Increasing community resilience by combining traditional knowledge on weather and climate with modern climate forecasting techniques By Lui S¹, Mitiepo R², Titimaea A³, Tahani L4, Faanunu O5, Malsale P1,6, Plotz R7, Chambers L7 ¹ Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, ² Niue National Meteorological Office, ³ Samoa Meteorological Services. 4 Solomon Islands National Meteorological Services, 5
Tonga National Meteorological Services, 6 Vanuatu Meteorological and Geo-hazards Department, 7 Australian Bureau of Meteorology
Remote communities in the Pacific are facing increased exposure to extreme climate and weather events. Pacific communities have traditional knowledge (TK), forecasting skills and coping strategies for extreme weather and climate events. This knowledge is under threat from social and environmental change. In most Pacific countries, weather and seasonal climate forecasts are made available and regularly updated through national meteorological services (NMSs). While many communities can access information provided:
Vanuatu Meteorological Services staff carrying out TK monitoring at one of their sites. © Plotz
• the jargon used to communicate these information are often too technical; • information is presented in graphs and diagrams that are not easily understood;
F o n r o e i t c a a n st P i b m r o o ce C s K s T
• communities have incomplete understanding of information; and • communities mistrust the accuracy of the information. We work with NMSs from Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu to collect, store, monitor and combine TK with modern forecasting information to:
• bridge the communication gap between NMSs and communities; • translate the technical language to relevant local concepts and examples; • increase the uptake of up to date climate and weather information; and • increase the accuracy and spatial extent of forecasts. Designing appropriate response and communicating climate and weather information can be difficult. Working together ensures that TK on weather and climate are collected, stored, combined with modern forecasting and used in communication tools and products that can be easily understood by communities and policy makers.
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Climate and Oce ans Support Program in the Pacific
Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific
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Images: SIMS & Lynda Chambers
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For more information:
www.pacificmet.net/ cosppac.bom.gov.au/traditional-knowledge/
[email protected] [email protected] PO Box 240, Apia, Samoa | +685 21929
[email protected] | www.sprep.org
A resilient Pacific environment, sustaining our livelihoods and natural heritage in harmony with our cultures.
