American Samoa Climate Data Workshop
American Samoa Climate Data Workshop
Posted November 26, 2025Report and reflections by Tilali Scanlan.
In February 2025, I was presented with the opportunity to attend a Backyard Buoys workshop with partners in La Push, Washington with the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) and American Samoa delegation. During the workshop, I reached out to data liaison and community outreach organizers about upcoming workshops in American Samoa for using data provided and supported by PacIOOS, like the American Samoa Sea Level Rise Viewer Tool and PacIOOS Voyager.
During the months between March – August 2025, I worked with a multi-disciplinary team of data supporters, community outreach coordinators and researchers with PacIOOS, the Water Resources Research Center (WRRC) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UH), and the UH Sea Grant to plan a water resource and climate data workshop in person in American Samoa in August 2025. Partners for the workshop development included PacIOOS, WRRC, UH Sea Grant, and the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center (PI-CASC).
The purpose of the workshop was to share updated tools and data resources on climate data focused on American Samoa and the nearby oceanic region. Tools and data included rainfall data for American Samoa, weather station updates, sea level rise projection tools, as well as publications and archived records.
Collaboration and engagement with community partners. Credit: PacIOOS.
Hands-on experience with the Backyard Buoys Mobile App and Spotter buoy. Credit: PacIOOS.
I was able to present my current research study on the impacts of sea level rise on critical port infrastructure in American Samoa to the workshop attendees on day one, with support from the American Samoa Department of Port Authority. During the second day, I was able to work with a group of attendees using ArcGIS’s Survey123 field mapping application to map out areas of coastal hazard impacts in Lion’s Park.
Survey123 field trip team at Lion’s Park, Tutuila, American Samoa. Credit: PacIOOS.
The workshop was a great success and a lot of fun. The most rewarding aspect was being able to share knowledge and exchange ideas of how to use the best available data for planning and implementation of local resources in American Samoa. I was happy to see attendees engaged and learning new ways to explore climate data in their fields of work.
I thank the entire workshop planning team and attendees for the awesome workshop and knowledge exchange. I hope new networks are formed and continue to grow along with the data resources.
