Hindcasting typhoons in Micronesia: Experiences from ethnographic and historic records

Typhoons pose the single-most serious threat to life on the low lying islands of Micronesia: high speed winds and flying debris wreak havoc with vegetation and artificial structures, storm surges can inundate the small islands and contaminate precious groundwater lenses. The climatological record for typhoons in Micronesia is short (since 1958). The collation of historic sources (published and archival), coupled with the interpretation of extant photographic evidence can be employed to hindcast the nature and effects of past typhoons. Using a typhoon that affected the Marshall Islands of 30 June 1905, this paper outlines experiences from ethnographic and historic records.