Quantifying hydrologic parameters such as precipitation, streamflow, evapotranspiration,
and aquifer response are fundamental to understanding a region’s hydrological budget, and
thus the availability of water resources. This is particularly important in small island
developing communities where critical water resources are limited. Climate and
streamflow measurements provide information on ground and surface water supply, while
measurement of aquifer parameters such as water level and salinity is imperative for
Oregon State University's PRISM Group conducted a project to create updated climate maps for various Pacific island regions, including the Hawaiian Islands, Guam, CNMI, Palau, American Samoa, and the Federated States of Micronesia. These maps, produced at high resolution, encompassed temperature and precipitation data for the period of 1971-2000, aiding in climate analysis and resource management for these areas.