Urban Meteorology Forecasting, Monitoring, and Meeting Users' Needs (2012) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
2 End User Needs
2 End User Needs
Pages 25-56
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 25... ...
Given this, the Committee does not offer conclusions, but rather reflects on the workshop discussions and highlights key themes that emerged. END USERS OF URBAN METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION AND THEIR NEEDS End users of urban meteorology information, such as urban planners, emergency planners, and local utilities in both the public and private sectors of society, have demonstrated important needs for urban meteorological observations and analyses.
|
From page 26... ...
Urban Design Urban planners use meteorological information to assist in the development of climate change mitigation and adaption strategies of cities and regions. Urban planners could also use weather and climate information to help select urban loca tions that can ameliorate weather-related human suffering and mortality.
|
From page 27... ...
END USER NEEDS 27 End users of urban meteorological information are heterogeneous and cover a vast spectrum of job roles, goals, needs, and understanding. Moreover, different end users may be more or less "advanced" in their use of meteorological data for a host of reasons.
|
From page 28... ...
Some end users also share their own urban meteorology data with the research and weather ser vices communities. The general public, itself an end user, often makes decisions based on information from the weather services community or through informa tion provided by other end users.
|
From page 29... ...
Box Figure 2-1 bitmapped raster image
|
From page 30... ...
that illustrates such connectivity. Over the last decade, the emergence of urban forecasting decision sup port systems for end users -- taking into account user needs and preferences TABLE 2.1 Sampling of specific unmet end user data needs Sector Examples of Unmet Data Needs Flood Control • Rainfall and snowmelt runoff and storm water datasets (municipal and public • Urban flooding and/or overloading of combined storm water/ safety officials)
|
From page 31... ...
management districts, • Spatially explicit datasets that characterize the urban public safety officials, heat island (i.e., further than just surface air temperature emergency managers) measurements; surface skin temperature, air temperature, humidity, wind and radiation data may provide a more comprehensive assessment of "heat")
|
From page 32... ...
R02149 Urban Meteorology Figure 2-1 bitmapped raster image BOX 2.3 Indiana's Implementation of MDSS A Maintenance Decision Support System (MDSS) is a tool that utilizes forecasts, predictions, and reports on observed weather and road conditions to assist managers in making informed decisions on how to best utilize resources when planning for and treating snow and ice (see figure below)
|
From page 33... ...
R02149 Urban Meteorology Box Figure 2-2 bitmapped raster image
|
From page 34... ...
Data Access and Data Sharing Needs As discussed above, there is a cascade of end users of urban meteoro logical information, and this cascade can also be extended to observations
|
From page 35... ...
END USER NEEDS 35 and model products. Many of the users of data also gather their own data, which would be a useful supplement to data collected by other agencies.
|
From page 36... ...
Because of this variability, SPU has a long history of managing resources ac cording to the water cycle and is a long-time user and shaper of various weather products. In 2006, SPU partnered with the Mesoscale Analysis and Forecasting Groupa at the University of Washington to design Seattle RainWatch, a forecast ing tool that predicts local rainfall patterns for the next hour and provides 1- to 48-hour rain accumulation totals.
|
From page 37... ...
END USER NEEDS 37 Example of a 1-hour RainWatch forecast (total precipitation expected in inches)
|
From page 38... ...
Reprinted with permission. R02149 Urban Meteorology Figure 2-2 bitmapped raster image
|
From page 39... ...
could help the general public be better prepared for adverse events in urban areas. Long-Term Prediction: Better Forecasting of Extreme Events and Trend Detection Long-term climate change is expected to affect short-term weather patterns, including a potential increase in extreme weather events (Meehl et al., 2000)
|
From page 40... ...
In order to help make appropri ate public health adaptations, the City of Austin, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) , developed the Central Texas Climate Change Envi ronmental Public Health Indicators Tracking Tool (EPHI Tracking Tool)
|
From page 41... ...
SOURCE Patrick Blanc, http://www.verticalgardenpatrickblanc.com/. R02149 Urban Meteorology Figure 2-3 bitmapped raster image
|
From page 42... ...
Discussion sparked by a new light rail line connecting downtown Mesa, Tempe, and Phoenix and the decision to locate a new campus for Arizona State University in downtown Phoenix has centered on future development of Downtown Phoenix and how to best utilize the many parcels of empty land surrounding the urban core. The city initiated the Downtown Phoenix Urban Form Project in order to trans form the empty land into high density, mixed-use districts.
|
From page 43... ...
Box Figure 2-4 bitmapped raster image
|
From page 44... ...
SOURCE: Gaffin et al., 2012. R02149 Urban Meteorology
|
From page 45... ...
. Coupled atmospheric chemistry and meteorological models.
|
From page 46... ...
Accurate forecasting of inundation areas for evacuation during coastal storms would also enable the public health and emergency response systems to respond more effectively. UNDERUTILIZED URBAN FORECASTING AND MONITORING CAPABILITIES Several areas were identified at the workshop where urban meteoro logical forecasting and monitoring capabilities are currently underutilized.
|
From page 47... ...
Successful cross-fertilization typically involves the urban meteorologist and the end user communicating with each other on a regular basis, leading to a greater understanding of capabilities on both sides. User needs are not being translated to the urban meteorological community.
|
From page 48... ...
48 48 URBAN METEOROLOGY such collaborations or discussions successful and worthwhile. For instance, currently, many U.S.
|
From page 49... ...
END USER NEEDS 49 conditions. To create and communicate weather forecast information that is usable to end users in ways that inform their decision-making requires social science research (conducted in partnership with meteorologists)
|
From page 50... ...
APPROACHES TO STRENGTHEN TIES BETWEEN COMMUNITIES Advanced Approaches to Training and Workforce Development Numerous workshop participants asserted that advanced approaches to training and workforce development will be critical in producing the next generation of urban meteorological models and applications. In particular, interdisciplinary approaches are increasingly needed to address critical gaps in the interface between natural, biological, and human systems in the urban landscape.
|
From page 51... ...
END USER NEEDS 51 (NCAR) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
|
From page 52... ...
Design Strategies for Data Sharing Between Communities As mentioned earlier, many federal, state, and city government agen cies typically collect environmental data that complement their operational needs. For various reasons, whether legal or institutional, that data is often not shared externally.
|
From page 53... ...
The model output database would allow development of model ensembles. Interdisciplinary Urban Testbeds Transitioning Research to Operations There is an increase in numbers of field programs and testbeds developed specifically to explore urban issues.
|
From page 54... ...
R02149 Urban Meteorology Figure 2-5 7 bitmapped raster images
|
From page 55... ...
END USER NEEDS 55 • A clear mechanism to help the urban meteorological community better identify user groups, reach out to them, and begin an ongoing dialogue to assess and better meet their needs has yet to be identified. • It was apparent at the workshop that end users of urban meteorological information are heterogeneous and cover a vast spectrum of job roles, goals, needs, experience, and understanding.
|
From page 56... ...
56 56 URBAN METEOROLOGY train graduate students and postdoctoral researchers as well as exchanging personnel. This will give all groups involved a better understanding of what is available and unavailable in urban meteorology and how and what urban meteorology information is used in decision-making by end users.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.