Science Centres: Pacific Rim

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 59 – August 2005

July's climate: South Pacific Convergence Zone extends from Papua New Guinea to Tuvalu. Rainfall well above average in parts of Fiji and the Southern Cook Islands. Temperatures above average in Western Kiribati, Tuvalu and much of the French Polynesia; below average in Fiji and Vanuatu.

ENSO and sea surface temperatures (SST): Tropical Pacific continues in a neutral El Niño/Southern Oscillation state. Near or above average rainfall likely over Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Wallis and Futuna, the Northern Cook Islands and the Marquesas Islands. Near or below average rainfall expected over Western and Eastern Kiribati, Fiji, the Southern Cook Islands and the Pitcairn Island.

Forecast validation: How well are we doing with our predictions?

Tropical rainfall outlook: August to Ocotober 2005.

Feature article: Aftermath and lessons learned from the 2004/05 tropical cyclone season in the Cook Islands.

Tropical Pacific rainfall: July 2005.

Sources of South Pacific rainfall data.

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