Understanding how members of the U.S. public access, share, & interpret changing forecast information: tropical cyclone threats

OneNOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Understanding how members of the U.S. public access, share, & interpret changing forecast information: tropical cyclone threats 

Speakers: Dr. Julie Demuth and Mr. Robert Prestley, National Center for Atmospheric Research 

Sponsors: Weather Program Office, Michele.Olson@noaa.gov; NOAA Central Library; 
POC is library.seminars@noaa.gov

Remote access: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2537555602879758350

Abstract: This presentation will discuss research investigating how members of the U.S. public interact with and respond to the shifting forecast and warning information provided by the NWS and other sources during tropical cyclone threats. The study utilizes two research methods: 1) analysis of Twitter data streams generated during tropical cyclone threats and 2) a multi-wave survey of members of the public at risk from approaching tropical cyclones. The study methods and initial research findings will be presented, along with discussion of emerging recommendations for improving the creation and communication of tropical cyclone risk information.

Keywords: hurricanes, communication, forecasts and warnings

About the Speakers: 
Julie Demuth is a Project Scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in the Weather Risks and Decisions in Society (WRaDS: https://www.mmm.ucar.edu/wrads) group in the Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology (MMM) lab. Julie has her BS and MS in Atmospheric Science and her PhD in Public Communication and Technology. Her research focuses on hazardous weather risk communication, risk perception and decision making. 

Robert Prestley is an Associate Scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in the Mesoscale and Microscale Meteorology (MMM) lab. Robert completed his MA in Communication from University of Kentucky in 2019, and his BS in Meteorology from Penn State University in 2017. His research focuses on how authoritative sources of information communicate during high-impact weather events like landfalling tropical cyclones, through formal (e.g. television broadcasts) and informal (e.g. Twitter) communication channels.

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(Dr. Julie Demuth and Mr. Robert Prestley, National Center for Atmospheric Research)