Climate Exchange

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oscillations with documented impacts of weather and water parameters.

In addition, LCAT will have access to NOAA’s severe weather data sets,

which will enable climatological and impact studies of frequencies in

tornados, floods, snowstorms, heat waves, lightning and other extreme

events. For example, a pilot study analysed the relationship between

tornados and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, helping to

identify areas with significant tornados and an enhanced

number of tornado days during LaNiña events in the central

USA region. The plan also includes developing numerous

options for user-defined climate analysis, such as tuning to

strong climate events using multiple indices of climate vari-

ability and critical percentiles of data distributions. Plans

for LCAT include the capability to extend to existing data

visualization tools and to add options for three-dimensional

and multiple-site graphical capabilities.

Future goals and applications

Plans for LCAT include building the capability to extend

it to existing data visualization tools and adding options

for three-dimensional and multiple-site graphical capa-

bilities. Additionally, LCAT will be developed for climate

studies in key environmental and economic sectors. For

example, to support marine sanctuaries and coastal systems,

LCAT will have access to NOAA global sea level, tidal and

coastal surges monitoring data, which will enable climate

studies at specific harbours or marsh habitats. To support

renewable energy decisions, LCAT will use global surface

observation, satellite and reanalysis wind, cloud cover and

solar insulation data to allow the analysis of local clima-

tology at different heights of the atmosphere anywhere

on Earth. Extension to reanalysis data will enhance LCAT

global applications and enable the potential use of data from

Global Circulation Models for model inter-comparison on

regional scales. The LCAT development plan also includes

potential access to demographic and biological data to help

with holistic environmental climatological analysis.

User engagement

LCAT was beta tested by approximately 40 NOAA staff,

who were eager to start local climate studies. Several

training events took place to engage beta testers:

• Live webinars were recorded and provided to users

for further reference

• A training workshop was held, that included

instructions on using LCAT, information on data

and methods used for analy ses, practice sessions,

and discussions to collect user feedback

• Fact sheets were developed describing LCAT capabilities.

Feedback from beta testers identified new requirements to

be added to the tool prior to operational implementation

for internal use by NOAA. LCAT’s application for NOAA’s

external use requires the engagement of users and inte-

gration of new requirements. LCAT’s development is an

iterative process of user engagement that includes iden-

tifying user needs, formulating requirements and setting

priorities; coordinating with subject matter experts on best

practices for use of appropriate data and scientific methods

to respond to these needs; building and testing new LCAT

capabilities; training and user feedback.

This continuous development will ensure that LCAT

provides the analysis tools and capabilities to meet the

needs of a wide range of stakeholders, enabling the

interpretation and dissemination of climate data to

support climate-sensitive decisions.

Results of a pilot study that helps to identify areas with

significant tornados and enhanced numbers of tornado

days during La Niña events in the central USA

Orange: Area with enhanced significant tornados

Cyan: Area with diminished significant tornados

Red: Area with enhanced number of tornados days

Source: NOAA

For looking at the impacts of climate variability, LCAT examines the

relationship between climate phenomena such as El Niño Southern

Oscillation and local climate variables. This example shows a statistically

significant chance (bold border) for above normal maximum temperature

during La Niña events. The temperature categories are defined using a

climatological reference period of 1981-2010.