Metservice Operations Manager Honoured

Issued at 10:48am 10-Dec-2007

Metservice International Operations Manager Honoured In Vanuatu

In a ceremony recently held in Port Vila the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu, Hon. Edward Natapei, presented MetService's International Operations Manager, Garry Clarke, an honoury Tamtam or traditional split drum that is used by chiefs to call or gather villagers together.

The award was in recognition of Mr. Clarke's exemplary meteorological and climate services to the Meteorological Communities in Pacific Islands, as he approaches his retirement at the end of this year.

Reflecting on his 41 years of service to New Zealand and Pacific meteorological services, Garry Clarke noted the key role the region plays in our understanding of global weather and climate dynamics.

"It is home to El Nino southern oscillation, source of the greatest inter-annual global climate variability," he said.

"With increasing concern about human-induced climate change and sea level rise, now more than ever there is a great need to extend our understanding of the dynamics of ocean and atmospheric processes in the Pacific region."

Mr. Clarke added that the award is a reflection of the high regard that is taken of MetService for its activities and support amongst our Pacific neighbours.

MetService has this year been party to a Rescue Pacific project, along with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Met Office UK, and US NOAA Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), to ensure weather and climate observations taken in the Islands of the Pacific meet World Meteorological Organization (WMO) standards.

ENDS

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