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- Author or Editor: Matthew Rosencrans x
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Abstract
Visually communicating temperature and precipitation climate outlook graphics is challenging because it requires the viewer to be familiar with probabilities as well as to have the visual literacy to interpret geospatial forecast uncertainty. In addition, the visualization scientific literature has open questions on which visual design choices are the most effective at expressing the multidimensionality of uncertain forecasts, leaving designers with a lack of concrete guidance. Using a two-phase experimental setup, this study shows how recently developed visualization diagnostic guidelines can be used to iteratively diagnose, redesign, and test the understandability the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center (CPC) climate outlooks. In the first phase, visualization diagnostic guidelines were used in conjunction with interviews and focus groups to identify understandability challenges of existing visual conventions in temperature and precipitation outlooks. Next, in a randomized control versus experimental treatment setup, several graphic modifications were produced and tested via an online survey of end users and the general public. Results show that, overall, end users exhibit a better understanding of outlooks, but some types of probabilistic color mapping are misunderstood by both end users and the general public, which was predicted by the diagnostic guidelines. Modifications lead to significant gains in end-user and general public understanding of climate outlooks, providing additional evidence for the utility of using control versus treatment testing informed by visualization diagnostics.
Abstract
Visually communicating temperature and precipitation climate outlook graphics is challenging because it requires the viewer to be familiar with probabilities as well as to have the visual literacy to interpret geospatial forecast uncertainty. In addition, the visualization scientific literature has open questions on which visual design choices are the most effective at expressing the multidimensionality of uncertain forecasts, leaving designers with a lack of concrete guidance. Using a two-phase experimental setup, this study shows how recently developed visualization diagnostic guidelines can be used to iteratively diagnose, redesign, and test the understandability the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center (CPC) climate outlooks. In the first phase, visualization diagnostic guidelines were used in conjunction with interviews and focus groups to identify understandability challenges of existing visual conventions in temperature and precipitation outlooks. Next, in a randomized control versus experimental treatment setup, several graphic modifications were produced and tested via an online survey of end users and the general public. Results show that, overall, end users exhibit a better understanding of outlooks, but some types of probabilistic color mapping are misunderstood by both end users and the general public, which was predicted by the diagnostic guidelines. Modifications lead to significant gains in end-user and general public understanding of climate outlooks, providing additional evidence for the utility of using control versus treatment testing informed by visualization diagnostics.
Abstract
For the newly implemented Global Ensemble Forecast System, version 12 (GEFSv12), a 31-yr (1989–2019) ensemble reforecast dataset has been generated at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). The reforecast system is based on NCEP’s Global Forecast System, version 15.1, and GEFSv12, which uses the Finite Volume 3 dynamical core. The resolution of the forecast system is ∼25 km with 64 vertical hybrid levels. The Climate Forecast System (CFS) reanalysis and GEFSv12 reanalysis serve as initial conditions for the Phase 1 (1989–99) and Phase 2 (2000–19) reforecasts, respectively. The perturbations were produced using breeding vectors and ensemble transforms with a rescaling technique for Phase 1 and ensemble Kalman filter 6-h forecasts for Phase 2. The reforecasts were initialized at 0000 (0300) UTC once per day out to 16 days with 5 ensemble members for Phase 1 (Phase 2), except on Wednesdays when the integrations were extended to 35 days with 11 members. The reforecast dataset was produced on NOAA’s Weather and Climate Operational Supercomputing System at NCEP. This study summarizes the configuration and dataset of the GEFSv12 reforecast and presents some preliminary evaluations of 500-hPa geopotential height, tropical storm track, precipitation, 2-m temperature, and MJO forecasts. The results were also compared with GEFSv10 or GEFS Subseasonal Experiment reforecasts. In addition to supporting calibration and validation for the National Water Center, NCEP Climate Prediction Center, and other National Weather Service stakeholders, this high-resolution subseasonal dataset also serves as a useful tool for the broader research community in different applications.
Abstract
For the newly implemented Global Ensemble Forecast System, version 12 (GEFSv12), a 31-yr (1989–2019) ensemble reforecast dataset has been generated at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). The reforecast system is based on NCEP’s Global Forecast System, version 15.1, and GEFSv12, which uses the Finite Volume 3 dynamical core. The resolution of the forecast system is ∼25 km with 64 vertical hybrid levels. The Climate Forecast System (CFS) reanalysis and GEFSv12 reanalysis serve as initial conditions for the Phase 1 (1989–99) and Phase 2 (2000–19) reforecasts, respectively. The perturbations were produced using breeding vectors and ensemble transforms with a rescaling technique for Phase 1 and ensemble Kalman filter 6-h forecasts for Phase 2. The reforecasts were initialized at 0000 (0300) UTC once per day out to 16 days with 5 ensemble members for Phase 1 (Phase 2), except on Wednesdays when the integrations were extended to 35 days with 11 members. The reforecast dataset was produced on NOAA’s Weather and Climate Operational Supercomputing System at NCEP. This study summarizes the configuration and dataset of the GEFSv12 reforecast and presents some preliminary evaluations of 500-hPa geopotential height, tropical storm track, precipitation, 2-m temperature, and MJO forecasts. The results were also compared with GEFSv10 or GEFS Subseasonal Experiment reforecasts. In addition to supporting calibration and validation for the National Water Center, NCEP Climate Prediction Center, and other National Weather Service stakeholders, this high-resolution subseasonal dataset also serves as a useful tool for the broader research community in different applications.
