Earth Science Environmental Decision-Making

Earth Science Environmental Decision-Making

Pai-Yei Whung, PhDChief Scientist

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

January 5, 2010

2010 ESIP Federation Winter Meeting

Washington, DC

Decision-Making at EPADecision-Making at EPA

• Action Development Process (ADP) – the process EPA uses to prepare and release actions that define the technical and operational details of environmental programs

Decision-Making at EPADecision-Making at EPA

• Decision Types – regulations, policies, voluntary

• Accountability – measurable metrics to quantify the success of the result

• Science and Technology - improves decision support tools and delivers data/information systems

Decision-Making StepsDecision-Making Steps

• Earth observation systems & models• Data-to-Information archiving & services• Decision support tool development• Decision making• Assessment of benefits

From observations systems

To societal benefits

Flooding in the MidwestFlooding in the MidwestJUNE RAINFALL

FLOWS

June 14, 2008 Historic Gage Records in 9 States Source: Josh Foster (Center for Clean Air Policy)

TWO500-YEAR FLOODS

IN 15 YEARS (1993 & 2008)

FLOOD FREQUENCY CHANGES10% increase in flow = 2.5 times chance of failureFLOOD FREQUENCY CHANGES10% increase in flow = 2.5 times chance of failure

Source: Derek Booth (Univ. of Washington & Stillwater Science, Inc.)

EPA

Source: Joel Scheraga (EPA)

The Decision-Maker’s VoiceThe Decision-Maker’s Voice

• First Step: engage relevant Users (decision-makers) to learn about what they do and what could help them do it better

• In Between: check-in with Users on a regular basis throughout the data/tool development process

• Last Step: feedback from the Users on whether decision-making improved and the anticipated impacts/benefits were realized

The Spectrum of UsersThe Spectrum of Users

• Earth observation system scientists and modelers

• IT/IM experts and service providers• Environmental process modelers & researchers• Policy makers & environmental managers• Public officials, advocacy groups and the public

User requirements well known

Not aware that observational requirements are even needed

• Began in 1997• Diverse stakeholder community

– Federal, state, provincial, tribal and local air agencies (120+)

– Scientific and health research organizations (15+)– Media and public outreach groups (30+)

• Education and outreach• Substantial growth and data exchange

1997

2007

120+ State and 120+ State and Local Air Local Air Agencies Agencies

ObservationsObservations

Forecasts Forecasts

AIRNowAIRNowData Data

Management Management CenterCenter

InternetInternet

MediaMedia

DecisionDecisionMakers Makers

and and PublicPublic

Data Data

Maps and Maps and Forecasts Forecasts

About AIRNowAbout AIRNow

• Real-time, hourly maps and data

• Forecasts (300+ cities)• News stories, e.g.

wildfires• Web cams (air quality)• Seasonal air

comparisons

AIRNow ProductsAIRNow Products

It’s not just a system, it’s a community• Annual conference• Regional cooperation• Daily interaction with stakeholders• Support during air quality events

AIRNow’s “Human Side”AIRNow’s “Human Side”

• Leveraging state, local, and federal resources by collecting and distributing data back to partners, as well as to media outlets

Lessons from AIRNow….Lessons from AIRNow….

•Community is KEY – 40% technology, 60% people

•The public wants environmental information, but depends upon the community to interpret it

•The community provides the context of the data for the public

A vision of GEOSS for Air Quality Decision-Makers

A vision of GEOSS for Air Quality Decision-Makers

Data Needs

Ambient Meteorology

Emissions Models

Satellite

Decision Makers

Policy maker assessing intercontinental transport

AQ manager assessing an exceptional event

Public planning activities today and tomorrow

Decision-makers depend on common observations and data

THE SPECTRUM OF USERSTHE SPECTRUM OF USERS

• Earth observation system scientists and modelers

• IT/IM experts and service providers• Environmental process modelers & researchers• Policy Makers & Environmental managers• Public officials, advocacy groups and the Public

User requirements well known

Not aware that observational requirements are even needed

NOVICE USERS

The “Novice” UserThe “Novice” User

• science-to-policy analysts, decision-makers, public officials, & the public

• working/interested in specific issues

• not GEOSS-experienced

• looking for any and all observational data relevant to their issues

• want to easily find it and view it

The “Novice-Friendly” ToolThe “Novice-Friendly” Tool

• Easy to use

• Focus on what the user out of the data/tool

• Components (data/services) need to provide sample data sets for easy viewing geographically

In SummaryIn Summary

• EPA uses environmental data in its own decision-making process and provides data for other decision-makers.

• EPA partners with others (GEOSS) in the delivery of observational and other data to the decision-makers.

• EPA would like to work with “providers” to make environmental data components/ services more user-friendly.