THE GOVERNMENT of Japan through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) handed over the HimawariCast Receiving and Processing System to the Solomon Islands Meteorological Services (SIMS) on July 14, 2016 under the Project “JICA Follow-up Cooperation for Meteorology Training”.(Source: Island sun paper)

Nowadays, to utilise Meteorological Satellite Data is indispensable for every National Meteorological Hydrological Services (NMHS) such as SIMS not only to operate daily weather forecasting but also to issue early warnings for tropical depressions and cyclones.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) launched a new Meteorological Satellite named Himawari 8 and has been in operation since July 2015.

The Himawari 8 has lots of advanced functions among many Meteorological Satellites such as high resolution images and very short observation time interval of 10 minutes.

The HimawariCast System is a Satellite Broadcasting System for receiving Himawari 8 data and other weather related data including Numerical Weather Prediction with free of charge via Communication Satellite.

Once HimawariCast Receiving and Processing System is installed, data is updated automatically every 10 (ten) minutes.

In addition, a software named SATAID developed by JMA was also installed.

The Senior Advisor (Meteorology) of JICA, Mr Kunio Akatsu explained that “SATAID is a powerful tool for forecasters of NMHSs among Himawari series Satellite users. JICA is ready to dispatch specialists from JMA to conduct further training for SIMS on the use of Satellite data and SATAID software”.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Dr Melchior Mataki expressed his sincere gratitude on behalf of the Government and the people of Solomon Islands to JICA for funding this very important equipment.

“Solomon Islands is very prone to tropical cyclones and flooding and in the absence of a weather radar, high resolution satellite images from this system will play a very important role in our early warning system.”

The Director of Meteorology, Mr David Hiriasia, added that “for a country such as the Solomon Islands with lots of isolated and scattered islands, monitoring of meteorological phenomena such as tropical cyclones generated in wider area can be very difficult but with the New HimawariCast Receiving System, such life-saving information will now be available on timely basis” and for that, he also thanked JICA for funding the equipment and allowing the Solomon Islands access data from Himawari 8.

— JICA PRESS

THE REPUBLIC of China (Taiwan) has helped Solomon Islands improve its Meteorological service system

A team of experts from Central Weather Bureau, Taiwan, are currently in the country to install a real-time data transmission, early warning and rapid reporting system as part of the development.

Yesterday, Media team was able to take a closer look at the new transmission device, which was installed at the Meteorology Office.

Speaking to the media, Mr Yu-Ting Kuo – a Researcher of seismology in Solomon Islands said the project will enhance the research ability on tsunami, earthquake and tropical in Solomon Islands.

He told the media that the transmission device will provide valuable reference for developing capacity in early warning systems for weather-related disasters.

Mr Kuo said the device will boost Solomon Islands Met Service to provide effective assessment on weather pattern and also to improve disaster response

“This transmission will give out real-time observation network for tsunami, earthquake and cyclone.

“It will help the Meteorology Division to give out early warning then pass on correct information to the National Disaster Management Office to map out response plan,” he explained.

In a statement to this paper, Director of Meteorology, Mr David Hiba Hiriasia, said the team has installed two equipment.

He explained that the equipment installed includes an Automatic rain gauge to measure rainfall and a P-Alert equipment to measure earthquake waves.

Mr Hiriasia stressed that flooding and tsunamis are the most common and deadly disasters in the Solomon Islands, and having equipment that measure and provide real-time data to the Met Service is very important for early warning systems.

He said Solomon Islands Meteorological Service and other Government agencies will collaborate with Central Weather Bureau of Taiwan to work on a 3-year programme to establish an operational Tsunami, Earthquake and Cyclone Early Warning System (TEC).

Mr Hiriasia said the system should be demonstrated in 2017 in the Solomon Islands during the 4th Meeting of the Pacific Meteorological Council.

NIL

MINISTER for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Hon Samuel Manetoali is ready to sign a Bilateral Meteorology Cooperation with the Republic of China (Taiwan) Central Weather Bureau.

Hon Manetoali made the announcement from the Moroccan Capital, Marrakech, where he is attending the United Nations Framework on Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) or COP22.

The Minister and his delegation which comprises his Permanent Secretary, Dr Melchior Mataki, Solomon Islands Ambassador to the United Nations, His Excellency Colin Beck and officials from the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology today held bilateral discussions with the Taiwanese delegation at the margins of the global climate summit.

The dialogue focussed on the finalisation of Taiwan’s meteorological support to Solomon Islands.

Minister Manetoali welcomed Taiwan’s positive response to strengthening Solomon Islands meteorological services through capacity building, research and development of climate and weather applications, enhanced observations and exchange of data and information.

The two delegations agreed to sign the bilateral Meteorology Memorandum of Understanding in the first quarter of 2017.

Minister Manetoali also took the opportunity to thank Taiwan for its ongoing bilateral support to Solomon Islands and assured the Taiwanese delegation of Solomon Islands continued support in calling for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the UNFCCC process

THE National Disaster Management Office has teamed up with the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service, partner agencies, media and community members to improve its messaging during disaster times.

The NDMO is using a two day workshop, held at the Honiara Hotel, to review and revise warning messages that are issued to the public during tropical cyclones, heavy rain and tsunami.

NDMO Director Loti Yates, says the workshop will ensure that the message that are sent out can be clearly understood by all the people in the country including the rural communities.

“At this workshop we have the technical staff from the Met Service and NDMO, we have NGOs and partners, we members of the media and importantly we have community members.

“This is an opportunity to review our messaging and ensure that it is understood by everyone,” said Mr Yates.

The workshop is also seeking recommendations from participants on how to improve disaster awareness in rural areas.

Participating organisations include the Solomon Islands Red Cross, World Vision, ADRA, Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, Island Sun Newspaper, Solomon Telekom and other organisations.

The two-day workshop is funded by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

EXPERTS on tropical cyclones warnings are meeting in at the Forum Fishery Agency (FFA) Conference Room in Honiara, Solomon Islands to discuss further improvement of coordinating warnings of tropical cyclones among countries in the South Pacific and South-East Indian Oceans.

The meeting which is referred to as the 16th session of the WMO Regional Association V (South-West Pacific) Tropical Cyclone Committee for the South Pacific and South-East Indian Oceans is officially opened yesterday, 29 August 2016 by Hon Minister Samuel Manetoali, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM).

Minister Manetoali, in his opening statement, emphasised that Solomon Islands is very vulnerable to tropical cyclones.

This is largely due to Solomon Islands being located both in the area where tropical cyclones start developing and also an area where tropical cyclones are moving.

Climate change may change rainfall pattern, increase temperature of the air and seas leading to increase intensity of tropical cyclones.

The safety of our region, our people, our communities and their properties against the threats of natural disasters including tropical cyclones are the ultimate goal of national governments.

The Hon Minster also calls on the experts to put on the “hat of servant-hood” and serve the people and create an environment that safety and protection of lives and properties of the people should be the essence of what National Meteorological Services and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres do through the warning services they prepare and disseminate to the communities.

In 2010, the Government of the Solomon Islands established the MECDM to respond to threats from natural disasters including tropical cyclones.

The Ministry has also put in place legislations, national strategies and policies to guide the implementation of its work programme.

These include the Meteorology Act of 1985; the National Disaster Act and National Disaster Risk; and the Environment Act.

One of MECDM essential duties is to ensure that the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS) provides warnings of tropical cyclones to the government and the people of the Solomon Islands.

SIMS is assisted by Brisbane Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre and the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre in Nadi, Fiji (RSMC-Nadi).

The Government of Solomon Islands continues to build both human resources capacity and infrastructure development for tropical cyclone warnings.

Staff of the SIMS and Solomon Islands National Disaster Management Office have either continuing to pursue first university bachelor degree programmes and pursuing postgraduate studies.

To support the tropical cyclone warning, the MECDM is continuing to strengthen the observing networks including automatic weather stations to collect data weather, climate and rainfall data around the country and in the provinces in particular at Tingoa, Rennel and Bellona Provinces.

On the infrastructure improvement, the MECDM is in the initial stage to establish an “Environment Building” to centralise all operations and cater for staff of the Ministry; and the establishment of another new building to cater for a “Joint National Emergency Operation Centre” to house the National Disaster Management Office and the Weather Forecasting Services.

The meeting will continue its discussion on tropical cyclone warnings for the rest of the week.

The meeting is supported by WMO, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and the Government of the Solomon Islands through the MECDM.

Solomon Island Meteorological Services Certification as Organization for meteorological services provider for aviation in the Solomon Islands(Source :WMO News)

Wednesday, August 19, 2020
MEDIA RELEASE
La Niña ALERT—likelihood of La Niña in the coming months
has increased
The current neutral condition of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is likely to
change over the next couple of months. Indicators such as the surface of the tropical Pacific
Ocean continues to cool and changes in tropical weather patterns have already been
observed. All climate model outlooks suggest there is 70% chance of La Niña forming in
the coming months in 2020.
Because of the La Nina condition, rainfall across most of the Solomon Islands is expected
to be wetter than normal in the coming months. The strength of a La Niña does not always
indicate how much it will influence Solomon Islands rainfall. Historically, there are
examples where weak events have resulted in wetter than normal in some parts of the
country while other times strong events have resulted in relatively modest impacts.
The La Niña is also going to be the main driver for tropical cyclone formation at least for
the early part of the 2020/2021 cyclone season. The La Niña is likely to displace the
Tropical Cyclone genesis area southwest of its long-term average position. Historically,
data shows that tropical cyclones were less frequent in La Niña years than in El Niño years
because of the cooler sea surface temperature associated with the La Nina.
All stakeholders and communities in the Solomon Islands should prepare for the coming
months and listen out on SIBC for any extreme weather and climate events.
Contact details
For more information on this topic, please contact the Director, Mr David Hiriasia or
Deputy Director, Lloyd Tahani at the Solomon Islands Meteorological Services on:
SOLOMON ISLANDS GOVERNMENT
Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology
SOLOMON ISLANDS METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE
P.O BOX 21
HONIARA.
SOLOMON ISLANDS.
PHONE: 00 677 27658 or 933 Climate Section: (677) 24218 FAX: 00 677 23029
Web site: http://www.met.gov.sb
Phone: 20332 or 24218
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

On 12 to 19 December 2017, a pilot project on Multi-Hazards Risk Assessment and Early Warning System has took place in Solomon Islands Meteorological Services in Honiara, Solomon Islands.  This  project is funded by the Government of Japan and implemented under the close collaboration of Indonesia Agency for Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG) and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for  Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP). The main aim of this project is to improve the capacity of the forecaster in the provision of multihazard risk assessment and early warning system in Solomon Islands as the backbone phase of flood early warning system.

            As we are all aware, the Pacific region is known to be one of the most exposed region to a wide variety of natural hazards in the world. Some of these hazards will be exacerbated by climate change. Average ocean and land temperatures are increasing, and the seasonality and duration of rainfall is changing. It demonstrated the need for countries across the Pacific and in the Indian Ocean to be better prepared on 24 x 7 basis at all levels of government. GivenGiven the extensive socio-economic impacts associated with hydrometeorological and tsunami related hazards, availability of information relating to these factors is critical for risk assessment which is  the foundation for development of strategies for risk reduction strategies, policies and planning.

            In this respect, a multi-hazards  approach in the risk assessment  could result  in  enhanced  operational effectiveness, cost  effectiveness and sustainability of early waning  systems through  building on  and  complementing  existing  early warning systems  capacities,  infrastructures and activities of various stakeholders  and strengthening cooperation among agencies  involved in different stages of  early warning systems  to  ensure that the country has  access to warnings for different  hazards posing risk and can take  appropriate  actions.  With this view in mind, the role of NMHSs and Ministries of Climate Change,  Environment and Disaster Management become central. 

            Recognizing this crucial issue in the Pacific region, BMKG and UN ESCAP have synergize efforts and conducted gaps and needs assessment of the institutional and technical capacities in the Pacific region which resulted with a recommendation that a training should be held to support the Pacific region countries in terms of enhancing knowledge and capacity on multi-hazards early warning system by using geospatial technology and data. As we formulate it, there is a conceptual framework of multi-hazards early warning system and strategic actions and practices to be elaborated and discussed, facilitated by experts from BMKG.  the objective of this training is aligned with the Sendai Framework's Seventh Global target which is 'Substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to the people by 2030'.

The training served as the synergetic effort toward strengthened national plans for multi-hazards early warning systems in the Pacific region, particularly for the three countries selected as the pilot project, one of which is in Solomon Islands, where the Solomon Islands Meteorological Services has developed a Work Plan on Flood Early Warning System in Solomon Islands.

During the week of the implementation of the pilot project in this country on 12 – 19 December 2017 attended by around 14 forecaster,  researcher, and senior managers of SIMS, BMKG experts work closely with the Services to install the high resolution weather and ocean wave modeling and build the capacity of forecaster and researcher in the Service to customize the end result to match with stakeholders' need.  The model that were installed are the Weather Research Forecasting and Wavewatch 3 with the domain of the whole region of  Solomon Islands and resolution up to 7-km. The warning has come with the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) as required by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and registered to the Filter Alert Hub. With these new tools in hands, SIMS has the modality to work in harmony with the SI Disaster Management Division and SI Hydrology  Office  to build the Flood Early Warning System in  the next 5 years and provide better services and information to the public as the outcome. In addition, a conceptual model framework has also been introduced to equip the workforce on communicating their  information to the public.

A SWELL ADVISORY NUMBER ONE IS ISSUED BY THE SOLOMON ISLANDS METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE AT 4:50 PM THIS AFTERNOON ON THE 14TH FEBRUARY 2016.

A MODERATE SWELL ADVISORY IS INFORCE FOR LOW LYING COASTAL ISLANDS OF ONTONG JAVA ATOLLS, DAI, RAMOS, SIKAIANA AND NORTHERN CHOISEUL, ISABEL, MALAITA, MAKIRA AND TEMOTU.