SOCIETAL ASPECTS OF WEATHER - REPORT OF THE 6TH PROSPECTUS DEVELOPMENT TEAM OF US WEATHER RESEARCH-PROGRAM TO NOAA AND NSF

U.S. Weather Research Program (USWRP) Prospectus Development Teams (PD Ts) are small groups of advisors that are convened by the program's le ad scientist on a one-time basis to discuss critical issues and to pro vide advice related to future directions of the program. PDTs are a pr incipal source of information for the Science Advisory Committee, whic h is standing committee charged with the duty of making recommendation s to the program office based upon overall program objectives. It is g enerally accepted that weather problems are both social and physical p henomena. Research findings from the social sciences have been crucial ly important in understanding and improving human responses to economi c, social, and environmental weather-related risks. Despite the centra lity of this research area, it has in the past received too little att ention and too few resources. PDT 6 brought together a broad range of expertise and experience to focus on three main objectives: 1) to disc uss and assess the nature and scope of U.S. weather problems, 2) to co nduct a brief review of the societal aspects of weather, and 3) to dis cuss and explore the role of existing and improved weather information in addressing those problems. Several themes emerged in discussion at the workshop. First and foremost, users need to be included in all as pects of the USWRP and not just at the ''end of the line.'' Research i n social aspects of weather can help to facilitate constructive intera ctions between physical scientists and users. Second, societal aspects research can help to focus on issues related to pressing national wea ther problems. The complex nature of these problems is poorly understo od. Problem-oriented social science research can help to identify the factors that characterize the problems and to define the potential and actual value of various research and research-related products.