Communicating Uncertainty in Weather and Climate – From PoPs to Beyond CO2

More and more weather forecasts and warnings and headlines about climate and climate change are being communicated by categorical statements, simple graphic emojis and brief media stories and headlines. The public knows forecasting and statements about the future climate involve uncertainty but is increasingly left to evaluate uncertainty from personal experience before making a weather or climate related decision. Two panel sessions with questions and participation of town hall attendees will discuss topics of communication uncertainty and probability in weather and climate. The town hall might also consider if there should be a statement for the media and media messengers explaining the value of quantitative uncertainty information to aid in better public decision making in the use of weather forecasts and climate projections? What and how should this information be communicated so the public is left feeling confident in their understanding of probabilities and uncertainties. Two Main Topic Areas: 1) Probability of Precipitation Issue, moderated by Bob Ryan 2) Beyond CO2 Issue, moderated by Jenny Dissen