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Social Science Woven into MeteorologySSWIM
A new partnership at the National Weather Center
The Social Science Woven into Meteorology (SSWIM) initiative at the National Weather Center weaves social science concepts and
methodologies into the fabric of weather and climate research and applications.
SSWIM considers complex problems at the intersection of weather, climate, and society. We address challenges and opportunities including,
but not limited to, improving forecasts and warnings, reducing social vulnerability to natural hazards, and understanding community and cultural
adaptations to weather extremes, climate variations, and climate change.
SSWIM’s objectives are innovative research and capacity building through
• Increasing the appreciation of the value of qualitative as well as quantitative approaches including archival, ethnographic, statistical,
and participatory methods
• Partnering with public, private, and academic sectors, including students, practitioners, and policymakers across the spectrum of
stakeholders
The Social Science Woven into Meteorology (SSWIM) initiative at the National Weather Center weaves social science concepts and
methodologies into the fabric of weather and climate research and applications.
SSWIM considers complex problems at the intersection of weather, climate, and society. We address challenges and opportunities including,
but not limited to, improving forecasts and warnings, reducing social vulnerability to natural hazards, and understanding community and cultural
adaptations to weather extremes, climate variations, and climate change.
SSWIM’s objectives are innovative research and capacity building through
• Increasing the appreciation of the value of qualitative as well as quantitative approaches including archival, ethnographic, statistical,
and participatory methods
• Partnering with public, private, and academic sectors, including students, practitioners, and policymakers across the spectrum of
stakeholders
Research is essential to examine important questions to
enhance societal relevance in weather and climate work.
Research is essential to examine important questions to
enhance societal relevance in weather and climate work.
SSWIM, at the National Weather Center on the University of Oklahoma Campus in Norman, OK, is supported by a partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its National Severe Storms Laboratory, the OU-NOAA Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, the OU College
of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, the OU Center for Spatial Analysis, and the OU Vice President for Research.
SSWIM, at the National Weather Center on the University of Oklahoma Campus in Norman, OK, is supported by a partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its National Severe Storms Laboratory, the OU-NOAA Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, the OU College
of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, the OU Center for Spatial Analysis, and the OU Vice President for Research.
National Weather Center, 120 David L. Boren Blvd., Suite 2100, Norman, OK 73072
Contact us to stay informed about
SSWIM progress, projects, and
partnerships
Dr. Eve Gruntfest - [email protected]
Dr. Heather Lazrus - [email protected]
Gina Eosco - [email protected]
Monica Zappa – [email protected]
www.sswim.org
Contact us to stay informed about
SSWIM progress, projects, and
partnerships
Dr. Eve Gruntfest - [email protected]
Dr. Heather Lazrus - [email protected]
Gina Eosco - [email protected]
Monica Zappa – [email protected]
www.sswim.org
Selected Research Activities 2009-2010 •Evaluated September 2009 earthquake and tsunami impacts in
Samoa and American Samoa
•Participated on Mount Redoubt National Weather Service
Assessment team
•Advised on new Tornado “Call to Action” statements
•Held Integrated Hazardous Service Information Workshop
•Considered new ways to convey probabilistic information
•Mapped low water crossings to map flash flood vulnerability
Selected Research Activities 2009-2010 •Evaluated September 2009 earthquake and tsunami impacts in
Samoa and American Samoa
•Participated on Mount Redoubt National Weather Service
Assessment team
•Advised on new Tornado “Call to Action” statements
•Held Integrated Hazardous Service Information Workshop
•Considered new ways to convey probabilistic information
•Mapped low water crossings to map flash flood vulnerability
Social science methods such as focus groups and interviews collect data on cultural
beliefs, community priorities, and individual
preferences and perspectives. Lazrus ran
focus groups on community concerns about
climate change impacts on low lying islands
in Tuvalu that will be severely influenced by
climate change impacts including sea level
rise.
Social science methods such as focus groups and interviews collect data on cultural
beliefs, community priorities, and individual
preferences and perspectives. Lazrus ran
focus groups on community concerns about
climate change impacts on low lying islands
in Tuvalu that will be severely influenced by
climate change impacts including sea level
rise.
Research Example: Integrated Hazardous Service
Information SSWIM researchers worked with NOAA’s Global Systems
Division Laboratory and the Hazardous Weather Testbed in Norman to develop
a model that illustrates potential connections between all partners in the
Research to Operations equation to enhance use and communication of
hazardous information (Figure 1). Resulting improvements in decision support
can lead to relevant and timely action (Figure 2).
Research Example: Integrated Hazardous Service
Information SSWIM researchers worked with NOAA’s Global Systems
Division Laboratory and the Hazardous Weather Testbed in Norman to develop
a model that illustrates potential connections between all partners in the
Research to Operations equation to enhance use and communication of
hazardous information (Figure 1). Resulting improvements in decision support
can lead to relevant and timely action (Figure 2).
Social science results• Enhance meaning in communication, e.g. Eosco’s work with the
hurricane cone of uncertainty
• Address social vulnerability, e.g., Lazrus’ work on climate impacts in
Tuvalu and Zappa’s work on hurricane impacts in Nicaragua
• Examine human behavior, e.g, Gruntfest’s work on flash floods
Social science results• Enhance meaning in communication, e.g. Eosco’s work with the
hurricane cone of uncertainty
• Address social vulnerability, e.g., Lazrus’ work on climate impacts in
Tuvalu and Zappa’s work on hurricane impacts in Nicaragua
• Examine human behavior, e.g, Gruntfest’s work on flash floods
Figure 1
Figure 2