Extended seasonal prediction of precipitation in Fiji
Article
Article Title | Extended seasonal prediction of precipitation in Fiji |
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Article Category | Article |
Authors | Walsh, Kevin J.E. (Author), Bettio, Lynette (Author), Power, Scott (Author), Fawcett, Robert (Author) and Pahalad, Janita (Author) |
Journal Title | Australian Meteorological Magazine |
Journal Citation | 50 (3), pp. 195-203 |
Number of Pages | 9 |
Year | 2001 |
Place of Publication | Australia |
Abstract | A seasonal rainfall forecasting scheme for Fiji is currently operational, taking advantage of strong relationships between the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and rainfall in Fiji. In this scheme, the three-month mean of the SOI is used to forecast the immediately following three-month total rainfall (e.g. July-September SOI predicting October-December rainfall). In the present study, exploratory data analysis is undertaken using correlation coefficients to determine whether this forecast lead-time can be increased. Strong correlations are demonstrated out to four months in advance for some periods of the year. Correlation coefficients between equatorial sea-surface temperatures and Fiji rainfall are found to be higher in many periods of the year than those between SOI and rainfall. The hindcast skill of a seasonal prediction scheme was then evaluated for lead-times longer than the currently operational scheme. Strong skill was shown several months in advance for a few periods of the year, for both predictions based on the SOI and on equatorial sea-surface temperatures. This suggests that the current operational scheme could usefully be extended out to longer lead-times. For forecasts of the wet season rainfall as a whole, substantial skill was shown in one region of Fiji for predictions made as much as four months in advance. |
Keywords | Fiji; seasonal rainfall; Southern Oscillation Index |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 370201. Climate change processes |
Byline Affiliations | Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia |
University of Melbourne | |
Australian Bureau of Meteorology | |
Fiji Meteorological Service, Fiji | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q6703/extended-seasonal-prediction-of-precipitation-in-fiji
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