Manila Observatory

Regional Climate Systems


High resolution rainfall map using RegCM3 and MM5 models

The RCS program aims to understand the local or fine-scale features of Philippine climate in order to:

  1. assess the viability of renewable, climate-based resources for sustainable energy and agriculture, and
  2. detect past and future changes that might endanger the survival of local ecosystems and communities.

By diagnosing the physical and local impacts of global climate change and variability, the program aims to provide adequate scientific guidance to disaster mitigation, renewable energy planning, and adaptation policy development. The program focuses on the application of climate modeling and analytical tools to diagnose and forecast the spatio-temporal variations of Philippine climate.

Current projects under this program include:

  • Philippine climate atlas
    • Rainfall, wind, and solar profiles generated by climate dynamical downscaling through application of MM5, RAMS, and REGCM3 models
    • Statistical downscaling via artificial neural networks and multivariate analysis
  • Philippine climate diagnostics
    • Local climate change and variability assessment
    • High resolution climate clustering
    • Climate monitoring and analysis

Related publications

Comparative analysis of water vapor composition at selected sites.  E. G. Anglo and R. R. De Leon-Mulawin.  Loyola Schools Review.  2005.
Diurnal variations of NO2 concentrations at the Manila Observatory, Quezon City.  A. R. C. Remedio, R. T. F. Balmori and M. A. Estoque.  Loyola Schools Review.  2005.
Monitoring and Modelling Noise Levels in the Ateneo de Manila University Campus.  E. G. Anglo and A. M. R. Carlos.  Loyola Schools Review.  2005.
Forecasting Philippine tropical cyclone tracks and associated precipitation using MM5: A sensitivity study.  F. B. Avila, F. A. Cruz, A. R. C. Remedio, R. N. Choy, J. T. Villarin and E. G. Anglo.  Manila Observatory.  2005.
Comparative Analysis of Statistical Reduction and Classification Methods for Philippine Rainfall.  C. K. Castillo, E. C. Castillo and J.T. Villarin S.J..  Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 2005 Congress Proceedings.  2005.
A Comparative Study of Luzon Rainfall Simulations with the MM5 and the RegCM3 Models.  A.R.C. Remedio and M.A. Estoque.  Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 2005 Congress Proceedings.  2005.
Rainfall patterns and self-organizing maps.  F. B. Avila and J. T. Villarin.  amahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 2005 Congress Proceedings.  2005.
Decadal Change in Tropical Cyclone Activity in the Western Pacific.  E.G. Anglo.  Okinawa Typhoon Center Forum.  2005.
Analysis & Prediction of the Looping Track of a Typhoon.  M. A. Estoque and A. R. C. Remedio.  Okinawa Typhoon Center Forum.  2005.
After Yoyong and Katrina: Seeking a Link Between Climate Change and Tropical Cyclones.  E.G. Anglo.  Philippine Star.  2005.
Urban Modification of the Climate of Metro Manila, Philippines.  F. T. Cruz and J. T. Villarin.  Proceedings of the International Association for Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences 2005 Conference.  2005.
Simulation of Monthly Rainfall Climatology with the MM5 Model.  M. A. Estoque and A. R. C. Remedio.  Proceedings of the International Association for Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences 2005 Conference.  2005.
Simulation of Luzon Rainfall with the MM5 and the RegCM3 models: A comparative study.  A. R. C. Remedio and M. A. Estoque.  Proceedings of the International Association for Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences 2005 Conference.  2005.
Forecasting tropical cyclone precipitation in the Philippines using MM5.  F. B. Avila, F. T. Cruz, A. R. C. Remedio, J. T. Villarin and E. G. Anglo.  Proceedings of the International Association for Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences 2005 Conference.  2005.
Comparative Analysis of Clustering Techniques for the Classification of Philippine Climatological Rainfall.  E.R. Castillo and J.T. Villarin.  Manila Observatory.  2005.
Simulation of Luzon rainfall with the MM5 and the RegCM3 Models: A comparative study.  M. A. Estoque and A. R. C. Remedio.  Manila Observatory.  2005.
Simulation of monthly rainfall climatology with the MM5 model.  M. A. Estoque and A. R. C. Remedio.  Manila Observatory.  2004.
Effect of Prevailing Winds on Pollution Patterns in Lingayen.  M. A. Estoque and R. T. F. Balmori.  Loyola Schools Review.  2004.
An analysis of the spatio-temporal variability of rainfall in the Philippines.  E.R. Castillo, F.T. Cruz and J.T. Villarin.  Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 2004 Congress Proceedings.  2004.
A rainfall climatology of Luzon using the MM5 atmospheric model.  M.A. Estoque and A.R.C. Remedio.  Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 2004 Congress Proceedings.  2004.
Forecasting tropical cyclone tracks using MM5.  F.B. Avila, F.T. Cruz, R.N. Choy and E.G. Anglo.  Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 2004 Congress Proceedings.  2004.
Development of a new rainfall climatology for the Philippines.  M.A. Estoque and R.T.F. Balmori.  Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 2003 Congress Proceedings.  2003.
Changes in the surface temperature and winds due to the growth of the Metro Manila urban area.  F.T. Cruz and J.T. Villarin.  Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 2003 Congress Proceedings.  2003.
A method for developing climatological rainfall information: A preliminary application to Luzon.  M.A. Estoque and R.T.F. Balmori.  Manila Observatory.  2003.
Gauging Phlippine Climate Conditions for the 21st Century: An analysis of General Circulation Models based on the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios.  E.R. Castillo and J.T. Villarin.  ICTP Conference on Monsoon Environments: Agricultural and Hydrological Impacts of Seasonal Variability and Climate Change.  2003.
Envisioning Future Climate Conditions in the Philippines: An Analysis of General Circulation Models based on the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios.  E.R. Castillo and J.T. Villarin S.J..  Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 2002 Congress Proceedings.  2002.
Construction of a Climate Downscaling Neural Network.  C.C. Maxino and J.T. Villarin.  Samahang Pisika Ng Pilipinas 2002 Congress Proceedings.  2002.
Changes in rainfall patterns due to the growth of an urban area.  M.A. Estoque and R.T.F. Balmori.  Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 2002 Congress Proceedings.  2002.
Predictability of droughts and floods due to El Nino and La Nina episodes.  M.A. Estoque and R.T.F. Balmori.  Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 2002 Congress Proceedings.  2002.
A sea breeze simulation using the Fifth-Generation PSU/NCAR Mesoscale Model (MM5).  F.T. Cruz and M.A. Estoque.  Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 2002 Congress Proceedings.  2002.
Predictability of Droughts and Floods due to El Nino and La Nina Episodes.  M.A. Estoque, R.T.F. Balmori.  Manila Observatory.  2002.
Envisioning Future Philippine Climate Condtitions:An Analysis of SRES-based GCMs.  E.R. Castillo and J.T. Villarin SJ.  Manila Observatory.  2002.
Change in Rainfall Patterns Due to the Growth of an Urban Area.  M.A. Estoque and R.T.F. Balmori.  Manila Observatory.  2002.
Representation of a 1961-90 Climatological Rainfall Baseline.  E.R. Castillo and J.T. Villarin S.J..  Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 2001 Congress Proceedings.  2001.
An analysis on the precipitable water vapor observed over the PIMO GPS station.  F.T. Cruz and J.T. Villarin SJ.  Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 2001 Congress Proceedings.  2001.
Rainfall simulation using the Fifth-Generation PSU/NCAR Mesoscale Model (MM5).  K.U. Cheng Chua, E.C. Castillo, J.T. Villarin SJ and F.T. Cruz.  Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 2001 Congress Proceedings.  2001.
Climatological Changes in Rainfall due to Urbanization.  M. A. Estoque and E. R. Castillo.  Manila Observatory.  2001.
High Resolution Numerical Simulation of Philippine Weather and Climate Using the AGILA Beowulf Cluster.  J.T. Villarin, F.A.Cruz, E.C.Castillo, K.U.Cheng Chua, W.Y.Yu and G.T.Narisma.  Loyola School Review.  2001.
Climate Changes in Rainfall due to Urbanization.  E.R. Castillo and M.A. Estoque.  Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 2000 Congress Proceedings.  2000.
The Southwestern Luzon Climatological Rainfall Maximum.  M.A. Estoque, M.V. Sta. Maria and J.T. Villarin.  Samahang Pisika Ng Pilipinas 2000 Congress Proceedings.  2000.
Global Climate Forecasting by the Simplex Projection Method.  G.T. Narisma and J.T. Villarin.  Samahang Pisika Ng Pilipinas 2000 Congress Proceedings.  2000.
Regional Climate Simulations of Summer Rainfall over the Philippines.  J.T. Villarin and G.T. Narisma.  Samahang Pisika Ng Pilipinas 2000 Congress Proceedings.  2000.
Climate Changes Due to the Urbanization of Metro Manila.  M. A. Estoque and M. V. Sta. Maria.  Manila Observatory.  2000.
Climatology of Rainfall and Wind for the Philippine-South China Sea Region Part II: Variations due to El Nino and La Nina.  M. A. Estoque, M. V. Sta. Maria and J. T. Villarin, SJ.  Manila Observatory.  2000.
Climatology of Rainfall and Wind for the Philippine-South China Sea Region Part I: Monthly Variations.  M. A. Estoque, M. V. Sta. Maria and J. T. Villarin, SJ.  Manila Observatory.  2000.
El Nino-La Nina Dynamics over Southeast Asia.  M.V. Sta. Maria, M.A. Estoque and J.T. Villarin.  Samahang Pisika Ng Pilipinas 1999 Congress Proceedings.  1999.

Maps and Posters

Rainfall patterns and self-organizing feature maps.  F.B. Avila and J.T. Villarin.  2005.
Precipitation anomalies in the Philippines associated with El Nino events.  F.B. Avila, E.C. Castillo and J.T. Villarin.  2005.
Regional Climate Simulations of Summer Rainfall over the Philippines.
Global Climate Forecasting by the Simplex Projection Method.
Dynamics and Impact of El Nino and La Nina in Southeast Asia.
Predictability of Droughts and Floods due to El Nino and La Nina episodes.

Presentations

Decadal Change in ENSO-Related Anomalies in Tropical Cyclone Tracks in the PAR
E. G. Anglo ( 12 December 2005 )
An Investigation of the Looping Track of Typhoon Muifa
M.A. Estoque, A.R.C. Remedio and E.G. Anglo ( 12 December 2005 )
Decadal Change in Tropical Cyclone Activity in the Western Pacific
Emmanuel G. Anglo ( 1 October 2005 )
Urban Modification of the Climate of Metro Manila, Philippines
F.T. Cruz and J.T. Villarin ( 11 August 2005 )
Simulation of Monthly Rainfall Climatology with the MM5 Model
M.A. Estoque and A.R.C. Remedio ( 10 August 2005 )
Simulation of Luzon Rainfall with the MM5 and the RegCM3 models: A comparative study
A.R.C. Remedio and M.A. Estoque ( 10 August 2005 )
Forecasting tropical cyclone precipitation in the Philippines using MM5
F.B. Avila, F.T. Cruz, A.R.C. Remedio, J.T. Villarin and E.G. Anglo ( 9 August 2005 )
Simulation of Luzon Rainfall with the MM5 and the RegCM3 Models: A Comparative Study
Armelle Reca C. Remedio ( 26 April 2005 )
Mapping Philippine Vulnerability to Climate and Weather Related Disasters
Ella Cecilia R. Castillo ( 29 March 2005, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM )
Urban Modification of the Climate of Metro Manila
Faye Abigail T. Cruz ( 8 March 2005, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM )