In the Middle of It All: Communicating with a Wide Spectrum of Data Users from the Testbed and Proving Ground Perspective

Testbeds and proving grounds within NOAA/NWS have a unique opportunity to engage with a wide variety of users of weather data. Often, these testbeds and proving grounds wear multiple hats, including developing products and methods, acting as the bridge between end users and outside developers, to devising experiments/evaluations to test and evaluate products and methods within forecast operations, to advising multiple groups on best practices and requirements. From this, testbeds and proving grounds often have to consider, communicate, and develop relationships with various stakeholders and data users across the weather enterprise. For Alaska and adjacent oceans, the NWS Arctic Testbed in Proving Ground (ATPG) serves as a focal point between various weather, water, and ice data developers and users within Alaska, and other national and international partners. As a somewhat newly established testbed and proving ground, the ATPG faces unique challenges in product development and integration into the forecast environment of weather, water, and ice that are often not fully understood by the broader meteorological community. Basic science and communication challenges in Alaska and nearby oceans include, but are not limited to, the size and scope of the area of responsibility, vast areas with no or limited ground observations, and remote locations with limited means of communication and transportation. In addition, the ATPG is tasked to participate in the dialogue regarding the ever-changing Arctic climate as new environmental, economic, and national security issues emerge and impact rural and coastal communities.

This discussion will explore various challenges relevant not only to the ATPG, but testbeds and proving grounds as a whole. These include effectively introducing new products and methods to users, fostering fruitful interaction between developers and users, and lessons learned throughout the process thus far.