Transcript GIS in Weather

GIS in Weather
Instructor: Professor, Dr Yuji Murayama
Teaching Assistant: Niloofar Haji Mirza Aghasi
Geographic Information Systems
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are a special class of
information systems that keep track not only of events,
activities, and things, but also of where these events, activities,
and things happen or exist.
Source: Longley et al (2005) Geographic Information Systems and Science. 2nd Edition.
John Wiley and Sons Ltd.
RGS-IBG Online CPD course in GIS Introduction to GIS, Royal Geography Society with IBG.
Geo-referencing data
Geo-reference means to associate something with location in
physical space.
Geo-referenced data is essential in GIS, since all data in GIS
must be linked to the earth’s surface.
• Data capture
– Scanning: all of the maps converted into raster data
– Digitizing: individual features selected from the map as dots, lines or
polygons
• Geo-referencing
– Initial scanning, digitizing gives the coordinates in inches from bottom
left corner of the digitizer / scanner
– Real-world co-ordinates are set up for four-registration periods on the
seized data
– These are applied to convince the entire map onto a real-world
coordinate system
Qualitative data in a GIS: conceptual integration
 Content-specific; snap
shots in time.
 Visualization of
information
 Geographical referencing
(XY, place name,
geographic identifier)
allows for mapping data
together to reach a
common interpretation
 Methodological
differences (concepts and
study objects) may create
challenges
Source: Climate change and Urban Environment Strategy; Antoaneta Yoveva, architect, Director of Sustainable World Foundation (SWF),
Bulgaria
Perceptions of climate change From S. McNeeley
Climate Information
•
•
Used extensively by weather forecasters, these systems attempt to model climate
patterns.
This includes air current, precipitation, temperature, and dew point information.
Source: http://www.ocs.orst.edu/prism/prism_new.html
GIS Analysis and Integration
Coastal Watches/Warnings and Forecast for Storm
This
graph
shows
an
approximate representation of
coastal areas under a hurricane
warning (red), hurricane watch
(pink), tropical storm warning
(blue) and tropical storm watch
(yellow). The orange circle
indicates the current position of
the center of the tropical
cyclone. The black line, when
selected, and dots show the
National Hurricane Center
(NHC) forecast track of the
center at the times indicated.
Source: www.nhc.noaa.gov
Tropical Storm Force Wind Speed Probabilities
These
graphics
show
probabilities of sustained (1minute average) surface wind
speeds equal to or exceeding
34 kt (39 mph). These wind
speed probability graphics are
based on the official National
Hurricane Center (NHC) track,
intensity, and wind radii
forecasts, and on NHC forecast
error statistics for those
forecast variables .
Source: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/203305.shtml?tswind120#wcontents
Hurricane and Tropical Storm Watch/Warning
Breakpoints
Coastal areas placed under tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings
are identified through the use of "breakpoints." A tropical cyclone breakpoint is
defined as an agreed upon coastal location that can be chosen as one of two
specific end points or designated places between which a tropical
storm/hurricane watch/warning is in effect.
Source: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/breakpoints/
GIS in Temperature
This is a map that shows
the average temperature in
Russia annually. This map
does a great job illustrating
the difference in climate
throughout Russia. The
map is to understand what
the
actual
average
temperatures are. You can
compare which parts of
Russia are warmer and
colder simply by knowing
Blue is cold and Red is
warm.
Source: http://maps.unomaha.edu/peterson/funda/MapLinks/Russia.htm
GIS in Rainfall
This map shows the rainfall
in categories in 2011 by
university of Hawai’i at
Manoa. The categories were
set based on the natural
breaks in the rainfall values
for each extent, with the
minimum and maximum
values
in
the
legend
corresponding
to
the
minimum and maximum
values shown in the map
extent.
Source: http://rainfall.geography.hawaii.edu/downloads.html
NWS GIS Radar Webpages
• GIS Radar images and warning
polygons are displayed, time
looped and this can be
downloaded to a GIS
• 1 Minute Polygon Warning
updates
Keith Stellman, NWS
Source: http://radar.weather.gov
GIS and Climate Data Online (CDO)
Simple access to NCDC data archives
while integrating new
and informative products
US Drought Indices
Rich Baldwin, NCDC
http://gis.ncdc.noaa.gov, http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov
http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov
In Summary
• GIS is a useful tool to analyze, understand and solve problems for
any location matters including weather or related subjects.
• In weather study, you can switch many city information and data
together speedy and easily.
• GIS users in weather, can analyze current and predict future weather
situation.
• GIS usage is so wide and it can be applied in many weather matters.
References
•
Climate change and Urban Environment Strategy; Antoaneta Yoveva,
architect, Director of Sustainable World Foundation (SWF), Bulgaria
•
GIS in Weather and Society; Olga Wilhelmi, Institute for the Study of Society
and Environment , National Center for Atmospheric Research.
•
Geo-referenced data and DLI aggregate data sources, Chuck Humphrey.
•
GIS Fundimentals, Dr. Ronald Briggs, The University of Texas at Dallas,
Program in Geospatial Information Sciences
•
National Hurricane Center, National oceanic and atmospheric administration.
•
Map Gallery of Russia:
http://maps.unomaha.edu/peterson/funda/MapLinks/Russia.htm