Climate Change, Water Resources and Sustainability in the Pacific Basin: Emphasis on O'ahu, Hawaii and Majuro Atoll, Repulic of the Marshall Islands

Abstract

Climate has profoundly impacted and shaped human existence and in turn humans via their activities have impacted local and regional and now even global climate. Beginning around 10,000 years ago, the Agricultural Revolution and resultant growth in population altered the local and regional climate of many regions around the world including islands. For example, as huge tracks of forest were felled to make way for agriculture to support growing populations, the pre-Agricultural Revolution Mediterranean hydrological cycle and thus climate was altered from a wet to the present relatively dry climate.