GIS in Weather and Society
Olga Wilhelmi
Institute for the Study of Society and Environment
National Center for Atmospheric Research
Presentation Outline
 GIS basic concepts
 How GIS can be used in weather / society
research and applications
 Current applications
 Emerging developments / potential use
 Example
 Front Range Flash Flood Project
 Breakout group and class discussions
GIS Science and Technology
 GIS Science
 University Consortium for geographic Information Science
(http://www.ucgis.org/)
 Center for Spatially Integrated Social Science
(http://www.csiss.org/)
 Weather, Climate and GIS: NCAR GIS Initiative
(http://www.gis.ucar.edu)
 Industry
 ESRI, MapInfo, Informix, PCRaster. More than 3000 vendors
 Standards
 Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC)
 Standards, specifications, middleware
Geographic Information Systems
Computer Mapping
Capture
Analyze
People
Store
Display
Software
Data
Query
Output
Hardware
Database
Management
Procedures
Spatial
Analysis
Organizing Spatial Data in a GIS
The “G” in GIS = Geographic
Weather
Atmospheric
Conditions
Population
Hydrology
Topography
Geology
Image courtesy of ESRI (http://www.esri.com)
Capturing Data
 Methods for inputting geographic (X,Y) and
tabular (attribute) data
 Vast collection of geographically referenced
data already exists in digital format
 Resources on the Web
 Satellite imagery, photography
 Coordinates (X, Y) – weather station locations
 Paper Maps
Storing Data
 Vector formats
 Discrete representation of reality
(points, lines, polygons)
 Raster formats
 Use square cells to model reality
Query
 Identifying specific
features
Identifying and
selecting features
based on certain
condition
Analysis
 Proximity
 Overlay
 Network
 Spatial Statistics
Display
 Maps
 Graphs
 Reports
Output
 Paper Maps
 Images
 Internet
Current use of GIS
 Mapping: visualization of information
 Data integration: integrating environmental
and social data in a single framework allows
to address interdisciplinary questions on
weather-society interactions
 Data analysis: exploration of spatial patterns,
relationships, networks; spatial statistics
 Data distribution: disseminating weather and
climate science to broader audiences
From Static to Dynamic
Images courtesy of ESRI (http://www.esri.com)
Ongoing and emerging research
 Spatial Interoperability
 Data formats
 Compatible Tools
 Multidimensional GIS
(temporal, NetCDF)
 Scale
 Upscaling
 Downscaling
 Interpolation methods
 Standards
 Investigating coupled
systems
 Impact assessment of earth
system changes
Meteorological Observations
Radar mosaic and mobile surface temperature observations
Outputs from GCMs
Vulnerability of
agricultural
production and
High Plains
aquifer’s depleting
water resources to
predicted climate
change in the
Great Plains
http://www.gisClimateChange.org
Impacts of permafrost thawing on
infrastructure: Siberia
Potential applications for netCDF in
GIS
 Mesoscale weather
predictions
 Impacts of extreme
weather events
 Verification of model
outputs
 Decision support and
management
 Integration of weather
forecast with socioeconomic data
WRF forecast of Katrina in a GIS
Case Study
 A Flash Flood Risk Assessment of the
Colorado Front Range Region Using GIS
 2005 SOARS project
 Braxton Edwards, University of Oklahoma (SOARS
protégé)
 Olga Wilhelmi and Rebecca Morss, NCAR (SOARS
mentors)
Problem
 Yearly average of $4.5 Billion
damage and 98 deaths
between 1983 and 2003
 Damage due to floods
continues to rise as the
population and property at
risk increases
 Accurate risk assessments
can aid in determining
appropriate flood control,
mitigation, and response
strategies
Study Area - Colorado Front Range
Risk Assessment
4. Methods
 Risk = Exposure *
Vulnerability
What is risk?
Risk = Exposure * Vulnerability
 Exposure takes into
account the environmental
conditions or hazard
 Vulnerability is a
characteristic of a person
or a group to cope with,
resist and recover from a
hazard
Coping
Proximity
Probability
Frequency
Intensity
Duration
Preparedness
Recovery
Use the risk equation to identify primary exposure and
vulnerability factors contributing to the risk of flooding
in the Front Range. Use GIS for data integration,
analysis, and mapping of the flash flood risk zones in
Vulnerability Assessment
Demographic
vulnerability
Identify Vulnerability Factors
65_up
Hispanic
Female
Renter
classificatio
n
weighting
Total Vulnerability
Critical Facilities
Exposure assessment
6 hour
3 hour
1 hour
Radar rainfall
Basin average rainfall
Basin Average FFG
FFG
Exposure
Watershed boundaries
Watersheds
Risk=Exposure*Vulnerability
Flood Exposure
Urban areas
Vulnerability
Case 1
Case 2
Fort Collins
1,3, and 6 Hour Rain
Accumulation
Denver
6 Hour Rain
Accumulation
Total Risk
Breakout Group Discussions
 Vulnerability assessment:
 Develop your own weighting system that adds to 100. These are
your layers:
• population density
• renters
• females
• female households with at least one child
• Hispanic households
• children younger than 5 years old
• children between 5 and 17 years old
• population over 65 years old
 Discuss results in class
 Mapping and visualization
GIS in weather and society
 GIS is a useful tool to study problems when
people matter
 GIS is a useful tool for integrative research
 Ongoing research in Atmo-GIS offers new
potentials