gis in weather and society olga wilhelmi national center for atmospheric research institute for the...
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GIS in Weather and Society
Olga WilhelmiNational Center for Atmospheric Research
Institute for the Study of Society and Environment
WAS*IS Summer 2007
Geographic Information Systems
A science and a technology that includes elements of computer visualization, database management and spatial analysis of geographically referenced data.
A GIS stores information as a collection of thematic layers that can be linked together by geography.
In many disciplines and sectors GIS is used for data integration, analysis and decision making (common tool for many stakeholders, i.e., local and state governments).
Georeferenced Data
Coordinates (X, Y) or geographic identifier (place name) that can be linked to GIS data
Vast collection of geographically referenced data already exists in digital format Google for “your keyword GIS data download”
Remotely sensed data – important source of georeferenced data
Paper maps can be scanned
Data acquisition is usually the most time consuming task Data quality Appropriate use of data (completeness, scale, content, etc.)
What can a GIS do?
Geographic information links a place (and often a time), with some property of that place “The temperature at 40 N, 105 W at noon local time on 07/16/07 was
25 Celsius.”
GIS can store a vast number of these properties The GIS term is attributes. Attributes are nonspatial information about a geographic feature in
a GIS, usually stored in a table and linked to the feature by a unique identifier.
They can be physical, social, economic, demographic, environmental, etc.
GIS Applications Visualization of information
Spatial analysis Location (Where is it...) Condition (What is it...) Trend (What has changed...) Pattern (What is the pattern...) Routing (Which is the ’best’ way ...) Modeling (What if...)
Integration of information (interdisciplinary research; quantitative and qualitative)
Data distribution
Traditional use of GIS
Source of data: EM-DAT : The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database. http://www.em-dat.net, UCL - Brussels, Belgium
GIS Analysis and Integration
Tropical Storm Allison
Research studies on and emergency management of hurricane-induced flooding involve integrating data from atmospheric sciences, oceanography, hydrology, geology, geography, and social sciences.
Weather and Society Data in a GIS
Social Sciences
Earth Sciences
GIS
Data Integration /Spatial Analysis
Collection of features (e.g., roads, soil types, census blocks) with geographic footprints on the Earth surface.Data can be vector (points, lines, polygons) or raster (grid cells).
A set of parameters (e.g., pressure, temperature, wind speed) which vary as continuous functions in 3-dimensional space and time.
Spatially and/or temporally structured quantitative (e.g., surveys), qualitative (e.g., interviews), often context-specific pieces of information.
Weather and Climate Data Model
Working dialog between ESRI and weather and climate community: Four workshops in 2004-2007
The goal is seamless integration of atmospheric and oceanographic data: Observations Products Infrastructure
20052005
20062006
Participants:NCAR, Unidata/UCAR, NWS. NOAA NCDC, University of Oklahoma, Pacific Marine
Environment Lab, National Marine Fisheries Service, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, ESRI,
George Mason University
http://www.gis.ucar.edu/sig20042004 20072007
Weather and Climate Data Model Data classified by usability in GISGIS Ready
fully described, point and click -----------
GIS Alien cannot be fully described -----
GIS Friendly some effort to make GIS-Ready
http://www.esri.com/library/newsletters/atmosphericfront/atmospheric-front-fall06.pdfhttp://www.esri.com/library/newsletters/atmosphericfront/atmospheric-front-fall06.pdfSummary by Scott Shipley, GMU in
NetCDF Tools in ArcGIS 9.2
Toolbox: Multidimension Tools
• Make NetCDF Raster Layer• Make NetCDF Feature Layer• Make NetCDF Table View• Raster to NetCDF• Feature to NetCDF• Table to NetCDF• Select by Dimension
Total precipitation NAM CONUS 40km conduit 2007-02-05
Weather Models in a GIS
Mesoscale weather predictions
Impacts of extreme weather events
Verification of model outputs
Decision support and management
Integration of weather forecast with socio-economic data
NWS GIS Radar Webpages
GIS Radar images and warning polygons are displayed, time looped and can be downloaded to a GIS
1 Minute Polygon Warning updates
http://radar.weather.govhttp://radar.weather.gov
Keith Stellman, NWS
Watches & WarningsKen Waters, NWSKen Waters, NWS
http://www.weather.gov/regsci/gis/
Atmospheric Front
GIS and Climate Data Online (CDO)
Rich Baldwin, NCDCRich Baldwin, NCDC
Simple access to NCDC data Simple access to NCDC data archives while integrating new archives while integrating new and informative productsand informative products
US Drought IndicesUS Drought Indices
http://gis.ncdc.noaa.gov, http://www.ncdc.noaa.govhttp://gis.ncdc.noaa.gov, http://www.ncdc.noaa.govhttp://cdo.ncdc.noaa.govhttp://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov
Climate Change in a GIS
NCAR GIS Initiative distributes CCSM IPCC projections (monthly averages) in a GIS format
http://www.gisclimatechange.org
Types of users: Research; Education; Government; GIS; Environmental; Military and defense; Industry; Regional planning and economic development; Native American Tribes, Other…
Users of NCAR GIS Portal
Resource management
Salmon conservation
Human health
Energy
Water resources
Agriculture
Biomass potential
Climate change
education
~ 2000 registered users from 108 countries; ~ 30K CCSM files downloaded
Vegetation ecology
Vulnerability of population and
ecosystems
Weather and Society Data in a GIS
Social Sciences
Earth Sciences
GIS
Data Integration /Spatial Analysis
Collection of featuresfeatures (e.g., roads, soil types, census blocks) with geographic footprints on the Earth surface.
A set of parametersparameters (e.g., pressure, temperature, wind speed) which vary as continuous functions in 3-dimensional space and time.
Spatially and/or temporally structured quantitative (e.g., surveys), qualitative (e.g., interviews), often context-specific pieces of information
Social Sciences and GIS
“Spatial turn“ in social sciences, a new interest in location, and a new "spatial social science" that crosses the traditional boundaries between disciplines.
Social processes can be examined in their geographic settings.
Resources: Center for Spatially Integrated Social Sciences (http://www.csiss.org/) "Geographic Information Systems for the Social Sciences:
Investigating Space and Place" by S. Steinberg and S. Steinberg, 2006
Goodchild (2004) http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/spring04articles/social-sciences.html
Wilhelmi, Uejio, Samenow (2007)
GIS-based Risk Assessments: Spatial Integration and analysis
Population: 1,5 MPopulation density:
11,233/mi2
Qualitative Data in a GIS: Conceptual Integration
Perceptions of climate changeFrom S. McNeeley
Content-specific; snap shots in time.
Visualization of information
Geographical referencing (XY, place name, geographic identifier) allows for mapping data together to reach a common interpretation
Methodological differences (concepts and study objects) may create challenges
In Summary
GIS is a useful tool to study and solve problems when location matters.
GIS provides tools and methods for integrative, interdisciplinary research and decision-making.
Ongoing research in Atmo-GIS and spatial social sciences offer many new potentials.
Research challenges provide great topics for students!
ArcGIS Exercise Exploring societal risk to flash
flooding
Flash flood in Fort Collins, Colorado: 5 people died US $250 M in damage Extreme precipitation event
Group Projects
Group discussion Vulnerability mapping (what characteristics did you select
for vulnerability mapping and why?) Presentation of the results
• Does your map convey what you are trying to present?• Discuss and critic selection of scale, legend, color
schemes, other map elements Discuss the role of GIS in your work. If not used already,
imagine the potential use of GIS in your weather and society applications. Discuss challenges and opportunities.