I had little awareness about this connection before 2014, I just knew that I was so enamored by the amazing work done at NOAA and NASA, I felt I needed to advocate for more funding for that work. I was co-founding a new budget coalition I called the Coalition for Aerospace and Science and asked Dr. Bill Hooke for advice. He sent me to Dr. Molly Macaully, at Resources for the Future.

Like so many of us, there are few life changing events like meeting Molly. I asked her to advise this new NASA and NOAA budget coalition and she explained the rationale for increasing investments in earth observation in a simple way – it was the Value Of Information.

As a non-scientist, non-meteorologist, non-engineer, I reduce complex ideas from those experts to simple terms for a living, especially when I’m explaining it in Washington. In this session, I plan to simplify not just this complex topic to several key points, but also cover the research on the value of earth observation from simulations (data inclusion or denial), historical analysis, and market analysis.

Economies are driven by choices based on enormous volumes of information fed into governments, businesses, and individuals, and earth observation data is hard to ignore or exclude given 60 years of science and advancement. We have to understand how the limitations of the scientific method ought to not also limit the public’s awareness of how they are enabled by that same science.

Following an introductory presentation including a series of animations and graphics, we’ll engage our expert panel for more depth of perspective and thought provoking Q&A.

Note: Earth observation will not limited to space in this session, but rather all forms of observation – this should be timely given the expected publication this year as well of the revised National Plan for Civil Earth Observation.

The goals of the Symposium are:

• to highlight the need for actionable climate information across a range of sectors, including energy, water, agriculture, and municipal planning
• to highlight the academic institutions that are developing programs to address the diverse needs for climate information
• to identify entry points for students and early-career scientists to engage in the climate information services enterprise
• to identify gaps in current knowledge, capacity and action in advancing climate information services, and the role of all institutions, including AMS, in addressing them. 

 We invite a wide range of AMS members to attend and participate, especially students and early-career scientists looking to gain further insight into this rapidly expanding field.

The goals of the Symposium are:

• to highlight the need for actionable climate information across a range of sectors, including energy, water, agriculture, and municipal planning
• to highlight the academic institutions that are developing programs to address the diverse needs for climate information
• to identify entry points for students and early-career scientists to engage in the climate information services enterprise
• to identify gaps in current knowledge, capacity and action in advancing climate information services, and the role of all institutions, including AMS, in addressing them. 

 We invite a wide range of AMS members to attend and participate, especially students and early-career scientists looking to gain further insight into this rapidly expanding field.

Volume II, Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States, is expected to be released in late 2018. Drawing on the physical science described in Vol. I, this assessment focuses on the ecological, societal, and economic aspects of climate change and variability for 10 regions and 17 national topics. Particular attention is given to observed and projected risks and impacts, with additional chapters on adaptation and reducing risks through emissions mitigation. Throughout its regional and national topic chapters, NCA4 Vol. II provides examples of actions underway in communities across the United States to reduce the risks associated with climate change, increase resilience, and improve livelihoods. NCA4 Vol. II has an increased focus on regional information and includes a new standalone chapter addressing the U.S. Caribbean. In addition, the report includes new chapters on air quality, climate effects on U.S. international interests, complex systems and multiple stressors, and an international appendix that looks at national assessments around the world.

NCA4 Vol. II was developed by more than 300 authors from across the country representing many different disciplines and region-specific expertise. The assessment is written for a broad audience, and is intended to help inform decision-makers, resource managers, planners, and all who are interested in better understanding the effects of climate change on the United States.

This session will highlight the findings of NCA4 Vol. II, related tools and initiatives, and examples of how climate assessments may be used to inform resilience planning and adaptation. Presentations will also explore new approaches to assessment and showcase new tools to assist in the assessment and decision support processes.

The goals of the Symposium are:

• to highlight the need for actionable climate information across a range of sectors, including energy, water, agriculture, and municipal planning
• to highlight the academic institutions that are developing programs to address the diverse needs for climate information
• to identify entry points for students and early-career scientists to engage in the climate information services enterprise
• to identify gaps in current knowledge, capacity and action in advancing climate information services, and the role of all institutions, including AMS, in addressing them. 

 We invite a wide range of AMS members to attend and participate, especially students and early-career scientists looking to gain further insight into this rapidly expanding field.

I had little awareness about this connection before 2014, I just knew that I was so enamored by the amazing work done at NOAA and NASA, I felt I needed to advocate for more funding for that work. I was co-founding a new budget coalition I called the Coalition for Aerospace and Science and asked Dr. Bill Hooke for advice. He sent me to Dr. Molly Macaully, at Resources for the Future.

Like so many of us, there are few life changing events like meeting Molly. I asked her to advise this new NASA and NOAA budget coalition and she explained the rationale for increasing investments in earth observation in a simple way – it was the Value Of Information.

As a non-scientist, non-meteorologist, non-engineer, I reduce complex ideas from those experts to simple terms for a living, especially when I’m explaining it in Washington. In this session, I plan to simplify not just this complex topic to several key points, but also cover the research on the value of earth observation from simulations (data inclusion or denial), historical analysis, and market analysis.

Economies are driven by choices based on enormous volumes of information fed into governments, businesses, and individuals, and earth observation data is hard to ignore or exclude given 60 years of science and advancement. We have to understand how the limitations of the scientific method ought to not also limit the public’s awareness of how they are enabled by that same science.

Following an introductory presentation including a series of animations and graphics, we’ll engage our expert panel for more depth of perspective and thought provoking Q&A.

Note: Earth observation will not limited to space in this session, but rather all forms of observation – this should be timely given the expected publication this year as well of the revised National Plan for Civil Earth Observation.

The challenges and opportunities associated with global environmental data exchange should be examined by the international community to ensure continued viability and success of the global data exchange system. As the world relies on increasing amounts of data, one of the primary issues is the potential for barriers to transferring data within the current architecture. Likewise, the landscape of environmental data providers is being altered to include commercial and other new vendors. The international community and relevant international organizations should consider how to best integrate new and emerging commercial technologies in a responsible manner. As the world increases its reliance on high quality data, international organizations need to focus on how they can best foster an environment that spurs continual innovation. Reasons such as these raise the question of how best to exchange and manage data on a global level. Solutions should not merely focus on updating data policies that are largely unenforceable or are making only incremental upgrades to aging data exchange infrastructure. The international community and relevant international organizations should explore initiatives that will support the continued growth and exchange of high quality environmental data through a responsible approach. This presentation will explore potential solutions such as cloud-based incentive-driven data exchange programs that take advantage of technological advancements to promote greater data sharing. Potential solutions could incorporate a variety of data sets and be scalable to support a range of operational needs. Big data management limitations in the global weather enterprise is one of the primary barriers, and an efficient architecture needs to be established before we can extract more value from existing data or process the significantly larger volumes of data that are expected to be produced over the next several years. 

Dangerous Storms at Sea

Extratropical and tropical cyclones produce rapidly changing and extreme weather conditions over large areas of the ocean, threatening the safety of life at sea, causing billions of dollars in time lost and ship and cargo damage annually, and damaging coastal communities. However, there remain significant gaps in our understanding of these storms. Rapid intensification of tropical cyclones is an important forecast challenge that is receiving increasing attention in operations and research. Less well-known, but also critical, rapid extratropical cyclogenesis at sea presents a unique forecast problem that requires a greater understanding of air–sea interaction and coupled model improvements, particularly in areas such as the heavily traveled intersection of major coastal storm tracks and the Gulf Stream.

Weather Forecast Needs of the Maritime Industry

The maritime industry would benefit from products and services that extend the forecast horizon beyond the present focus on days 0–4; provide probabilistic forecasts of hazards and high waves; and improve prediction of sea ice development, movement, and decay. Additionally, as cargo and cruise ships continue to get larger, carrying ever more goods and passengers, consideration must be given to providing forecasts and hazardous weather warnings that address the challenges such large ships must face. Stronger public–private partnerships within the maritime weather enterprise will help ensure mariners get the best possible forecasts and warning services.

Weather Observations on the High Seas

Strengthening the global ocean observing system (in situ and satellite based) and achieving optimal spatial distribution is an international challenge highlighted by the WMO Marine Meteorology and Oceanography Programme. A more robust engagement with commercial vessel operators is needed to increase the number and quality of weather observations from ships of opportunity, improving forecasts. Efforts to increase international collaboration and the sharing of remotely sensed ocean surface vector winds and altimeter data are needed to better analyze and predict areas of dangerous winds and waves at sea.

Future of Communication and Dissemination Systems for Mariners

Challenges exist in exchanging information among ships, national hydrometeorological centers, and commercial weather providers. Recent incidents at sea demonstrate that such challenges may adversely impact decision-making by mariners.  This situation is further exacerbated by a maritime weather infrastructure that remains heavily reliant on decades-old technology for dissemination, such as radiofax and text broadcasts.

Dangerous Storms at Sea

Extratropical and tropical cyclones produce rapidly changing and extreme weather conditions over large areas of the ocean, threatening the safety of life at sea, causing billions of dollars in time lost and ship and cargo damage annually, and damaging coastal communities. However, there remain significant gaps in our understanding of these storms. Rapid intensification of tropical cyclones is an important forecast challenge that is receiving increasing attention in operations and research. Less well-known, but also critical, rapid extratropical cyclogenesis at sea presents a unique forecast problem that requires a greater understanding of air–sea interaction and coupled model improvements, particularly in areas such as the heavily traveled intersection of major coastal storm tracks and the Gulf Stream.

Weather Forecast Needs of the Maritime Industry

The maritime industry would benefit from products and services that extend the forecast horizon beyond the present focus on days 0–4; provide probabilistic forecasts of hazards and high waves; and improve prediction of sea ice development, movement, and decay. Additionally, as cargo and cruise ships continue to get larger, carrying ever more goods and passengers, consideration must be given to providing forecasts and hazardous weather warnings that address the challenges such large ships must face. Stronger public–private partnerships within the maritime weather enterprise will help ensure mariners get the best possible forecasts and warning services.

Weather Observations on the High Seas

Strengthening the global ocean observing system (in situ and satellite based) and achieving optimal spatial distribution is an international challenge highlighted by the WMO Marine Meteorology and Oceanography Programme. A more robust engagement with commercial vessel operators is needed to increase the number and quality of weather observations from ships of opportunity, improving forecasts. Efforts to increase international collaboration and the sharing of remotely sensed ocean surface vector winds and altimeter data are needed to better analyze and predict areas of dangerous winds and waves at sea.

Future of Communication and Dissemination Systems for Mariners

Challenges exist in exchanging information among ships, national hydrometeorological centers, and commercial weather providers. Recent incidents at sea demonstrate that such challenges may adversely impact decision-making by mariners.  This situation is further exacerbated by a maritime weather infrastructure that remains heavily reliant on decades-old technology for dissemination, such as radiofax and text broadcasts.