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!

Contact

E-mail: olgaw@ucar.edu

GIS Initiative webpage: http://www.gis.ucar.edu

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.