Island Climate Update 98 - November 2008

 
Different mediums used by the VMS for raising awareness and their effectiveness (percentage) to convey messages from the local perspective.
Improving Meteorological Information in Rural Communities
Improving Meteorological Information in Rural Communities
Since 2000, the VMS has initiated vigorous awareness programs throughout the country in an effort to educate rural communities about weather and climate variability.

Climate developments in October 2008
Outgoing Long-wave Radiation anomalies for October 2008. (Click for enlargement and detail)
The South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) activity strenghtened in October relative to previous months. A consolidated region of enhanced rainfall was observed in satellite data during October 2008, extending southeast from southern Papua New Guinea toward Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

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 98 – November 2008
October’s climate
The South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) was active across southern Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia this past month, and was displaced southwest of its normal position.
Very suppressed convection across much of the region, particularly near Western Kiribati and south of the Equator from Nauru southeast to the Society Islands.
Below normal ra

Tropical rainfall and SST outlook: November 2008 to January 2009
Rainfall outlook map for November 2008 to January 2009. (Click for enlargement)
Sea surface temperature outlook map for November 2008 to January 2009.

Tropical Pacific rainfall - October 2008
Territory and station name
October 2008 rainfall
total (mm)
October 2008 percent
of average
Australia
Cairns Airport
82
199
Townsville Airport
4
15
Brisbane Airport
55
59
Sydney Airport
67
85
Cook Islands
Penrhyn
85
49
Aitutaki
N/A
N/A
Rarotonga Airport
40
39
Fiji
Rotuma Island
255
75
Udu Point
51
31
Nadi Airport
69
67
Nausori
221
108
French Polynesia
Hiva Hoa, Atuona
83
85
Bora Bora
14
14
Tahiti – Faa’a
28
28
Tuamotu, Takaroa
23
20
Gambier, Rikitea
N/A
N/A
Tubuai
42
32
Rapa
48
4

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