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NATIONAL REPORT FOR THE 10TH WMO/UNEP OZONE RESEARCH
MANAGERS MEETING
SAMOA
1. OBSERVATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Samoa currently does not have the capacity and the resources to undertake ozone
monitoring and observational activities. Samoa depends highly on monitoring
conducted by other Countries and Scientific Institutes such as NOAA. In particular
the data provided through American Samoa at the NOAA Station at Cape Matatula is
the closest applicable situation to Samoa accessible through the below link:
http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/obop/smo/
2. DESSEMINATION OF OZONE INFORMATION
The Government of Samoa through the Ozone Section under the Meteorology
Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment provide information on
Stratospheric Ozone Layer Protection through many mediums. The
http://www.samet.gov.ws/index.php/sections/section5 website provides background
information on the implementation of Ozone Protection Projects in Samoa, including
the legal framework, ODS licensing system, ozone publications and so forth. The
inclusion of links to relevant Research Institutes and resources on ozone monitoring
and research is also under development for easy public access.
The Ozone Section also distributes awareness information, reports on new
technologies relating to Ozone depleting substances and alternatives through email,
newspaper, online social media and awareness programs such as Refrigeration and
Air Conditioning Association Trade Night. Most of these activities are funded under
the Institutional Strengthening Project and HCFC Phase out Management Plan with
assistance provided by UNEP.
3. PROJECTS, COLLABORATION TWINNING AND CAPACITY BUILDING
Since 2015 the Ozone Section joined the Two Samoa Meteorological Offices annual
Meeting to allow for capacity building at the NOAA Global Monitoring Division. The
Baseline Observatory located at the Cape Matatula American Samoa is one of the
six observatories and the only Southern Hemisphere Station established in 1974.
The Ozone Section comprised of two staff were able to witness monitoring on five
research groups namely, Carbon Cycle, Ozone, Aerosols, Halocarbons and
Atmospheric Trace Species and Solar Radiation. The Ozone team was also
introduced to operations of equipment on site for taking measurements of
stratospheric ozone as well as surface ozone.
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4. FUTURE PLANS
The Government of Samoa has long anticipated a system for air quality monitoring.
Climate change and its impacts is inevitably the major environmental problem facing
the globe, and the national level is no exception. Trends and assessment of Samoa’s
Climate Risk Profile (CRP). Young. W.: 2007 best estimates of long term, systematic
changes in the average climate for Samoa indicate that by 2050 sea level is likely to
have increased by 36 cm; rainfall shall increase by 1.2%; extreme wind gusts by 7%,
and maximum temperatures by 0.7˚ C. However, there are no significant long term
trends in the observed daily, monthly, annual or maximum daily rainfall.
Therefore Samoa submitted a proposal under the Global Climate Fund to establish
an infrastructural network to collect information, quality control, analyse and produce
products to help assess the impacts of climate change, variability and anthropogenic
on the air (atmosphere). Part of this proposal requested for ozone monitoring to
assess the links to climate change impacts on air quality in Samoa. Climate change
impacts on air quality in Samoa are not very well-known as it does not have the air
quality monitoring equipment (AQME). Needless to say, global warming changes the
trends of ozone (O3 and pollutants (Carbon Monoxide, NOx, particulate matter,)
5. NEEDS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
In collaboration with American Samoa, there is hope to trial measurements of
stratospheric and ground level ozone in Apia at the Meteorology Division where the
Ozone Section is based. The Meteorology Division’s functionality encompass a vast
extend of climatic, weather, seismic data collection and it is Samoa’s long term goal
to establish a facility and build staff capacity to undertake ozone monitoring as well.
Samoa also wishes to seek assistance in acquiring appropriate equipment to carry
out monitoring on Ozone and currently working with various government departments
to find possible partnerships and assistance.
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