Climate Change in Reunion Island

We don't have any details about climate change in Reunion Island before the 1960's.The Reunionese weatherforecast service ( a branch of Meteo France) took off from that period.

Evolution of the average temperatures from 1960's to 2012

The Indian Ocean zone has known a slower warming than many other regions over the world.In Reunion Island, temperatures have increased of 0.62 C in 43 years.

This evolution is identical to the warming of the planet mesured over the same period.

It is less important than the warming of the Northern Hemisphere (+0.81C) but more important than the warming of the Southern Hemisphere (+0.43C).

Weve also noticed that the maximum temperatures have increased faster than the minimum ones. And that they have increased more consequently during March, April, May.The percentage of cold days have dropped more or less according to the stations, while the percentage of warm days have significantly augmented.Below, the average temperatures in 2009, a year of record temperature rises.

Evolution of the average precipitation from 1960's to 2012

On 51 pluviometric stations on the island we have noticed decreasing rainfalls on the West, South-West and South regions, all seasons taken together. These regions have known more and more droughts. We can observe a rise of poor-precipitation days along with a generalized drop of rainfalls. 2011 is known to be the driest year on island.

(hatched) Water restrictions in 2011

(pale grey) Districts spared

Cyclones

Cyclones studies from 1967 to 2009 show that there is no direct connection between the South-West Indian Ocean cyclonic activity and the risks for the Island.A poor cyclonic season can cause a destructive cyclone to the island while a very active season can be harmeless for the island.However, El Nio-Austral Oscillation ( ENSO) plays its part in the displacement of the cyclone breeding zones towards the south west of the Indian Ocean.

Photos of Cyclone Gamde (2007), the latest cyclone that caused damages to Reunion Island.