Deliverable 3.3. Reports on execution of field trails at each case study site

The main objective of the field trials was to bring into practice the key aspects of EVOKED: the focus on climate services, the Living Labs approach, and the information design of the selected climate services for each of the EVOKED case study sites (Deltares, 2019). To support comparing the outcomes of these case studies, Deliverable 3.2 (Deltares, 2020) was developed to create a framework to structure the data that has been collected in the case studies as well as to draw lessons and conclusions based on a case comparison. The final objective as presented in the present report is “a systematic evaluation of the climate information designs and thus of the communicative qualities of currently used climate services; insight into the different information needs, perceptions of risk and uncertainty, and the responsibilities and roles of different stakeholder groups; a set of visualization principles and visualization strategies for stakeholder specific climate services.” (Deltares, 2019, p.17).EU, Horizon Europe European Research Area for Climate Services JPI Climate The Research Council of Norway Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Germany) NWO FORMA

Cognitive and psychological science insights to improve climate change data visualization

Visualization of climate data plays an integral role in the communication of climate change findings to both expert and non-expert audiences. The cognitive and psychological sciences can provide valuable insights into how to improve visualization of climate data based on knowledge of how the human brain processes visual and linguistic information. We review four key research areas to demonstrate their potential to make data more accessible to diverse audiences: directing visual attention, visual complexity, making inferences from visuals, and the mapping between visuals and language. We present evidence-informed guidelines to help climate scientists increase the accessibility of graphics to non-experts, and illustrate how the guidelines can work in practice in the context of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change graphics

Weather, climate, and hydrologic forecasting for the US Southwest: A survey

As part of a regional integrated assessment of climate vulnerability, a survey was conducted from June 1998 to May 2000 of weather, climate, and hydrologic forecasts with coverage of the US Southwest and an emphasis on the Colorado River Basin. The survey addresses the types of forecasts that were issued, the organizations that provided them, and techniques used in their generation. It reflects discussions with key personnel from organizations involved in producing or issuing forecasts, providing data for making forecasts, or serving as a link for communicating forecasts. During the survey period, users faced a complex and constantly changing mix of forecast products available from a variety of sources. The abundance of forecasts was not matched in the provision of corresponding interpretive materials, documentation about how the forecasts were generated, or reviews of past performance. Potential existed for confusing experimental and research products with others that had undergone a thorough review process, including official products issued by the National Weather Service. Contrasts between the state of meteorologic and hydrologic forecasting were notable, especially in the former's greater operational flexibility and more rapid incorporation of new observations and research products. Greater attention should be given to forecast content and communication, including visualization, expression of probabilistic forecasts and presentation of ancillary information. Regional climate models and use of climate forecasts in water supply forecasting offer rapid improvements in predictive capabilities for the Southwest. Forecasts and production details should be archived, and publicly available forecasts should be accompanied by performance evaluations that are relevant to users

Visualizing and communicating uncertainty for map-based decision-making: The case of uncertainty depiction in debris flow predictions

Any type of data is subject to uncertainty in one way or another. The prediction of natural hazards such as debris flows is no exception to this rule, especially in the face of ongoing climate change. Since maps are a valuable tool to depict scientific results, the visualization of uncertainty has occupied cartographers and visualization experts over the past decades. In this research, a large variety of different uncertainty visualization methods have been developed. However, testing their effectiveness and their impact on the decision-making process has not been on the forefront of research. Therefore, the study at hand aimed at testing two types of uncertainty visualization methods (single-hue and multi-hue colour scheme; within-group variable) as well as two ways of communicating uncertainty in the map legend (numerical and verbal expressions; between-group variable) in debris flow prediction maps. A key aspect investigated in this study are the strategies applied to make decisions based on uncertain information. Additionally, the study makes use of eye tracking technology to infer on cognitive processes. Two research questions investigated the influence of the uncertainty visualization and communication methods on decision outcome, response time and decision-making strategy. The goal of the last research question was to gain insight into the sources of information which guide decision-making with uncertainty. The empirical study showed that decision outcomes slightly varied between the two visualization methods. Additionally, the decision-making process seemed to be more complicated when uncertainty was communicated through verbal expressions, as shown by the significant difference in response time. Lastly, it was found that decisions were strongly guided by heuristics related to the uncertainty information as well as the distance parameter. Furthermore, a boundary effect, already observed in other uncertainty visualization studies, occurred. Most importantly however, the results indicate that the non-expert audience had trouble correctly interpreting the uncertainty information. Consequently, it is argued that map design choices might be of secondary importance as long as profound understanding of the concept of uncertainty is lacking among map readers. The study thus calls for more profound training of the public on the concept of uncertainty, its visualization in maps and ways to incorporate it into spatial decision-making

ECAWsoft: A Web based Climate and Weather Data Visualization for Big Data Analysis

Purpose: In Tanzania, data for climate and weather are normally analyzed by Meteorological Agency and then are published through TV, website and radio. Different stakeholders normally obtain the weather and climate data / information in a generalized way. This calls for a need of a system which allows data to be shared openly to different stakeholders so that they can analyze those data as per their specific needs. The paper presents the overview of the developed system, ECAWsoft. Also, it gives some few interfaces showing different outputs from the system. Findings: The goal of this paper has been attained by developing a working data visualization tool for climate and weather called ECAWsoft. The system is current operational and is providing open data for different stakeholders. It is user friendly and interactive with capability of displaying visualization of data as per fine granularity required by user. Development of open data system for data visualization has lead to a transparency system which is helping farmers, researchers, policy makers (etc.) to make informed decision on weather and climate. Practical implications: The system presented in this paper need to be scaled up so that more data from all weather stations in Tanzania can be populated in real time. Originality/value: The development and adoption of open systems for visualizing weather and climate data remains seriously lacking in many countries including Tanzania. This paper provides an overview of some initiative to fill such a research gap

Here | Now | Look | See: information visualizations of recent climate records in Alberta

This thesis is an analysis of the application of information visualization and design to wicked problems, a class of problems whose complexity, interconnectedness and fluctuation make them extremely difficult to resolve, and serves as a supporting document for my studio research and practice. In this paper I identify challenges that emerge with information visualizations of wicked problems and describe methods for addressing these challenges through my practice-based research project. Using climate data provided by Dr. Stefan W. Kienzle, Associate Professor of Hydrology and GIS at the University of Lethbridge, my research project attempts to use information visualization to communicate the climate data by applying design strategies that explore the relationship between aesthetic and functionality

Improving resilience to climate impacts in West Africa through improved availability, access and use of climate information: dialog with users

The stakeholder workshop on “Improving Resilience to Climate Impacts in West Africa Through Improved Availability, Access and Use of Climate Information: Dialogue With Users” was convened by the Centre Regional de Formation et d'Application en Agrométéorologie et Hydrologie Opérationnelle (AGRHYMET) in collaboration with the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) with funding and technical support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Stakeholders from six Permanent Inter-state Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) countries were invited, in addition to representatives of five river basin organizations and the African Center of Meteorological Application for Development (ACMAD). The three-day meeting in Niamey, Niger (January 21-23, 2014) was attended by 40 participants and facilitators. It consisted of five components: • Introduction to AGRHYMET’s latest climate data, tools, and information products; • Training on the use of the tools for data analysis and visualization; • Engagement on the concept of climate risk management in the different sectors; • Soliciting feedback and needs from participants, to assess the value of the available tools and products to users, and inform improvements that are most relevant to stakeholders; and • Exploration of an Advisory Group for improving Climate Services provided by the AGRHYMET Center. The workshop introduced and solicited feedback on data, products and decision-support tools launched to support improved resilience to climate impacts, across sectors, initially targeting the agriculture, water and disaster risk management communities

Examining the Effect of Visualization Tool Exposure on Local-level Stakeholder Perceptions on Climate Change Adaptation

Vulnerabilities of human communities, driven by environmental, social, economic, and political dynamics, vary across geographical and social regions. Coastal communities are considered to be among those greatest at risk from climate impacts. To cope with these impacts, communities must assess existing vulnerabilities and adaptive capacities, and begin to adapt. Currently, community-based research often focuses on identifying vulnerabilities and possible adaptations, but rarely examines how local-level stakeholders perceive adaptation-based needs and potential action. This research study focuses on Lennox Island, in Prince Edward Island and the Town of Lockeport, in Nova Scotia to examine how two innovative visualization tools, CLIVE and AdaptNS, influence stakeholder perceptions on climate change adaptation. This study explores whether tool exposure changes perceptions of awareness and priorities for potential action among local-level decision-makers and stakeholders. It further explores which aspects of the visualization tools resonate among local-level decision-makers. This research builds on existing vulnerability assessment information established through the Partnership for Canada-Caribbean Community Climate Change Adaptation (ParCA) research project and uses a methodological approach involving semi-structured interviews and community-based workshops with local-level decision-makers and community stakeholders, respectively. After exposure to visualization tools, this tool finds that stakeholders have a greater awareness of and an enhanced need to prioritize critical infrastructure and regions that are vulnerable to the physical impacts of climate change (specifically storm surge and coastal erosion), to consider the impact of climate change on future generations, and to attain further information regarding climate change impacts. It is further revealed that the visual aspects (including physical impacts, timeframes, and localized focus) and decision-support tool aspects of visualization tools are favourable to stakeholders

Cross-cultural audience comprehension and engagement : a study of the effects of data visualization

In recent years, data journalism and data visualization has become an emerging and trendy field in online journalism. It is an approach adopted by many news organizations in an attempt to fit for audiences' increasing demand for depth and breadth of information in the "Big Data" era. This research applies the theoretical framework of dual-coding theory and the generative theory of multimedia learning to explore how data visualization influences international audiences' engagement with and comprehension of English language news stories. The researcher conducted an experiment to compare audiences' comprehension of and engagement with news stories that have data visualizations and those that don't. There were 61 participants, who were international students at the University of Missouri. Each was exposed to two visual and two text stories on climate change from international news organizations The study found that data visualization in news stories enhances audience comprehension and engagement. This study helps justify the frequent and increasing use of data visualization in the news industry and contributes to the broader discussion of multimedia learning in cross-cultural communications