Ecosystem Reference
Ecosystem Insular Pacific-Hawaiian
Type Sea/Bay/Gulf
Salinity saltwater
Other Names
Location
LME SAU No 10. From Kure Island to Hawaii. LME2002, LME2006, SAU 2008. 30° N 18° N - 179° W 152° W
Location Map Insular_Pacific-Hawaiian.png
Size Ref
River Length Area 980517 km2 Drainage Area
Depth
Average Depth Max Depth Ref
Temperature
Surface 24.0 °C Map77.gif
100 Meters Depth 22.0 °C Map78.gif
Description The Insular Pacific-Hawaiian Large Marine Ecosystem is the marine region surrounding the Hawaiian Islands. It was formed during the last few million years by successive periods of volcanic activity over the Hawaiian hot spot, interspersed with submergence, weathering, and fluctuating sea levels. Cool ocean currents and persistent northeasterly trade winds provide the islands with a subtropical climate. Ocean temperatures, ranging from 21 degrees C to 29 degrees C, are lower than in other areas of similar latitude. The islands are surrounded by coral reefs and contain numerous bays. For more information on environmental conditions influencing the island chain (climate, temperature, salinity, waves, currents and tides), see the Ocean Atlas of Hawaii. The LME is influenced by currents coming from the western North Pacific and from the North Pacific equatorial area. Read the Ocean Atlas of Hawaii for more on environmental conditions influencing the island chain (http://na.nefsc.noaa.gov/lme/text/lme10.htm).
Comments on faunal list Area from SAU (November 2015).
URL 1 http://www.seaaroundus.org/lme/10.aspx
URL 2
Ecosystem Checklist Link
Total
SeaLifeBase Literature
Species Families Species Families Reference
119 83
Comments & Corrections
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