Island Climate Update 83 - August 2007

Reviving of rainfall stations in Vanuatu

Figure 1: Average rainfall rate for March and December

Figure 2: Annual average rainfall rate from TRMM 0.25 degree analysis for 2006

Dr Brett Mullan, NIWA
Three convergence zones can be identified in the Pacific: the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in the Northern Hemisphere at around 5–10°N; its Southern Hemisphere counterpart, denoted separately here as SITCZ; and the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) that extends diagonally from around Solomon Islands (10°S, 160°E) to near 30°S, 140°W.

Climate developments in July 2007

Outgoing Long-wave Radiation anomalies for July 2007. (Click for enlargement and detail)

The South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) affected the Solomon Islands (closely linked to the monsoon trough north of Papua New Guinea) and Vanuatu, with little activity east of the Equator. Convergence was weakly enhanced south of Fiji and over New Zealand’s North Island, due to frequent depressions in the Tasman Sea.

Tropical Pacific rainfall - July 2007

Territory and station name
July 2007 rainfall
total (mm)
July 2007 percent
of average

Australia

Cairns Airport
21.8
75

Townsville Airport
0.2
1

Brisbane Airport
0.8
1

Sydney Airport
35.2
28

Cook Islands

Penrhyn
149.6
108

Rarotonga Airport
17.4
17

Rarotonga EWS
14.4
14

Fiji

Rotuma
207.2
89

Udu Point
125.3
141

Nadi
69.5
154

Nausori
158.2
134

Ono-I-Lau
155.8
169

French Polynesia

Hiva Hoa, Atuona
128.8
83

Bora Bora Motu
40.0
53

Tahiti – Faa’a
30.0
57

Tuamotu, Takaroa
157.2
195

Gambier, Ri