The APEC Climate Center (APCC) co-hosted the second Republic of Korea-Pacific Islands Climate Prediction Services (ROK-PI CLIPS) Project training workshop in the Cook Islands with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). The ROK-PI CLIPS 2nd Training Workshop, with the topic “Understanding the Downscaling Algorithm and Equations”, was held on July 18 – 23, 2016 in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

At this training workshop, Pacific Met Officers from 14 Pacific Island nations increased their understanding of the downscaling equations that will be used in the downscaled prediction system to be delivered to the Pacific Islands upon completion of the ROK-PI CLIPS Project. This training program was unique in that it challenged participants to contribute their own findings to develop the new downscaled forecast system of CLIK-Pacific, or CLIK-P.

APCC also used this training workshop, a great opportunity where many representatives from Pacific Island nations were present, to gift laptops to help strengthen each Pacific Island nation’s forecasting abilities. These laptops include the necessary software and data for Pacific Met Officers to perform research on downscaling and other functions that will help provide weather and climate forecasts for their communities.

The ROK-PI CLIPS Project seeks to provide nationally-tailored seasonal climate prediction information and build the prediction capacity of the Pacific Island region. This project is funded by the Government of Korea through the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and is currently being implemented by APCC and SPREP.