Marine Meteorology and Media

The Neglected Ocean Front?

Steven W. Lyons The Weather Channel

Media Can Be An Advertiser pro/con for Marine Data

OUTLINE

• 1) Media personality/characteristics • 2) Media marine data needs • 3) Media marine data resolution & use

Provide an overview of how “media” can use marine observations and forecasts

1) Media Personality/Characteristics

THE MEDIA

• A rather self-righteous group • A very independent but dependent group • A very powerful group • A potentially “biasing” group • A stubborn group • A very competitive group • A very non-scientific group

Media Customers?

• The General Public • Marine Recreation • Travelers/Hotels/Motels • Emergency Management • Small businesses affected by weather • Other Media • Many more………

Most media outlets provide only a small fraction of marine information. Why?

•  Ignorant of the need? •  Ignorant of the products

available? •  Ignorant of how to apply

existing data in their “coverage”?

•  Have not allotted time to incorporate marine weather information into their programming?

•  Cannot process marine data/have no access?

•  Need high resolution data that is not available?

What are the facts? •  At least 60% of US population lives

within 100 miles of US coast •  That population continues to grow •  Millions visit the ocean annually •  Millions play in the ocean routinely •  Many are “novice” mariners! •  Media caters to “masses”

US POPULATION CHANGE 1990-2000 (PURPLE 13%-191%)

The Media Market

• The Coastal US dominates population • Residents living there do so to play in and/

or near water • Many boat, sail, cruise, jet ski, surf, fish,

swim in the ocean • The media “should” have a huge desire to

cover these interests •  Ignorance about “marine” keeps them

mostly in “weather” mode

2) MEDIA MARINE DATA NEEDS

Media Marine Data Needs?

• High temporal and spatial resolution data • Wind, wave, swell, SST, air temperature

and visibility • All within 1-15 miles of the coastline! • Marine education

3) MEDIA MARINE DATA RESOLUTION & USE

Spatial & Temporal Resolution of Marine Data Is Far Below Media Demands

•  Ignorant of how quickly data is perishable?

•  Ignorant of what spatial resolution is sufficient/not sufficient?

•  Have mentality that marine information is usually incorrect or “loaded with errors”?

Media Training in Marine Meteorology

•  Much to be desired? •  No source to provide

media marine training? •  Marine training with

most meteorology & atmospheric science programs is poor?

•  Our competition focuses on land, hence so will we?

•  Better no information than wrong information?

Processing Marine Data

•  Hardware & software to read & process marine “data formats” are not available with existing media equipment?

•  Is too expensive? •  Is inadequate or absent? •  Is inferior to land data? •  Poor spatial/temporal

resolution makes it of little value to the media?

•  Want quantitative not qualitative data?

Media Use of Marine Data

• Data not available in desired locations?

Media Use of Marine Data

•  Media realizes there are large local changes in marine “observations”?

•  Media decides not to show anything rather than show information representative of only a tiny portion of their viewer’s area?

CONCLUSIONS •  1) MEDIA CHARACTERISTICS (non scientific) •  2) MEDIA MARINE DATA NEEDS (“should” be high) •  3) MEDIA MARINE DATA RESOLUTION (high & coastal)

The Media needs high temporal and spatial resolution marine data and derived products for the immediate coastal zone (accessible on media market systems!

CONCLUSIONS • What can media contribute? •  Marine awareness •  IOOS visibility •  Public service (marine) •  Business Opportunities •  Advertising •  Public service • Web links •  Selling/buying IOOS data •  Potential conflicts •  Sole-source data access

•  2) MEDIA MARINE DATA NEEDS •  3) MEDIA MARINE DATA RESOLUTION AND USAGE The Media needs high temporal and spatial resolution marine data and derived products for the immediate coastal zone (accessible on media market systems!

THE END