The Republic of the Marshall islands
consists of 29 atolls each made up of many islets and 5 islands in the central
Pacific between 4 degrees and 14 degrees North, and 160 degrees and 173 degrees
East. The atolls and islands are situated in two almost parallel chain-like
formations known as the Ratak (Sunrise) group and Ralik (Sunset) group. The
total number of islands and islets in the whole Republic is approximately 1,225
spreading across a sea area of over 750,000 square miles. The total land area is
about 70 square miles (181 square kilometers). The mean height of the land is
about 7 feet above sea level (2 meters).
The
Marshall Islands, east of the Carolines, are divided into two chains: the
western, or Ralik, group, including the atolls Jaluit, Kwajalein, Wotho, Bikini,
and Eniwetok; and the eastern, or Ratak, group, including the atolls Mili,
Majuro, Maloelap, Wotje, and Likiep. The islands are of coral reef types and
rise only a few feet above sea level. The Marshall Islands comprise an area
slightly larger than Washington, DC.
The weather in the Marshall Islands is
tropical - hot and humid, but tempered by trade-winds which prevail throughout
the year. The average temperature hovers around 80 degrees Fahrenheit and rarely
fluctuates. This is one of the most outstanding features of the climate, in
fact, the range between the coolest and the warmest months averages less than 1
degree Fahrenheit. Also interesting is the fact that nights, although they feel
cooler, are actually 2-4 degrees warmer than the average daily minimum, this is
because the lowest temperatures usually occur during heavy showers in the
daytime. Like elsewhere in the Pacific, the skies are quite cloudy. Cumuliform
clouds are predominant but anostratus-altocumulus and cirriform clouds are also
present most of the time. Tropical storms are very rare; although, in the last 3
years there have been three major cyclones. Much more common are minor storms of
the easterly wave type, especially from March to April and October to November
The weather in the Marshall Islands is
tropical - hot and humid, but tempered by trade-winds which prevail throughout
the year. The average temperature hovers around 80 degrees Fahrenheit and rarely
fluctuates. This is one of the most outstanding features of the climate, in
fact, the range between the coolest and the warmest months averages less than 1
degree Fahrenheit. Also interesting is the fact that nights, although they feel
cooler, are actually 2-4 degrees warmer than the average daily minimum, this is
because the lowest temperatures usually occur during heavy showers in the
daytime. Like elsewhere in the Pacific, the skies are quite cloudy. Cumuliform
clouds are predominant but anostratus-altocumulus and cirriform clouds are also
present most of the time. Tropical storms are very rare; although, in the last 3
years there have been three major cyclones. Much more common are minor storms of
the easterly wave type, especially from March to April and October to November