Climate Forecasts Improve for Latin America

Abstract

NOAA/AOML and its partners at the University of Costa Rica (UCR) are improving the way climate forecasts are prepared at Regional Climate Outlook Forums (RCOFs) in Latin America. The RCOFs, which began in 1997, bring outside experts together with national meteorological service representatives from regional countries. Collectively, they create composite climate expectations (typically for rainfall) for one or two ensuing seasons and assemble the information into a regional picture, or consensus forecast, for the benefit of stakeholders and decision-makers.