Climate Change Chart of Tarawa, Kiribati

Overview of climate changes

Temperature changes

Averaged across calendar months, the monthly mean temperature difference was +0.99 °C compared with the earlier reference period. This is an unweighted average of monthly means, not a day-weighted annual average, and it describes the aggregate rather than every month; monthly mean temperature also does not represent daytime highs. The largest monthly increase in mean temperature was in November, at a difference of +1.16 °C. That identifies the strongest monthly increase, not a uniform change throughout the year.

Changes in rainfall

Averaged across calendar months, mean daily rainfall had a difference of -1.49 mm/day. This unweighted average of monthly means is not a day-weighted annual figure, and it does not imply that rainfall decreased in every month; the amounts refer to daily means rather than monthly totals. The monthly changes varied in direction: in March, mean daily rainfall had a difference of +2.02 mm/day, while in June it had a difference of -4.56 mm/day. These mark the largest monthly increase and decrease, respectively, rather than describing rainfall in every month.

Changes in sunshine duration

Averaged across calendar months, mean daily sunshine duration had a difference of -0.16 hours/day compared with the earlier reference period. This is an unweighted average of monthly means, not a day-weighted annual average, so it summarizes the months collectively rather than indicating the change in each one. The monthly differences went in both directions: mean daily sunshine duration had a difference of +0.54 hours/day in June, the largest monthly increase, and a difference of -0.70 hours/day in December, the largest monthly decrease. These daily-hour means describe monthly averages, not the sunshine received on every individual day.