Consistent data collection is essential for reporting on weather and weather events says UNDP Associate Manager, Navin Bhan.
Speaking to journalists in a Climate Capacity Building Workshop in Nadi, Bhan says given the right technical support, meteorological offices around the Pacific can provide consistent weather data.
He says in our part of the world, the surface is dominated by oceans and meteorologists only get a small subset of data regarding the weather.
Sometimes due to inconsistent weather patterns and network issues, some of the national weather offices are not able to collect data from all their weather stations.
Bhan says today, with modern equipment and funds, meteorology offices have more capacity to provide reliable weather data.
He says generally, now that climate change has come into the fold, if we are not placing emphasis on accurate data collection, in time to come it will affect our data and analysis.
Indian High Commissioner to Fiji, Vishvas Sapkal says for the public to understand climate better, journalists must have access to uninterrupted weather data.
He says only then will they be able to observe the subtle changes in weather and the consequences they have in the lives of the public.
