Communicating and Using Ensemble Flood Forecasts in Flood Incident Management: Lessons from Social Science

David Demeritt*, Elisabeth M. Stephens, Laurence Créton-Cazanave, Céline Lutoff, Isabelle Ruin, Sébastien Nobert

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This chapter explores the practical challenges of communicating and using ensemble forecasts in operational flood incident management. It reviews recent social science research on the variety and effectiveness of hydrological ensemble prediction systems (HEPS) visualization methodsandonthecog- nitive and other challenges experienced by forecast recipients in understand- ing probabilistic forecasts correctly. To explore how those generic findings from the research literature work out in actual operational practice, the chapter then discusses a series of case studies detailing the development, communi- cation, and use of HEPS products in various institutional contexts in France, Britain, and internationally at the EU and global levels. The chapter concludes by drawing out some broader lessons from those experiences about how to communicate and use HEPS more effectively.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHandbook of Hydrometeorological Ensemble Forecasting
PublisherSpringer Berlin Heidelberg
Pages1131-1160
Number of pages30
ISBN (Electronic)9783642399251
ISBN (Print)9783642399244
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2019

Keywords

  • Civil protection
  • Cognitive biases
  • Decision-making
  • EFAS
  • Environment Agency
  • GloFAS
  • HEPS, public saliency of
  • Heuristics
  • Probability of precipitation forecasts
  • Risk communication
  • Risk perception
  • SCHAPI
  • Spaghetti plots
  • UK Met Office
  • Uncertainty, public understanding of
  • Visualization

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