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PROJECT #2003-11
3rd Workshop on Climate Trends and Variability in Oceania
| Project Leader |
Dr. J. SALINGER
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
P. O. Box 109 695,
Newmarket, Auckland
NEW ZEALAND
Tel: + 64-9-375-2053
Fax: + 64-9-375-2051
Email: j.salinger@niwa.co.nz |
| Funding |
US$
31,685 |
| Participating countries |
Participants from the following countries were funded: Australia, Cook Islands
, Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea,
Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Participants from USA
were funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA)
- Global Climate Observation System (GCOS) program.
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Representatives of the APN, Dr. Linda Stevenson and Mr. Martin Rice (Programme
Managers, APN Secretariat), were funded by APN directly.
Brief introduction and background:
Oceania occupies a large portion of the Pacific Basin, and climate and ocean/atmosphere
interactions of global significance occur here on annual to decadal time-scales.
These include the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and the Interdecadal
Pacific Oscillation (IPO), an ENSO-like variation which modulates climate on
time scales of two to three decades, which cause significant climate change
in parts of Oceania and beyond. The aims of this workshop are to provide methods
and techniques, and to develop a simple database to document and store metadata
within Oceania countries, and explore viable options for a regional climate
information system. The workshop continued the steps towards enhancing both
regional and national capacity for Oceania countries to determine and understand
metadata and information systems. There was wide involvement of Pacific Island
Countries and national meteorological services, in collaboration with the South
Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO) Sub-Regional Office in Apia.
Outline of activities conducted:
The workshop had three parts. Available country metadata information was presented
emphasising storage capabilities, and updating climate trends. The Bureau of
Meteorology ( Australia ) and NIWA ( New Zealand ) provided background and
technical methods for metadata compilations and storage. This focussed on introduction
and training in using the metadata database. Climate trends were updated to
include data up to 2002. The following specific activities took place during
the workshop:
- Background information on metadata requirements for global
change research;
- An assessment of metadata capacity, including storage capacities;
- Background
information and technical training for metadata compilation, documentation
and interpretation;
- Updating of long-term climate observations for trends
in temperature, rainfall and atmospheric circulation to determine country
and regional climate trends and variability;
- Preparation of a publication on
metadata and climate trends;
- Discussion of the application of these results
to national human dimensions programmes on climate change and variability;
- Development of a plan to contribute to useful and usable regional climate
information services for decision support purposes; and
- A report will be prepared
on the results, further collaboration, and recommendations.
A training manual, software and CDROMs will be provided to all the participants.
Following the technical sessions, participants were given the opportunity to
explore how the creation and maintenance of comprehensive climate data sets
(including appropriate metadata) will contribute to the emergence of a regional
climate information centre for Oceania.
Outcomes and products:
- Development of metadata, including simple PC-based software
within the region to support global change and variability research;
- Continuation
of a programme to assess and monitor local and regional climate ;
- Improvement
of local capacity for the assessment of historical climate in Oceania states,
with improved climate monitoring to improve the quality of existing climate
data, which then can be readily used in global change research;
- Development
of closer collaboration amongst climate researchers in the region, and updating
of reports on observed climate change which will provide direct input into
the human dimensions of climate change that will assist countries making
policy-relevant decisions in Oceania; and
- Planning for a regional climate information
service for Oceania.
Future directions and follow-up work:
- Recommends the creation of a simple, easily-maintained, user-friendly
local climate database system that meets the needs of any small country;
- Encourages Pacific Island Countries to complete their contributions to
the GCOS surface reference network archive at the World Data Centre-A at
NOAA;
- Recommends the pursuit of planned and proposed initiatives in
the context of PI-GCOS for historic data rescue initiatives;
- Encourages countries
to actively participate in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) process, including nomination of authors
and reviewers and ensuring that Pacific Island data and issues are addressed
in studies that contribute to the AR4;
- Develop a university-based curriculum,
focussed training programmes and educational materials relevant to Pacific
Island Countries by appropriate institutions in the region; and
- Encourage
agencies to enhance collaboration with the media to improve the communication
and understanding of climate information in the region.
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