Climate Trends and Projections for Guam

Summary

The island of Guam experiences a warm and humid climate moderated by seasonal tradewinds and a wet and dry season. Seasonal temperatures and precipitation are affected by the El-Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and tropical cyclones.  Both flooding and drought can impact freshwater supply management and associated infrastructure.

Continuous air temperature records on Guam show and increasing trend, punctuated by ENSO events. The highest rate of sea level rise in the world from 1993–2010 occurred in the western tropical Pacific. While data since 1953 show a significant drying trend in eastern Micronesia, western islands including Guam show no trend. Drought is more likely in the winter and spring following El Niño, and floods are associated with tropical cyclones.

A four-year, interdisciplinary, DoD Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) funded study evaluated potential climate impacts on freshwater supplies in Guam, and identified new and existing methods of increasing the system’s resilience. This project provides more detailed projections of future temperature, precipitation, and tropical storm frequency and intensity under future climate conditions, and the associated impacts on surface water and groundwater supply and crucial infrastructure.

Suggested Citation

Keener, VW, Gingerich, SB, and Finucane, ML, 2015. Climate Trends and Projections for Guam. East West Center information sheet, Honolulu, HI.