Island Climate Update 78 - March 2007

Island Climate Update review 2006 and continuation in 2007
Linda Yuen (SOPAC) and Jim Salinger (NIWA)
Figure 1. The SICU process. (Click for enlargement)
After 6 years in providing the climate sensitive sectors of the Pacific with regional climate outlooks, the Island Climate Update (ICU) project conducted its first review survey during 2006. It was aimed at gauging the quality and application of the bulletin amongst subscribers and prospected end users.

An overview of the present climate in the tropical South Pacific Islands, with an outlook for the coming months, to assist in dissemination of climate information in the Pacific region.
Number 78 – March 2007
February’s climate
South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) further south than normal, with enhanced convection from the region northeast of Vanuatu, southeast to southern French Polynesia
Suppressed convection and very low rainfall over the Northern Cook Islands, Tokelau, and northern French Polynesia; Wet in parts of Western Kiribati and much of Fiji
Warmer than normal through

Climate developments in Febuary 2007
Outgoing Long-wave Radiation anomalies for Febuary 2007. (Click for enlargement and detail)
The South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) was located further south of its normal location in February, with enhanced convection extending from the region northeast of Vanuatu, southeast to southern French Polynesia, including Fiji, Tonga, Niue, and the Southern Cook Islands. Another region of enhanced convection existed north of the Solomon Islands. The Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) was less active than in previous months north of the equator.

Tropical rainfall outlook: March to May 2007
Rainfall outlook map for March to May 2007.

Tropical cyclones
No named tropical cyclones occurred in the Southwest Pacific in February; the total remaining at four so far this season, for the region east of 150°E.
There are still several months left for the tropical cyclone season, with indications of some activity possible in our region over the coming week.

Sources of South Pacific rainfall data
This bulletin is a multi-national project with important collaboration from the following Pacific nations:
American Samoa
Australia
Cook Islands
Fiji
French Polynesia
Kiribati
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Niue
Papua New Guinea
Pitcairn Island
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tokelau
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Requests for Pacific island climate data should be directed to the Meteorological Services concerned.
Acknowledgements
This bulletin is produced by NIWA and made possible with financial support from the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID), with addi