IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC)
Advancing knowledge and cooperation for a healthy ocean and prosperous society
Work Area #2:
Ocean and Climate Change
Understand Ocean and Climate Change
The ocean plays a fundamental role in shaping the climate zones on land. The Indo-Pacific is universally recognized as one major influence on the global climate system as it receives the strongest levels of solar irradiances on the planet affecting global atmosphere and ocean circulations. It has an important role in regional ocean-climate processes such as the Asian-Australian Monsoon and also shorter time scale severe weather events such as typhoons and cyclones.
Combinations and interactions among these phenomena cause significant climate variability over the region, with profound meteorological effects impacting adjacent and relatively remote land masses.
WESTPAC helps Member States enhance the understanding of these complex processes, and prepare for climate variability and change, as well as related ocean-based risks and opportunities. We develop and coordinate needed ocean observations, promote data and information sharing, conduct process studies and analysis, advance model development, and provide ocean forecasting and predictions.
