Weather and Traffic: Integrating the Right Information in This Issue

A Publ

A Publication of NCAR’s Societal impacts Program Volume 2, Number 4, July 30, 2008

Weather and Traf• c: Integrating the Right Information

by Paul Pisano*

Where do you think most deaths car radio? And those of you on the have to function as your own occur when the weather gets bad? leading edge of technology can now geographic information system (GIS) become even more overwhelmed to overlay that weather forecast onto A. At home with weather and traf! c information B. At work or school via your cell phone, navigation (continued on page 11) C. Outside (e.g., gol! ng) device or satellite radio. So upon D. In your car further exploration, we ! nd that the E. In an airplane problem isn’t a lack of information. ) Instead, it’s the result of either too If you chose D, in your car, you were much information being presented right. In fact, it’s not even close. in the wrong way, or a glaring lack of Approximately 7,400 lives are lost on the “right” information. the nation’s roadways under adverse weather conditions each year. What do I mean by the “right” Compare this to the 167 weather- information? Road users and related aviation fatalities, and the transportation system managers 573 weather-related fatalities that don’t need a weather forecast; they occur elsewhere every year [1], and need transportation information, you can see that we’ve got a real but not just any transportation problem on our hands. information. They need dynamic, integrated information about the The problem isn’t just the 7,400 current and future state of the people who die each year in highway system. Approximately 7,400 roadway fatalities weather-related vehicle crashes. each year are weather related. It’s also that this statistic is some Again, that’s not a weather forecast, (Photo courtesy of the Federal Highway sort of best-kept secret. Why isn’t it fancy radar loop or the current Administration) common knowledge that almost one- temperature at the nearest airport quarter of all roadway crashes— or school. It’s not even dynamic In This Issue including fatalities, injuries, and routing on your in-vehicle navigation property damage averaging more system— arguably such bits of Pets and Disaster Preparedness 2 than 1.5 million per year from information treat each vehicle as a discreet object and miss the fact 1995 to 2005 [2]— occur during Perspective on Social Science 3 adverse weather and could be at that improving mobility and safety least partially prevented with more requires a system view that accounts From the Director 4 targeted research efforts? for interactions between vehicles. It’s road-related content from a Finding the Right Grad School 5 But while this fact may not be in the system wide perspective based on front of everyone’s mind, there must very-high-resolution forecasts both W eather Channel Book Review 6 be some implicit awareness. How above and at the road surface. Jobs & Opportunities 7 else can we explain the deluge of weather and traf! c information that You can’t get that when you separate Conferences & Opportunities 12 Where do you think most deaths the weather forecast from the traf! c occurs every time you tune in to report. Instead, you get two pieces of About/Contact Us 16 the news on your television set or critical information, and you 1 Paws and Click: Disaster Preparedness Information on Animal Welfare Web Sites

by Kathleen Sherman-Morris*

Hurricane Katrina and its afterm ath have forever changed this nation’s thinking about the im portance of taking anim als into account during an em ergency.

— Wayne Pacelle, Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) CEO and President (HSUS, 2006)

Before Hurricane Katrina, few studies focused on caring for pets in the time leading up to or during disasters. In one of the few pre-Katrina studies of pet Figure 1. Locations mentioned in hazard articles posted on animal welfare Web sites evacuation during an emergency, (Map prepared by John Morris) Heath, Voeks, and Glickman (2001, p. 1904) recommended requires state and local emergency Once the three of us agreed on how that pet care facilities promote pet management plans to consider pet to conduct the analysis, and what evacuation as part of “responsible needs (Of• ce of the White House content to include, we examined pet ownership” and that pet care Press Secretary, 2006). the natural- and human-related providers become involved with the hazard content on the Web sites of emergency management process. This increase in awareness has also nine animal welfare organizations. Highly publicized problems with the led to a proliferation of information We agreed to record the article evacuation of people and their pets in newspapers, brochures, and topics, places mentioned, hazards during Katrina drew attention to this on the Web, although no one had discussed, links to other Web sites need, and clearly demonstrated attempted to quantify it. Along with and the placement and detail level of that the Stafford Disaster Relief and colleagues Andrea Schumacher disaster preparedness information. Emergency Assistance Act failed and Rebecca Jennings, who had We conducted this analysis during to adequately address it (Beaver et been working together on a project the winter of 2007–2008. al., 2006). regarding the response of pet care providers to a hazard, I saw this as Results Since Katrina, there has been an opportunity to determine what much progress, including a National information exists for pet owners All the organizations except one Animal Disaster Summit held in and pet care providers to use while had posted disaster preparedness Washington, D.C. in May, 2006 to making their emergency plans. information detailing what animal identify problems associated with Because much of this information owners or caretakers should do the animal relief effort; additional is sponsored by animal welfare to prepare for or respond to a research on the organizational organizations such as HSUS or the disaster. The depth and breadth relief effort (Irvine, 2006); and the American Society for the Prevention of the information varied. Disaster passage of the Pets Evacuation of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), preparedness information was and Transportation Standards these organizations became the (PETS) Act in October 2006. PETS subject of analysis. (continued on page 8)

2 A Perspective on the Importance of Social Science to the Nation’s Natural Disaster Warning System by Larry Mooney*, with Eve Gruntfest**

This article summarizes be a logical approach because many the work of Benjamin McLuckie, they comments from Larry Mooney, had begun their meteorological learned that the warning response the meteorologist-in-charge (MIC) careers as military forecasters decision was not an immediate in the Boulder/Denver National in World War II or Korea. In their stimulus response process and Weather Service (NWS) of• ce. minds, the meteorological facts concluded that we needed to do During his four decades with were all that the user needed. These more to get people to respond the agency, Larry has taken on were some of the best forecasters to our warnings. To address this numerous assignments around the I ever worked with, but they did problem, the NWS hired McLuckie country. He speaks passionately not understand the scope and the from the University of Delaware to about how collaborations between impact of their forecasts. They had write “Warning, A Call to Action,” a meteorologists and social scientists little contact with their users and the training guide stating that the NWS over the years have resulted in dissemination of weather information has further obligations beyond • ndings bene• cial to the NWS (such was very limited compared to today’s just conveying hazardous weather as including warning coordination weather enterprise. information. The publication asserted meteorologists in each forecast that the agency needs to in" uence of• ce). This article was inspired by people and to offer intermediate Larry’s remarks at the October 2007 When I started with the statements and updates on storm meeting of the Central Region’s NWS as an intern in the progress. The content of current Meteorologists in Charge in Kansas early 1970s, the general warning products is still based on City, where he talked about how philosophy of warning McLuckie’s work. social science has informed and operations was that once improved the NWS not only in the Also in the early 1970s, a visionary a warning message was last 10 years but for the last 40 years at NWS Headquarters, Herb Lieb, or so. Eve Gruntfest • rst drafted the sent, your job was done. recognized the importance of piece after a long chat with Larry, greater involvement of NWS staff in who then crafted this article in his all phases of the warning process, own voice. This began to change when including response. A community the supervising meteorological preparedness specialist (CPS) technician at the Fort Worth of! ce position was established at most of In looking at Web chat and Web ventured outside of our weather the forecast of! ces to train spotters pages, it’s easy to get the impression world and took some journalism and raise public awareness. The that the collaborations between courses at a local university. He history of the duties and evolution meteorologists and social scientists immediately began to teach the of this position is contained an began with the Societal Impacts interns how to write in a different excellent publication by Doswell, Program (SIP) at NCAR or with style, one that was clear and more Moller, and Brooks. I was fortunate Weather and Society*Integrated focused on the users’ needs. NWS to be selected as a community Studies (WAS*IS) or with Roger Southern Region Headquarters soon preparedness meteorologist (CPM) Pielke’s work in the 1990s. These recognized the importance of this in the Fort Worth of! ce. efforts, though, are actually the broader approach. The result was continuation of the good practice a training course publication called In the meantime, the Social Science of involving social science in “Clear Weather Writing,” which Research Center at Mississippi meteorology, which has been around became mandatory training for much State University had done an of the NWS. for at least 40 years. interesting study on public response to Hurricane Camille. In September At the same time, leaders in When I started with the NWS as an 1975, Anderson quickly put together the NWS Southern Region intern in the early 1970s, the general a team of CPSs (including me) Headquarters, such as Jack Riley philosophy of warning operations to work with Peggy Ross from and Andy Anderson, recognized that was that once a warning message Mississippi State on a post-storm we could make our warning products was sent, your job was done. Most more effective by learning more of the forecasters considered this to (continued on page 10) about the warning process. From

3 From the Director

On Philosophy and Meteorology by Jeff Lazo*

I’m an economist by training. At least That raises the question: Is rich more than the poor. Research that’s what my Ph.D. is in. But my it possible to do research in on improving urban heat wave bachelor’s degree is in economics meteorology without making value warnings might bene! t the poor and philosophy (I added the judgments? relatively more than the rich. And economics when I ! gured out I might bene! ting one group more than never get a job as a philosopher). Hunt (1979, p. 127) states that another involves implicit, if not So because I remember just enough explicit, ethical decisions and value philosophy to be dangerous, I’ll …values stand at the very judgments of the relative worth of preface this article by saying that I foundation of the process each. simply want to raise some questions. of theorizing. They dictate My hope is that someone better not only what a theoretician Simply claiming that all forecast quali! ed ! nds them interesting will consider an important improvements are for the good enough to step forward and clean social issue but also of society is not value-free either, up whatever mess I make in my what types of solutions to because different programs bene! t philosophical musings. social problems would be different people in different ways. acceptable. Even research driven by pure My underlying focus in this exercise intellectual interest does not result is this: Could many of the real I’ll preface this article by in ! ndings free from impacts on questions about integrating social saying that I simply want society or free from value judgments. sciences knowledge and methods to raise some questions. Philosophy could bring much to this into the weather research and My hope is that someone discussion through its rich history of policy-making communities be better analysis on the meaning of value— better quali• ed • nds them understood using approaches, tools, —the purview of ethics. and methods from philosophy such interesting enough to as ethics, epistemology, logic, and step forward and clean up I base my next shot at thinking metaphysics? whatever mess I make in philosophically on my reading of a my philosophical musings. chapter on the philosophy of the Ethical Questions: Societal social sciences by Martin Hollis Missions and Value-Free Given that U.S. meteorological (2002), who did considerable work in Research and Applications organizations focus ultimately this area. Hollis discusses different on social problems related to the philosophical frameworks that Let’s ! rst consider the impact of hydrometeorological can be applied to analyzing social stated missions of two major events, I would say that the answer action. He explores questions of meteorological research and to the value-judgment question is knowledge using a dichotomy of application organizations in the an emphatic no. W hen decision explanation versus understanding United States—NCAR and NOAA. makers consider whether to invest and questions of analytical priority NCAR’s mission, as seen by W alter in research on hurricane intensity, using a dichotomy of holism versus Orr Roberts, the center’s ! rst develop next-generation radar individualism. I focus here on my director, is “Science in service to technologies, or improve the interpretation of Hollis’s discussion society.” NOAA’s stated mission is resolution on global climate models, on explanation versus understanding “To understand and predict changes each choice has different potential because it may relate to the study in Earth’s environment and conserve societal impacts. of society and the integration of and manage coastal and marine social sciences with meteorology. resources to meet our nation’s Some examples will help illustrate Later, I’ll touch on the holism versus economic, social, and environmental this point. Hurricane research individualism dichotomy when I needs” (NOAA 2005). The stated bene! ts coastal residents more than discuss the approach of economics purpose of meteorological research those in land-locked Oklahoma— versus sociology. and applications in the United tornado research does the reverse. States, then, is to bene! t society. Research to advance weather (continued on page 14) forecasting for air traf! c bene! ts the

4 Connecting Weather and Society: My transition to Grad School by Marcus Walter*

Most meteorologists fall in love with these events and to help society valuable tool in your search, weather at an early age. Indeed, protect itself from them. not only for information on I became interested in weather your interests, but possible around the age of 12. I would ! nd graduate programs as well. myself watching The W eather I discovered that the Channel all day, sometimes for no business world has 2) Talk to a professor or reason, and other times to hear a growing need for instructor about your about the latest tornado in the meteorologists who interests. In most cases professors and instructors can Midwest or hurricane in the Atlantic. possess weather Today, as a recent graduate of be helpful in leading you to a forecasting skills and an Pennsylvania State University with graduate program that ! ts your a B.S. in meteorology, my interest understanding of statistics interests. in weather is keener than ever. And to help companies manage throughout the last two years of my their weather risk. 3) Attend seminars and educational experience, my interests conferences related to your have broadened from focusing only interests. Doing this will on weather to learning more about As I entered my senior year in allow you to learn even more how weather affects society and college, realizing that I wanted to about your research interests business. learn more about the connections and related topics. This will among meteorology, business, give you a chance to meet I developed this new interest and society, I decided to pursue faculty and researchers from after attending the 87th American a graduate degree. But ! nding universities around world and Meteorological Society Annual a graduate program with faculty ! nd out if they have programs Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, members who have interests similar that ! t your interests. in January 2007. At the meeting, to mine wasn’t exactly simple. I discovered that the business Because this is a relative new area world has a growing need for of meteorology, many graduate These suggestions were all helpful meteorologists who possess programs had no such research in ! nding an appropriate graduate weather forecasting skills and initiatives at their respective program for my interests. an understanding of statistics to institutions. But through attending help companies manage their American Meteorological Society Looking to the future, I see weather risk. W eather directly or annual meetings, participating in the numerous opportunities to learn indirectly affects more than one- SOARS program, and researching more about and conduct research third of the nation’s economy, and several graduate programs around in this emerging ! eld. I believe that understanding those effects can the country, I was able to ! nd a this work will bene! t society and help businesses mitigate ! nancial program at Cornell University where business in the years to come, and losses resulting from weather. I I could study both weather and its I’m excited to be a part of it" became even more interested in impacts on society and business. this area after participating in the *Marcus (walterm@ ucar.edu) SOARS (Signi! cant Opportunities For those of you who want to is a second year protégé in in Atmospheric Research and research interdisciplinary interests the Signi! cant Opportunities Sciences) program at the National or interests in new areas of research in Atmospheric Research and Center for Atmospheric Research in in graduate school but don’t know Sciences (SOARS) Program at Boulder, Colorado. There, I studied where to begin your search for an NCAR, a recent graduate of The # oods and heat waves. These appropriate program of study, here Pennsylvania State University with extreme weather events can have are some helpful suggestions: a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in major impacts on society that range Meteorology, and as of fall 2008 from loss of life to millions of dollars 1) Do a simple internet search will be a ! rst-year master’s student in damaged property. From this for your interests. Search within the Department of Earth and research I learned that there is an engines are very advanced Atmospheric Sciences at Cornell urgent need to better understand these days and will be a University. 5 Review of The Weather Channel: The Improbable Rise of a Media Phenomenon

by Daniel Sutter*

The early 1980s were an exciting include local weather conditions although a visionary meteorologist, time in the television cable industry, and forecasts along with national Coleman lacked management with new channels being established coverage; and access to weather skills and had to be replaced after and delivered by satellite to serve data and forecasts from the National the • rst year of operation. First, expanding urban systems. The era Weather Service (NWS). Landmark Landmark looked to sell TWC. Then, of “narrowcasting,” with specialized was con• dent that the public was the company planned to pull the channels like ESPN, Disney, HBO, suf• ciently interested in weather plug on TWC because of mounting and Showtime seeking to attract to sustain viewership if a quality losses. At this point, cable system relatively small but dedicated service could be provided. operators stepped in, volunteering audiences, was just beginning. to pay subscriber fees to keep TWC The information age was also Delivering local conditions and a• oat. (In addition to revenue from dawning—CNN had just begun forecasts became the key hurdle. selling ads, some cable networks offering news and information 24 Inclusion of local forecasts was an receive payment from systems per hours a day, 7 days a week. This important consideration for many subscriber to include a network book by Frank Batten, chairman of cable systems in agreeing to take on basic cable, or “subscriber Landmark Communications, tells TWC. Many early 12-channel fees.”) The rescue of TWC the story of the founding of The systems included a “local weather” demonstrated the market value of Weather Channel (TWC) in 1982, channel, often simply a camera weather coverage; cable companies arguably the ultimate experiment in • xed on a display showing the recognized that TWC helped to drive information-based narrowcasting. local temperature. Because this subscriptions, and that they would The story focuses on the business decidedly low-tech fare proved be hard pressed to replace the local side of the operation, so readers popular with viewers, Landmark weather coverage and forecasts interested in pro• les of on-camera could argue that it would deliver this offered by TWC. Subscriber fees meteorologists or details of weather same local information and much helped to stem the tide of red ink events covered by the channel will more. In many cases, this helped until the growing cable advertising be disappointed. Nonetheless the TWC avoid competing directly market led to pro• tability. Today book is very well written and tells against networks like Disney or TWC stands as one of the most TWC’s story, particularly its near- WGN for access to cable systems. respected brands in television news death experience in 1983 and 1984, Transmitting different local forecasts and information. extremely well. for different parts of the country using the same satellite transponder (continued on next page) The concept of a 24/7 weather was a formidable technical channel was the brainchild of John challenge, which was surmounted Coleman, then the weathercaster for by TWC’s WeatherSTAR (Satellite Good Morning America. Coleman Transponder Addressable Receiver) presented his idea to a number system. Solving the problem allowed of venture capitalists and media TWC to tailor ads for local dealers companies without success before of national retailers, increasing its connecting with Frank Batten and advertiser base. Landmark won Landmark Communications, a the race against time and launched media company seeking to get TWC on its target date of May 2, into the programming business. 1982. In evaluating Coleman’s concept, Landmark determined that a viable But TWC almost died in weather channel required access childhood. The capital costs of the WeatherSTARs and programming to a transponder on one of the The W eather Channel: The Improb- existing broadcast satellites; access costs for 24-hour weather coverage able Rise of a Media Phenomenon to cable systems (many of which exceeded projections, and by Frank Batten with Jeffrey L. had capacities of only 12 or 24 advertising revenue lagged because Cruikshank is available from Harvard channels at the time); an ability to the cable medium was so new. And Business School Press.

6 basic science is unlikely to increase Jobs & TWC gives us an important example considerably in the decades to Opportunities of the successful marketing of come. Could the deep interest weather information. Weather so many people have in weather University of Utah Tenure- forecasts meet the classic economic augment funding? Track Faculty Position in de• nition of a public good, which implies that forecasts— especially In 1990s an astute insight from Department of Meteorology general forecasts for a large Ray Ban led TWC to realize their public— will be dif• cult to supply need to do more than repackage The Department of Meteorology at commercially for a pro• t. TWC and relay NWS data and forecasts. the University of Utah Department of succeeded by drawing on the Consequently TWC started running Meteorology invites applications for value of weather information to their own forecasting models, in a tenure-track assistant professor the audience. “Weather- engaged” essence contributing to atmospheric position. Applicants with a commit- viewers with a deep interest in science research. TWC and many ment to excellence in undergradu- weather make up the largest local television stations employ ate and graduate education and a percentage of TWC’s audience. storm chasers, who conceivably demonstrated capability to establish Recognizing thatTWC would help assist in observing severe storms. a strong externally funded research attract cable subscribers accounted Television thus already directs some program in any area of the atmo- for, in large part, the willingness of of the weather engaged public’s spheric and related sciences are cable companies to pay subscriber interest in weather into funding. encouraged to apply. All outstanding fees to keep TWC in business. Could more be done in this regard? candidates will receive consider- Two examples suggest yes. ation including applicants with col- TWC gives us an laborative and interdisciplinary skills. important example of the In recent years, tornado chasing has emerged as a for-pro• t vacation The successful applicant will join a successful marketing activity. Hundreds (and by now growing and vibrant department with of weather information. maybe thousands) of people each core research programs in cloud-cli- Weather forecasts meet year take a storm chasing vacation. mate interactions and remote sens- the classic economic One could easily imagine some of ing, tropical meteorology, mountain de• nition of a public these people being willing to pay weather and climate, numerical extra to help cover the cost of better modeling and data assimilation, good, which implies that observing tornadic thunderstorms, climate dynamics, cloud physics, forecasts—especially and these observations might help and boundary layer meteorology. general forecasts for researchers better understand Teaching and research activities a large public—will the formation of tornadoes. The extend into areas such as hydrocli- be dif• cult to supply fee paying storm chasers might mate, snow hydrology, air quality, consider that their tornado intercept and wild• re prediction. commercially for a is helping scientists understand pro• t. TWC succeeded tornadoes to be a neat extra aspect Review of applications will begin by drawing on the value of their vacation. Elementary and on September 19, 2008, and will of weather information secondary schools across the continue until the position is • lled. to the audience. country attempt to try to interest Please send a full statement of and educate children in science. interests, CV, and contact informa- Conceivably schools could consider tion for at least three references The Impact of TWC’s weather applications to accomplish to Faculty Search, Department of Improbable Rise on Weather this goal, and some of the dollars Meteorology, University of Utah, 135 Research used for science education could South 1460 East, Room 819, Salt help fund weather observation or Lake City, UT 84112-0110. Com- The larger question this raises is the research. plete applications in PDF format can whether commodi• cation of weather also be emailed to: meteo-search- could help fund weather observation *Dan ([email protected]) is an [email protected]. and research. The long term budget associate professor of economics at situation for the Federal government University of Texas-Pan in Edinburg, is bleak, with the war in Iraq, the Texas. war on terrorism, and the impending retirement of the Baby Boom generation. Federal funding for

7 (continued from page 2)

generally easy to locate, with more than half within two clicks from the home page. Most of the information was for “pets” in general, although two Web sites speci• ed horses, livestock, reptiles, and small pets. Three offered speci• c information for bird owners and half speci• cally mentioned cats and dogs.

The preparedness information could be divided into two areas: preparedness plans or actions that should be taken and lists of items to put in a preparedness kit. The Figure 2. Hurricanes, • res and • oods dominated the hazard- only action mentioned by all Web related content on animal welfare Web sites. sites was the need to arrange for a place to go with your pet—or alone during a disaster often try to retrieve of the Web sites, especially those as a last resort—before the disaster their pets during the evacuation that did not have a large amount strikes. Other common actions period (Heath, Voeks, and Glickman, of hazard-related content to begin included microchipping pets and 2001; Heath et al., 2001). with. Comparing all the Web sites, identifying someone who could “pet- preparedness information was the sit” in an emergency. Although most of the Web sites were third most frequent hazards-related written primarily for the public, two topic (second if the 2005 hurricane did provide information for pet care season is grouped with all other Recommendations for professionals in the form of manuals, responses.) Response during pet disaster kits included specialized disaster preparedness Hurricanes Katrina and Rita received food and water, sanitation information, or forms that shelters or the greatest amount of coverage. items, identi• cation, other rescue groups can copy and medical supplies, a use. Most of the sites highlighted that organization’s response to hazards, means to restrain and Recommendations for pet disaster including Katrina and Rita, but also transport the animal, and kits included food and water, other hazards such as • res, • oods, other items that would sanitation items, identi• cation, tornadoes, and other hurricanes. The help keep the animal on a medical supplies, a means to map in Figure 1 shows the locations normal routine. restrain and transport the animal, mentioned in the hazard-related and other items that would help keep information, which are largely those the animal on a normal routine. Of locations to which animal welfare The most common scenario re• ected these general items, all eight sites organizations sent volunteers or in the preparedness information listed identi• cation, a collar, medical workers to help rescue pets. was a hazard requiring evacuation. records and/or prescriptions, a All but seven states were mentioned All of the Web sites’ plans would crate, and a leash. Food, water, and at least once in the hazard content, prepare you for evacuating with a • rst-aid kit appeared on seven but several areas stand out on your pet. Six of the eight sites also of eight lists. The number of items the map. Because California included information for staying in on the lists varied from seven to experienced wild• res immediately your home throughout an event. twenty-• ve. Instead of focusing before the analysis began, that Five sites posted information about on the quantity of items you might state was featured in a high number what to do if you must leave your need, however, it’s more important of in articles. Fires also occurred pet or are away from your pet when to consider which of the items on the in Montana in 2007. Hurricanes an emergency occurs. For example, lists would be necessary to ensuring accounted for the high frequency it’s important to make an emergency the safety of your pet. Figure 3 is an of articles posted about the Gulf plan for times when you’re at work example of one of the checklists. Coast states, with Katrina and as many people haven’t actually Rita articles dominating. Several thought through such a scenario. Hazard preparedness information of the organizations maintained a And studies have shown that people represented a large portion of the presence in Louisiana or Mississippi who do not evacuate with pets total hazard content on several for months after the hurricanes, and

8 many of the articles were updates of information about how pet owners “Pets Evacuation and Transportation on the progress of the relief effort. can prepare for hazards. Standards Act of 2006.” Available at For all the organizations together, http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/ hurricanes were mentioned more *Kathy ([email protected]) releases/2006/10/20061006-15.html than twice as often as ! res or is an assistant professor in the (accessed June 11, 2008). Department of Geosciences at " oods (259 versus 111 and 105, Mississippi State University. UAN, November 2007: Disaster respectively), and also about Preparedness Checklist. Available twice as often as all the other References at http://www.uan.org/documents/ hazards (excluding ! res and Disaster_Tips.pdf (accessed " oods) combined (130). Figure 2 Beaver, B. V., R. Gros, E. M. Bailey, January 9, 2008). presents the entire list of hazards. and C. S. Lovern, 2006: Report of For organizations disseminating the 2006 National Animal Disaster information primarily about Summit. Journal of the American preparedness, the hazards were Veterinary Medical Association, mentioned more evenly. 229(6): 943–948.

Other information included resources Heath, S. E., S. K. Voeks, and L. available to assist with animal T. Glickman, 2001: Epidemiologic evacuation and information about features of pet evacuation failure how the organizations generally in a rapid-onset disaster. Journal respond to hazards. In addition, the of the American Veterinary Medical sites described how to volunteer Association, 218(12): 1898–1904. and donate and how to care for pets during emergencies. Information on Heath, S. E., A. M. Beck, P. H. Kass, legislation—most dealing with PETS and L. T. Glickman, 2001: Risk and its pathway to passage—was factors for pet evacuation failure also posted. after a slow-onset disaster. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 218(12): 1905–1910. It’s important to make an emergency plan for HSUS, August 25, 2006: Katrina one times when you’re at work year later: Great gains, new goals as many people haven’t in disaster preparedness. Available at http://www.hsus.org/hsus_! eld/ actually thought through hsus_disaster_center/disasters_ such a scenario. press_room/archives/2006_disaster_ response/katrina_one_year_later_. html (accessed April 11, 2008). From the data collected, it isn’t possible to determine whether the Irvine, L., 2004: Providing for Pets amount of information increased during Disaster: An Exploratory after Katrina, or how it may have Study. Quick Response Report changed, but the in" uence of this #171. Boulder, Colo.: Natural hurricane is still apparent. Because Hazards Research Applications and of the sheer number of articles Information Center. Figure 3. This checklist from United focusing on the response to the 2005 Animal Nations (UAN) is also hurricanes and those centering on Irvine, L., 2006: Providing for Pets available in Spanish (UAN 2007). passage of PETS (which may not during Disasters, Part II: Animal have had the impetus to become law Response Volunteers in Gonzales, without Katrina), however, it is clear Louisiana. Quick Response Report that Hurricane Katrina has greatly #187. Boulder, Colo.: Natural in" uenced the hazard-related content Hazards Research Applications and on animal organizations’ Web sites. Information Center. At least for those sites that included preparedness suggestions, animal Of! ce of the White House Press welfare Web sites appear to be a Secretary, October 6, 2006: fairly consistent and correct source President Bush signs H.R. 3858, the

9 (continued from page 3) Flood in Colorado, Eve Gruntfest did not complete this effort before worked with many agencies to move moving to Norman, Oklahoma, survey on public response to from simple detection to integrated as the deputy MIC. There was, Hurricane Eloise. Ms. Ross trained detection and response for • ash however, at least a draft hurricane us to do house-to-house interviews. • ood warning systems. It has been evacuation study for New Orleans. It was certainly an interesting experience that gave the NWS a pleasure to work with Eve and It would probably be dif• cult to • nd staff new insights into the hurricane her colleagues for the past three a copy of it today, but I recall that it evacuation process from the point of decades. identi• ed some of the problems we view of those who actually used our saw in Hurricane Katrina. forecasts. The Hurricane Program offered me additional opportunities to partner In Norman I was heavily involved Equally important from my again with social scientists. In the in the testing and operational perspective, that exercise created early 1980s, the NWS decided to integration of the NEXRAD (Next- the • rst group of WAS*ISers. Many make public hurricane probability Generation Radar) Doppler radar. of us on the team went on to be forecasts available to emergency My past exposure to the social warning coordination meteorologists managers and the public. Some sciences once again proved valuable (WCM) and meteorologists in people, in and out of the NWS, as we tried to address issues like charge (MIC). I soon moved to expressed concern about this how to best present these new and Corpus Christi as an MIC. My decision as they feared the forecasts complex data to our partners and the Eloise experience had increased would be misunderstood and public. my interest in and understanding improperly used. Mike Carter, a of the evacuation process, which sociologist the Of• ce of Meteorology While at Southern Region proved bene• cial both while working at NWS Headquarters, was a Headquarters, I had my • rst hurricanes and later in my career. strong advocate of sharing all NWS opportunity to attend the Annual information with the public. He Natural Hazards Workshop in After a tour as a warning argued for implementation along Boulder, Colorado. I’ve been an preparedness meteorologist in the with a comprehensive training embedded meteorologist in the Oklahoma City of• ce, I returned to program for local government Colorado social scientist community Fort Worth as the regional warning decision makers. ever since. By the time I became preparedness meteorologist. That the MIC in Boulder, Chris Adams, job description included the role of In response to this need to educate a sociologist, had replaced Mike • ash • ood and hurricane program users of hurricane probability Carter at NWS headquarters. When manager for the Southern Region. forecasts, two teams (including the position was moved to Colorado The social scientist in me surfaced me) visited more than 30 cities State University, working with Chris again when we started looking at the in 29 days to brief news media became more convenient. continued rise in • ash • ood deaths. and emergency managers on the These fatalities were occurring probabilities. Our brie• ngs included NOAA’s Forecast Systems despite our increased efforts to information from the social science Laboratory (FSL) was nearing forecast heavy rain. I wanted to community on anticipated public completion of the design of the know more about why people response to the probabilities. NWS Advanced Weather Interactive were not responding the way we Following this training, probability Processing System (AWIPS) when expected. forecasts were implemented and Chris and I met with FSL scientist have remained a key part of the Dave Small to discuss how AWIPS I reviewed every • ash • ood death hurricane forecast product suite for would interface with external users listed in Storm Data and published over two decades. Social scientists and partners. To our amazement, we a report that, for the • rst time, played a vital role in taking a giant discovered that no such capability documented that more than half step toward communicating the was planned. Working as a team, of • ash • ood deaths occurred in uncertainty in coastal living. we visited NWS Headquarters and vehicles. As a result, we increased briefed NWS Director, Joe Friday our of• ce’s attention to this aspect Knowing how long it would take to ,on the importance of creating and of the • ood risk. In addition, we evacuate a given area was critical maintaining interfaces with the other were able to in• uence national to local governments if they were to elements of the warning system headquarters to increase the use the probabilities effectively. Mike such as spotters, hydrologic data emphasis on including more detail Carter joined our effort to develop networks, emergency managers, and about • ash • ood deaths in Storm hurricane evacuation studies, and the Internet, among others. Data, an emphasis that continues his understanding of the warning today. After the 1976 Big Thompson process was critical to that work. I (continued on page 13)

10 (continued from page 1) of weather and road conditions, roads. Recent advancements in the determining the best messages that road weather world, however, show your mental road map to • gure out if produce the desired responses from us that the problems are and how this will affect you and what you should do about it. end users, and de• ning appropriate surmountable if we recognize that weather-responsive traf• c weather doesn’t stop when the When you put the pieces together management strategies). forecast is disseminated. Instead, and see that the weather IS likely that’s when weather starts to really to affect you, you have to make Fortunately, there is a subset of matter—when society takes that some decisions: Do I drive 30, 40, the weather and transportation forecast and tries to • gure out what or 50 mph through this fog? Do I communities that is working very to do about it. Such efforts require take that route along the river or hard to bring these two worlds the expertise of many disparate stay on higher ground? Or, if you’re together. We’re collaborating to groups – not just meteorologists a transportation manager, you’ll explore the links between weather and highway engineers, but also ponder, how much salt should I and roadways. We’re working to social scientists, human factors spread on the roads to keep the ice understand how traf• c • ows under psychologists, and technologists, to from bonding to the pavement, and varying weather conditions and to name a few who can act as a bridge when should I do it? develop high-resolution forecasts and develop these cost-effective at the pavement surface. We’re solutions. Again we’re getting there, These are not easy decisions striving to integrate weather and but it’s clear that we ALL have more to make, and they are made transportation information into to do to lower the number of highway all the more dif• cult when the computer-based decision support deaths and injuries caused by information • owing into this mental systems and explore the decision- weather. GIS is inaccurate, incomplete or making process of road users and nonexistent. It’s easy to imagine managers. We’re doing all this *Paul ([email protected]) is the thinking, “The river route is shorter, necessary work with an ultimate goal team leader of the Road Weather but it might become • ooded, in which of disseminating the right messages. Management Program within the case the higher route would be It’s quite a challenge when two U.S. Department of Transportation better. But all I know right now is that communities depend on each other, Federal Highway Administration Of- it’s raining. I don’t know if the road but speak very different languages. • ce of Operations (See http://www. is going to be • ooded by the time In addition, the two communities are ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/index. I get down there.” Compound this often driven by different priorities, asp). He also serves as the chair of uncertainty with the need to make policies, and politics. the AMS Committee on Intelligent some of these decisions while you’re Transportation Systems/Surface driving at highway speeds, and it’s One key way to address the Transportation and the english sec- no surprise that bad decisions are challenge is to take advantage of retary of the World Road Association made. “a new breed of experts,” a phrase Winter Service Committee.l coined by William Hooke in his As dire as this article may sound, Weather and Society Watch editorial there is plenty of good work (Vol. 1, No. 2). We need translators Footnotes taking place today. The weather and interpreters who can turn community continues to make weather products into transportation advancements in numerical weather information. We need information [1] Aviation fatalities represent prediction, and the transportation brokers who can articulate the needs a 4-year average and all others community continues to advance of the road users. And we need intelligent transportation systems. meteorologists who can develop represent a 10-year average, from However, while these are critical products that meet those needs. And the NOAA Natural Hazard Statistics pieces to the puzzle, we will the solutions must be cost-effective. website: http://www.weather.gov/os/ never get to where we need to Not only does that decision support hazstats.shtml# be if each community does its system have to save lives and [2] FHWA Road Weather Manage- work independently. Fitting these keep the transportation economy ment website: http://ops.fhwa.dot. puzzle pieces together requires a moving, but it must do so within a gov/weather/index.asp signi• cant amount of interdisciplinary public agency’s budget and/or in a cooperation. Likewise, extensive pro• t-making manner for the private a aut nostrud tat luptat ullaor sit er cooperation is necessary if we are sector. se magna feuguer aesequi smolore going to develop the other pieces dolesendre velestie vel eum vel el to the puzzle that don’t yet exist It’s apparent that we have a dolor adignibh et lan ulla consequis (e.g., achieving better observations signi• cant problem on our nation’s alit lorperit in vulluptat lute erit eugait

11 Conferences & Opportunities

Next Generation Warning Services Workshop

W orkshop Date: December 2-4, 2008 Location: Norman, Oklahoma To Register: Please visit http://apps.weather.gov/partners/index.php

The National Weather Service (NWS) and the University of Oklahoma will jointly host a Next Generation Warning Services Workshop in Norman, Okla. December 2-4, 2008. This workshop will bring together technical and operations experts from the private weather enterprise, broadcast media, emergency management, academia, and other governmental agencies with a goal to determine potential requirements for future NWS warning services. Discussions will range from broad concepts of the types of information included in these services to the details of textual and graphical dissemination. The goal of the workshop is to enable NWS partners to:

• Fully take part in de! ning requirements for watch, warning, and advisory services, • Share details regarding new technologies and capabilities that would impact these requirements, and • Obtain a clear idea about how to maximize public and partner satisfaction with the quality, usability and " exibility of NWS future warning services.

A clear understanding of how people receive and interpret hazardous weather information is critical to meeting these goals. Consequently, the workshop also will address the current state of the social sciences with respect to the understanding of human response to warning services, and to identify social science needs.

Online registration is available at http://apps.weather.gov/partners/index.php. Additional information including a draft agenda, and logistical details will be e-mailed to registrants and linked on the web site in the near future. For more information, contact John.T.Ferree@ noaa.gov or Kevin.Scharfenberg@ noaa.gov with NWS Severe Storms Services.

European Meteorogical Society (EMS) Annual Meeting

Meeting Date: September 29-October 3, 2008 Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Deadline for Exhibitors and Pre-Registration: August 25, 2008 To Register: Please visit http://meetings.copernicus.org/ems2008/registration.html

The EMS annual meeting aims to strengthen and widen scienti! c exchange within the European context to explain the speci! c characteristics of the science of meteorology, to address the challenges of interpreting the results, and to communicate them to society at large. It includes the application of meteorology for the bene! t of society, providing a platform for the meteorological community to discuss demands and aims for the present and the future. To address these issues the 2008 conference will have three streams: the atmosphere and the water cycle; meteorology and society; and forecasting the weather at all time scales – THORPEX studies, applications, and societal impacts. For more information, please visit: http://meetings.copernicus.org/ems2008/

The ‘88 Fires: Yellowstone and Beyond

Conference Date: September 22-27, 2008 Location: Jackson Hole, Wyoming To Register: http://www.iawfonline.org/yellowstone/

The International Association of Wildland Fire, in association with the 9th Biennial Scienti! c Conference on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, is sponsoring this conference to remember the events of the Yellowstone area ! res of 1988. Discussions and presentations will focus on lessons learned, ! re effects, large ! re management, policy, research related to the ! res, the use of ! re as a management tool, and many other issues. For more information, please visit http://www.iawfonline.org/yellowstone/. (continued on page 15) 12 (continued from page 10) collaboration across disciplines must among the broadcast media, not only be accomplished in formal emergency service agencies and the As a result of Chris’s arguments and programs or projects; it needs to National Weather Service. Pages Dave’s technical knowledge, we were be a daily way of doing business 214–228 in Disaster and the Mass able to add a last-minute requirement down at the weather forecast of• ce Media. Washington, D.C.: National for functionality that would become level. WAS*IS is a fantastic way to Academy of Sciences Committee on the Local Data Acquisition and accomplish this goal. Disasters and Mass Media. Dissemination (LDAD) system. Carter, T. M., S. D. Kendall, and J. Early Social Scientist Impacts Still I’m excited about the potential of the P. Clark, 1983: Household response Bene! t NWS Today WAS*IS program to serve as the to warnings. International Journal of cornerstone of future improvements Mass Emergencies and Disasters 9 I’m sure that social scientists made to the nation’s disaster warning (1):94–104. many contributions to the NWS that program. The program has been I’ve overlooked or am not even aware an outstanding success to date. It’s Doswell, C.A. III, A. R. Moller and of. Nevertheless, their in" uence is breaking down barriers between H.E. Brooks (1999): Storm spotting pretty impressive when you consider operational and academic cultures, and public awareness since the • rst the impacts I observed: and providing a sustainable tornado forecasts of 1948. Wea. way to develop and implement Forecasting, 14 , 544-557.Gruntfest, · The inclusion of action improvements to the country’s E. and B. Montz, 2002: Flash " ood statements in NWS products disaster warning and response mitigation: Recommendations for · A better understanding of the system. Continued support at the research & applications. Global warning response process and federal level is a great investment. Change Environmental Hazards the NWS role in this process The talent, enthusiasm, and 4(1):15–22. · Increased understanding of the innovation of the WAS*ISers is hurricane evacuation process exciting. The program has become Leik, R. K., Carter, T.M., Clark, J.P., · Use of hurricane probability a magnet that attracts the young Kendall, S.D., Gifford, G.A., Bielefeld, forecasts scientists with the “right stuff,” and I W. and Ekker, K. 1981. Community · Greater focus on the true nature can’t wait to see all the great things Response to Natural Hazard of the " ash " ood risk and they will do! Warnings. Department of Sociology, appropriate actions University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, · Hurricane evacuation studies *Larry ([email protected]) is Minnesota. · The ability for AWIPS to the meteorologist-in-charge (MIC) for communicate with the rest of the the Boulder/Denver National Weather McLuckie, B. F., 1970: The warning warning team. Service of• ce. system in disaster situations: A selective analysis. Disaster Research In each of these, input from the social **Eve ([email protected]) is Center Research Notes/Report 9. science community was critical to professor emeritus of geography improving public warning services and environmental studies at the McLuckie, B. F. and R. G. and ultimately to saving lives. All University of Colorado at Colorado Whitman, 1968: A study of warning because meteorologists and social Springs and project director for Social and response in ten Colorado scientists listened to each other and Science Woven into Meteorology communities during the " oods of worked to • nd solutions to problems (SSWIM) at the University of 1965. Disaster Research Center, that could not be solved within the Oklahoma. Working Paper 40. scope of a single discipline. Links among researchers and practitioners Bibliography Morss, R. E. 2005. Problem de• nition in the weather world are more in atmospheric science public policy: frequent and more fruitful as the end- Note: The University of Delaware Library The example of observing system Institutional Repository (http://dspace.udel. design for weather prediction. Bulletin to-end-to-end approach gains more edu:8080/dspace/) has McLuckie’s pieces and acceptance (Morss 2005). others in pdf format. Conference presentations of the American Meteorological also are available there. Society 86:181–191. Incorporating social science is part of an evolutionary process. Baker, J., 1984: Public response Windham, G. O., E. I. Posey, P. The increasing complexity of our to hurricane probability forecasts. J. Ross, and B. Spencer, 1977: society and the growing impact Washington, D.C.: NWS. Reaction to Storm Threat during of weather phenomena make it Hurricane Eloise. Starkville, Miss.: essential that we build on these Carter, T. M., 1980: Community Social Science Research Center, previous accomplishments. Increased warning systems: The relationship Mississippi State University.

13 (continued from page 4) studying the physical motions of the or human institutions depend atmosphere, there is one mind, the on, respond to, or in! uence Epistemological Questions: observer, trying to understand nature atmospheric phenomena. The Explanation versus and the underlying physical laws. different philosophical approaches are based on very different ideas Understanding Once the observer assumes that there are laws of nature underlying about what should be studied, how it should be studied, and what can be In philosophy, analyzing the nature, the atmosphere, he is simply using done to disseminate meteorological scope, and meaning of knowledge is his mind to dig into a set of • xed information for the betterment of the purview of epistemology. That’s and immutable laws of nature. (See society. If these two researchers a • ve-dollar word that encompasses http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ tried to discuss their research, they some simple questions: Can actions laws-of-nature/#BasQueWhaItLaw might end up talking past each other. in the “social world” be understood for an interesting discussion of what in the same way that we understand it means to be a law of nature.) Appreciating the existence of them in the “natural world”? Can we these different approaches may • nd fundamental laws of society the In understanding behavior, though, also help us understand why same way we expect to • nd them in there are two minds involved—the different social sciences have been meteorology? Are there equations observer and the subject. What can integrated into meteorology at and laws governing society and the observer infer about what is different levels. Without adequately decision making, just as there are going on in the mind of the subject? explaining the meaning of holism equations and laws of ! uid dynamics This is a fertile—and perhaps versus individualism and with that govern atmospheric ! ow? dangerous—area of philosophical debate. Can we be sure that broad generality, we could say that neoclassical microeconomics Much of the early study of society, what appear to be laws of human is based on an individualistic and perhaps much still today, behavior (as we create them in our explanation approach. I submit that proceeded from the idea that mind) actually apply to other beings this may be why natural scientists humans actions were subject to who have free will to act according • nd neoclassical microeconomics explanation in the same way that to their preferences, rather than in more understandable than many phenomena in the natural world some deterministic manner? other social sciences. could be explained by and described by the physical sciences—an Can we • nd fundamental It seems—to this economist at approach often called naturalism. In laws of society the same least—that social sciences such as other words, all phenomena—human way we expect to • nd sociology or social anthropology and otherwise—can be explained in them in meteorology? Are come more from a holistic and terms of natural causes and laws. there equations and laws understanding approach. To the governing society and extent that different social scientists Explanation leads to questions decision making, just as take different philosophical of determinism in behavior and there are equations and approaches, it can become dif• cult perhaps to the idea that we can laws of • uid dynamics that for, say, economists and sociologists eventually model human behavior to reach common ground, before using mathematical models with the govern atmospheric • ow? meteorologists even join the same degree of predictive power conversation" as a weather forecast. To me, the If a researcher takes an explanation explanation approach seems related philosophical approach, she And now that I’ve talked about to the idea of agent-based models will likely approach problems of all this in the framework of that I’ve heard engineers and integrating meteorology and social epistemology perhaps it really is meteorologists mention as a tool sciences from an entirely different more in the realm of metaphysics for integrating decision making with perspective than a researcher taking de• ned as the study of being and weather-related decision support an understanding philosophical knowing. tools. approach. The explanation integrator may seek the equations of human Understanding takes the action that can be modeled side Examples and More Questions approach that there is something by side with the equations of ! uid fundamentally different about life and proceed to predict the linkages I am by no means the • rst to compared to the natural world and subsequent human behavior. raise philosophical questions in and that this has implications for An understanding integrator may the meteorological community. analyzing social action. One way to evaluate the meanings, roles, Consider, for example, the 2007 see a difference here is what I’ll call and rules of social action in order article by Morss and Wahl, which “one mind” versus “two minds.” In to understand how individuals applies an ethical framework

14 gnim vel ulput am ilis num nos to an examination of the issues any inherent responsibility to make aliquat wi(sc oandt itninu eudlla fororem e pt,a ge 12) connected with the Red River ! ood sure that information is properly A vulputet nons at, vel ullamet lor il iril of 1997. Even though forecasters communicated, understood, and knew there would be some level used in response to the threat? Or, uCtpat,l clo mfomord Pmina vpere ilirqusat. Ut la of ! ooding months in advance, is it enough to simply put forth the conulluptat. the ! ood still caused more than $2 best technically available forecast? Theq Euaigtuhet hm Aodnignnuiaaml A aMutS u t amet billion in damages. Using concepts Studveelnent iCmo ancfceurme niucsec ia tinnd u t lan from medical ethics of bene• cence, Finally, in my mind, perhaps the E eCuamre deor oFdaoilror si ea adio conullam autonomy, and justice, Morss and most important question of all: zzriuscidunt am, siscil dolor accum Wahl (2007, p. 342) analyze “issues Is there a quali• ed philosopher The Eighth Annual AMS Student Con- related to forecast generation, out there who will discuss these quis dolor sum il utat adiam irit dit afelirqeunisc en oansde Cqauraet.e Pr Fit alairm, “eWt edaotlhuet ring communication of forecast meaning questions to help better integrate Your Career--Now and in the Future”, irit, suscilit am, si te dignim ad te do and uncertainty, responsibility for social science and meteorology to sponsored by the American Meteoro- eummolor sim veliqua mcommy nis the use of forecasts in decision truly provide “science in service to logical Society, will be held Saturday making, and trade-offs between the society?” naunldp uStuen cdoanys, eJ adnouloabryo r1e0ro-1 d1o, 2d0ia0m9,, as desire for forecast certainty and part of the 89th AMS Annual Meet- the risk of missed events.” Their *Jeff ([email protected]) is the director ing in Phoenix, Arizona. Registration, work is a primary example of how of NCAR’s SIP.For more information hotel, and general information will be ethical analysis can play into the on SIP, please visit http://www.sip. posted on the AMS Web site (http:// forecasting of, communication about, ucar.edu. www.ametsoc.org) in late-September preparation for, and response to 2008. A registration fee of $25 has hydrometeorological events. References been set for this conference.

To the extent that different Hollis, M. 2002: Philosophy of social In addition to presentations and group social scientists take science. Chapter 11 in The Blackwell discussions featuring both noted pro- different philosophical Companion to Philosophy. Blackwell fessionals and fellow students, AMS approaches, it can Companions to Philosophy Series. encourages students to submit papers become dif• cult for, N. Bunnin and E. P. Tsui-James, about a wide range of topics. All ac- Eds. Oxford, U.K.: Wiley-Blackwell. say, economists and cepted abstracts will be scheduled as a poster. sociologists to reach Hunt, E. K., 1979: History of estie vel eum vel el dolor adignibh common ground, before Economic Thought: A Critical meteorologists even join eFto lra mn ourllea icnofonrsmeaqtuioisn a olirt tlo rspuebrimt iint Perspective. Belmont, Calif.: an abstract, please visit: http://www. the conversation! Wadsworth Publishing. vulluptat lute erit eugait niat aliquat, saem teettsuoec c.oorrgp/eMroEsEtrTu/da ntantuina lu/ctael l.html. Philosophy comprises many areas of Morss, R. E. and E. Wahl, conullandrem volor sum vel ulputat. study, understanding, and knowledge 2007: An ethical analysis of DCuio tant. tribute to W SW I cannot even begin to touch on here hydrometeorological prediction and agna faccum del utpat ad dolu- (nor can I claim to have adequate decision making: The case of the MW eathtaert ,a qnuda Smo,c iveetyle Wssait.ch is currently capacity to represent them). Logic 1997 Red River ! ood. Environmental accepting items for publication in the Octo- and metaphysics could both bring Hazards 7:342–352. ber 2g0n0i8m a vned l Jualnpuuat ray m20 i0li9s enduitmio nnso. sW e light to the discussion about the Awelcoamliqeu saotl iwciiast ioands t ifnor u glulaeosrte e deitt,o rials, integration of social science and NOAA, 2005: New Priorities for the vreuslpeaurtceht narotincsle sa,t ,a vrteicll eusll admetaeitl inlogr uilp icroil m- meteorology, but I’ll leave that for uintgp awte, actohmerm anod smocinie vtye pr riolijqeuctast,. gUetn lear al 21st Century – NOAA’s Strategic weather interest articles, weather photos, another. Plan. Updated for FY 2006–FY confuelrleunpctae ta. nd job annoucnements, and 2011. Available at http://www.oesd. bookq rueaviteuwes m. Iof ydoigun aiarem in ateurte ustte adm ine ct on- Let me close then with a set of noaa.gov/Strategic_Plan_2006_ tributing an item for an upcoming edition, velenim accum iusci tin ut lan philosophical questions: How far FINAL_04282005.pdf (accessed Eplease contact Emily Laidlaw at laidlaw@ does the responsibility for protection July 23, 2008). euucamr. eddou .odolor si ea adio conullam of life and property extend for zzriuscidunt am, siscil dolor accum weather services that provide qInu aisd dioolno,r w seu malw ila uysta wt ealdcoiamme iyroitu dr it forecasts, watches, and warnings, afelieqdubiasc nko onf swehqaut ayto. uP likt ela tmo eset ed omluort e— or especially with respect to potentially less of in future editions and how we can ibriet,tt esru tsaciliolirt tahme ,n eswi tsele dttiegrn tiom m aede tt eyo duor life-threatening situations? Is there t. Dui tat. enueemdms. oPlolera siem s uvbemliqitu aan ym fceoedmbmacyk nyiosu a moral responsibility on the part of agna faccum del utpat ad dolu- nhuavlpeu atet a cnoyn tsimee d tool oEbmoilrye Lroa idloa wd iatm la,id- a forecaster who delivers a warning Mtat, quam, velessi. [email protected] or visit the feedback page about a life-threatening weather on our Web site at http://www.sip.ucar. event beyond that delivery? Is there edu/news/submit.jsp.

15 About W eather and Society W atch

W eather and Society W atch is published quarterly by the Societal Impacts Program (SIP) at the National Center for Atmo- spheric Research (NCAR). The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) operates NCAR with support from the National Science Foundation and other sponsors.

The purpose of W eather and Society W atch is to provide a forum for those interested in the societal impacts of weather and weather forecasting to discuss and debate relevant issues, ask questions, and stimulate perspective. The newsletter is intended to serve as a vehicle for building a stronger, more informed societal impacts community.

Any opinions, ! ndings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily re" ect the views of NSF or other sponsors. Contributions to W eather and Society W atch are subject to technical editing at the discretion of SIP staff.

W eather and Society W atch is available on the W orld W ide W eb at: http://www.sip.ucar.edu/news/. Archives of W eather- Zine, a previous weather impacts newsletter upon which W eather and Society W atch was modeled, are available on the W eb at http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/zine/archives/.

Contact Us About SIP For additional information or to submit ideas for a news All aspects of the U.S. public sector, along with the item, please contact: nation’s economy, are directly and indirectly affected by weather. Although the economic impacts of weather SIP Director: Jeff Lazo (lazo@ ucar.edu) and weather information on U.S. economic agents have Managing Editor: Emily Laidlaw (laidlaw@ ucar.edu) been loosely documented over the years, no de! nitive Contributing Editor: Rene Howard, W ord Prose, Inc assessments have been performed, and information To send mail about W eather and Society W atch, please generated from the previous studies is dif! cult to locate write to: and synthesize.

Jeff Lazo SIP, initiated in 2004 and funded by NOAA’s U.S. Societal Impacts Program W eather Research Program (USW RP) and NCAR, National Center for Atmospheric Research aims to improve the societal gains from weather fore- P.O. Box 3000 casting. SIP researchers work to infuse social science Boulder, CO 80307 and economic research, methods and capabilities into the planning, execution and analysis of weather information, applications, and research directions. SIP serves as a focal point for developing and supporting a closer relationship between researchers, operational forecasters, relevant end users, and social scientists concerned with the impacts of weather and weather information on society. Program activities include primary research, outreach and education, and development and support for the weather impacts community.

For more general information on SIP, contact Jeff Lazo at lazo@ ucar.edu or http://www.sip.ucar.edu.