A5022154302- Tropical and Extratropical Cyclones Research
- Ocean Waves and Remote Sensing
- Coastal and Marine Dynamics
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Marine and fisheries research
- Climate variability and models
- Climate Change, Adaptation, Migration
- Coastal and Marine Management
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Geological and Geophysical Studies
- Marine animal studies overview
- Geophysics and Gravity Measurements
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Ocean Acidification Effects and Responses
- Island Studies and Pacific Affairs
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes
University of the South Pacific
2019-2024
Secretariat of the Pacific Community
2023
Tropical cyclone (TC) Pam formed in the central south Pacific early March 2015. It reached a category 5 severity and made landfall or otherwise directly impacted several islands Vanuatu, causing widespread damage loss of life. then moved along southerly track between Fiji New Caledonia, generating wind-waves up to approximately 15 m, before exiting region around 15th. The resulting swell propagated throughout Pacific, flooding communities Tuvalu, Kiribati Wallis Futuna, all over 1,000 km...
Distant-source swells are known to regularly inundate low-lying Pacific Island communities. Here we examine extreme total water level (TWL) and inundation, driven by a distant-source swell on Fiji's Coral Coast using observations phase-resolving wave model (XBeach). The objective of this study is increase understanding swell-driven hazards in fringing reef environments, identify the contribution setup infragravity waves TWL, investigate coastal flooding during present future sea levels....
Abstract Atoll nations such as Tuvalu are considered to be amongst those most vulnerable the effects of climate change. Here we present a national‐scale coastal flood hazard assessment for based on high‐resolution Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) topography bathymetry. We follow fully probabilistic approach, considering sea level anomalies, tides, extreme wave conditions from mixed (i.e., distant extra‐tropical storms local tropical cyclones). Nearshore processes setup runup also...
Tarawa is a low-lying atoll in the Gilbert Island group, capital of Republic Kiribati and home nearly 70.000 inhabitants. With limited land area, rapid population growth urbanization, strong interannual sea level variability induced by ENSO rise, highly vulnerable to coastal flooding. In this context, Early Warning Systems are proven cost-effective climate adaptation measure strengthen community resilience. virtually enclosed atolls, water experienced at shore compounded tides, anomaly,...
Abstract Waves are one of the main causes coastal flooding and shoreline change in low‐lying atoll nations like Tuvalu. A detailed understanding Tuvalu’s wave climate is therefore critical for decision‐makers, engineers, disaster‐risk managers. Here, we investigate wind‐wave climate, changes due to large‐scale variability, long‐term trends. 44‐year (1979–2022) high‐resolution hindcast was developed using unstructured version model Simulating Nearshore (SWAN). The resolution varied between 20...
The focus of several past tropical cyclone (TC) studies in the Southwest Pacific (SWP) had been primarily at regional scale, with little or no attention to local-scale TC activity (i.e., country level). With growing coastal population South Island countries, as well increasing threats from and exposure climate extremes mostly affecting vulnerable communities, examining TC-related risks level is more imperative now than before. This study catalogues for first time climatology, variability...
The South Pacific region is characterised by steep shelves and fringing coral reef islands. lack of wide continental that can dissipate waves makes Island countries vulnerable to large enhance extreme total water levels triggered tropical cyclones (TCs). In this study, hindcasts the storm surge induced severe TC Harold in 2020 on Tongatapu, Tonga’s capital island, were examined using state-of-the-art hydrodynamic wave models ADCIRC SWAN. contributions winds, atmospheric pressure, waves,...
In Fiji, like most Pacific Island countries, there have been numerous reports of degradation coastal resources, including adverse changes in abundance and stock distribution aquatic species associated with the habitat. To develop effective management plans, assessment existing resources is pertinent. High spatial resolution satellite imagery, combined geographic information systems allow for efficient synoptic mapping to provide a baseline developing improved plans. The purpose this study...
The Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are exposed to extreme wave conditions which projected be exacerbated by rising sea levels due climate change, prompting the need for strategic planning of coastal communities and assets. Nature-based protection has been proposed as a sustainable solution promote resilience areas from physical impacts such wave-induced erosion. In this study, we investigate potential service shallow sub-tidal low-canopy seagrass beds, dominated Halodule uninervis , on rate...
Abstract Tropical cyclones (TCs) as a natural hazard pose major threat and risk to the human population globally. This is expected increase in warming climate frequency of severe TCs increase. In this study, influence different monthly sea surface temperature (SST) patterns on locations tropical cyclone genesis (TCG) Southwest Pacific (SWP) region investigated. Using principal component analysis k-means clustering SST between 1970 2019, nine statistically are identified. Our findings show...
The modulating influence of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) on tropical cyclones (TCs) has been examined globally, regionally, and subregionally, but its impact island scale remains unclear. This study investigates how TC activity affecting Tonga region is being modulated by MJO, using Southwest Pacific Enhanced Archive Tropical Cyclones (SPEArTC) MJO index. In particular, this modulates frequency intensity TCs relative to entire period (1970–2019; hereafter referred as all years), well...
Earth and Space Science Open Archive Presented WorkOpen AccessYou are viewing the latest version by default [v1]Pacific Risk Tool for ResilienceAuthorsJulianaUngaroiDShaunWilliamsiDHerveDamlamianSachindraSinghRyanPaulikiDRebeccaWelshiDLiteaBiukotoSee all authors Juliana UngaroiDCorresponding Author• Submitting AuthorNIWAiDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7422-817Xview email addressThe was not providedcopy addressShaun WilliamsiDNIWAiDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3986-612Xview addressHerve...