Efficiency of Using Weather- and Climate- Related Data Should Be Enhanced: Case Study from Ukraine Viacheslav Manukalo, Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Institute Mykola Kulbida, Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Centre Hanna Gerasymenko, Institute of Demography and Social Studies E-mail: manukalo@ukr.net CBS TECO-2016, Guangzhou, China, 21-22 November 2016

Structure of Presentation Used definition Problem identification Methodology Results and their discussion General background Assessment of efficiency of providing and using hydrometeorological information and services Measures which are undertaken to improve the efficiency of using weather- and climate - related data in different sectors of society

Used definition Efficiency of Using Weather- and Climate-Related Data - the direct and indirect economic and any other benefit to be derived from using a good quality of diverse hydrometeoro- logical data to prevent economic, social and environmental losses caused by the impact of unfavorable weather conditions on the operation of users  

Problem identification Adverse weather-and climate -related phenomena annually cause the large damage to the Ukrainian economy Protection policy from hazards should be based on the diverse hydrometeorological and climatological data: current information, forecasts, services and results of researches But, a level of efficiency of using this data by the Ukrainian society is still poorly understood

Aim of presentation: Presenting some principal results of the study focusing on the estimation of preparedness of Ukrainian society to effective using the diverse weather- and climate-related data The study was carried out by the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Institute and the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Centre in the cooperation with the Institute of Demography and Social Study

Methodology The study is based on: Results of the pilot project “Program of Technical and Technological Development of Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Service: Economic Efficiency Assessment” Analysis of using results of hydrometeorological researches in programs of social and economic development which have been adopted in Ukraine for the last 30 years on the state, regional and sectoral levels; Results of social survey of representatives from different groups of society: managers and experts from central and local governments and weather-depended sectors of economy as well as general public  

Results and their discussion. General background In general, the efficiency of using the hydrometeorological information depends on a number of factors. In this article the following key factors are objects of our researches: 1) the quality of information and services provided by the Hydrometeorological Service; 2) skill level of using this data in activities of the weather-depended sectors Following users were included in this study: 1) central and local governments; 2) weather-sensitive sectors: agriculture; transport and communications; water management; energy production; urban development tourism and recreation; 3) hazards management and environment protection authorities; 4) general public

Assessment of efficiency of providing and using hydrometeorological information and services In order to assess the adequacy of quality of hydrometeorological information and services to users requirements, the survey named "The evaluation of the quality of use of hydrometeorological information and services" was carried out among users from the mentioned governmental bodies, weather-sensitive sectors and general public A number of questions were grouped in two groups. First group contains questions, which reflect opinions of users concerning a quality of hydrometeorological information and services. Second group – questions concerning users willingness and skills to use these information and services

Results of survey “The evaluation of the quality of use of hydrometeorological information and services” (first group of questions/answers) Question/Answer 1: How the list of products and services, including results of researches, meets the needs of your sector? / All participants gave answer “partly satisfied” Question/Answer 2: How the accuracy and led-time of hydrometeorological information and forecasts meets the needs of your sector?/ Answers "unsatisfied" were got from some local governments and branches of sectors located in the Carpathians mountain region where there is the high probability of formation of extreme hydrometeorological events. The answers “partly satisfied” were received from others recipients.

Results of survey “The evaluation of the quality of use of hydrometeorological information and services” (first group) - continued Question/Answer 3: How information, products and services are understood for practical using in your sectors?/ A few number of peoples from the rural districts gave answers"unsatisfied". Answers “partly satisfied” were got from sectors of urban development, tourism and recreation, and environment protection. Others participants submitted answers “fully satisfied”. Question/Answer 4: How do you assess a level of professional training of the experts from the State Hydrometeorological Service?/ Answers “fully satisfied” were from agriculture, water management, energy production, emergencies managemen; answers “partly satisfied” – from others. Question/Answer 5: How do you assess a level of partnership between your sector and the State Hydrometeorological Service?/ As “partly satisfied” this level was estimated by urban development, tourism and recreation. Answers “fully satisfied” were got in other cases.

Results of survey “The evaluation of the quality of use of hydrometeorological information and services” (second group of questions/answers) Question/Answer 1: How often do you use the information, services, and results of researches in the elaboration of short –(daily, monthly), medium-(up to one year) and long-term (more one year) development programs in your sectors?/ Agriculture, water management, energy production, urban development, emergencies management “always’ use this information in short–term planning and “often” use - in medium-term planning. Answers “practically never” were obtained from all of recipients in the cases of long-term planning and from most of others cases of medium-term planning. Question/Answer 2: Can you estimate in monetary term the benefit which your sector obtains from hydrometeorological information and services?/ Practically, all participants gave answer "no" because they have no a methodology of this estimation. On their opinion, the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Institute should develop this methodology and provide all users with it.

Results of survey “The evaluation of the quality of use of hydrometeorological information and services” (second group) - continued Question/Answer 3. Are you ready to take part jointly with the State Hydrometeorological Service in the assessment of economic efficiency of hydrometeorological information and services?/ Representatives from most of all sectors gave answers “yes” because they understand that the assessment of economic efficiency of hydrometeorological information and services is the actual issue both for the Hydrometeorological Service and users.

Discussion of results The researches have shown that there are a number of shortcomings in the issues of providing and using the divers hydrometeorological information, products and services. They were divided into two groups. 1) Issues, which mostly related to the list, the order and the quality of information and services provided by the Hydrometeorological Service were included in Group 1. 2)Group 2 consists of issues which in mostly concern to correct understanding and using this information and services by consumers in order to obtain a benefit from them.

Issues of group 1 In some cases the consumers from the urban development, the tourism and recreation and the environment protection have complained that the information and products of the Hydrometeorologial Service don't enough take into account the specificity of their activities Practically, all weather-depended sectors want to expand the list of products and services provided by the Hydrometeorological Service. But, they don't take into consideration a current technological capability of the Hydrometeorological Service and the level of development of the science in general. For instance, the users from the energy production want to get in September the forecasts of mean monthly temperatures for the cold period of year (from October to March).

Issues of group 1- continued Peoples, especially living in the regions with the difficult weather conditions, note the increasing quality of hydrometeorological services. However, the number of criticisms to timeliness and accuracy of forecasts increases in periods of sharp change of synoptic processes Weather-depended sectors and the general public show the interest in the issue of climate change and its impact on the development of the country. Unfortunately, users, especially from the general public, don't know enough the results of studies which have been performed in Ukraine in this topics over the past twenty years. Growing a list of publications on this issue, which are often scientific unreasonable and have sometimes a conjecture character, makes more difficult understanding a nature of this problem

Issues of group 2 The authors believe that the decision - makers from the central government don't understand enough the increasing importance of hydrometeorological information, services and science to ensure the sustainable socio-economic development of society. The central government delays the carrying out of the institutional reforms aimed improving the management of the State Hydrometeorological Service, in particular, through delegating to the Service more authorities in determining the strategy of development and in the operational management The most sectors don't include the results of study of science into their long-term programs of development . It is also a consequence of the lack of understanding among the top-managers the importance of hydrometeorological information, products and researches for the successful operation of their sectors.

Issues of group 2 - continued Strengthening a knowledge in the field of hydrometeorology among the managers from weather-depended sectors and the general public is very important issue for improving a quality of using the hydrometeorological information and services. Users should understand that the Hydrometeorological Service will not be able to develop a quality of its products and services without a collaboration with users. Joint researches to develop methodologies for quantifying the benefit of the information, products and services provided for needs of various socio-economic sectors should be recognized as one of the priority work in this area

Measures undertaken to improve the efficiency of using weather- and climate - related data in different sectors of society The list and quality of information and services provided by the State Hydrometeorological Service have considerably increased during the last decade. Despite of that, there is a potential and necessity for improving a quality of using the hydrometeorological information and services. The problem of efficient use of hydrometeorological information and services can be successfully solved only through the joint efforts of all concerning parties In order "to give a push" which will facilitate strengthening a collaboration between the provider and users, the State Hydrometeorological Service has elaborated: 1) Strategy of the development of the State Hydrometeorological Service till 2020; 2) a number of projects of cooperation agreements with the governmental authorities, which use the hydrometeorological information and services in their activity, and with users from the weather-depended sectors of economy

Measures undertaken to improve the efficiency of using weather- and climate - related data in different sectors of society – continued The following actions were included in these documents: Strengthening the institutional background governing the activity of the State Hydrometeorological Service through the adoption of the relevant Decree of the Government. Strengthening capacity-building of experts from the Hydrometeorological Service and from users to improve a knowledge of specific needs of weather- depended sectors of economy and the skills of using the hydrometeorological information and services through the relevant training programs. Conducting the joint seminars aimed a consideration the most pressing Issues of mutual interest. Carrying out the multidisciplinary researches, first of all, in the field of development of methodology for quantifying the benefit of using the hydrometeorological information, products and services in the different sectors. Improving the collaboration with the people’s communities from the different regions of the country.

Thank you for your kind attention