Social science initiatives in the development of the Next Generation hazardous weather products

In October 2009 Global Systems Division (GSD) in partnership with Social Science Woven into Meteorology (SSWIM) hosted a workshop to help identify requirements for the Next Generation Warning Tool (NGWT). The objective of the workshop was to incorporate an end-to-end framework which facilitated the incorporation of ideas and collaboration between all players of the hazardous weather warning process. The workshop comprised a diverse group of participants, which included representatives from The National Weather Service, River Forecast Center, National Centers, GSD developers, SSWIM social scientists, and other end users of the NGWT. The workshop was designed to obtain perspectives and feedback from the participants that were relevant to the specific needs of each user. Prior to the workshop, GSD called on SSWIM to develop and administer a study which incorporated a sampling of various workshop participants. The study methodology included open-ended interviews, and data was analyzed and presented focusing on key time and space parameters of the hazard warning products. This study presents the findings on the incorporation of social science initiatives which were used to help facilitate the research to decision making process in a manner which incorporates the needs of forecasters and other decision makers into the NGWT development.