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Island Climate Update 98 - November 2008

November

Monthly climate

Tropical Pacific rainfall

Three-month outlook

Feature article

Data sources

Feature article

 
Different mediums used by the VMS for raising awareness and their effectiveness (percentage) to convey messages from the local perspective.

Improving Meteorological Information in Rural Communities
Improving Meteorological Information in Rural Communities
Since 2000, the VMS has initiated vigorous awareness programs throughout the country in an effort to educate rural communities about weather and climate variability.

Monthly climate

Climate developments in October 2008

Outgoing Long-wave Radiation anomalies for October 2008. (Click for enlargement and detail)

The South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) activity strenghtened in October relative to previous months. A consolidated region of enhanced rainfall was observed in satellite data during October 2008, extending southeast from southern Papua New Guinea toward Vanuatu and New Caledonia.

November

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 98 – November 2008
October’s climate

The South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) was active across southern Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia this past month, and was displaced southwest of its normal position.
Very suppressed convection across much of the region, particularly near Western Kiribati and south of the Equator from Nauru southeast to the Society Islands.
Below normal ra

Three-month outlook

Tropical rainfall and SST outlook: November 2008 to January 2009

Rainfall outlook map for November 2008 to January 2009. (Click for enlargement)

Sea surface temperature outlook map for November 2008 to January 2009.

Tropical Pacific rainfall

Tropical Pacific rainfall - October 2008

Territory and station name
October 2008 rainfall
total (mm)
October 2008 percent
of average

Australia

Cairns Airport
82
199

Townsville Airport
4
15

Brisbane Airport
55
59

Sydney Airport
67
85

Cook Islands

Penrhyn
85
49

Aitutaki
N/A
N/A

Rarotonga Airport
40
39

Fiji

Rotuma Island
255
75

Udu Point
51
31

Nadi Airport
69
67

Nausori
221
108

French Polynesia

Hiva Hoa, Atuona
83
85

Bora Bora
14
14

Tahiti – Faa’a
28
28

Tuamotu, Takaroa
23
20

Gambier, Rikitea
N/A
N/A

Tubuai
42
32

Rapa
48
4

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