NOAA Satellite Conference April 11, 2013 Jenny Dissen 1  Stephanie Schollaert Uz 2  Phillip Arkin 2  Otis Brown 1 1 Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites- NC (CICS-NC) / NC State University 2 Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites- MD (CICS-MD) / University of Maryland College Park NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center Advancing Climate Literacy: A CICS Perspective

2  Translating Satellite Data and Information to Useful Messages  K-12 (high school) students  General public  Business and Industry decision makers  Overcoming the Challenges  Environmental Literacy Grant  Satellite data in the classroom  Users Engagement Discussions  Executive Forum on Business and Climate  Advancing Climate Literacy: Summary

3 One of the newer of NOAA’s CIs with a long heritage Two main centers: CICS-MD and CICS-NC With partners from academic, non-profit, and private institutions, including: all the UNC System campuses, Columbia/IRI, CSU, CUNY, Duke, Howard, Miami, OSU, Princeton, UIUC, UNC Chapel Hill, UC Irvine, USC, CECI, Climate Central, IGES, JGCRI, ORAU, ORNL, RENCI, and RemSS

4 Temperature Heat waves Precipitation Sea level Humidity Drought Glaciers Permafrost Snowcover Storms Changes in soil moisture Increased subsidence Landslides Coastal erosion Fire risk Growing season changes Changes in flora, fauna and vegetation Changes in evapotranspitation Water resources stress Changes in seawater chemistry Climate Changes in climate parameters… Environment …are creating environmental effects… K-12 Education …that impact courses and information General Public …that impact courses and information Business and Industry …that impact business systems and operations

5 CHALLENGES WITH K-12 STUDENTS Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; Involve me and I’ll understand. ~ Chinese proverb Connect satellite data to new National Science Standards Incorporate satellite data analysis into hands-on learning activities

6 Make satellite data intuitive (e.g. familiar palette, land masks) Create engaging, easily digestible messages relating to people’s experience Foster stewardship through tangible actions Sustain their attention in a fast-paced world CHALLENGES WITH GENERAL PUBLIC

7 Consistent data series on average and extreme events (e.g., events that disrupt business operations) Make information relevant to business at the asset scale Climate data not always at the temporal and spatial scale for business/industry decision-making Mechanism for providing input to the climate community on climate information needs CHALLENGES IN BUSINESS / INDUSTRY Climate Information Business Decisions ?

8 CDRs Supporting Farming and Agribusiness Example: historical context 5 km resolution, “wall-to-wall” (globally) Historical record from to current Collateral products Surface Reflectance Leaf Area Index (LAI) FPAR (photosynthetically active radiation) 2012 drought depicted by Vegetation Index CDR (July 17) Primary U.S. corn and soybean region

9 Magic Planet visits to Washington, DC area schools Connecting satellite data to state Standards of Learning Students engaged - novelty of spherical display Planning hands-on activities to tie with satellite data

10 EarthNow team: Steve Ackerman (PI), Phil Arkin (PI), Rick Kohrs, Margaret Mooney, Dan Pisut, Patrick Rowley, Stephanie Schollaert Uz Collaboration with Maryland Science Center, Baltimore and National Zoo in Washington, DC to understand how to communicate with museum audiences Science features explain recent climate research findings Audio-narration developed in response to docent feedback Monthly updates of CPC products (climate digest, outlooks)

11 Executive Forum on Business and Climate Climate Data User Workshop Series A four-day executive forum that explores the connection between weather and climate information Mixing expertise from the scientific community and business/industry community - SCHEDULE - Storm and Severe Weather November 28 – 29th, 2012 Frost and Freeze Data March 20 – 21 st, 2013 Sea Surface Temperature July 29th, 2013 Website: FORU M GOALS Advance Climate Information Capacity Building Networks & Knowledge Exchange

12 K-12 Goal General Public Goal Improved use of weather and climate data and information for managing climate risks and opportunities Private Sector Goal K-12 students as comfortable using satellite data as YouTube and Instagram Improved understanding of current climate issues, fostering stewardship and appreciation of satellite data in monitoring the Earth system

13 CICS-NC: CICS-MD: Additional References: For Additional Information: Jenny Dissen CICS-NC – Outreach & Engagement Stephanie Schollaert Uz CICS-MD – Outreach & Engagement Otis Brown Director, CICS-NC Phillip Arkin Executive Director, CICS NOAA Cooperative Institutes: EarthNow