The RAV session side event addressed priority ocean actions for the SouthWest Pacific

During the RAV Session (01-03 September 2021), a special side event explored the needs, the gaps and identified priorities in ocean matters for this unique ‘Oceania’ region.

Over 150 participants joined, beginning the conversation about a  regional ‘roadmap’ for collaboration on ocean matters. This was timely after the official start of the UN Ocean Decade of Science for Sustainable Development(2021 to 2030).

With his deep knowledge of the region, Arona Ngari (Director of Cook Island Met Service, the former President of RA V (2002-2010), the PR of Cook Islands for WMO since 1996 and the Chair of the Pacific Meteorological Council’s Panel on Education, Training and Research) chaired the event.

A keynote was given by Professor Dwikorita Karnawati, the PR of Indonesia for the WMO, and renowned for her support to ocean matters, through her role as the WMO representative on the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), and Chair of the ICG of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System. Based on her knowledge and expertise in Indonesia and the wider region, she stressed the complex, uncertain, and rapidly changing weather and climate conditions, in addition to the region being prone to many ocean-related disasters such as tropical cyclones and tsunamis. To overcome these challenges, she highlighted the importance of research and innovation, and capacity development across the science to the services value chain, as well as the need for a strengthened multi-hazard early warning system (MHEWS). This would be a basis for emerging cooperation efforts. 

The South-West Pacific region is characterized by diverse ocean conditions– across tropical, temperate and polar environments. These variations require innovative thought in addressing the sustainability of people’s lives and livelihoods. Key regional ocean priorities were discussed including –

* Maritime Safety Services

* Coastal MHEWS

*Research in the polar ocean

* Capacity Development

*Tsunami and Weather Ready Nation – Synergies

The Director of Weather Services Division at the Meteorological Service Singapore, Patricia Ee highlighted her agency’s provision of marine weather & climate information, for better decision-making with user-friendly interfaces, especially for users of the Singapore Port, the world’s busiest transshipment Port. For navigational safety, the need for situational awareness on board vessels was emphasised, in addition to accessible and timely information, especially in the Port and harbour, and for search and rescue.  National Meteorological Services play a critical role in delivering lifesaving information for maritime sectors

Stephen Meke, of the Fiji Meteorological Service, and a Member of the RAV Working Group on Weather Services, described the wave and coastal inundation forecast system operational in Fiji, having been developed with the support of WMO and funded by the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The development and use of this operational system required a concentrated effort in developing the capacity of staff, Fiji Government sister agencies, maritime sectors and the general public, to make the best use of the system and its warnings. FMS intend to extend the forecast model to other parts of the Pacific region.

Scott Carpentier, Manager of Antarctic Meteorology at Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology, and member of the WMO’s Executive Council’s Expert Panel on Polar and High Mountains Observations, Research and Services (WMO EC PHORS), described research taking place, including a focus on understanding the movement and melting of sea ice in the ocean and seas of Antarctica.  Despite advances in technology, further research is needed to refine coupled ocean-atmosphere-wave models at sufficient resolution for their use in predicting sea ice conditions.

The Member of Steering Group of the Pacific Tsunami Warning System under the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, and the Chair of the Inter-ICG Task Team on Disaster Management and Preparedness, for the Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards Related to Sea-Level Warning and Mitigation Systems (TOWS-WG), David Coetzee of New Zealand, demonstrated the alignment and potential synergies between the separate ‘Tsunami Ready’ and ‘Weather Ready’ Nation initiatives. There are opportunities to align these efforts across the region with mutual benefits to Members. Additionally, developing a multi-hazard platform was deemed important, where users have a single point of accessing ocean-hazard information, products and services.

The Side Event started the conversation for the RAV region to move forward with a clear vision and roadmap, to address priority ocean actions for the SouthWest Pacific, in the upcoming Decade. Outcomes of the discussion and the recommended way forward included:

*Promote more dialogue & coordination: synchronise ongoing efforts ​to generate synergies

*Enhance innovation technology & research in operations​ and close the gap between the development of technology and the capacity of users

*Highlight weather-water-climate linkages – especially for enhanced climate services​

*Enhance coupled ocean-weather forecasting, especially in ice forecasting​

Strengthen: ​

*Stakeholder partnerships & processes​

*Integrated ocean observation & open data exchange (WMO data policy)​

*Capacity development ranging from met service staff, to users of forecasts​

* Work along the full value chain with guidance from WMO-IOC-Joint Collaborative Board​.

This story was published by WMO on 6 September 2021, reposted via PACNEWS.