Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

The Role of the Pacific ENSO Applications Climate Center in Reducing Vulnerability to Climate Hazards: Experience from the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands

Thomas A. Schroeder Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii

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Md Rashed Chowdhury Pacific ENSO Applications Climate Center, Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii

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Mark A. Lander Water and Environmental Research Institute of the Western Pacific, University of Guam, Agana, Guam

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Charles Chip Guard National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Weather Service/Weather Forecast Office, Honolulu, Hawaii

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Charlene Felkley Pacific ENSO Applications Climate Center, NOAA/National Weather Services, Honolulu, Hawaii

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Duncan Gifford Pacific ENSO Applications Climate Center, Department of Meteorology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii

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Online Publication:
01 Jul 2012
Print Publication:
01 Jul 2012
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-11-00109.1
Page(s):
1003–1015
Restricted access

The Pacific ENSO Applications Center (PEAC) was established in August 1994 as a multi-institutional partnership to conduct research and produce information products on climate variability and impacts related to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation climate cycle for the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI). The name of the center was changed to Pacific ENSO Applications Climate (PEAC) Center in 2007. Over the years, the PEAC Center effectively provided advanced warning as part of the hazard management program for the small island countries in the USAPI region. The primary focus of this paper is to synthesize the overall hazard management activities of the PEAC Center by visiting various aspects of the historical and current operational framework, including i) forecasting, ii) interpretation and message formulation, iii) warning preparation and dissemination, iv) responses and feedback, and v) review and analysis.

The forecast, warning, and response experience of PEAC can help small island countries in the Pacific develop adaptation strategies for longer time-scale climate variability and change.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Rashed Chowdhury, 2525 Correa Road, HIG 350, Honolulu, HI 96822, E-mail: rashed@hawaii.edu

The Pacific ENSO Applications Center (PEAC) was established in August 1994 as a multi-institutional partnership to conduct research and produce information products on climate variability and impacts related to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation climate cycle for the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI). The name of the center was changed to Pacific ENSO Applications Climate (PEAC) Center in 2007. Over the years, the PEAC Center effectively provided advanced warning as part of the hazard management program for the small island countries in the USAPI region. The primary focus of this paper is to synthesize the overall hazard management activities of the PEAC Center by visiting various aspects of the historical and current operational framework, including i) forecasting, ii) interpretation and message formulation, iii) warning preparation and dissemination, iv) responses and feedback, and v) review and analysis.

The forecast, warning, and response experience of PEAC can help small island countries in the Pacific develop adaptation strategies for longer time-scale climate variability and change.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Rashed Chowdhury, 2525 Correa Road, HIG 350, Honolulu, HI 96822, E-mail: rashed@hawaii.edu
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