An overview of the use of Facebook in National Weather Services

National Meteorological Services (NMSs) use different "classical" tools in order to diffuse meteorological information, including television, radio, newspaper, phone, e-mail and websites. In recent years, new communication technologies and, in particular, the rapid expansion of Facebook allows users to efficiently exchange information and to easily share it with a large part of the population. Facebook is one of the most used social networks and it represents a perfect virtual platform to share information and to promote active and immediate interaction amongst users. This is why many NMSs develop new communication strategies and incorporate this tool for different purposes. Some NMSs not only provide forecast, real-time observed data and other routine information, but they also upload videos (for example, with the weatherperson explaining the forecast or short reports) and amazing pictures taken by followers. In addition, they also give educational and didactic information (above all about climatic issues) and organize photographic competitions. In this paper, firstly, we investigate when Facebook was introduced in different NMSs worldwide as an additional tool for the diffusion of meteorological information. Then, we propose a classification of these NMSs based on the success of their Facebook page, i.e. on the number of followers. Finally, we select some representative cases of NMSs and we analyze how Facebook is used to improve their services

An overview of the use of Twitter in National Weather Services

Twitter is a service that enables users to post messages ("tweets") of up to 140 characters supporting a variety of communicative practices. In this paper we analyze different aspects related to the use of Twitter in different National Meteorological Services (NMS) worldwide. Firstly, we will review the general position of NMS worldwide regarding the use of Twitter technology. Secondly, we will focus on different practices of some selected meteorological services. Thirdly, we will deal specifically with the Basque Meteorology Agency (Euskalmet) case. Finally some conclusions are presented.The authors would like to thank the Emergencies and Meteorology Directorate – Security Department - Basque Government for public provision of data and operational service financial support

Quality control procedures at Euskalmet data center

The Basque Country Mesonet measures more than 130 000 observations daily from its 85 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS). It becomes clear that automated software is an indispensable tool for quality assurance (QA) of this mesoscale surface observing network. This work describes a set of experimental semi-automatic quality control (QC) routines that is applied at Euskalmet data center. It has paid special attention to level validation design and associated flags, as well as to the system outputs, which are used by meteorologist and maintenance staff.The authors would like to thank the Emergencies and Meteorology Directorate-Interior Department-Basque Government for public provision of data and operational service financial support

Study of NWP parameterizations on extreme precipitation events over Basque Country

The Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF), like other numerical models, can make use of several parameterization schemes. The purpose of this study is to determine how available cumulus parameterization (CP) and microphysics (MP) schemes in the WRF model simulate extreme precipitation events in the Basque Country. Possible combinations among two CP schemes (Kain–Fritsch and Betts–Miller–Janjic) and five MP (WSM3, Lin, WSM6, new Thompson and WDM6) schemes were tested. A set of simulations, corresponding to 21st century extreme precipitation events that have caused significant flood episodes have been compared with point observational data coming from the Basque Country Automatic Weather Station Mesonetwork. Configurations with Kain–Fritsch CP scheme produce better quantity of precipitation forecast (QPF) than BMJ scheme configurations. Depending on the severity level and the river basin analysed different MP schemes show the best behaviours, demonstrating that there is not a unique configuration that solve exactly all the studied events.The authors would like to thank the 100–120 50 Emergencies and Meteorology Directorate – Security Department – Basque Government for public provision of data and operational service financial support

Meteo adversa y su comunicación via radio y twitter

Ponencia presentada en: XXXIII Jornadas Científicas de la AME y el XIV Encuentro Hispano Luso de Meteorología celebrado en Oviedo, del 7 al 9 de abril de 2014

The new Euskalmet coastal–maritime warning system

This work presents the main characteristics of the Basque Meteorology Agency (Euskalmet) maritime–coastal risk warning system, with special emphasis on the latest updates, including a clear differentiation on specific warning messages addressing sea conditions for navigation purposes in the first 2 nautical miles, and expected coastal impacts. Some details of the warning bulletin for maritime and coastal risk situations are also presented, together with other communication products and strategies used in coastal and maritime severe episodes at the Basque coast. Today, three different aspects are included in the coastal–maritime risk warning system in Basque Country, related to the main potential severe events that affecting coastal activities. – "Galerna" risk relates to a sudden wind reversal that can severely affect coastal navigation and recreational activities. – "Navigation" risk relates to severe sea state conditions for 0–2 miles, affecting different navigation activities. – "Coastal impact" risk relates to adverse wave characteristics and tidal surges that induce flooding events and different impacts in littoral areas.The authors would like to thank Emergencies and Meteorology Directorate – Security Department alerting for the dangerousness of temporal coincidence – Basque Government for public provision of data and operational of the key factors. service financial support

An overview of a regional meteorology warning system

In this work we present a regional meteorology warning system, particularly the operational weather warning system used by the Basque Meteorology Agency (Euskalmet) for Basque Country. System considers different meteorological phenomena capable of generate warnings, and is based on combined thresholds criteria depending on particular weather event and area of territory where is applied. In this work we describe the most significant aspects related with the warning event definition and the warning bulletin. Conclusions from comparison with the former system (prior to 2009) and feedback from different users are presented.The authors would like to thank the Meteorology Directorate – Interior Department – Basque Government for public provision of data and operational service financial support

Uso de facebook por parte de los servicios meteorológicos nacionales

Ponencia presentada en: XXXIV Jornadas Científicas de la AME y el XVII Encuentro Hispano Luso de Meteorología celebrado en Teruel, del 29 de febrero al 2 de marzo de 2016

Delivery and communication of severe weather events in Basque Country: the Euskalmet case

In this work we briefly introduce some aspects about delivery and communication of severe weather events in Basque Country, explaining what is considered severe weather by the Basque Meteorology Agency (Euskalmet) in the context of Basque Country. We include a short description of some products generated for different purposes during such events, presenting different aspects related with delivery and communication processes in the operational context of Euskalmet. We review some real examples on severe weather communication and message dissemination in Basque Country. Finally, some conclusions about our experience are presented.The authors would like to thank the Emergencies and Meteorology Directorate – Security Department – Basque Government for public provision of data and operational service financial support

Climogramas bidireccionales (diez minutos-mes) como una herramienta de visualización y análisis climático

Ponencia presentada en: VIII Congreso de la Asociación Española de Climatología celebrado en Salamanca entre el 25 y el 28 de septiembre de 2012.[ES]Desde el año 2001 Euskalmet elabora un informe anual que resume lo ocurrido a nivel meteorológico en el País Vasco. Entre otros fines, trata de cubrir el interés y preocupación creciente de nuestra sociedad por los temas relacionados con el medio ambiente, en particular por aquellos que tienen que ver con el clima. Diez años más tarde hemos hecho hincapié en nuevas herramientas de visualización que tratan de sintetizar el clima del País Vasco en lo que va de siglo y resaltar los eventos extremos más significativos. En este sentido, el propósito de este trabajo es ilustrar el uso de “climogramas bidireccionales” (diez minutos-mes) como un medio de visualización de los datos de una estación meteorológica, en la creencia de que la representación visual es un medio eficiente a la hora de transmitir la información.[EN]Since year 2001 Euskalmet publishes an annual summary that synthesizes the year’s weather. Also, each month provides comprehensive analyses of Basque Country temperature and precipitation to place the current state of the regional climate into historical perspective. Ten years later, we have placed emphasis on new visualization tools that attempt to synthesize the climate of the Basque Country so far this century, and highlight the more significant extreme weather events. The purpose of the following is to illustrate the use of “two-way climograms” (ten minutes by month) as a means of visualizing single-station climate data, in the belief that visual depiction is a more efficient and effective means of conveying the information than, say, tabular summaries