Challenges in Urban Meteorology: A Forum for Users and Providers OFCM CHALLENGES IN URBAN...

Challenges in Urban Meteorology: A Forum for Users and Providers OFCM

CHALLENGES IN URBAN CHALLENGES IN URBAN METEOROLOGYMETEOROLOGY

A Forum for Users and Providers A Forum for Users and Providers

September 21-23 , 2004September 21-23 , 2004Doubletree Hotel and Executive Meeting CenterDoubletree Hotel and Executive Meeting Center

Rockville, Maryland (USA) Rockville, Maryland (USA)


WELCOME AND WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKSOPENING REMARKS

Mr. Samuel P. WilliamsonMr. Samuel P. WilliamsonFederal Coordinator for Meteorological Services Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services

and Supporting Researchand Supporting Research


Welcome andWelcome andOpening RemarksOpening Remarks

Challenges in Urban Meteorology: A Forum for Users and Providers

• Partners: – Department of Homeland Security Science and

Technology Directorate – Office of the Federal Coordinator for

Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (OFCM)


Welcome andWelcome andAdministrative RemarksAdministrative Remarks

• Thanks to everyone who has worked so hard to ensure the Challenges in the Urban Meteorology: A Forum for Users and Providers conference will be a success

– Special thanks to our forum partner, the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate

– Thanks to the distinguished key speakers, moderators, panelists, workshop chairpersons

– Thanks to the members of my staff at the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology

– A special “Thank You” to you, the participants of the conference, who will play an important role in making this forum a success


Welcome andWelcome andAdministrative RemarksAdministrative Remarks

• Ms Erin McNamara--Conference Coordinator for Logistics

• Ms Margaret McCalla--Conference Coordinator for Agenda

• Ms Diana McQuestion--Registration Assistance

• Mr Kent P. LaBorde (NOAA Public Affairs)--Arranging Media Events

• Lt Col Rob Rizza--Protocol and media co-coordinator

• Mr Ken Barnett/Ellis Godfrey--Audio/Visual Assistance (Note: If you have not already done so, please turn in any slides you plan to present to Ken as soon as possible.)


Forum ThemeForum Theme Information to Improve Community Responses to Urban Information to Improve Community Responses to Urban

Atmospheric Hazards, Weather Events, and ClimateAtmospheric Hazards, Weather Events, and Climate

Severe WeatherHomeland Security

Air QualityClimate

Water Quality

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Risk M

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Publ

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and

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Busin

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Conference “Thoughts”

• Why an Urban Meteorology conference now?– Escalating demands/competition for urban resources.

– Advancements in science and technology can substantially improve the accuracy and utility of weather and climate information in urban decision processes.

– Set the stage for better integration of multidisciplinary research to address urban weather and climate issues/concerns.


Urban Meteorological ImpactsUrban Meteorological ImpactsSevere WeatherSevere Weather

Hurricane Isabel 2003: 47 lives lost Mid-Atlantic Coast impacts: $ 4.0B damage

Hail Damage June 04: $ 146M damage Denver:

Tornados/Severe Storms Mar 00: 5 deathsDallas/Ft Worth: $ 500M damage

Tornados/Severe Storms May 03: 41 deathsTN/OH Valleys: $ 3.1B damage


Urban Meteorological ImpactsUrban Meteorological ImpactsHomeland SecurityHomeland Security

Events of 9-11-01: 2000 deaths New York/Pentagon: $ 200 B damage

Train Derailment May 02: 2200 evacuated Lansing, Michigan: 3-Mile Island Mar 79 - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania:

140,000 evacuate. Aftermath: 5-mile evacuation plan deemed inadequate, 20-mile plan drawn up, calls for evacuation of 650,000

Train Derailment May 00: 3500 evacuatedEunice, Louisiana


Urban Meteorological ImpactsUrban Meteorological ImpactsAir QualityAir Quality

“At Risk” populations in some of the top 25 polluted cities in the U.S.

LA: over 17,000,000

Dallas/Ft Worth: over 5,600,000

Fresno: over 950,000

NYC: over 21,500,000Chicago: over 9,500,000

Data from:American Lung Association State of the Air 2004 reporthttp://lungusa.kintera.org/sota04pdf


Urban Meteorological ImpactsUrban Meteorological ImpactsClimateClimate

2003: Southern California wildfires 743,000 ac burned, 3700 homes

destroyed, 22 killed

2002: Widespread over 30 states$10 B in damages

2000: Western wildfires7,000,000 ac burned, $2.1B in damages

2000: Heatwaveestimated 149 deaths

DROUGHTDROUGHTEL N

INO


Conference “Thoughts”

What should we expect to accomplish at this forum?– Identify better ways to integrate, apply, and deliver weather and

climate science and technology to urban decision makers and reduce high impact weather and climate risk

– Focus attention on the relationship of natural hazards to urban ecosystems and their management and facilitate the transfer of emerging science and technology

– Promote close collaboration and integration of multidisciplinary research to address weather and climate impacts on urban communities and improve forecasting for coastal and complex terrain areas

– Raise the level of concern on priorities needed for funding research and application of science and technology on urban weather and climate problems/issues

Challenges in Urban Meteorology: A Forum for Users and Providers OFCM CHALLENGES IN URBAN...

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