Climate Change Chart of Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea

Overview of climate changes

Temperature changes

Monthly mean temperature was higher in the more recent reference period, with a difference of +0.89 °C averaged across calendar months; this is an unweighted mean of monthly means, not a day-weighted annual average or a measure of daytime highs. The largest monthly increase was shared by November / December, with a difference of +1.05 °C in monthly mean temperature. This identifies the leading increase among the supplied monthly comparisons, rather than describing every month's change.

Changes in rainfall

Mean daily rainfall decreased by -0.55 mm/day averaged across calendar months in the more recent period; this unweighted summary of monthly means is not a day-weighted annual average, and it does not imply a decrease in every month. The monthly differences were mixed: September had the largest increase, a difference of +1.43 mm/day, while November had the largest decrease, a difference of -1.78 mm/day. These are changes in mean daily rainfall, not monthly rainfall totals.

Changes in sunshine duration

Mean daily sunshine duration showed a decrease of -0.16 hours/day averaged across calendar months. This is an unweighted comparison of monthly means, so it does not indicate that sunshine declined in every month. The largest monthly increase occurred in May, with a difference of +0.59 hours/day in mean daily sunshine; the largest decrease was in September, with a difference of -0.68 hours/day. These contrasting monthly results show why the overall mean difference should not be read as a uniform month-by-month change.