27 Feb 2024

Niue to have high frequency ocean radar

11:40 am on 27 February 2024
Niue's west coast, seen from the south of the island.

Photo: 123rf/ Gary Webber

A high frequency radar that provides real-time information on ocean currents is set to be installed in Niue.

It will be the first of its kind for the region.

A consultation between the Niue Meteorology Service and representatives of the Pacific Community (SPC) took place last week to discuss details.

Local broadcaster BCN spoke to the Metservice director Rossy Mitiepo, who said the deployment of a number of different ocean monitoring systems were discussed.

Team Leader for Ocean Prediction and Monitoring at SPC,Herve Damlamian, said the high frequency radar will be the first of its kind to be implemented in any country in Pacific region.

"Because there is a lot of challenges in establishing this capacity, not just in Niue but in the region, and there is no country in the South Pacific that has this system," he was quoted saying by TV Niue.

"So Niue will be the first country with high frequency radar capacity to strengthen and support ocean monitoring."

The installation of the proposed system is a part of a five-year Green Climate Fund project.