Communicating the science of climate change

Somerville, Richard C. J.; Hassol, Susan Joy

doi:10.1063/pt.3.1296

Cited by 145 publications

(101 citation statements)

References 5 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Marin [36] noted that the herders identified both hard and soft rain. In our analysis, 80% of Northern and 65% of Southern herders observed more intense rain (Figure 3) which was observed with low infiltration.…”

Section: Herder Insightmentioning

confidence: 99%

Merging Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Station Observations to Estimate the Uncertainty of Precipitation Change in Central Mongolia

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Across the globe, station-based meteorological data are analyzed to estimate the rate of change in precipitation. However, in sparsely populated regions, like Mongolia, stations are few and far between, leaving significant gaps in station-derived precipitation patterns across space and over time. We combined station data with the observations of herders, who live on the land and observe nature and its changes across the landscape. Station-based trends were computed with the Mann-Kendall significance and Theil-Sen rate of change tests. We surveyed herders about their observations of changes in rain and snowfall amounts, rain intensity, and days with snow, using a closed-ended questionnaire and also recorded their qualitative observations. Herder responses were summarized using the Potential for Conflict Index (PCI 2 ), which computes the mean herder responses and their consensus. For one set of stations in the same forest steppe ecosystem, precipitation trends were similar and decreasing, and the herder-based PCI 2 consensus score matched differences between stations. For the other station set, trends were less consistent and the PCI 2 consensus did not match well, since the stations had different climates and ecologies. Herder and station-based uncertainties were more consistent for the snow variables than the rain variables. The combination of both data sources produced a robust estimate of climate change uncertainty.

show abstract

Section: Herder Insightmentioning

confidence: 99%

Merging Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Station Observations to Estimate the Uncertainty of Precipitation Change in Central Mongolia

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In this way, ClimateSnack targets the deficiencies in academic writing and promotes the advice of experts (e.g. Gopen and Swan, 1990;Somerville and Hassol, 2011). In addition, the discussion needs to be conducted with courtesy and humility.…”

Section: Feedback (Meeting 3)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving together: better science writing through peer learning

Stiller-Reeve

Heuzé

Ball

et al. 2016

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Science, in our case the climate and geosciences, is increasingly interdisciplinary. Scientists must therefore communicate across disciplinary boundaries. For this communication to be successful, scientists must write clearly and concisely, yet the historically poor standard of scientific writing does not seem to be improving. Scientific writing must improve, and the key to long-term improvement lies with the early-career scientist (ECS). Many interventions exist for an ECS to improve their writing, like style guides and courses. However, momentum is often difficult to maintain after these interventions are completed. Continuity is key to improving writing.This paper introduces the ClimateSnack project, which aims to motivate ECSs to develop and continue to improve their writing and communication skills. The project adopts a peer-learning framework where ECSs voluntarily form writing groups at different institutes around the world. The group members learn, discuss, and improve their writing skills together.Several ClimateSnack writing groups have formed. This paper examines why some of the groups have flourished and others have dissolved. We identify the challenges involved in making a writing group successful and effective, notably the leadership of self-organized groups, and both individual and institutional time management. Within some of the groups, peer learning clearly offers a powerful tool to improve writing as well as bringing other benefits, including improved general communication skills and increased confidence.

show abstract

“…The need for people-centric messages for more effective climate policy is documented by correlation of risk perception and other behaviors with cultural programming (e.g., Maibach, Roser-Renouf, and Leiserowitz 2008;Carlton and Jacobson 2013;Campbell and Kay 2014) and suggested in the complex relationships between science, uncertainty, and governance systems (e.g., Funtowicz and Ravetz 1993). For example, scientific communication often underuses relational framing, building the case with copious data that is difficult for non-technical audiences who also may avoid conclusions that don't fit their cultural frame (Nisbet 2009;Somerville and Hassol 2011). Framed messaging guidelines are appearing in new templates for discussing either generic or event-specific climate issues (e.g., Climate Nexus 2012).…”

Section: Science Needs For Sea-level Rise Planningmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some words and phrases that scientists and planners routinely use are red flags to non-scientists (e.g., uncertainty D we don't have a clue; synthetic D fake). We identified common word/phrase misinterpretations in coastal adaptation and alternatives using the workshop notes, our own adaptation experiences, and work by Somerville andRassol (2011) andHouck (2001) (Supplementary Materials Table 2). Over 25 terms can be interpreted differently by those unfamiliar with terminology that scientists and policy professionals take for granted.…”

Section: Communicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Science Needs for Sea-Level Adaptation Planning: Comparisons among Three U.S. Atlantic Coastal Regions

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To identify priority information needs for sea-level rise planning, we conducted workshops in Florida, North Carolina, and Massachusetts in the summer of 2012. Attendees represented professionals from five stakeholder groups: federal and state governments, local governments, universities, businesses, and nongovernmental organizations. Over 100 people attended and 96 participated in breakout groups. Text analysis was used to organize and extract most frequently occurring content from 16 total breakout groups. The most frequent key words/phrases were identified among priority topics within five themes: analytic tools, communications, land use, ecosystem management, and economics. Diverse technical and communication tools were identified to help effectively plan for change. In many communities, planning has not formally begun. Attendees sought advanced prediction tools yet simple messaging for decision-makers facing politically challenging planning questions. High frequency key words/phrases involved fine spatial scales and temporal scales of less than 50 years. Many needs involved communications and the phrase "simple messaging" appeared with the highest frequency. There was some evidence of geographic variation among regions. North Carolina breakout groups had a higher frequency of key words/phrases involving land use. The results reflect challenges and tractable opportunities for planning beyond current, geophysically brief, time scales (e.g., election cycles and mortgage periods).

show abstract

Communicating the science of climate change

Cited by 145 publications

References 5 publications

Merging Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Station Observations to Estimate the Uncertainty of Precipitation Change in Central Mongolia

Merging Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Station Observations to Estimate the Uncertainty of Precipitation Change in Central Mongolia

Improving together: better science writing through peer learning

Science Needs for Sea-Level Adaptation Planning: Comparisons among Three U.S. Atlantic Coastal Regions

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About