Most National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in the Pacific still depend on proprietary “black box” software to generate the climate products their countries rely on. The tools work, but the people using them can’t see inside them, can’t adapt them, and can’t fix them when something breaks. If that one staff member who knows how to run a critical script leaves, the climate product stops being produced.  When this happens, the bulletin does not go out to those who rely on them, and the seasonal outlook doesn’t get updated.

The Samoa Meteorological Service (SMS) is reviving its work in the collection, monitoring and verification, and integration of traditional knowledge into climate and weather forecasting systems with the support of the Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific (COSPPac) Phase 3 Project implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). 

2 August 2019, Apia, Samoa - “We do not need to ‘dumb down’ our terminology and language. What we need to do is to raise people’s understanding of that language.” 

This was one of the messages shared during the first day of Mana classes for Meteorological Service Directors and officers, which is taking place in Apia, Samoa 

The Mana Classes aim to support Directors and other senior personnel of Meteorological and Hydrological Services in their endeavour for effective communications skills.

In the effort to build a resilient Pacific island region, countries and partners across the region are dealing with a need for new analysis and guidance for climate projections. These tools will help them better deal with climatic disruptions and events. 

To grapple with these issues and build on lessons learned from the Pacific-Australia Climate Change Science and Adaptation Planning (PACCSAP) is the ‘Next Generation Climate Projections for the Pacific.’ (Next Gen)

By: Joshua Lafoai*  (Pacific Media Council - Media Training, Honiara, Solomon Islands)

A meteorology expert for the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (S.P.R.E.P.) says meteorological services are under-appreciated in the Pacific. 

Lagomauitumua Sunny Seuseu is the Climate Predictions Services Coordinator for S.P.R.E.P in Samoa.

By Linny Folau in Honiara

Meteorological services in the Pacific Islands have common challenges, and these will be discussed at the Fourth Pacific Meteorological Council Meeting in Honiara next week.

In Honiara, ‘Ofa Fa’anunu, Director of Tonga Met and Pacific Meteorological Council Chair said the meeting is a chance for meteorological services to come together and discuss their priorities and challenges.