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Monthly climate

Climate developments in February 2002

Active convection over equatorial waters about and west of the date line
Low rainfall in the Northern Cook Islands and much of French Polynesia

An extensive area of enhanced convection occurred over equatorial waters about and west of the date line, from Papua-New Guinea to Eastern Kiribati, with another convective band associated with a southward displacement of the SPCZ extending from Tuvalu southeast across Fiji and Tonga. Rainfall was at least 125% of average at many locations within these convective regions, but more than 200% of average in some northern and central areas of Fiji and southern Tonga. Rainfall totalling more than 400 mm was measured at Fua'amotu, Tonga from 18 to 22 February. It was extremely wet in Rapa, southern French Polynesia, due to high rainfall (over 400 mm) during the last week of the month.

High February rainfall was recorded at:

Country Name Rainfall, mm % of average Comments

Fiji

Labasa Airport

837

229

Very high

Tonga

Nuku’alofa

572

241

Very high

French Polynesia

Rapa

474

238

Highest, records began in 1951

Australia

Sydney Airport

324

305

Very high

Sunny conditions, with less than 75% of average rainfall, persisted over the Northern Cook Islands and many islands in French Polynesia. Below normal rainfall (less than 50% of average) persisted along parts of the Queensland coast of Australia, extending into the Coral Sea.

Extremely low February rainfall was recorded at:

Country Name Rainfall, mm % of average Comments

French Polynesia

Tuamotu, Hereheretue

37

26

Lowest, records began in 1951

Unusually high mean February air temperatures (1.5 to 1.8°C above average), associated with much warmer than average sea surface temperatures (see below), were measured in parts of Fiji, Samoa, and southern French Polynesia. These included:

Country Name Mean air temperature, °C Departure from average Comments

French Polynesia

Rapa

25.8

+1.7

Highest, records began in 1961

French Polynesia

Tubai

27.2

+1.3

Highest, records began in 1966

Country Name Extreme maximum air temperature, °C Comments

French Polynesia

Hao

32.7

Highest, records began in 1965

French Polynesia

Tubai

31.6

Highest, records began in 1966

Outgoing Long-wave Radiation and Rainfall Anomalies for February 2002 Outgoing Long-wave Radiation (OLR) anomalies, in Wm-2 are represented by shaded areas, and rainfall percentage of average, shown by numbers. High radiation levels (yellow) are typically associated with clearer skies and lower rainfall, while cloudy conditions (blue) lower the OLR and typically mean higher rainfalls. The position of the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ), as identified from total rainfall, is indicated by the green line. The average position of the SPCZ is identified by the dashed green line. OLR data source: NOAA-CIRES Climate Diagnostics Center.