A new climate early warning system for Samoa

Science Centres: Pacific Rim

NIWA is working with Samoa’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), and other partners, to develop a climate early warning system in Samoa. The system will provide more timely and targeted climate information, and ultimately help local people mitigate the effects of climate variation and change.

The new climate early warning system (CLEWS) will provide a range of sector-specific climate information, delivered more promptly, enabling quicker responses to the threat of adverse climate events. In the longer term, people will have more information as they work to adapt to climate change.

The MNRE, with support from NIWA climate scientists and technicians, is already working on the CLEWS in three areas. The team is well on the way to completing three objectives:

  • to strengthen Samoa’s existing climate monitoring network by upgrading monitoring facilities and installing new telemetered climate monitoring stations
  • to work with the Australian Bureau of Meteorology to install a new database to archive and deliver climate data
  • to develop a range of climate information reports and warnings for regular use by government departments and other agricultural and health organisations.

The new climate stations will record a range of measurements including rainfall, air and soil temperature, sunshine, radiation, relative humidity, leaf wetness, and soil moisture content. The data from these stations, together with data from a network of stations being installed by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, will be collected via the cellular network or radio link, and delivered to trained staff for interpretation.

Samoa relies heavily on agriculture, fishing, forestry and tourism, and so is particularly vulnerable to climate variation and change. Projections include lower overall annual rainfall, more high intensity rainfall events, increased average temperatures, increased cyclone frequency and intensity, and rising sea-levels.

The project is funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).  NIWA is contracted by the Government of Samoa to develop and install the CLEWS. The current phase of the CLEWS project is expected to be completed in 2013.

50597 Contact: Alan Porteous