Historical and future drought impacts in the Pacific islands and atolls

Viliamu Iese (), Anthony S. Kiem (), Azarel Mariner (), Philip Malsale (), Tile Tofaeono (), Dewi G.C. Kirono (), Vanessa Round (), Craig Heady (), Robson Tigona (), Filipe Veisa (), Kisolel Posanau (), Faapisa Aiono (), Alick Haruhiru (), Arieta Daphne (), Vaiola Vainikolo () and Nikotemo Iona ()
Additional contact information
Viliamu Iese: The University of the South Pacific
Anthony S. Kiem: University of Newcastle
Azarel Mariner: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment (SPREP)
Philip Malsale: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment (SPREP)
Tile Tofaeono: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment (SPREP)
Dewi G.C. Kirono: CSIRO Climate Science Centre, Oceans and Atmosphere
Vanessa Round: CSIRO Climate Science Centre, Oceans and Atmosphere
Craig Heady: CSIRO Climate Science Centre, Oceans and Atmosphere
Robson Tigona: The University of the South Pacific
Filipe Veisa: The University of the South Pacific
Kisolel Posanau: Papua New Guinea National Weather Service
Faapisa Aiono: Samoa Meteorology Division
Alick Haruhiru: Solomon Islands Meteorological Services
Arieta Daphne: Fiji Meteorological Services
Vaiola Vainikolo: Tonga Meteorological Services
Nikotemo Iona: Tuvalu Meteorological Services

Climatic Change, 2021, vol. 166, issue 1, No 19, 24 pages

Abstract: Abstract Drought is known as a “creeping disaster” because drought impacts are usually noticed months or years after a drought begins. In the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), there is almost no ability to tell when a drought will begin or end, especially for droughts other than meteorological droughts. Monitoring, forecasting and managing drought in the PICTs is complex due to the variety of different ways droughts occur, and the diverse direct and indirect causes and consequences of drought, across the PICT region. For example, the impacts of drought across the PICTs vary significantly depending on (i) the type of drought (e.g. meteorological drought or agricultural drought); (ii) the location (e.g. high islands versus atolls); (iii) socioeconomic conditions in the location affected by drought; and (iv) cultural attitudes towards the causes of drought (e.g. a punishment from God versus a natural process that is potentially predictable and something that can be managed). This paper summarises what is known and unknown about drought impacts in the PICTs and provides recommendations to guide future research and investment towards minimising the negative impacts of droughts when they inevitably occur in the PICTs.

Keywords: Water security; Adaptation; Climate variability; Climate change; Agriculture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10584-021-03112-1

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