The good news is that the CNMI did not have a heavy storm or any major tropical disturbance this year.
Consequently, the island did not get the amount of rainfall it normally receives each year. This has adversely affected Saipan’s ground water table which brings us to the bad news: there may be a severe drought next year.
Every year, Cabrera, who also chairs the Saipan and Northern Islands Soil and Water Conservation District, monitors rainfall.
In previous years, particularly in 2009, he said the CNMI received an average of 80 inches of rainfall due to heavy storms or tropical disturbances.
Cabrera estimated that this year, there were only 60 inches of rainfall, a 20 percent drop from last year.
Noting the damage caused by typhoons in the past, Cabrera said the CNMI is fortunate to be spared from such weather disturbances this year.
However, he added, it is during typhoons and tropical disturbances that the island accumulates enough rain water for its supply during the six-month dry season.
Because the island did not get enough rainfall this year, Cabrera fears there’s going to be a severe drought until the next rainy season comes in June 2011.
“Unless there will be heavy rains between now and January, it is very likely that a severe drought is going to happen,” he said.
Cabrera said this will gravely affect not only the farmers but also the community because the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s pumps will not get enough water.
There may be a water shortage in the next six months, he added.
The never-ending water problem of farmers in Kagman will get worse.
This extended dry spell, also called El Niño, happens every 10 to 11 years, Cabrera said.
He fears that Donni Spring in As Teo, which is the only fresh water source on Saipan, will dry up earlier than expected.
For some farmers though, the “dryer” season may result in an abundance of crops.
“The vegetable farmers are going to be hit hard by the drought, but not the fruit farmers,” Cabrera said.
The dryer soil, he added, forces fruit-bearing trees to bring out flowers earlier than normal. Fruits like mango, avocado and guava are expected to come out early, he said.
How rainfall is measured
The rainfall is measured by a rain gauge.
It keeps a record of rainfall at different place and measures rainfall in terms of inches or millimeters.
There are several types of rain gauges in use today.
A common rain gauge consists of a graduated bottle of glass kept inside a cylinder, made of iron. A funnel is attached to the mouth of the bottle. The mouth of the funnel is 10 times the diameter of the bottle. The instrument is usually placed in open areas.
The rain water falls into the funnel and is collected in the bottle. Water collected in the bottle is measured after every 24 hours. One-tenth of the height of water in the bottle indicates the actual rainfall during the 24- hour period.
If the bottle of the rain gauge is not graduated, a measuring jar or a narrow measuring stick is used to measure the rainfall.
Meteorological departments collect the data of rainfall at different places throughout the year and calculate the average rainfall.
