The Hydrology of Ifalik Atoll, Western Caroline Islands
Arnow, Ted (1955). "The Hydrology of Ifalik Atoll, Western Caroline Islands". Atoll Research Bulletin. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution. 44: 1–15. doi:10.5479/si.00775630.44.1. ISSN 0077-5630.
- Has attachment: File:T9MBWR79.pdf
Abstract: CLIMATE section states that Ifalik has a tropical rainy climate with relatively small seasonal changes of climatic factors. Temperature and barometric pressure are described as monotonously uniform throughout the year, and wind and rainfall are identified as the most variable factors.
A WATER SUPPLY/Rainwater section reports that there is practically no artificial catchment of rainwater on Ifalik. Two catchment systems were observed, each consisting of an oil drum receiving water from the trunk of a palm tree. One provided a household with water for cooking and the other supplied water to irrigate a small number of tobacco plants.
A section addressing well sampling describes three lines of wells on the island that were sampled on September 21, 1953, and again during November 1–3. Partial chemical analyses were performed for all samples, and results are shown in Table 5. The relation of chloride content to distance from shore is presented in Figure 8 for the September 21 samples and in Figure 9 for the November 1–3 samples. The report describes chloride content as greatest near the ocean shore, decreasing to a minimum about two-thirds of the way across the island, and rising again near the lagoon shore. The report further describes that these relationships suggest the Ghyben–Herzberg lens has its thickest development about one-third of the way inland from the lagoon shore and thins toward both shores, with displacement potentially related to higher permeability on the ocean side. Along the Fan Ni Wa line of wells, the report indicates that maximum development of the lens may be nearer the ocean side than along the Fan Nap and Maia Channel lines, with an explanation attributed to well-cemented beach rock along the ocean shore acting as a relatively impermeable barrier to mixing from tidal fluctuations. The beach rock is reported, via personal communication from J. I. Tracey in 1954, to extend along most of the northeast coast and to terminate before reaching the Fan Nap and Maia Channel well lines.
Table 5 is identified as a partial chemical analysis and temperature compilation of water from various sources in Ifalik Atoll, with field determinations by Ted Arnow. Reported parameters include chloride, total hardness as CaCO3, calcium hardness as CaCO3, and temperature in degrees Fahrenheit for samples collected on specified dates. Listed sources include dug wells, a taro pit, a coconut retting pit, and rain samples collected from a canvas tent, from a palm tree, and from a rain gauge, with multiple numbered samples reported across September and November collections.
Extra details:
MAG: 2067654522 OpenAlex: W2067654522 CorpusID: 129226814
