07 March, Rarotonga – The Cook Islands Government, in partnership with the Pacific Community’s (SPC) Geoscience, Energy, and Maritime Division and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology are undertaking this week in Rarotonga the calibration and maintenance of the Tide Gauge Station at Avatiu Wharf on Rarotonga. The work, which is led in the Cook Islands by the Cook Islands Meteorological Service is part of the Pacific Sea Level and Geodetic Monitoring (PSLGM) which tracks long-term sea-level and weather changes across the Pacific.
Through the Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific (COSPPac), the Australian Government continues to support the Cook Islands in adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate variability. This program supplements the Cook Islands capacity to monitor climate data including sea level and weather, plan for climate-related disasters and implement effective climate change adaptation strategies.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) of the Cook Islands, who oversee the Cook Islands relationship with SPC, and the Australian Government welcomed the opportunity this morning to engage with the Cook Islands Met Office and visiting technicians from SPC team and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. The site visit and discussions affirm Cook Islands leadership in its climate resilience and adaptation efforts and the importance of regional and international partnerships to mitigate the effects of climate change on the Cook Islands and neighboring Pacific states.
“We value the partnerships we have with SPC and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology through the COSPPac and PSLGM programs, which support our Meteorological Office collect data for climate monitoring purposes and to inform government and community policy and response considerations,” said Ms Tepaeru Herrmann, Secretary at MFAI. “Through these programs, we now have more than 2 decades of sea level and weather data that have been collected by the Tide Gauge Station at Avatiu which help with tidal predictions, spatial information management, and coastal zone management. They also strengthen our advocacy on international platforms like the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for climate justice.”
The PSLGM project, which involves 14 Pacific Island nations, including the Cook Islands, provides real-time sea level and weather data, creating a multi-decade and comprehensive record of sea level changes. Through the PSLGM project, the Cook Islands continues to develop its climate monitoring infrastructure while contributing to regional and international climate policy discussions. Tide stations, such as those at Avatiu Wharf and in Penrhyn, play a crucial role in both national policy development and the global climate discourse.
The Cook Islands continues to work alongside regional organisations such as SPC and bilateral partners like the Australian government to ensure timely and accurate sea level and weather data availability for national and regional policy considerations.
For more information on the Pacific Sea Level and Geodetic Monitoring (PSLGM) which tracks long-term sea-level changes across the Pacific see https://www.cosppac-uat.com/climate-tools-ocean
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