Geography of Bermuda

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Climate of Bermuda
)

Bermuda
Nickname: The Rock or Devil's Isles
Amerindian

Halifax, Nova Scotia, west of Portugal, northwest of Brazil, 1,759 km (1,093 mi) north of Havana, Cuba and north-northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about 1,030 km (640 mi) west-northwest, followed by Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada 1,236 km (768 mi) northward. Although commonly referred to in the singular (i.e., The Island, The Rock, and Bermuda), the territory consists of approximately 138 islands
, with a total area of 57 km2 (22 sq mi).

Native terrestrial ecology

1904 view across Hamilton Harbour from Fort Hamilton of cedar-cloaked hills in Paget Parish
The coast of Callan Glen, Hamilton Parish, Bermuda.
North America with Bermuda circled
Aerial view of Bermuda looking west, St. David's and St. George's in foreground

Bermuda's ecology has been altered radically since the 16th century by humans and the plants and animals they introduced. Some species had actually become extinct long before this, including the short-tailed albatross, a species which occurs today only in the northern Pacific Ocean.

Flora

Of 165 plant species found in Bermuda today, 14 are

Elaeodendron laneanum), and the Bermuda palmetto (Sabal bermudana), the only native or endemic palm. In some coastal areas and inland marshes, Bermuda is the most northerly point at which mangrove trees are found. Smaller plants include many ferns. Notable among these is the rare Bermuda cave fern (Ctenitis sloanei). An even rarer fern, Diplazium laffanianum, no longer survives in the wild. Another native plant is the iris Bermudiana (Sisyrinchium bermudiana). This was thought to be endemic, but also appears in two locations in Ireland. Many of the smaller endemic and native plants of Bermuda are rare and endangered, but others have survived and prospered. The common Bermuda grass
is not actually Bermudian, but a Mediterranean import.

Fauna

There were few species of land animal in Bermuda before the arrival of humans. The only vertebrate species was the

grey catbird, have suffered from the same causes. The most famous Bermudian bird is the endemic Bermuda petrel (Pterodroma cahow), or cahow. This is a pelagic seabird which had dug burrows for its nests. Humans are believed to have killed millions of them after settlement began in 1609, and feral pigs, introduced presumably by Spaniards decades before, also attacked their nests. Before the 17th century was over, the cahow was believed to be extinct. After sightings of the bird at sea, a young Bermudian, David B. Wingate, theorised cahows might still be nesting on rocky islets of Castle Harbour. He visited these islets with ornithologists Robert Cushman Murphy and Louis S. Mowbray in 1951 and discovered a handful of nesting pairs. Under Wingate's supervision, a conservation programme has steadily increased the cahow's numbers. Species that arrived by natural dispersion and become native after human settlement include the barn owl (Tyto alba), and the mourning dove
(Zenaida macroura).

Introduced flora and fauna

Since discovery by humans, numerous species have been introduced to the island, some deliberately, like the casurina, the feral pig, the cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), anoles, ladybird beetles, and the kiskadee, some incidentally, like the Norwegian rat (Rattus norvegicus) and the black rat (Rattus rattus), and the others accidentally, like the scale mites, and the brown widow spider (Latrodectus geometricus). Other imported species include the cane toad (Bufo marinus), and tree frogs.

In addition to casuarinas, numerous other species of tree, bush, shrub, cacti, palm, and other grasses have been introduced, with many of them proving to be invasive species. Despite the decimation of the cedar, those parts of the island not covered in buildings and tarmac are now densely covered in trees and shrubbery, including

old-growth cedars near low-lying marshlands
, causing many to die.

Many domestic animal species have been introduced, including dogs, horses, goats, sheep, chickens, and cats, with cats long having established a large feral population.

Feral chickens
have recently become numerous (since the government ended its policy of allowing members of the local shotgun club to shoot them), and feral rabbits can also be found. Populations of feral guinea pigs have been established and then eradicated. Feral pigs were hunted to extinction centuries ago. Today, introduced feral species, particularly cats, are blamed for falling numbers of native birds, from bluebirds to longtails, but the primary threats are loss of habitat, due now to overdevelopment, and climate change (rising sea levels, increased hurricane activity, and rising temperatures are all having an effect on cahow nests, particularly).

Climate

Bermuda's climate is partly determined by its location to the east of the warm, poleward-moving Gulf Stream.

According to the Köppen climate classification Bermuda lies in the transition zone between tropical rainforest climate (Af) and humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Although Bermuda meets the temperature threshold of a tropical climate (coolest month has a mean temperature of 18 °C (64 °F) or higher), the higher latitude of Bermuda (32°18′North) is north of the latitude that most tropical climates are typically found. Bermuda has never experienced a freeze or frost, and winters are quite warm by European and North American standards.

Bermuda experiences hot and humid summers (mid-summer high temperatures generally reach as high a 86 °F (30 °C), with a record high of 93 °F (34 °C) during August, 1989)

Bermuda-Azores High
can bring extended dry spells. Summers are hot and humid, with frequent intense (but brief) thundershowers. On average, August is the wettest month. It is not uncommon, during the summer, to ride on sunbaked roads, then round a corner to come suddenly on drenched and steaming tarmac where a shower has passed only minutes earlier.

Bermuda's weather is largely controlled by the position and structure of the Bermuda-Azores High. This semi-permanent high pressure area (often centered southwest of the Azores) extends a ridge westward toward Bermuda during the spring and summer when the high is most intense. Oriented west-to-east to the near south of Bermuda, clockwise flow around the surface high brings prevailing winds from the southwest for much of the summer and subsequently prevents fronts from reaching the island. However, the ridge sometimes shifts to the north of the island allowing easterly or northeasterly winds.[2] In fall and winter, the ridge near Bermuda becomes more transient, allowing frontal systems to affect the island. Winds around these systems are much more variable (and often stronger) but typically settle out of the southwest ahead of a cold front and shift to the west or northwest behind a cold front.

A local weather phenomenon that occurs mainly in late summer is colloquially known as "Morgan's Cloud".[3] On otherwise fair, hot summer days with light southwesterly winds, convective clouds can develop along the length of the island and blow to the northeast growing. In extreme cases, this cloud formation can develop into heavy showers and thunderstorms and it has been known to produce funnel clouds and waterspouts in the eastern parishes. This phenomenon also occurs in the less common northeasterly wind regime ("reverse" Morgan's Cloud) but its effects are felt in the western parishes. The key to Morgan's Cloud forming is light winds blowing along the length of the island which is often warmer than the surrounding waters on hot summer days. This organizes upward motions allowing this cloud formation to occur. Similar localized cloud development is observed in linear tropical and subtropical islands globally. Furthermore, showers following strong cold fronts in wintertime form in a similar manner to lake-effect snow. Cold air blowing over warm water decreases atmospheric stability, allowing convection to form and grow into showers.

The

hardiness zone is 11B/12A. In other words, the coldest that the annual minimum temperature may be expected to be is between 50°F and 55°F (10°C to 12.8°C). This is unusual for such a northerly latitude, and is a half-zone higher than the lower Florida Keys
.

Climate data for Bermuda (L.F. Wade International Airport) (1991-2020 normals, extremes 1949-2023)[a]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 25.4
(77.7)
26.1
(79.0)
26.1
(79.0)
27.2
(81.0)
30.0
(86.0)
32.2
(90.0)
33.1
(91.6)
33.9
(93.0)
33.2
(91.8)
31.7
(89.0)
28.9
(84.0)
26.7
(80.0)
33.9
(93.0)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 23.4
(74.1)
23.1
(73.6)
23.5
(74.3)
24.4
(75.9)
26.5
(79.7)
29.1
(84.4)
30.7
(87.3)
31.2
(88.2)
30.6
(87.1)
28.9
(84.0)
26.3
(79.3)
24.5
(76.1)
31.3
(88.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 20.7
(69.3)
20.4
(68.7)
20.5
(68.9)
22.1
(71.8)
24.3
(75.7)
27.2
(81.0)
29.6
(85.3)
30.1
(86.2)
29.1
(84.4)
26.7
(80.1)
23.8
(74.8)
21.8
(71.2)
24.7
(76.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) 18.3
(64.9)
17.9
(64.2)
18.1
(64.6)
19.7
(67.5)
22.0
(71.6)
25.0
(77.0)
27.2
(81.0)
27.7
(81.9)
26.7
(80.1)
24.4
(75.9)
21.6
(70.9)
19.6
(67.3)
22.4
(72.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 15.9
(60.6)
15.4
(59.7)
15.6
(60.1)
17.3
(63.1)
19.8
(67.6)
22.7
(72.9)
24.9
(76.8)
25.2
(77.4)
24.4
(75.9)
22.2
(72.0)
19.3
(66.7)
17.3
(63.1)
20.0
(68.0)
Mean minimum °C (°F) 11.5
(52.7)
11.6
(52.9)
11.4
(52.5)
14.0
(57.2)
16.3
(61.3)
19.4
(66.9)
21.7
(71.1)
22.5
(72.5)
21.4
(70.5)
19.0
(66.2)
15.9
(60.6)
13.6
(56.5)
10.2
(50.4)
Record low °C (°F) 7.2
(45.0)
6.3
(43.3)
7.2
(45.0)
8.9
(48.0)
12.1
(53.8)
15.2
(59.4)
16.1
(61.0)
20.0
(68.0)
18.9
(66.0)
14.4
(58.0)
12.4
(54.3)
9.1
(48.4)
6.3
(43.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 127.6
(5.02)
123.6
(4.87)
118.9
(4.68)
86.8
(3.42)
94.6
(3.72)
110.2
(4.34)
116.2
(4.57)
165.2
(6.50)
145.2
(5.72)
149.1
(5.87)
111.6
(4.39)
104.8
(4.13)
1,453.8
(57.23)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 13.8 12.6 12.2 8.9 7.8 9.9 10.7 13.2 11.6 12.1 11.8 11.7 136.3
Average
relative humidity
(%)
73 73 73 74 79 81 80 79 77 74 72 72 76
Average dew point °C (°F) 13.4
(56.1)
13.3
(55.9)
12.9
(55.2)
15.2
(59.4)
17.7
(63.9)
21.1
(70.0)
22.8
(73.0)
23.1
(73.6)
22.2
(72.0)
19.8
(67.6)
16.6
(61.9)
14.6
(58.3)
17.7
(63.9)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 143.2 147.6 189.7 231.9 255.9 255.6 284.6 272.7 221.8 198.3 168.0 146.6 2,515.9
Source: Bermuda Weather Service (mean max and min 2006-2023, humidity 1995-2010, dew point 2002-2018, sun 1999-2019)[4][5][6][7][8]
Average sea temperature[9]
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
19.2 °C (66.6 °F) 18.6 °C (65.5 °F) 18.5 °C (65.3 °F) 20.1 °C (68.2 °F) 22.4 °C (72.3 °F) 25.3 °C (77.5 °F) 27.7 °C (81.9 °F) 28.3 °C (82.9 °F) 27.4 °C (81.3 °F) 24.9 °C (76.8 °F) 22.4 °C (72.3 °F) 20.1 °C (68.2 °F)

Human geography

The early colony

A 1676 map of the Somers Isles (Bermuda) by John Speed, based on the map of surveyor Richard Norwood
Subdivisions of Bermuda

When settled, in the 17th century, first by the

Sir Edwin Sandys, 1561–1629), and Smith's (for Sir Thomas Smith, 1588–1625). Hamilton Parish was originally named Bedford, after Lucy Russell, Countess of Bedford, who sold her shares to the Scottish nobleman, James Hamilton. Devonshire Parish had originally been named Cavendish Tribe. The short-lived use of the word "tribes" for administrative regions appears to have been unique to the Bermuda example. The ninth parish was common (or King's, or general) land, not subdivided by tribe roads, and was named for the patron saint of England, Saint George
. It includes the island and the town both of the same name.

Nomenclature

Bermudian convention, where a

toponym contains the name of a person, is to render the person's name in the possessive
form. The place is rarely treated as equivalent to the person.

Among many examples of such place names in Bermuda are

Sir Edwin Sandys), Skeeters' Island (often mistakenly rendered "Skeeter's Island", it is named for Edward Skeeters and is also known as Burt's Island),[10][11] Gibb's Hill, Barr's Bay, Ackermann's Hill, Nelly's Island, Cooper's Island, Darrell's Island, Paynter's Vale, Abbot's Head (or Abbot's Cliff),[12]
and Fort St. Catherine's. The possessive form is also used for titles, as with Collector's Hill (named for the Collector of Taxes).

The use of the possessive form is not exclusive, however, as exemplified by place names such as the names of most of the parishes (which - other than St. George's Parish - all commemorate historical people), such as

Henry Hamilton, a former Governor of Bermuda). Whereas the City of Hamilton is commonly referred to as Hamilton, The Town of St. George, St. George's Parish, St. George's Island, and St. George's Harbour (and any other toponym usually containing a person's name in the possessive form) always remains possessive when shortened, such as in the St. George's Foundation.[13]

Statistics

Enlargeable, detailed map of Bermuda
Maritime claims
  • Territorial sea: 12 nmi (22.2 km; 13.8 mi)
  • Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nmi (370.4 km; 230.2 mi)
Land use
  • Arable land: 14.8%
  • Permanent crops: 0%
  • Other: 85.2% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2012)
Natural hazards
Hurricanes (June to November)
Environment - current issues
sustainable development

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 2006 to 2023.

References

  1. ^ "Weather & Climate". ForeverBermuda. Bernews Network. 2014-04-01. Archived from the original on 2021-06-12. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  2. ^ "Bermuda Weather".
  3. ^ "BWS Glossary".
  4. ^ "Bermuda Principal Normals 1991–2020". Bermuda Weather Service. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  5. ^ "1981-2010 Monthly Stats". Bermuda Weather Service. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  6. ^ "2002-2018 Dew Point Statistics". Bermuda Weather Service. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  7. ^ "1949-1999 Climate Summary". Bermuda Weather Service. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  8. ^ "Climate Report - Annual Data". Bermuda Weather Service. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  9. ^ "Monthly Sea Temperature Averages for St. George's Harbour, Bermuda (1985-2000 Data)". Archived from the original on December 16, 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  10. ^ Bermuda Police Service: History. The Early Years: The Death Of Anna Skeeters
  11. ^ "The Bermudian magazine: The Skeeters Murder. By Sandra Campbell. 15 March, 2013". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  12. ^ Geographic.org. Photius Coutsoukis and Information Technology Associates
  13. ^ "St. George's Foundation website". Archived from the original on 2020-07-11. Retrieved 2015-10-15.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook.

CIA
.

Further reading

  • J. Wreford Watson, J. Oliver, C. H. Foggo, A Geography of Bermuda (Collins, London, 1965)

External links

Wikimedia Atlas of Bermuda