FY 1981

Comparison of ocean and island rainfall in the tropical South Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans

Wright, C., and R.K. Reed

NOAA Tech. Memo. ERL PMEL-25, NTIS: PB81-225401, 17 pp (1981)

Mean annual rainfall and maximum elevation were compiled from a variety of sources for islands in the tropical South Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans. Estimated annual ocean rainfall in the vicinity of each island was taken from a map of annual precipitation over the world ocean recently prepared by Reed and Elliott. Island rainfall was compared with ocean rainfall, and these island/ocean rainfall rations were examined in terms of location and island elevation. No reliable correlation between island and ocean precipitation was revealed, although low islands near the intertropical convergence zone seem most likely to have island rainfall representative of ocean rainfall.