Federated States of Micronesia

Federated States of Micronesia

The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) extends 1,700 miles (2,736 km) from east to west, forming the Eastern and Western Caroline Islands [3]. The four states in the nation include: Pohnpei (with the FSM’s capital city in Palikir), Kosrae, Chuuk, and Yap.  With the wide variation in location and geology, the islands have a wide range of climates and experience different impacts across the country. Despite plentiful rainfall (Pohnpei is one of the wettest places on Earth), drought conditions do occur periodically throughout FSM, especially when the El Niño condition moves into the Western Pacific.  At these times in the past, groundwater supplies have dwindled to an emergency state, with a major drought disaster declaration in 1998 and emergency declarations in 2007 [2].  The states of Pohnpei and Chuuk declared drought emergencies on several islands in these states due to food and water shortages from climate variability.  In addition, the FSM faces wildfires, extreme tides, sea level variation, and erosion. Tropical typhoons (June to December) constitute an annual threat, particularly to the low-lying atolls [1, 3]. Fisheries, a primary economic sector in the FSM, have high correlations of fish catch with sea surface temperatures (SST) and ENSO events.  As pelagic fish leave the region with rising SSTs, the FSM could experience severe economic setbacks. With the current stresses on the environment, infrastructure, and economy in the FSM, more frequent extreme events and climate change could pose severe problems for the resilience of the island communities.  To address these issues, several non-profit organizations working with the government have begun to identify marine protected areas and conservation areas to protect resources for food security.  In addition, some of the low-lying atolls have made arrangements to secure tracts of land on higher islands for possible relocation.

Geography

The FSM is made up of four island states in the North Pacific Ocean, including Pohnpei State, Chuuk State, Yap State, and Kosrae State, totaling 607 small islands (65 inhabited) extending 1,700 miles (2,900 km) across the archipelago of the Caroline Islands, from Kosrae in the east to Yap in the west [3]. The many islands are diverse and contain various geographical features, from high mountainous islands, such as Pohnpei, to low-lying atoll islands with scarce land resources, such as Ulithi Atoll. Each of the four states centers around one or more high island, and all but Kosrae include numerous atolls [3]. The total land area is only 271 sq miles (702 sq km), but the nation also covers some 1 million sq miles (2.6 million sq km) of the Pacific Ocean [3]. Chuuk State has a total land area of 49 sq miles (127 sq km) and includes seven major volcanic island groups within the Chuuk Lagoon and 24 outer-island atolls – approximately 290 islands total.  Chuuk is the most populous of the FSM states [10]. Pohnpei State is a large state made up of one large volcanic island and six inhabited atolls, with most of its 133 sq miles (346 sq km) in Pohnpei Island, the largest island in FSM [3]. Most of Pohnpei State’s islands and atolls are in the north-central, southwest, and western parts of the state. Palikir on Pohnpei is the national capital of the FSM and site of the Community College of Micronesia. Yap State is made up of four large volcanic islands [10], 7 small islands and 134 atolls (of which 19 are inhabited), with a total land area of 46 sq miles (118 sq km) [3]. More than a quarter of all Yap’s residents live on the outer islands, and two-thirds of the population lives on Yap Island [10]. Kosrae State, the most easterly state in the country, is essentially one high volcanic island of 42 sq miles (110 sq km) [3]. Because of the heavy rainfalls, it has many rivers and waterfalls [10]. Kosrae is the only FSM state without outer islands.

Climate

For a comprehensive summary of climate trends and future projections, and how climate change is affecting FSM’s key sectors, see Climate Change in FSM: Indicators and Considerations for Key Sectors (July 2023). Authors from the East-West Center, Arizona State University, and the University of Hawaiʻi—along with 30 technical contributors from local government, NGOs, and research—collaboratively developed the FSM PIRCA report. Key climate change issues affecting FSM include hotter conditions, stronger typhoons, threats to coastal infrastructure, and declining ocean ecosystem health. Threatened resources include culturally significant coastal infrastructure and the tens of millions of dollars that fisheries inject into the FSM’s economy annually. Climate change is expected to disrupt many aspects of life in Palau. Those who are already vulnerable—including children, the elderly, low-income families, and individuals with disabilities—are at greater risk from extreme weather and climate events.

Kosrae

Kosrae’s climate is tropical oceanic. Located only 5° north of the equator, Kosrae experiences periods of heavy rainfall associated with the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). In 2007, the average annual temperature was 81°F (27.2 °C) [5]. Rainfall is relatively high, slightly over 200 inches (5,080 mm) in 2007 [5]. The precipitation is normally higher in the highlands. The state has experienced three severe droughts in recent times, in 1982-83, 1992-93 and 1997-98. All three were a result of El Niño.  Kosrae is located to the south and east of the typhoon track and very rarely experiences a direct strike from a typhoon. However, Pacific typhoons often go through the development stage in the area, causing severe local winds.  During the rainy season of November through March frequent severe rainstorms are sometimes accompanied by damaging winds, which can damage transmission and distribution facilities [9].

Chuuk

From about November to June, the climate of Chuuk is influenced chiefly by northeasterly tradewinds with average monthly speeds of 8-12 mph (13-19 km/h). By about April, however, the trades begin to weaken, and by July give way to the lighter and more variable winds of the doldrums. Between July and November, the island is frequently under the influence of the ITCZ. Temperature in Chuuk is remarkably uniform; with the highs generally in the middle 80s, and lows in the middle 70s [5]. The northern atolls receive about 80 inches of rainfall a year while the annual rainfall in Southern atolls is normally higher, about 160 inches (4,060 mm) [5]. Although the major typhoon tracks of the western Pacific lie to the north and west of Chuuk, several of the storms have passed close enough to the island to cause widespread damage. Tropical storms generally occur between the months of July and November [9]. Severe typhoons with winds in excess of 100 mph (161 km/h) can strike portions of Chuuk, including Supertyphoon Nina in November 1987 [7] and Typhoon Chata’an in July 2002.  Chata’an brought heavy rainfall causing extensive flooding, mudslides, and landslides that resulted in deaths and required more than $10.6 million in federal assistance [2].  According to the 2007 PEAC staff visit with the Chuuk Weather Service Office (WSO), sea level rise, drought, and inundation are the biggest threats to Chuuk.  Most infrastructure is located close to the coastline, as the interior of the islands are mountainous [4].

Pohnpei

Pohnpei’s close proximity to the equator, right in the middle of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), substantially reduces seasonal weather change [9].  Average annual temperature since 1970 has been around 81° F (27 °C) [5]. The island’s highest point, at 2,540 feet (798 m), is the summit of Mount Nahnalaud, thought to be one of the wettest spots in the world, with an average annual rainfall exceeding 400 inches (10,160 mm) [8]. Runoff from the rains feed numerous streams and rivers that originate in the interior highlands.  Typically, Pohnpei’s interior is almost completely cloud covered, and the island’s residents can expect most days to be partly cloudy, with periods of sunshine, then overcast and rainy [9]. Pohnpei is generally south and east of the typhoon belt, but periodically experiences short, severe tropical storms [9].  The northern part of Pohnpei is where tropical disturbances often form, though most develop into typhoons north and west of the state. The southernmost atoll in the state is Kapingamarangi, located 2° north of the equator, and subject to droughts, particularly during La Niña events [8].

Yap

The ITCZ lies near Yap during the northern summer, particularly as it moves northward in July and southward again in October. At such times, showers and light, variable winds predominate, interspersed with heavier showers or thunderstorms, occasionally accompanied by strong and shifting winds. In 2007 the average annual temperature was 80.5 °F (26.9 °C), and annual rainfall was 138 inches (3493 mm) [5]. Since the twenty-first century began, Yap has experienced two major typhoon disaster declarations, Typhoon Lupit in 2003 and Typhoon Sudal in 2004 [2].