refining priorities for drought communication...

Refining Priorities for Drought Communication

Prototypes

Project Nighthawk TeamRebecca Ward, Kirsten Lackstrom,

Corey Davis, Emily Foster

Webinar Purpose and Agenda

2

• Introduction• Guided discussion:

• Review results from Initial Project Survey• Review and prioritize ideas for drought

information and communication strategies• Open discussion• Wrap-up and next steps

Introductions

3

Introduction Guided Discussion Wrap-up & Next Steps

Project Team

North Carolina Climate Office,NOAA’s Carolinas Integrated Sciences and Assessments

NOAA’s Sectoral Applications Research Program (SARP)

“Coping with Drought in Support of the National Integrated Drought

Information” Competition

Webinar Participants

Informed Consent

4

Introduction Guided Discussion Wrap-up & Next Steps

More information at http://climate.ncsu.edu/nighthawk

● Participant selection

● Potential benefits and risks of participation

● Confidentiality

Project Background

5

Drought is a part of North Carolina’s climate

Introduction Guided Discussion Wrap-up & Next Steps

From Alexander Co. Emergency Services From US Fish & Wildlife Service From Brynn Anderson/AP

Project Background

6

How was this map created?

Who is discussing drought in NC, and

how often?

How can I find out about local

conditions?

What does the forecast

show?

How is this affecting my

sector?

Why doesn’t this map reflect conditions I’m

seeing in my area?

Introduction Guided Discussion Wrap-up & Next Steps

Project Background

7

Goal: Provide relevant, accessible, and actionable drought-related information to decision makers tailored to specific sectors

Official Title: “Innovating Approaches to Drought Communications with North Carolina Decision Makers”

Codename: Project Nighthawk

Introduction Guided Discussion Wrap-up & Next Steps

The common nighthawk. Photo by Andy Reago and Chrissy McClarren, shared under CC BY 2.0.

Project Nighthawk Phases

8

Introduction Guided Discussion Wrap-up & Next Steps

Fall 2018 Summer 2019

Initial Survey - Overview

9

• 318 invitations sent to:• NC Cooperative Extension agents and specialists• NC Forest Service regional and district foresters

• Open for responses from Oct. 12 to Nov. 2

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Opened 100 31% of invitees

Completed 52 16% of invitees

Partially completed 48 2 to 81% completion rate

Initial Survey - What We Asked

10

1. Communication Channels & Formats

2. Weather, Climate, and Drought Information• geographic scale• decision calendars• usefulness of specific resources

3. Drought Monitoring Processes• US Drought Monitor• North Carolina drought monitoring

4. Impacts and Additional Information Needs

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Communication Channels

11

• Along with developing resource prototypes, this project seeks to find and use preferred communication channels

• Survey asked which formats were most useful for respondents and their constituents

• Responses indicate room for improvement among current drought communications

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Communication Channels

12

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Retrieve on your own Info. is sent to you

Communication Channels

13

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Communication Channels

14

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

How information is presented

Communication Channels

15

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Users explore alone

Communication Channels

16

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Users explore together with information providers

Communication Channels

17

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Communication Channels

18

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

For consumers: What factors do you consider when thinking about what to pass onto constituents? Do you look at different

information than they do?

For providers: What feedback have you received regarding communicating information? What has worked well (or not)?

Communication Strategies

19

Takeaways so far: Information consumers prefer...• At least partially synthesized/translated information• Exploring individually on their own time• Data and reports pushed to them (instead of going

somewhere to find it)• A variety of formats, from alerts to factsheets to

infographics• Accessing data both online and offline

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Initial Survey - What We Asked

20

1. Communication Channels & Formats

2. Weather, Climate, and Drought Information• geographic scale• decision calendars• usefulness of specific resources

3. Drought Monitoring Processes• US Drought Monitor• North Carolina drought monitoring

4. Impacts and Additional Information Needs

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Geographic Scales

21

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Geographic Scales

22

Are there products you use now that are on national (or other) scales that would be more useful for you or your constituents if they were translated to local scales?

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Information Timescales

23

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Decision Calendars

24

Current conditions and short-range forecasts are most useful for informing decisions about:

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Winter Spring Summer Fall

Planting

Ag. management

Crop harvesting

Forest management

Resource allocation

USDA Field Staff Survey

25

• In 2016 and 2017, USDA Climate Hubs surveyed Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff about weather and climate knowledge and needs

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Wiener, S., Roesch-McNally, G.E., and Schattman, R.E. (2018). National survey of USDA Field Staff on Climate and Weather; Results from a survey of Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency Employees. Washington, DC: USDA Climate Hubs.

USDA Field Staff Survey

26

• Drought was the most common concern, including in North Carolina

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

From Wiener, Roesch-McNally, and Schattman (2018)

USDA Field Staff Survey

27

• The US Drought Monitor is a widely used resource

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

From Wiener, Roesch-McNally, and Schattman (2018)

28

29

Monitoring Info. - Discussion

30

• Survey responses indicated a preference for precipitation and temperature data

• Other drought monitoring information exists• Are these less useful than temperature and precipitation?• Are these useful, but not usable/accessible/discoverable?

• Where do you go for temperature and precipitation information now?• (NWS? TWC? AccuWeather? Newspaper? SCO? TV? Personal

observations?)

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Climate Summary Resources

31

http://sercc.com/seasonalsummary

http://climate.ncsu.edu/climateblog

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

SERCC Seasonal Summaries and Outlooks

SCO Climate Blog including Monthly Summaries

Current Conditions - Discussion

32

Where do you typically go for information about current conditions?

For what purposes do you use those resources?

Do you, and if so, how do you, pass on that information to your constituents?

What would improve that communication/translation process?

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Current Condition Resources

33

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

State Climate Office current conditions maps

https://climate.ncsu.edu

https://climate.ncsu.edu/map

USGS streamflow mapshttps://waterwatch.usgs.gov

Current Condition Resources

34

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Fire Weather Intelligence Portal

https://climate.ncsu.edu/fwip

Current Condition Resources

35

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

NC DMAC NWS Raleigh

http://www.ncdrought.org/current.php

http://www.weather.gov/rah/drought

Current Condition Resources

36

SCO’s Integrated Water Portal

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

CLIMAS Reservoir Volumes

https://climate.ncsu.edu/water/map

https://www.climas.arizona.edu

Short, Medium, and Long-Term

37

Where do you typically go for information about forecast conditions and outlooks?

For what purposes do you use those resources?

Do you, and if so, how do you, pass on that information to your constituents?

What would improve that communication/translation process?

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Short-term = 1-7 days; Medium-term = 1-3 weeks; Long-term = monthly-seasonal-annual

Short- to Medium-Term Resources

38

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Climate Prediction Center outlookshttp://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov

Cotton Thrips Infestation PredictorWeather-based guidance for planting decisions

http://climate.ncsu.edu/cottonTIP

NWS Forecast Maps and Graphics

https://www.weather.gov

Long-Term Resources

39

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

ENSO model predictions https://iri.columbia.edu/our-expertise/climate/forecasts/enso/current/

Seasonal El Niño Impacts on the SW USA, from CLIMAS (AZ-NM RISA)

Long-Term Resources

40

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

CPC Seasonal Drought Outlook

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov

NMME (North American Multi-Model Ensemble) Temp. & Precip. Forecasts

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/NMME/

Long-Term Resources

41

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

NWS seasonal outlooks https://www.weather.gov SCO seasonal outlookshttps://climate.ncsu.edu/climateblog

42

SCONC’s “About Drought” Story Map

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Drought Background ResourcesDrought 101 from SC State Climate Office

http://climate.ncsu.edu/drought/about

http://www.scdrought.com/drought101.html

Information Resources - Discussion

43

• To what extent are existing resources meeting your needs?

• How could they be improved?

• Visualization (Are maps and graphics clear? Are they at the preferred geographic and/or time scales?)

• Availability (Do you know where to find the information? Do you receive alerts or emails?)

• Clarity (Are they unclear or too complex?)

• Usability (Are they able to inform a specific decision or question?)

• Shareability (Are you able to easily explain or transfer the information to a constituent?)

• For information providers, are you aware of how people are using and consuming this information?

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Initial Survey - What We Asked

44

1. Communication Channels & Formats

2. Weather, Climate, and Drought Information• geographic scale• decision calendars• usefulness of specific resources

3. Drought Monitoring Processes• US Drought Monitor• North Carolina drought monitoring

4. Impacts and Additional Information Needs

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Drought Monitoring Processes & Resources

45

• US Drought Monitor process• NC drought monitoring process

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

46

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Drought Monitoring Processes & Resources

47

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Drought Monitoring Processes & Resources

48

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Drought Monitoring Processes & Resources

Use and Perceived Accuracy of Drought Maps

49

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

50

Broad Ideas:• Create resources about the NC DMAC and the NC

Drought Map • Synthesize & disseminate up-to-date information on

latest drought map, including discussion• Develop a strategic dissemination plan

• Frequency? Location? Formats?

How to Improve Awareness and Perceived Accuracy?(in Drought Monitoring Processes & Products)

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

51

“About NC DMAC” resourcesa. Purpose, history, membership, process, relevanceb. How are NC Drought Map and USDM used in NC?c. Delivery Formats:

i. Infographicsii. Factsheetsiii. Possibly: story maps, videos

d. Delivery Methods: i. Linked from websitesii. Emailsiii. Others?

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction

A Prototype to Consider

Guided Discussion

A Prototype to Consider

52

A multi-pronged approach for sharing drought updates:• Summarize DMAC discussion and suggestions to US Drought

Monitor authors to note why changes were (and were not) made across the state

• Information would be accessible from websites and pushed out and printable

• Highlights/key points shared via short email/text alert-type messages

• More details included in factsheets or blog posts• Would use infographics, static or animated maps, and charts

or other graphics

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Drought Monitoring - Discussion

53

• Will ideas improve awareness and perceptions of accuracy?• Background information on NC DMAC and USDM

processes and products• Synthesized and summarized weekly update

products• How often? Weekly?

• Are there other ways to improve awareness and perceptions of accuracy?

• Do we need to distinguish between agriculture and forestry?

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

“Landing Page” Examples

54

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Example Resources to Consider

55

Drought monitoring explanation video (from CoCoRaHS)Brief explanation of conditions and how map designations were determined (from CO Climate Center)

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Drought Monitoring Processes & Resources - Existing Examples

56

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Prioritizing Prototypes(before the webinar)

57

1. “About NC DMAC” resources2. Updates on NC Drought Conditions from the NC

DMAC3. Tutorials for technical tools4. Updated lists and content for “landing pages”5. Increase discoverability of useful resources,

e.g., seasonal outlooks

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Open Discussion

58

Which ideas should be our top priorities?

What other information do you need, including for weather, climate, drought, or impact monitoring?

Wrap-up & Next StepsIntroduction Guided Discussion

Next Steps

59

Post-webinar survey

Upcoming In-Person Feedback Sessions• Late February in-person workshop • Possibly: June NC Association of County Ag.

Agents• NC DMAC Meeting -- possibly a follow-up?

Introduction Wrap-up & Next StepsGuided Discussion

60

Thank you!https://climate.ncsu.edu/nighthawk