth defects, accelerate the aging process, cause respiratory ailments, and even induce cancer, according to the researchers. While the new study did not examine actual effects on humans, it suggests such research might be warranted.

Interesting2: Almost a quarter of China’s surface water remains so polluted that it is unfit even for industrial use, while less than half of total supplies are drinkable, data from the environment watchdog showed on Monday. Inspectors from China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection tested water samples from the country’s major rivers and lakes in the first half of the year and declared just 49.3 percent to be safe for drinking, up from 48 percent last year, the ministry said in a notice posted on its website.

China classifies its water supplies using six grades, with the first three grades considered safe for drinking and bathing. Another 26.4 percent was said to be categories IV and V — fit only for use in industry and agriculture — leaving a total of 24.3 percent in category VI and unfit for any purpose.

Despite tougher regulations over the last decade, the ministry has struggled to rein in the thousands of small paper mills, cement factories and chemical plants discharging industrial waste directly into the country’s waterways, and the overuse of fertilizers has also left large sections of China’s lakes and rivers choking with algae.

Interesting3: A new study by researchers at the University of Cambridge has discovered that people who have received more education are less likely to develop dementia. Previous studies have looked at this issue but have been unable to determine if it was education, and not its effects such as higher economic status or healthier living, that impacted the chances of dementia.

This new study has found that dementia is in fact a direct consequence of the amount of education received earlier in life. Dementia originates from the Latin de- "without" —ment "mind". It is a loss of cognitive ability by a previously unimpaired mind that goes beyond the expectations of normal aging.

It is much more common in the elderly population, but may occur at any stage throughout adulthood. Areas of cognition that are affected include memory, attention, language, and problem solving. For all cases of dementia, the higher mental functions are the first to go, then so on until even the most basic mental abilities are impaired.

The Cambridge study, led by Professor Carol Brayne, has found that individuals with varied levels of education have similar brain pathology. However, those with more education are more equipped to compensate for the effects of dementia. "Previous research has shown that there is not a one-to-one relationship between being diagnosed with dementia during life and changes seen in the brain at death," says co-author, Dr. Hannah Keage.

"One person may show lots of pathology in their brain while another shows very little, yet both may have had dementia. Our study shows education in early life appears to enable some people to cope with a lot of changes in their brain before showing dementia symptoms."

In other words, learning acts as an exercise for the brain, which is a muscle. Like other muscles in the body, the more it is used, the more it is challenged, the stronger it will become. Therefore, a stronger brain is more able to withstand the onset of dementia at an old age.

The researchers examined the brains of 872 people who were part of other aging studies. They had answered questionnaires about their level of education prior to their deaths. Because of the large size of the survey group, the study was able to determine its conclusions more accurately than previous studies. This is a timely study due to the public health implications of aging populations in developed countries.

It supports investment in education at a young age as a way to decrease health costs at a later age. It is also important for students to want to learn. However, it is even more important that adults never stop learning either. The mind must be kept sharp, so keep it educated. Instead of younger generations being burdened with caring for demented grandparents, they should be benefited by the wisdom of their elders.

Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Monday afternoon:

Lihue, Kauai -  86
Honolulu, Oahu -  87
Kaneohe, Oahu -  85
Kaunakakai, Molokai – 82
Kahului, Maui – 88
Hilo, Hawaii -   79
Kailua-kona –   83

Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level – and on the highest mountain tops too…as of 5pm Monday evening:

Port Allen, Kauai - 86
Hilo, Hawaii – 76

Haleakala Crater -    52 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea summit – 50 (near 14,000 feet on the Big Island)

Precipitation Totals - The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Monday afternoon: 

0.09 Mount Waialeale, Kauai  
0.09 Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu
0.02 Molokai 
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.26 West Wailuaiki, Maui
0.39 Kealakekua, Big Island

Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing high pressure systems far to the northeast through northwest of the islands. Our local trade winds will remain active Tuesday and Wednesday…generally in the moderately strong category.

Satellite and Radar Images: To view the cloud conditions we have here in Hawaii, please use the following satellite links, starting off with this Infrared Satellite Image of the islands to see all the clouds around during the day and night. This next image is one that gives close images of the islands only during the daytime hours, and is referred to as a Close-up visible image. This next image shows a larger view of the Pacific…giving perspective to the wider ranging cloud patterns in the Pacific Ocean. Finally, here’s a Looping IR satellite image, making viewable the clouds around the islands 24 hours a day. To help you keep track of where any showers may be around the islands, here’s the latest animated radar image.

Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live webcam on the summit of near 14,000 foot Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. The tallest peak on the island of Maui is the Haleakala Crater, which is near 10,000 feet in elevation. These two webcams are available during the daylight hours here in the islands…and when there’s a big moon rising just after sunset for an hour or two! Plus, during the nights and early mornings you will be able to see stars, and the sunrise too…depending upon weather conditions.

Tropical Cyclone activity in the eastern and central Pacific - Here’s the latest weather information coming out of the National Hurricane Center, covering the eastern north Pacific. You can find the latest tropical cyclone information for the central north Pacific (where Hawaii is located) by clicking on this link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Here’s a tracking map covering both the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. A satellite image, which shows the entire ocean area between Hawaii and the Mexican coast…can be found here. Of course, as we know, our hurricane season won’t begin again until June 1st here in the central Pacific.

 Aloha Paragraphs

 
       The Big Island
 
    

The trade winds remain active as we push into this new week, although not strong enough at the moment…to see NWS issued small craft wind advisories early Monday evening. There were some fairly strong trade wind gusts occurring at a few locations…topping out at 30-33 mph. As this weather map shows, we have a 1029 millibar high pressure system located in its customary location, at least during our long summer season…far to the northeast of the islands. This high pressure cell has an elongated ridge of high pressure extending southwest from its center, into the area north and northwest of Hawaii. Wind speeds are blowing in what could be considered the moderately strong realms in most places. The forecast models suggest that this variety of a trade wind pattern will continue through mid-week. There may be a nudge upwards in strength later this week, which if it happens…would necessitate small craft advisories in and around some parts of Maui and the Big Island’s marine environment then.

We saw some showery clouds get carried into the state last night, particularly along our windward sides…which will likely happen again tonight. There were lots of clouds at least, although as it turned out…few substantial showers ended up in our rain gauge system. Checking in with this IR satellite image, we see more clouds heading our way from the east and northeast. At the same time, we see lots of thunderstorms down to the southwest, south, and southeast. There are several streaks of high cirrus clouds riding the upper winds in our direction…one of which is moving over Maui County and the Big Island…at the time of this writing at least. If we shift over to this tighter IR view, we can see those fingers of high cirrus, and the cloud patches that are impacting the Big Island and Maui County windward sides. Despite these clouds and showers, the overlying atmosphere remains on the dry and stable side, thus limiting all that much of an accumulation in any one place. There are no former tropical cyclones to the east of us, and so it would likely take the arrival of an upper trough of low pressure over the state, in addition to available moisture, to bring any substantial rainfall…which isn’t in the cards at this time. Speaking of showers, here’s the looping radar image.

It’s Monday evening as I begin writing this last section of today’s narrative update.  Our weather here in the Hawaiian Islands will be somewhat more cloudy than usual for the time being. The trade winds are blowing as usual, and of course there are a few showers spilling along our windward sides. Other than all of this, nothing is very much out of the ordinary at the moment. We see a pretty good sunset this evening, as a result of the high cirrus clouds in the area, especially in the southern part of the island chain. If they’re still around Tuesday morning at sunrise, there may very well be more color in our skies. ~~~ Here in Kihei, Maui, before I take the drive back home to Kula, it’s quite cloudy, at least in those upper realms of the atmosphere. There aren’t all that many lower level clouds, and its pretty breezy too. The air temperature is really nice, despite the clouds and trade wind breezes, running in the middle 80F’s at the time of this writing. I’ll be back early Tuesday morning with your next new weather narrative, I hope you have a great Monday night until then!

>>>>Hello everyone, in brief…Maui County is completely offline, apparently the main internet cable was cut between Oahu and Maui. I’m at work, and have only the most limited connectivity. I’ll do more updating when I can, just wanted you to know. Aloha for now…Glenn.

Interesting: An acrid fog from forest and peat fires has blanketed Moscow, as the Russian capital swelters in a record heat wave. Firefighters were trying to douse 60 fires covering 145 acres in the countryside outside Moscow on Monday, the emergencies ministry said. People with bronchial problems were advised to stay indoors as the level of toxic particles in the air rose five to eight times above the norm.

Flights were unaffected, but the smog shrouded landmarks like the Kremlin. Doctors say Muscovites should keep their windows closed and wear gauze masks to avoid inhaling ash particles. Areas to the east and south-east of Moscow are reported to be worst affected. Water-bombing planes are being used to tackle the fires just beyond the city. Temperatures in Moscow have risen above 95F in the most intense heat wave to grip the city since 1981.

Interesting2: "Many people," says Dr. Eeva Karjalainen, of the Finnish Forest Research Institute, Metla, "feel relaxed and good when they are out in nature. But not many of us know that there is also scientific evidence about the healing effects of nature." Forests — and other natural, green settings — can reduce stress, improve moods, reduce anger and aggressiveness and increase overall happiness.

Forest visits may also strengthen our immune system by increasing the activity and number of natural killer cells that destroy cancer cells. Many studies show that after stressful or concentration-demanding situations, people recover faster and better in natural environments than in urban settings.

Blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension and the level of "stress hormones" all decrease faster in natural settings. Depression, anger and aggressiveness are reduced in green environments and ADHD symptoms in children reduce when they play in green settings.

In addition to mental and emotional well-being, more than half of the most commonly prescribed drugs include compounds derived from nature — for example Taxol, used against ovarian and breast cancer, is derived from yew trees, while Xylitol, which can inhibit caries, is produced from hardwood bark.

Dr. Karjalainen will coordinate a session on the health benefits of forests at the 2010 IUFRO World Forestry Congress in Seoul. "Preserving green areas and trees in cities is very important to help people recover from stress, maintain health and cure diseases. There is also monetary value in improving people’s working ability and reducing health care costs." she says.

Interesting3: A heat wave has gripped parts of Mongolia, China, and Japan over the past week. Temperatures have averaged nearly 10 degrees above normal in Beijing since Friday, and 10 to 15 degrees above normal in Tokyo for the last 5 days. With overnight lows around 80, there has been little relief from the heat at night.

While relief is on the way for some, the ridge of high pressure responsible for the heat wave will not be going away any time soon, so others will continue to see temperatures that are well above normal. Eastern Mongolia and northern China will have broiling sunshine, with highs into the upper 90s and lower 100s through the middle of the week. Farther east, a dip in the storm track will bring cooler temperatures along with scattered showers and thunderstorms to Japan.

Powerful storms spawned by intense heat and humidity produced flooding and tornadoes in the Midwestern United States on Saturday, disrupting travel and cutting power to thousands of homes. The National Weather Service said more than 7.5 inches of rain — the amount the city would see over two months during a normal summer — fell at Midway Airport in Chicago in the past day. "A large area is being impacted by this system," said Jack Hales, a weather service forecaster based in Norman, Oklahoma

Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Sunday afternoon:

Lihue, Kauai -  85
Honolulu, Oahu -  87
Kaneohe, Oahu -  85
Kaunakakai, Molokai – 84
Kahului, Maui – 90
Hilo, Hawaii -   85
Kailua-kona –   85

Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level – and on the highest mountain tops too…as of 4pm Sunday afternoon:

Honolulu, Oahu - 87
Molokai airport – 80

Haleakala Crater -    52 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea summit – 37 (near 14,000 feet on the Big Island)

Precipitation Totals - The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Sunday afternoon: 

0.02 Mount Wailaleale, Kauai  
0.02 Kahuku, Oahu
0.00 Molokai 
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.01 West Wailuaiki, Maui
0.12 Kealakekua, Big Island

Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing high pressure systems far to the northeast through northwest of the islands. Our local trade winds will remain Monday and Tuesday…locally strong and gusty.

Satellite and Radar Images: To view the cloud conditions we have here in Hawaii, please use the following satellite links, starting off with this Infrared Satellite Image of the islands to see all the clouds around during the day and night. This next image is one that gives close images of the islands only during the daytime hours, and is referred to as a Close-up visible image. This next image shows a larger view of the Pacific…giving perspective to the wider ranging cloud patterns in the Pacific Ocean. Finally, here’s a Looping IR satellite image, making viewable the clouds around the islands 24 hours a day. To help you keep track of where any showers may be around the islands, here’s the latest animated radar image.

Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live webcam on the summit of near 14,000 foot Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. The tallest peak on the island of Maui is the Haleakala Crater, which is near 10,000 feet in elevation. These two webcams are available during the daylight hours here in the islands…and when there’s a big moon rising just after sunset for an hour or two! Plus, during the nights and early mornings you will be able to see stars, and the sunrise too…depending upon weather conditions.

Tropical Cyclone activity in the eastern and central Pacific - Here’s the latest weather information coming out of the National Hurricane Center, covering the eastern north Pacific. You can find the latest tropical cyclone information for the central north Pacific (where Hawaii is located) by clicking on this link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Here’s a tracking map covering both the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. A satellite image, which shows the entire ocean area between Hawaii and the Mexican coast…can be found here. Of course, as we know, our hurricane season won’t begin again until June 1st here in the central Pacific.

 Aloha Paragraphs

 
       Hawaiian Sea Turtle
 
    

Our trade winds will continue well into the future. Winds are running in the moderately strong category Sunday night…locally quite gusty. As this weather map shows, we have several high pressure systems, arranged between northwest and northeast of our islands. The current forecast calls for moderately strong trade winds to extend well into the new work week ahead. It will take until after the middle of the week before our trade winds increase further into next weekend and beyond.

Rainfall across the islands will remain limited…quite light too. We see areas of thunderstorms locally in the deeper tropics…none of which will influence our islands. This satellite image shows that there are still some clouds out to the east and north of Hawaii, being carried our way on the trade wind flow. These will evaporate during the days quite a bit, leaving lots of sunshine along our beaches in most areas. There are no organized areas of showers at this point, so dry and stable weather conditions will prevail well into the future.

Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Saturday afternoon:

Lihue, Kauai -  84
Honolulu, Oahu -  89
Kaneohe, Oahu -  84
Kaunakakai, Molokai – 87
Kahului, Maui – 89
Hilo, Hawaii -   85
Kailua-kona –   85

Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level – and on the highest mountain tops too…as of 6am Saturday morning:

Honolulu, Oahu - 78
Hilo, Hawaii – 70

Haleakala Crater -    45 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea summit – 27 (near 14,000 feet on the Big Island)

Precipitation Totals - The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Saturday afternoon: 

0.28 Mount Waialeale, Kauai  
0.08 Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu
0.00 Molokai 
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.02 West Wailuaiki, Maui
0.51 Kawainui Stream, Big Island

Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing high pressure systems far to the northeast through northwest of the islands. Our local trade winds will remain active this weekend, light to moderately strong…locally stronger and gusty.

Satellite and Radar Images: To view the cloud conditions we have here in Hawaii, please use the following satellite links, starting off with this Infrared Satellite Image of the islands to see all the clouds around during the day and night. This next image is one that gives close images of the islands only during the daytime hours, and is referred to as a Close-up visible image. This next image shows a larger view of the Pacific…giving perspective to the wider ranging cloud patterns in the Pacific Ocean. Finally, here’s a Looping IR satellite image, making viewable the clouds around the islands 24 hours a day. To help you keep track of where any showers may be around the islands, here’s the latest animated radar image.

Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live webcam on the summit of near 14,000 foot Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. The tallest peak on the island of Maui is the Haleakala Crater, which is near 10,000 feet in elevation. These two webcams are available during the daylight hours here in the islands…and when there’s a big moon rising just after sunset for an hour or two! Plus, during the nights and early mornings you will be able to see stars, and the sunrise too…depending upon weather conditions.

Tropical Cyclone activity in the eastern and central Pacific - Here’s the latest weather information coming out of the National Hurricane Center, covering the eastern north Pacific. You can find the latest tropical cyclone information for the central north Pacific (where Hawaii is located) by clicking on this link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Here’s a tracking map covering both the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. A satellite image, which shows the entire ocean area between Hawaii and the Mexican coast…can be found here. Of course, as we know, our hurricane season won’t begin again until June 1st here in the central Pacific.

 Aloha Paragraphs

 
       That’s quite a windsurfing jump!
 
    

Our trade winds will continue well into the future. Winds are running in the light to moderately strong category Saturday evening…locally stronger and gusty. As this weather map shows, we have several high pressure systems strung out in all the directions between northwest and northeast of our islands. The current forecast calls for moderately strong trade winds to extend well into the new work week ahead. It will take until after the middle of the new week ahead, before our trade winds increase further into next weekend.

Rainfall across the islands will remain limited, and in most areas…quite light too. We see areas of thunderstorms locally in the deeper tropics…none of which will influence our islands. This satellite image shows that there are still some clouds out to the east and north of Hawaii, being carried our way on the trade wind flow. These will evaporate during the days quite a bit, leaving lots of sunshine along our beaches in most areas. There are no organized areas of showers at this point, so dry and stable weather conditions will prevail well into the future.

It’s Saturday evening as I begin writing this last section of today’s narrative update.  As noted above, our trade winds will remain steady, blowing generally in the moderately strong realms through the middle of the upcoming new work week. There will be some occasional showers, generally along the windward coasts and slopes…along nothing much however. ~~~ Last evening after work, I went to see the film called Inception (2010) starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Ken Watanable…among others. The Yahoo critics are giving it a B+, while users are giving it an A- grade…which is pretty impressive. The synopsis: a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan is trying to defend the city from his arch-nemesis. I must say that I enjoyed this film more than any that I’ve seen in a long time. It was actually captivating, and kept my attention riveted to the screen the entire time…which was over two hours. This long film was not the easiest to follow, at least for me, as it was so multi-faceted. If you are the type of person who enjoyed the Matrix films, you will love this one too. Here’s the trailer for this film. ~~~ Saturday was one of those especially sunny days! The overlying atmosphere is particular dry now, so that clouds will remain thin, and not shower prone. I expect another sunny day Sunday, with good weather just about everywhere. Today I spent the better part of the day at a zen meditation retreat in Haiku, over on the windsward side of the island. It was good to sit with this group of folks, many of which are old friends of mine from the old days here on Maui. A zen master flew over from Oahu, to lead the group, who happens to be an old friend of mine as well. This evening this group is having a party in Haiku, at a nice large house overlooking the north shore of east Maui. It will be fun to socialize with these meditators, who usually just sit together. I’ll likely be home pretty late, although I’ll be back on Sunday morning with your next new weather narrative, I hope you have a great Saturday night! Aloha for now…Glenn.

Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Friday afternoon:

Lihue, Kauai -  85
Honolulu, Oahu -  88
Kaneohe, Oahu -  83
Kaunakakai, Molokai – 86
Kahului, Maui – 89
Hilo, Hawaii -   81
Kailua-kona –   83

Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level – and on the highest mountain tops too…as of 5pm Friday evening:

Kahului, Maui - 86
Princeville, Kauai – 77

Haleakala Crater -    57 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea summit – 37 (near 14,000 feet on the Big Island)

Precipitation Totals - The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Friday afternoon: 

1.49 Mount Waialeale, Kauai  
0.99 Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu
0.20 Molokai 
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.59 Puu Kukui, Maui
0.74 Kawainui Stream, Big Island

Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing a 1032 millibar high pressure system far to the northeast of the islands. Our local trade winds will remain active this weekend…light to moderately strong.

Satellite and Radar Images: To view the cloud conditions we have here in Hawaii, please use the following satellite links, starting off with this Infrared Satellite Image of the islands to see all the clouds around during the day and night. This next image is one that gives close images of the islands only during the daytime hours, and is referred to as a Close-up visible image. This next image shows a larger view of the Pacific…giving perspective to the wider ranging cloud patterns in the Pacific Ocean. Finally, here’s a Looping IR satellite image, making viewable the clouds around the islands 24 hours a day. To help you keep track of where any showers may be around the islands, here’s the latest animated radar image.

Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live webcam on the summit of near 14,000 foot Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. The tallest peak on the island of Maui is the Haleakala Crater, which is near 10,000 feet in elevation. These two webcams are available during the daylight hours here in the islands…and when there’s a big moon rising just after sunset for an hour or two! Plus, during the nights and early mornings you will be able to see stars, and the sunrise too…depending upon weather conditions.

Tropical Cyclone activity in the eastern and central Pacific - Here’s the latest weather information coming out of the National Hurricane Center, covering the eastern north Pacific. You can find the latest tropical cyclone information for the central north Pacific (where Hawaii is located) by clicking on this link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Here’s a tracking map covering both the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. A satellite image, which shows the entire ocean area between Hawaii and the Mexican coast…can be found here. Of course, as we know, our hurricane season won’t begin again until June 1st here in the central Pacific.

 Aloha Paragraphs

 
       Our lovely islands of Hawaii
 
    

Our trade winds have dropped off some in speed, enough so that the NWS forecast office in Honolulu has discontinued the recent, short-lived small craft wind advisory…around Maui County and the Big Island. Winds are running in the light to moderately strong category Friday afternoon, with as noted below, a couple of the windier areas in the southern part of the island chain…still topping the 30 mph mark. As this weather map shows, we have the same long lasting high pressure system far to our northeast, weighing-in at 1032 millibars. The current forecast calls for light to moderately strong trade winds to extend well into the new work week ahead.

Rainfall across the islands hasn’t amounted to all that much lately, with a couple of exceptions…little change is expected through the rest of the week. There has been some thought that we might see some modest increase around Sunday, although that’s still a question at the time of this writing. We still have a thinning amount of high cirrus clouds over the state, having slipped down generally around Maui to the Big Island…as this satellite image shows. We also see a line of active thunderstorms to the south, southwest and southeast of the islands, in the deeper tropics. This closer look shows the high cirrus clouds, and still some clouds out to the east and north of Hawaii, being carried our way on the trade wind flow.

It’s Friday evening as I begin writing this last section of today’s narrative update.  As noted above, our trade winds seem to be getting a little lighter now, with this trend continuing into the weekend. There will be some occasional showers, generally along the windward coasts and slopes…perhaps increasing a touch later Sunday into early Monday, especially around the Big Island. ~~~ Since it’s Friday evening after work, I’ll be heading into Kahului to get something to eat, and to take in a new film. I’m looking forward to seeing Salt (2010) with Angelina Jolie and Liev Schreiber, although since its opening night, I’m quite sure it will be sold out. Instead, I’m going to see if I can get into the film called Inception (2010) starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Ken Watanable…among others. This film is being highly praised, with high grades from the critics and viewers both. The Yahoo critics are giving it a B+, while users are giving it an A-…which is high in anybodys terms. The synopsis: a master sorcerer in modern-day Manhattan is trying to defend the city from his arch-nemesis. Here’s the trailer for this film. ~~~ At 540pm here in Kihei, Maui, its breezy out, with generally clear skies, other than the high cirrus clouds that are still around. Those will light up into a gorgeous pink and orange sunset tonight, if you’re here in Hawaii, check it out. I’ll meet you back here Saturday morning with your next new weather narrative, I hope you have a great Friday night!  Aloha for now…Glenn.

Practically speaking, the stormy weather can also shut down oil spill cleanup operations, with crews having reportedly evacuated the Gulf ahead of Tropical Storm Bonnie. All of these factors could play out in the coming months as scientists are predicting this hurricane season, which officially began on June 1, could be as intense as or worse than in 2005 (the most active Atlantic season ever recorded and the year Hurricane Katrina struck).

Interesting2: An undersea 6.9-magnitude earthquake hit the southern Philippines on Saturday morning but it was too deep to cause any damage, officials said. No tsunami alert was issued, said the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, based in Hawaii. The quake hit the Moro Gulf off Mindanao Island at 7:15 a.m. (2315 GMT), the U.S. Geological Survey said. It said the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 but the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology later reported a 6.9 magnitude.

"The origin of the quake was 375 miles underground so it was barely felt," the institute’s Director Renato Solidum Jr. said in an interview on DZBB radio. The temblor was centered about 75 miles (121 kilometers) southwest of Cotabato city and about 566 miles (910 kilometers) southeast of the capital, Manila.

The Philippine archipelago lies in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire where earthquakes are common. It is flanked by the Pacific Ocean to the east and the South China Sea to the west with undersea trenches — potential quake triggers — running alongside its coast on both sides. A major quake that registered a magnitude 7.7 in 1990 killed nearly 2,000 people on the main northern island of Luzon.

Interesting3: Authorities in Guatemala say they’ve detected an increase in vibration inside a volcano that killed three people when it erupted in May. Researchers recently detected "an increase in internal vibration" at the Pacaya volcano, about 18 miles (30 kilometers) south of Guatemala City. The increase could cause further eruptions, according to a statement from CONRED, an emergency agency of the Guatemalan government.

Seismologists have not ruled out a complete eruption that could, depending on the wind direction, bring ash and soot to the capital. An eruption of the volcano in May killed three people and shut down the international airport in Guatemala City.

Interesting4: More winemakers around the world, however, are turning to synthetic alternatives. Wineries in Australia and New Zealand gravitate towards metal caps because importing cork is expensive. Some foodies would argue that synthetics avoid cork mold that can taint wine while providing an easier way to seal a bottle—and any neophyte who has mauled a cork while opening a new bottle would probably sympathize with that argument.

While many high-end vintners still use cork, synthetics are still gaining in popularity, so now the cork industry is pressuring the winemakers and distributors to stay with cork for environmental and economic reasons. The 100% Cork campaign features a Facebook page has over 15,500 members and counting. Corticeira Amorim, a leading Portuguese cork manufacturer, has launched a web site detailing all sorts of facts and statistics.

The company touts a PricewaterhouseCoopers study explaining that synthetic corks create a carbon footprint exponentially higher than that of naturally derived cork. Other studies explain that cork taint is overhyped; outline Amorim’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and articulate how cork recycling is increasing and how the results of which are beneficial for the planet. All these reports and campaigns have the purpose of pressuring winemakers to come turn away from synthetics and return to cork.

The environmental and social impacts of cork’s decline are clear: cork provides some of the few high-paying agricultural jobs remaining on the planet. A decline in cork production could devastate cork forests, which house trees hundreds of years old and contain rare ecosystems that would disappear should cork production cease. While many of us romanticize the Mediterranean (easy to do), much of this region has suffered from drought—cork trees protect local soil from drying out and halts erosion.

Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Thursday afternoon:

Lihue, Kauai -  84
Honolulu, Oahu -  86
Kaneohe, Oahu -  84
Kaunakakai, Molokai – 83
Kahului, Maui – 87
Hilo, Hawaii -   83
Kailua-kona –   84

Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level – and on the highest mountain tops too…as of 5pm Thursday evening:

Barking Sands, Kauai - 85
Molokai airport – 73

Haleakala Crater -    52 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea summit – 46 (near 14,000 feet on the Big Island)

Precipitation Totals - The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Thursday afternoon: 

0.28 Mount Waialeale, Kauai  
0.25 Kahuku, Oahu
0.05 Molokai 
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.93 Puu Kukui, Maui
0.33 Kawainui Stream, Big Island

Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing a 1033 millibar high pressure system far to the north-northeast of the islands. Our local trade winds will remain active through Friday…locally rather strong and gusty.

Satellite and Radar Images: To view the cloud conditions we have here in Hawaii, please use the following satellite links, starting off with this Infrared Satellite Image of the islands to see all the clouds around during the day and night. This next image is one that gives close images of the islands only during the daytime hours, and is referred to as a Close-up visible image. This next image shows a larger view of the Pacific…giving perspective to the wider ranging cloud patterns in the Pacific Ocean. Finally, here’s a Looping IR satellite image, making viewable the clouds around the islands 24 hours a day. To help you keep track of where any showers may be around the islands, here’s the latest animated radar image.

Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live webcam on the summit of near 14,000 foot Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. The tallest peak on the island of Maui is the Haleakala Crater, which is near 10,000 feet in elevation. These two webcams are available during the daylight hours here in the islands…and when there’s a big moon rising just after sunset for an hour or two! Plus, during the nights and early mornings you will be able to see stars, and the sunrise too…depending upon weather conditions.

Tropical Cyclone activity in the eastern and central Pacific - Here’s the latest weather information coming out of the National Hurricane Center, covering the eastern north Pacific. You can find the latest tropical cyclone information for the central north Pacific (where Hawaii is located) by clicking on this link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Here’s a tracking map covering both the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. A satellite image, which shows the entire ocean area between Hawaii and the Mexican coast…can be found here. Of course, as we know, our hurricane season won’t begin again until June 1st here in the central Pacific.

 Aloha Paragraphs

 
       Fragrant Pink Plumeria
 
    

The trade winds will be somewhat stronger into Friday, and then weaken slightly this weekend…continuing into next week in the light to moderately strong range. The winds have remained moderately strong today, although were gusting up to 39 mph Thursday evening at the Kahului airport. This weather map shows our trade wind producing high pressure system weighing-in at 1033 millibars at the moment. The center of this high pressure cell is still quite far away. Its impact on our islands will include a boost in wind speeds through Friday. Along with this strengthening of the trade winds, we have small craft advisory flags active over the coastal waters, and through the major channels in Maui County…and the Big Island. The models suggest the trade winds may slack off again slightly, as we get into the weekend. The trade winds will pick up again after the middle of the new week ahead.

We’re looking at a fairly typical trade wind weather pattern, with the usual passing windward biased showers at times…generally dry leeward areas. We don’t see any out of the ordinary weather conditions on our horizon, with just a fairly common, summertime swath of high cirrus clouds over the islands. As we can see by looking at this IR satellite image, there is a considerable amount of this high cloudiness actually…especially to the west of the Hawaiian Islands. The lower level clouds upwind of the islands, in relation to the trade winds, are out there as well, as can be see with this satellite picture…with a few showers heading towards the Big Island and Maui tonight.  It looks like a fairly normal precipitation pattern taking place into the immediate future, with no heavy showers taking aim on our islands at this time.

It’s Thursday evening as I begin writing this last section of today’s narrative update.  As noted above, our trade winds will remain quite gusty through Friday. These trade winds will blow clouds our way, with some showers falling at times here and there. The overlying atmosphere remains fairly stable though, which will limit showers from becoming too generous in any one location. The rather thick area of high cirrus clouds continues to move over the state this evening…although has shifted to the west at the time of this writing. ~~~ Here in Kihei, Maui, at around 530pm, the high cirrus clouds are still around, which suggests to me that we’ll see yet another nice sunset this evening! In general, as I mentioned in the two or three paragraphs above, our weather will remain pleasant. I’ll be back early Friday morning with your next new weather narrative from paradise, I hope you are well until then! Aloha for now…Glenn.

Air Temperatures – The following maximum temperatures were recorded across the state of Hawaii Wednesday afternoon:

Lihue, Kauai -  84
Honolulu, Oahu -  88
Kaneohe, Oahu -  84
Kaunakakai, Molokai – 88
Kahului, Maui – missing
Hilo, Hawaii -   84
Kailua-kona –   83

Air Temperatures ranged between these warmest and coolest spots near sea level – and on the highest mountain tops too…as of 5pm Wednesday evening:

Kalaeloa, Oahu - 87
Molokai AP – 81

Haleakala Crater -    52 (near 10,000 feet on Maui)
Mauna Kea summit – 45 (near 14,000 feet on the Big Island)

Precipitation Totals - The following numbers represent the largest precipitation totals (inches) during the last 24 hours on each of the major islands, as of Wednesday afternoon: 

0.55 Puu Opae, Kauai  
0.25 Oahu Forest NWR, Oahu
0.00 Molokai 
0.00 Lanai
0.00 Kahoolawe
0.78 Hana airport, Maui
1.36 Pahoa, Big Island

Marine Winds – Here’s the latest (automatically updated) weather map showing a strong 1038 millibar high pressure system far to the north of the islands. Our local trade winds will remain active through Thursday and Friday…gradually increasing in strength.

Satellite and Radar Images: To view the cloud conditions we have here in Hawaii, please use the following satellite links, starting off with this Infrared Satellite Image of the islands to see all the clouds around during the day and night. This next image is one that gives close images of the islands only during the daytime hours, and is referred to as a Close-up visible image. This next image shows a larger view of the Pacific…giving perspective to the wider ranging cloud patterns in the Pacific Ocean. Finally, here’s a Looping IR satellite image, making viewable the clouds around the islands 24 hours a day. To help you keep track of where any showers may be around the islands, here’s the latest animated radar image.

Hawaii’s Mountains – Here’s a link to the live webcam on the summit of near 14,000 foot Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. The tallest peak on the island of Maui is the Haleakala Crater, which is near 10,000 feet in elevation. These two webcams are available during the daylight hours here in the islands…and when there’s a big moon rising just after sunset for an hour or two! Plus, during the nights and early mornings you will be able to see stars, and the sunrise too…depending upon weather conditions.

Tropical Cyclone activity in the eastern and central Pacific - Here’s the latest weather information coming out of the National Hurricane Center, covering the eastern north Pacific. You can find the latest tropical cyclone information for the central north Pacific (where Hawaii is located) by clicking on this link to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Here’s a tracking map covering both the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. A satellite image, which shows the entire ocean area between Hawaii and the Mexican coast…can be found here. Of course, as we know, our hurricane season won’t begin again until June 1st here in the central Pacific.

 Aloha Paragraphs

 
       This kind of thing happens here in the islands all the time!
 
    

The winds were somewhat lighter the last couple of days, although most areas have cruised through with moderately strong breezes blowing. The winds in gusts were topping 35 mph, getting up to almost 40 mph Wednesday afternoon. This weather map shows our trade wind producing high pressure system is being rated at a robust 1038 millibars at the moment. The center of this high pressure cell is quite far away, and is very large. Its impact on our islands will include a boost in wind speeds over the next couple of days, through Friday. As this strengthening of the trade winds occurs now, we may very well see small craft advisory flags going up over some coastal waters, and through the major channels in Maui County…and the Big Island by Thursday. The models suggest the trade winds may slack off again slightly, as we get into the weekend.

The precipitation associated with the trough of low pressure, which moved across the state overnight into today, was somewhat disappointing. I use this word because there had been some hope that perhaps some of the very dry leeward sides might get a few showers. As it turned out, the Big Island received the most generous shower activity. This trough has moved west, and is not being shown on the weather map in the paragraph above this afternoon. This leaves us with just a fairly widespread batch of high cirrus clouds over the islands. As we can see by looking at this IR satellite image, there are quite a few streaks of those high clouds. The lower level clouds upwind of the islands, in relation to the trade winds, are fairly scarce tonight. Using this tighter view, this satellite picture lets us see that there is scarce moisture in the immediate field to our east, with more showers further out from there. It looks like a fairly normal precipitation pattern taking place into the immediate future.

It’s Wednesday evening as I begin writing this last section of toay’s narrative update.  As noted above, our trade winds will continue to blow this week, increasing in strength into Thursday. These trade winds will blow clouds our way, with some showers falling here and there. The overlying atmosphere remains rather stable though, which will limit any showers quite a bit. The rather thick area of high cirrus clouds continues to move over the state this evening as well. ~~~ Here in Kihei, Maui, at around 545pm, its rather cloudy, although mostly in the upper realms, with these high icy clouds. As was the case last evening at sunset, and this morning at sunrise too, we could see another dynamically colorful sky as the sun sets tonight…keep an eye out, and then again Thursday morning as well. I’m getting ready to head up the mountain now, taking the drive upcountry to Kula. I’ll take my usual walk, and have dinner ready for the potential nice sunset to accompany me. I’ll be back early Thursday morning with your next new weather narrative, I hope you have a great Wednesday night until then! Aloha for now…Glenn.

“The spill exposed the fact that the industry’s capability on capture and clean-up was 1980s vintage, in part because there was so much reliance on blowout preventers,” he said. “Companies have used their technology to get into the deepwater but they didn’t have an adequate plan to intervene at these depths or to contain a large-scale spill.”