Urban Meteorology: Forecasting, Monitoring, and Meeting Users' Needs

This book is based largely on the information provided at a Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate community workshop. The book describes the needs for end user communities, focusing in particular on needs that are not being met by current urban-level forecasting and monitoring. It also describes current and emerging meteorological forecasting and monitoring capabilities that have had and will likely have the most impact on urban areas, some of which are not being utilized by the relevant end user communities.

According to the United Nations, three out of five people will be living in cities worldwide by the year 2030. The United States continues to experience urbanization with its vast urban corridors on the east and west coasts. Although urban weather is driven by large synoptic and meso-scale features, weather events unique to the urban environment arise from the characteristics of the typical urban setting, such as large areas covered by buildings of a variety of heights; paved streets and parking areas; means to supply electricity, natural gas, water, and raw materials; and generation of waste heat and materials.

This issue explains that users of urban meteorological information need high-quality information available in a wide variety of formats that foster its use and within time constraints set by users' decision processes. By advancing the science and technology related to urban meteorology with input from key end user communities, urban meteorologists can better meet the needs of diverse end users. To continue the advancement within the field of urban meteorology, there are both short-term needs-which might be addressed with small investments but promise large, quick returns-as well as future challenges that could require significant efforts and investments.

Contents
SUMMARY
1 INTRODUCTION
Exploring Opportunities to Improve Urban Weather Information
Charge and Approach
Organization of the Report
2 END USER NEEDS
End Users of Urban Meteorological Information and their Needs
End User Needs not being Met by Current Urban Level Forecasting and Monitoring
Underutilized Urban Forecasting and Monitoring Capabilities
Communications across Disciplines
Approaches to Strengthen Ties between Communities
Key Themes from the Workshop
3 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Urban Meteorology: A Synopsis of the Science
Advances in Urban Forecasting and Monitoring Techniques
Emerging Technologies in Meteorological Forecasting and Monitoring
Remaining Needs and Future Challenges
4 FUTURE DIRECTIONS
Short-Term Needs
Challenges
Final Thoughts
REFERENCES
APPENDIXES
A Keynote Speaker Abstracts
B Case study: Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Testbed
C Workshop Information
D Statement of Task
E Acronym List
F Committee and Staff Biographical Sketches