Editing Geography of Tuvalu (section)

==Climate and natural hazards==

===El Niño and La Niña===
Tuvalu experiences the effects of [[El Niño]] and [[La Niña]] that flow from changes in ocean temperatures in equatorial and central Pacific. [[El Niño]] effects increase the chances of tropical storms and [[cyclones]]; while [[La Niña]] effects increase the chances of drought conditions in Tuvalu. On 3 October 2011, drought conditions resulted in a state of emergency being declared as water reserves ran low.<ref name="SPC2011">{{cite web|url= http://reliefweb.int/report/tuvalu/tuvalu%E2%80%99s-crippling-drought-offers-important-lessons-pacific|title= Tuvalu's crippling drought offers important lessons to the Pacific  |work= Secretariat of the Pacific Community|date= 6 October 2011|access-date=24 April 2015}}</ref><ref name=Tele>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/tuvalu/8804093/Tuvalu-to-run-out-of-water-by-Tuesday.html| location=London | work=The Telegraph| first1=Matthew| last1=Benns| title=Tuvalu 'to run out of water by Tuesday'| date=3 October 2011}}</ref><ref name=AM>{{cite web| first= Alistair |last= Macrae|url=http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/3497128.html|title= Tuvalu in a fight for its life| date =11 October 2011|publisher=The Drum – Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=12 October 2011}}</ref> Typically the islands of Tuvalu receive between 200mm to 400mm of rainfall per month, however a weak [[La Niña]] effect causes a drought by cooling the surface of the sea around Tuvalu.

{{see also|2011 Tuvalu drought}}

===Tropical cyclones===
Severe [[tropical cyclone]]s are usually rare, but the low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea-level rise. Tuvalu experienced an average of three cyclones per decade between the 1940s and 1970s, however eight occurred in the 1980s.<ref name="JCon">{{cite journal| last=Connell |first=John |url=http://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10125/38764/1/v27n1-1-36.pdf |title=Vulnerable Islands: Climate Change, Techonic Change, and Changing Livelihoods in the Western Pacific  |journal=The Contemporary Pacific|volume=27|issue=1 |year=2015|pages=1–36|doi=10.1353/cp.2015.0014 }}</ref> The impact of individual cyclones is subject to variables including the force of the winds and also whether a cyclone coincides with high tides. A warning system, which uses the [[Iridium satellite constellation|Iridium]] satellite network, was introduced in 2016 in order to allow outlying islands to be better prepare for natural disasters.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=10 June 2016|access-date=10 June 2016|title=Tuvalu to introduce new early warning system|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/306132/tuvalu-to-intoduce-new-early-warning-system}}</ref>

George Westbrook recorded a cyclone that struck [[Funafuti]] on 23–24 December 1883.<ref name="BKE">{{cite journal |author= McLean, R.F. and Munro, D. |url= http://uspaquatic.library.usp.ac.fj/gsdl/collect/spjnas/index/assoc/HASH0199.dir/doc.pdf |title= Late 19th century Tropical Storms and Hurricanes in Tuvalu |journal= South Pacific Journal of Natural History |volume= 11 |year= 1991 |pages= 213–219 |access-date= 13 April 2019 |archive-date= 10 April 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190410113306/http://uspaquatic.library.usp.ac.fj/gsdl/collect/spjnas/index/assoc/HASH0199.dir/doc.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref name="H83">{{cite book |last1=Resture|first1= Jane |title= Hurricane 1883 |url= http://www.janeresture.com/hurribebe/hurricanebebe2.htm|publisher= Tuvalu and the Hurricanes: 'Gods Who Die' by Julian Dana as told by George Westbrook}}</ref> A cyclone struck Nukulaelae on 17–18 March 1886.<ref name="BKE"/> Captain [[Edward H. M. Davis|Edward Davis]] of HMS ''Royalist'', who visited the Ellice Group in 1892, recorded in the ship's diary that in February 1891 the Ellice Group was devastated by a severe cyclone.<ref name="JEC">{{cite web| last = Resture | first = Jane|title= Tuvalu and the hurricanes|date =17 May 2004|url= http://www.janeresture.com/hurribebe/index.htm| access-date=23 April 2014}}</ref> A cyclone caused severe damage to the islands in 1894.<ref name="TAH2">{{cite book |first1=Pasoni |last1=Taafaki |editor-first1=Hugh |editor-last1=Laracy |title= Tuvalu: A History|year= 1983 |publisher= Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific and Government of Tuvalu|page=27 |chapter=Chapter 2 – The Old Order}}</ref>

[[Image:Tuvalu Meteorology Service.jpg| thumb|left|275px| [[Tuvalu Meteorological Service]], [[Fongafale]], [[Funafuti]] atoll]]
[[Cyclone Bebe]] caused severe damage to [[Funafuti]] during the [[1972–73 South Pacific cyclone season]].<ref name="JRBebe">{{cite web| last =Resture| first =Jane|title=Hurricane Bebe Left 19 People Dead And Thousands Misplaced In Fiji and Tuvalu| publisher= Janeresture.com|date =14 October 2022| url=https://www.janeresture.com/hurricane-bebe/| access-date=3 December 2023}}</ref><ref name="PIM1973-5">{{cite web| last =| first =  | work= 44(5) Pacific Islands Monthly |title=Life bounce back in the Ellice|date =1 May 1966|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-336976092/view?sectionId=nla.obj-340950828&partId=nla.obj-337014010#page/n22/mode/1up| access-date=2 October 2021}}</ref> Funafuti's [[Pukasavilivili|Tepuka Vili Vili]] [[islet]] was devastated by [[Cyclone Meli]] in 1979, with all its vegetation and most of its sand swept away during the cyclone.<ref name=KFCA>{{cite web|title=Kogatapu Funafuti Conservation Area | publisher=Tuvaluislands.com |url= http://www.tuvaluislands.com/islands/funafuti_kogatapu.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080708191258/http://www.tuvaluislands.com/islands/funafuti_kogatapu.html |url-status= usurped |archive-date= 8 July 2008 |access-date=28 October 2011}}</ref> [[Cyclone Gavin]] was first identified during 2 March 1997, and was the first of three tropical cyclones to affect Tuvalu during the 1996–97 cyclone season with Cyclones [[Cyclone Hina|Hina]] and [[Cyclone Keli|Keli]] following later in the season. [[Cyclone Ofa]] had a major impact on Tuvalu in late January and early February 1990.<ref name="STD">{{cite report|author=Koop, Neville L|author2=Fiji Meteorological Service|type=Mariners Weather Log|date=Winter 1991|title=Samoa Depression|oclc=648466886|volume=35|issue=1|publisher=United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Oceanographic Data Service|issn=0025-3367|page=53|editor=DeAngellis, Richard M}}</ref> On [[Vaitupu]] Island around 85 percent of residential homes, trees and food crops were destroyed, while residential homes were also destroyed on the islands of [[Niutao]], [[Nui (atoll)|Nui]] and [[Nukulaelae]]. The majority of the islands in Tuvalu reported damage to vegetation and crops especially bananas, coconuts and breadfruit, with the extent of damage ranging from 10 to 40 percent. In [[Funafuti]] sea waves flattened the Hurricane Bebe bank at the southern end of the airstrip, which caused sea flooding and prompted the evacuation of several families from their homes. In Nui and Niulakita there was a minor loss of the landscape because of sea flooding while there were no lives lost. Soon after the systems had impacted Tuvalu, a Disaster Rehabilitation Sub-Committee was appointed to evaluate the damage caused and make recommendations to the National Disaster Committee and to the Cabinet of Tuvalu, on what should be done to help rehabilitate the affected areas.

In March 2015 [[Cyclone Pam]], the Category 5 cyclone that devastated [[Vanuatu]], caused damage to houses, crops and infrastructure on the outer islands.<ref name="TSP11">{{cite web| work= Tuvalu Solar Project Team Blog |title= Wild weather in Tuvalu |date =11 March 2015|url= http://www.powersmarttuvaluproject.blogspot.co.nz/| access-date=15 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="SBS15">{{cite web| work= SBS Australia |title= Flooding in Vanuatu, Kiribati and Tuvalu as Cyclone Pam strengthens |date =13 March 2015|url= http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/03/13/flooding-vanuatu-kiribati-and-tuvalu-cyclone-pam-strengthens | access-date=15 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="RNZI14">{{cite web| work= Radio New Zealand International |title= State of emergency in Tuvalu  |date =14 March 2015|url= http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/268612/state-of-emergency-in-tuvalu| access-date=15 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="RNZI15">{{cite web| work= Radio New Zealand International |title= 45 percent of Tuvalu population displaced – PM|date =15 March 2015|url= http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/268686/45-percent-of-tuvalu-population-displaced-pm| access-date=15 March 2015}}</ref> A state of emergency was subsequently declared on 13 March.<ref name="FenS15">{{cite web|title=Press Release issued by the Office of the Prime Minister |publisher=Fenui News |date=13 March 2015 |url=https://www.un.int/tuvalu/sites/www.un.int/files/Tuvalu/Documents/GA/fenui_mar_13_2015_special_edition.pdf |access-date=17 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Radio New Zealand International|date=14 March 2015|access-date=15 March 2015|title=State of emergency in Tuvalu|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/268612/state-of-emergency-in-tuvalu}}</ref> An estimated 45&nbsp;percent of the nation's nearly 10,000&nbsp;people were displaced, according to [[Prime Minister of Tuvalu|Prime Minister]] [[Enele Sopoaga]].<ref name=rnzi>{{cite news|title=45 percent of Tuvalu population displaced – PM |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/268686/45-percent-of-tuvalu-population-displaced-pm |work=[[Radio New Zealand International]] |date=15 March 2015 |access-date=15 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="RNZI17">{{cite web| work= Radio New Zealand International |title= International assistance due today in Tuvalu|date =17 March 2015|url= http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/268866/international-assistance-due-today-in-tuvalu| access-date=17 March 2015}}</ref> The three northern islands, [[Nanumea]], [[Nanumanga]] and [[Niutao]] were badly affected by flooding as the result of storm surges. More than 400 people from the northern island of Nanumanga were moved to emergency accommodation in the school buildings, as well as another 85 families from [[Nukulaelae]] in the south of Tuvalu. On [[Nui (atoll)|Nui]] the storm surges contaminated the water supplies and damaged septic tanks and grave sites. The central islands of [[Vaitupu]] and [[Nukufetau]] were also affected by flooding caused by storm surges.<ref name="TuvaluReport">{{cite report|work=International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies|publisher=ReliefWeb|date=16 March 2015|access-date=17 March 2015|title=Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA) Tuvalu: Tropical Cyclone Pam|url=http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/MDRTV001dref.pdf}}</ref><ref name="RNZI19">{{cite web| work= Radio New Zealand International |title= One Tuvalu island evacuated after flooding from Pam|date =18 March 2015|url= http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/268988/one-tuvalu-island-evacuated-after-flooding-from-pam| access-date=18 March 2015}}</ref><ref name=RW22>{{cite web|url= http://reliefweb.int/report/tuvalu/tuvalu-tropical-cyclone-pam-situation-report-no-1-22-march-2015 |title=Tuvalu: Tropical Cyclone Pam Situation Report No. 1 (as of 22 March 2015)| date =22 March 2015|publisher= Relief Web |access-date= 25 March 2015}}</ref> The Situation Report published on 30 March reported that on Nukufetau all the displaced people have returned to their homes.<ref name=RW30>{{cite web|url= http://reliefweb.int/report/tuvalu/tuvalu-tropical-cyclone-pam-situation-report-no-2-30-march-2015 |title=Tuvalu: Tropical Cyclone Pam Situation Report No. 2 (as of 30 March 2015)| date =30 March 2015|publisher= Relief Web |access-date= 30 March 2015}}</ref>

Nui suffered the most damage of the three central islands (Nui, Nukufetau and Vaitupu);<ref name="UNDP">{{cite web| work= United Nations Development Programme|title= Forgotten paradise under water|date =1 May 2015 |url= https://undp.exposure.co/forgotten-paradise-under-water| access-date=8 June 2015}}</ref> with both Nui and Nukufetau suffering the loss of 90% of the crops.<ref name=RW30/> Of the three northern islands (Nanumanga, Niutao, Nanumea), Nanumanga suffered the most damage, with 60–100 houses flooded and damage to the health facility.<ref name=RW30/><ref name=WHO04>{{cite web|url=http://reliefweb.int/report/tuvalu/tuvalu-situation-update-3-april-2015  |title=Tuvalu situation update: Securing health from disastrous impacts of cyclone Pam in Tuvalu| date =3 April 2015 |publisher= Relief Web/World health Organisation – Western Pacific Region |access-date= 8 June 2015}}</ref> [[Vasafua]] islet, part of the [[Funafuti Conservation Area]], was severely damaged by Cyclone Pam. The coconut palms were washed away, leaving the islet as a sand bar.<ref name="VIV">{{cite web| last =Wilson  | first =David  | work= Tuvalu-odyssey.net |title= Vasafua Islet vanishes |date = 4 July 2015|url= http://www.tuvalu-odyssey.net/vasafua-islet-vanishes/ | access-date=22 July 2015}}</ref><ref name="TO13">{{cite web| last =Endou  | first = Shuuichi  | work= Tuvalu Overview (Japanese) |title= バサフア島、消失・・・(Vasafua Islet vanishes)|date = 28 March 2015|url= http://www.tuvalu-overview.tv/blog/news/3253/ | access-date=22 July 2015}}</ref>

Despite passing over {{convert|500|km|mi|round=5|abbr=on}} to the south of the island nation, [[Cyclone Tino]] and its associated convergence zone impacted the whole of Tuvalu between January 16&nbsp;- 19 of 2020.<ref name="Tuvalu SWB 1">{{cite report|title=Special Weather Bulletin Number 1 for Tuvalu January 16, 2020 10z|publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service|date=January 16, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Swept">{{cite news|title="It swept right over": Tuvalu inundated by waves whipped up by Cyclone Tino|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/407611/it-swept-right-over-tuvalu-inundated-by-waves-whipped-up-by-cyclone-tino |access-date=February 8, 2020|work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=January 20, 2020}}</ref>

===Tsunami===
[[Nui (atoll)|Nui]] was struck by a giant wave on 16 February 1882;<ref name="TAH10">{{cite book |first1=Sotaga |last1=Pape |editor-first1=Hugh |editor-last1=Laracy |title= Tuvalu: A History (Chapter 10) Nui|year= 1983 |publisher= Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific and Government of Tuvalu|pages=76|chapter=10}}</ref> earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occurring in the basin of the [[Pacific Ocean]] and along the Pacific [[Ring of Fire]] are a possible cause of a [[tsunami]]. There is [[2007 Solomon Islands earthquake#Tectonic summary|earthquake activity in the Solomon Islands]], where earthquakes occurred in relation to the New Hebrides Trench,<ref name="TCAP-F50">{{cite report|last= FCG ANZDEC Ltd |title = Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment - Funafuti |date= 7 October 2020 |publisher= The Pacific Community |pages=50|chapter= |url= https://www.adaptation-undp.org/Tuvalu-Coastal-Adaptation-Project-TCAP-ESIA-Funafuti |access-date=6 February 2021}}</ref><ref name="TCAP-NN61">{{cite report|last=  FCG ANZDEC Ltd |title = Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment - Nanumaga and Nanumea |date= 7 August 2020 |publisher= The Pacific Community |pages=61|chapter= |url= https://www.adaptation-undp.org/Tuvalu-Coastal-Adaptation-Project-TCAP-ESIA-Nanumaga-Nanumea |access-date=4 February 2021}}</ref> and movement along the boundary of the [[Pacific Plate]] with, respectively, the [[Indo-Australian Plate|Indo-Australia]], [[Woodlark Plate|Woodlark]], and Solomon Sea plates.<ref name=USGSSummary>{{Cite web |url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/eqinthenews/2007/us2007aqbk/ |title=Magnitude 8.1 – SOLOMON ISLANDS – Summary|work=USGS Earthquake Hazards Program |access-date=2 April 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070406185859/http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/eqinthenews/2007/us2007aqbk/| archive-date= 6 April 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>

Tuvalu has the third lowest tsunami risk of Pacific Island countries, with a maximum tsunami amplitude of 1.6m for a 2000-year return period (comparatively, the highest is 5.2m for PNG, and the lowest is 1m for Nauru).<ref name="TCBD">{{cite report |first1=C. |last1=Thomas |last2=Burbidge |first2=D |title =A Probabilistic Tsunami Hazard. Assessment of the Southwest Pacific Nations. Geoscience Australia Professional Opinion No.2009/02. Rereleased 2011/11 |year= 2009 |publisher=  Geoscience Australia (GA)|pages=|chapter= |url= http://www.ga.gov.au/webtemp/image_cache/GA20154.pdf |access-date=12 February 2021}}</ref> The assessment of the tsunami risk of Tuvalu was that major source of risk was activity associated with the New Hebrides trench. The orientation of the trench vis-à-vis the islands of Tuvalu results in the conclusion that most of the energy originating from New Hebrides trench is likely to be directed towards the southern islands of Tuvalu, so that the tsunami risk is lower for the northern islands when compared to the southern islands.<ref name="TCBD"/><ref name="TCAP-F50"/><ref name="TCAP-NN61-1">{{cite report|last=  FCG ANZDEC Ltd |title = Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment - Nanumaga and Nanumea |date= 7 August 2020 |publisher= The Pacific Community |pages=61|chapter= |url= https://www.adaptation-undp.org/Tuvalu-Coastal-Adaptation-Project-TCAP-ESIA-Nanumaga-Nanumea |access-date=12 February 2021}}</ref>

===Climate data===

{{Weather box
|location = [[Funafuti]] (Köppen Af)
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes 
|metric first = Yes
|width = auto 
|Jan record high C = 33.8
|Feb record high C = 34.4
|Mar record high C = 34.4
|Apr record high C = 33.2
|May record high C = 33.9
|Jun record high C = 33.9
|Jul record high C = 32.8
|Aug record high C = 32.9
|Sep record high C = 32.8
|Oct record high C = 34.4
|Nov record high C = 33.9
|Dec record high C = 33.9
|year record high C = 34.4
|Jan high C = 30.7
|Feb high C = 30.8
|Mar high C = 30.6
|Apr high C = 31.0
|May high C = 30.9
|Jun high C = 30.6
|Jul high C = 30.4
|Aug high C = 30.4
|Sep high C = 30.7
|Oct high C = 31.0
|Nov high C = 31.2
|Dec high C = 31.0
|year high C = 30.8
|Jan mean C = 28.2
|Feb mean C = 28.1
|Mar mean C = 28.1
|Apr mean C = 28.2
|May mean C = 28.4
|Jun mean C = 28.3
|Jul mean C = 28.1
|Aug mean C = 28.1
|Sep mean C = 28.2
|Oct mean C = 28.2
|Nov mean C = 28.4
|Dec mean C = 28.3
|year mean C = 28.2
|Jan low C = 25.5
|Feb low C = 25.3
|Mar low C = 25.4
|Apr low C = 25.7
|May low C = 25.8
|Jun low C = 25.9
|Jul low C = 25.7
|Aug low C = 25.8
|Sep low C = 25.8
|Oct low C = 25.7
|Nov low C = 25.8
|Dec low C = 25.7
|year low C = 25.8
|Jan record low C = 22.0
|Feb record low C = 22.2
|Mar record low C = 22.8
|Apr record low C = 23.0
|May record low C = 20.5
|Jun record low C = 23.0
|Jul record low C = 21.0
|Aug record low C = 16.1
|Sep record low C = 20.0
|Oct record low C = 21.0
|Nov record low C = 22.8
|Dec record low C = 22.8
|year record low C = 16.1
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 413.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 360.6
|Mar precipitation mm = 324.3
|Apr precipitation mm = 255.8
|May precipitation mm = 259.8
|Jun precipitation mm = 216.6
|Jul precipitation mm = 253.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 275.9
|Sep precipitation mm = 217.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 266.5
|Nov precipitation mm = 275.9
|Dec precipitation mm = 393.9
|year precipitation mm = 3512.6
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 20
|Feb precipitation days = 19
|Mar precipitation days = 20
|Apr precipitation days = 19
|May precipitation days = 18
|Jun precipitation days = 19
|Jul precipitation days = 19
|Aug precipitation days = 18
|Sep precipitation days = 16
|Oct precipitation days = 18
|Nov precipitation days = 17
|Dec precipitation days = 19
|year precipitation days = 223
|Jan humidity = 82
|Feb humidity = 82
|Mar humidity = 82
|Apr humidity = 82
|May humidity = 82
|Jun humidity = 82
|Jul humidity = 83
|Aug humidity = 82
|Sep humidity = 81
|Oct humidity = 81
|Nov humidity = 80
|Dec humidity = 81
|year humidity = 82
|Jan sun = 179.8
|Feb sun = 161.0
|Mar sun = 186.0
|Apr sun = 201.0
|May sun = 195.3
|Jun sun = 201.0
|Jul sun = 195.3
|Aug sun = 220.1
|Sep sun = 210.0
|Oct sun = 232.5
|Nov sun = 189.0
|Dec sun = 176.7
|year sun = 
|Jand sun = 5.8
|Febd sun = 5.7
|Mard sun = 6.0
|Aprd sun = 6.7
|Mayd sun = 6.3
|Jund sun = 6.7
|Juld sun = 6.3
|Augd sun = 7.1
|Sepd sun = 7.0
|Octd sun = 7.5
|Novd sun = 6.3
|Decd sun = 5.7
|yeard sun = 6.4
|source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref name = FunafutiDWD>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_916430_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Funafuti / Tuvalu (Ellice-Inseln)
| work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = 22 November 2016}}</ref>
}}