Chuuk


 * media type="facebooklike" key="http%3A%2F%2Fpcep.wikispaces.com%2FChuuk" width="270" height="48" align="right"Ran Annim**, Welcome to the Chuuk Community Page

**Creation Myth** //Experted from "Micronesian Legends" by Bo Flood, Beret E. Strong, & William Flood//

Anulap dwelled in the heavens. His wife, Ligoububfanu, was the creator of Chuuk. She made the three largest islands of Chuuk -- Tol, Moen, and Fefan -- rise above the glassy surface of the lagoon. Around them she crated a great ring of coral to protect the lagoon's shallow waters. Both within and without the great reef, she scattered fistfuls of islands and created the world of sky-breathing creatures, the birds, insects, and skittering land crabs...In the water world below, angelfish and starfish began to cling to the rock, seagrass whispered in the current, and ghosts had entire undersea villages. Ligoububfanu created people too She knew they would need high ground to survive when the winds blew the fish far from the shore and tore the coconuts off even the strongest trees.

= About the Creation Myth = More can be found at http://besspress.com/product/1247.html

= = toc

= Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia =

**Languages**: Chuukese, Mortlockese English **Greetings**: //Ran annim// (formal)(informal)
 * Capital**: Weno (Moen)
 * Population**: 53,595 (2000)
 * Land Area**: 127.4 sq km (49.2 sq mi)

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=Environment= =Climate & Climate Impacts= FSM has two seasons -- a dry season from November to April and a wet season from May to October. The region sees very little seasonal variation in temperature, with only a 3 degree Fahrenheit difference between the average hottest and coolest months. The climate in FSM depends on three phenomena: the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), the West Pacific Monsoon, and El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).
 * Island Research and Education Initiative (IREI): http://www.islandresearch.org/
 * Land Grant at the College of Micronesia: http://www.comfsm.fm/vpcre/
 * Micronesia Conservation Trust: http://www.ourmicronesia.org/
 * The Nature Conservancy (FSM): http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/asiaandthepacific/micronesia/index.htm
 * Water and Environmental Research Institute of the Western Pacific (Guam, CNMI, FSM): http://www.weriguam.org/

Climate varies from year to year due to ENSO, the a natural fluctuation between El Nino and La Nina that occurs across the tropical Pacific and affects weather globally. El Nino brings more rainfall during wet seasons and even less rainfall during dry seasons. La Nina brings above average rainfall during dry seasons. The West Pacific Monsoon is caused by large differences in temperature bwetween the land and the ocean. It tens to affects Chuuk and Yap more than Pohnpei and Kosrae, bringing more rain to east FSM during El Nino and less rain in a more western position during La Nina. The movement of the ITCZ -- a band of heavy rainfall caused by air rising over warm water over the equator -- affects rainfall in FSM. Wet season occurs when the ITCZ moves north closer to FSM. The ITCZ also results in less rainfall during El Nino and more during La Nina.

Data shows that __temperatures have increased__ in Pohnpei since 1952 (about 0.19 degrees Fahrenheit per decade), consistent with the global pattern of warming. There is also a __clear decreasing trend in annual and wet season rainfall__ since 1950; however, there is no clear trend in dry season patterns. Satellite data indicates the __sea level has risen__ in FSM by over 0.39 inches per year since 1993; although this higher rate of rise may be partially related to natural fluctuations caused by ENSO. Finally, __ocean acidification increasing__. Data shows that since the 18th century, the level of ocean acidification has been slowly increasing in FSM waters.

Scientists are expecting that __annual average air and sea surface temperatures will continue to increase__ by up to 1.8-1.9 degrees Fahrenheit. That means more very hot days and a decline in cooler weather. __Rainfall patterns will continue to change__ -- while global climate models are not showing consistent results, scientists are expecting __less frequent droughts__ and __more extreme rainfall days more often__. It is likely that there will also be a __decrease in the proportion of intense storms__. And while there will likely be fewer typhoons, the __maximum wind speed of typhoons will increase__ by 2-11% and __rainfall intensity in typhoons will increase__ by about 20% within 100 km of typhoon centers. __Sea level will continue to rise__ by 1.2-5.9 inches by 2030, causing additional storm surges and coastal flooding. Finally, the __acidity of sea water will continue to increase__, further impacting the health of reef ecosystems.

Learn more about Climate & Climate Impacts in FSM:
 * "//Adapting to a Changing Climate//" (2011) by MCT: http://www.cakex.org/virtual-library/3439
 * "//Climate Change in the Pacific//" Regional Overview, Country Reports, Brochures, and Posters by the Pacific Climate Change Science Program: http://www.cawcr.gov.au/projects/PCCSP/publications.html
 * **Pacific Climate Change Portal** (SPREP): http://www.pacificclimatechange.net/
 * **Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC), Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme** (FSM): http://www.sprep.org/pacc-home

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=History & Way of Life= =Education=
 * **Teach ReSPECT** -- Teacher Resources on Selected Pacific Cultural Topics (PREL): http://www.prel.org/teams/teach-ReSPCT.asp
 * Education demographics from PCEP : http://pcep.dsp.wested.org/content_items/389068
 * **Chuuk State School System**
 * **National Department of Education, Federated States of Micronesia**: http://www.literacynet.org/micronesia/doe1.html
 * **College of Micronesia**: @http://www.comfsm.fm/

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=Photos= Want to know how to add photos to this gallery? Please see the Photo Gallery Tutorial.

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=Tell Your Climate Story= You can share a story about how climate change is affecting your community in two ways

Add a Story using Facebook
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Or Create a New Wiki Page with Pictures and Links

 * 1) Create a new wiki page
 * 2) Give it a title that includes your name
 * 3) Tag your page as //Chuuk story//.
 * 4) Tell us your story (you can even include pictures and links!)

Your new page will appear in the list of Chuuk Climate Stories here: include component="pageList" hideInternal="true" tag="Chuuk story" limit="10" Back to the Top