Island Climate Update 89 - February 2008

The Southern Oscillation Index (SOI): Jan 2002 - Dec 2007.
Sea surface temperature anomalies in the Southwest Pacific for 2007.
Outgoing longwave radiation anomalies in the Southwest Pacific for 2007.
A review of Southwest Pacific climate in 2007
Dr. Jim Salinger, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, New Zealand
Climate diagnostics for the South Pacific early in 2007 showed a change from an El Niño to a La Niña climate pattern (right). The first quarter of the year was influenced by decaying El Niño characteristics, followed by a neutral period.

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 89 – February 2008
January’s climate
South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) extends from northeast of Papua New Guinea toward Wallis & Futuna, and from the Northern Cook Islands to east of Pitcairn Island
Tropical cyclone Funa brings high rainfall and winds to parts of northern Fiji with flooding and >1.5m of standing water in places
Suppressed convection exists from Western to Eastern

Climate developments in January 2008
Outgoing Long-wave Radiation anomalies for January 2008. (Click for enlargement and detail)
The South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) extended from Papua New Guinea, over the Solomon Islands, Fiji, and toward the Austral Islands, displaced further south and west than normal for the time of year in that region.

Tropical rainfall outlook: February to April 2008
Rainfall outlook map for February to April 2008. (Click for enlargement)
La Niña conditions are still very likely to influence rainfall patterns during this period, with a large area of suppressed convection very likely along the equatorial Pacific from Western Kiribati to Eastern Kiribati, including Tuvalu, the Society Islands, the Marquesas, Wallis & Futuna, and the Tuamotu Islands.

Tropical Pacific rainfall - January 2008
Territory and station name
January 2008 rainfall
total (mm)
January 2008 percent
of average
Australia
Cairns Airport
410
104
Townsville Airport
479.6
177
Brisbane Airport
135
85
Sydney Airport
60.6
61
Cook Islands
Penrhyn
94.6
36
Aitutaki
Rarotonga Airport
Rarotonga EWS
Fiji
Rotuma
448.8
126
Udu Point
707
226
Nadi Airport
549.2
160
Nausori
605
166
French Polynesia
Hiva Hoa, Atuona
71.2
45
Bora Bora
270.8
110
Tahiti – Faa’a
137.4
50
Tuamotu, Takaroa
110.8
58
Gambier, Rikit

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.
Acknowledgements
This bulletin is produced by NIWA and made possible with financial support from the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID), with addi