Island Climate Update 102 - March 2009

Feature article

Training Course on Climate Predictions and Applications, 16–20 Feb 2009

Mr. Sasaki (JICA) and Rajendra Prasad (Fiji Meteorological Service) open the workshop on February 16, 2009.

Participants of the workshop.

Simon McGree & Arieta Baleisolomone, Fiji Meteorological Service
The five-day training course was the second of three in a series of regional meteorological training courses funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and hosted by the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS).

March

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 102 – March 2009
February’s climate

The South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) was displaced southwest of its normal position and was very active.
Very suppressed convection near Western Kiribati and south of the Equator from Nauru east to northern Cook Islands.
Normal to well above normal rainfall for many areas in the western region of the South Pacific, with many a new record established i

Monthly climate

Climate developments in February 2009

Outgoing Long-wave Radiation anomalies for February 2009. (Click for enlargement and detail)

The South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) activity was displaced south and west of normal during February, continuing from the trend last month. A region of enhanced rainfall due to intensified convection was observed over northeastern Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Three-month outlook

Tropical rainfall and SST outlook: March to May 2009

Rainfall outlook map for March to May 2009. (Click for enlargement)

Sea surface temperature outlook map for March to May 2009. (Click for enlargement)

During the March–May 2009 forecast period, a region of suppressed convection is likely to encompass the central and eastern Southwest Pacific, extending to the southeast from Tuvalu to the Northern Cook Islands, including Tokelau, where below normal rainfall is expected.

Tropical Pacific rainfall

Tropical Pacific rainfall - February 2009

Territory and station name
February 2009 rainfall
total (mm)
February 2009 percent
of average

Australia

Cairns Airport
638
140

Townsville Airport
989
339

Brisbane Airport
132
77

Sydney Airport
128
121

Cook Islands

Penrhyn
178
52

Aitutaki
172
73

Rarotonga Airport
108
53

Fiji

Rotuma Island
263
82

Udu Point
247
99

Nadi Airport
243
83

Nausori
255
95

French Polynesia

Hiva Hoa, Atuona
78
50

Bora Bora
114
48

Tahiti – Faa’a
130
60

Tuamotu, Takaroa
174
90

Gambier, Rikitea
N/A
N/A

Tubuai
29

Data sources

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.
Your comments and ideas about the Island Climate Update are welcome.

NIWA