Collaboration with the NWS to Deliver Air Quality Products to a Broader Audience

1. Collaboration with the NWS toDeliver Air Quality Productsto a Broader Audience Laura Landry2011 National Air Quality Conferences March 10, 2011 | San Diego, CA

2. Outline • Introduction • Products • Air Quality Alert • Air Quality Index Statement • Lessons Learned • NWS Dissemination • Air Quality Data Access • Future Improvements

3. Introduction • In June 2008, the NWS agreed to distribute official air quality forecasts as issued by state, local, and tribal air quality agencies • Air Quality Alert (AQA) • Air Quality Index Statement (AQIS)* • Developed a directive document (NWSI 10-519) to instruct weather forecast offices on air quality (AQ) product protocols * AQIS is used as a reference for this presentation. Its official NWS acronym is AQI.

4. Introduction • In June 2009, MDE requested these products from local NWS weather forecast offices (WFO) for Maryland and Washington D.C. • Motivation to instate these products • Increase in media exposure • 5 – 10 million users visit the NWS Home Page on a quiet weather day (30 – 60 mil users on an active day)* • Deliver AQ information to public in additional forms * Personal communication from NWS Webmaster

5. Air Quality Alert (AQA) • Event-driven product • Issued when the Air Quality Index (AQI) is forecasted to reach or exceed Code Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) • This threshold may vary by state and/or WFO preference

6. Methods of Dissemination • NWS Home Page • Gray shading in affected counties on Warnings & Forecasts map • Text product available when clicking on Air Quality Alert in legend • NOAA Weather Radio • Automated broadcast system

7. Air Quality Index Statement (AQIS) • Routine product • Issued daily to disseminate air quality forecasts • Methods of Dissemination • NWS WFO Home Pages • Access point to product varies by WFO • NOAA Weather Radio

8. NWS Collaboration • Maryland is covered by four WFOs • Three for AQ products because Pittsburgh allowed Baltimore/Washington to also be responsible for Garrett county • MDE Goals: • AQA and AQIS products • Consistency among Maryland products regardless of WFO

9. NWS Collaboration • NWS Main Concerns: • What county or counties coincide with the AQ agency’s designated forecast areas? • What text are desired for these products? • How can they obtain the AQ forecasts each day? • How many days per year will the AQA likely be necessary? Source: Maryland Department of the Environment

10. AQ Forecasts to NWS • AIRNow • Phone or Email • NWS Chat • Instant messaging • NWS Online Interface • Submit a request for AQAs on a NWS website • AIRNow Gateway • Automated retrievals by computer scripts Sources: AIRNow, NWS, UT Dallas

11. AIRNow Home Page • Strengths • Forecast is from AQ agency • Good source for more information on current and forecasted air quality conditions for NWS • No work required from AQ agency • Limitations • Too time consuming for the NWS forecaster-on-duty • Possible human errors (i.e. NWS may not generate products if distracted by other duties) Source: AIRNow

12. NWS Chat – Phone – Email • Strengths • Serves AQA and AQIS products • Direct communication with NWS • Clarification can be obtained easily from both sides • Limitations • Somewhat time consuming for NWS and/or AQ agency • Possible human errors (i.e. AQ agency could forget to send instant message, call, or email if distracted by other duties) Sources: NWS, UT Dallas

13. NWS Online Interface • Strengths • Forecast is directly from AQ agency • Limitations • AQA only • Somewhat time consuming for AQ agency • Possible human errors (i.e. AQ agency may submit incorrect inputs, AQ agency may forget to send requests)

14. AIRNow Gateway • Strengths • Serves AQA and AQIS products • Minimal work required from NWS and AQ agency • Significant reduction of errors • Limitations • May be somewhat time consuming for NWS to setup • NWS Information Technology Officer will need to setup the required computer scripts Example Excerpt from Text File

15. AQ Forecasts to NWS • Recommended: AIRNow Gateway • Computer programs automate this forecast retrieval process • File transfer protocol (FTP) • Reporting Area text files store most recent forecasts • Thanks to NWS Wakefield, VA computer scripts were created • Setup procedures require time, but it is well worth the effort • AQIS: Completely automated • AQA: Manual update of hazard grids on Warnings & Forecasts map • Initial problems quickly resolved • AIRNow forecast cities mistakenly associated with incorrect county/counties • Computer script identified “Unhealthy” in “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” from AIRNow Gateway file • Resulted in a Code Red rather than a Code Orange AQA • Ask for the Forecaster phone line so that you can resolve any errors asap

16. How Many AQAs per year? • A tough question due to meteorological variations and ever changing emissions • Essentially, the real issue might be quantifying how much these new products will add to their current workload • NWS offices are not required to participate, but many are more than willing • If they opt out, it leads to in-state inconsistencies

17. Lessons Learned • Inconsistencies have included: • One office only agreed to AQA while others offer AQA and AQIS • Another office broadcasts the products on NOAA Weather Radio while others do not • Text products associated with AQAs differ slightly from office to office

18. Lessons Learned • Initial obstacles • Disagreement on AQI threshold for issuing AQAs • Conversations via email/phone came up short • Concerns about overworking NWS employees and union approval led to Code Red+ AQAs • MDE has only forecasted Code Red on 11 instances since 2005 • All other offices agreed to Code Orange • Differing AQA products could confuse media and the public

19. Lessons Learned • In May 2010, secured a meeting at the NWS office • Discussed our AQ forecasting program • Cleared up misconception that AQ forecasts come directly from NOAA model • Cited estimates of Maryland’s sensitive groups • Proved importance of the Code Orange threshold • American Lung Association is a great resource • Better working relationship Sources: American Lung Association, NWS

20. Results from New Products • Fully operational by June 2010 • AQIS and Code Orange+ AQAs • During the 2010 ozone season, there was a noticeable increase in media attention to Maryland air quality • Media requests received by MDE occurred with greater frequency • Broadcast meteorologists warned viewers about poor air quality for most of the episodes • Used “Air Quality Alert” term on TV consistent with NWS products Source: The Baltimore Sun, WBAL, WJZ, ABC2-WMAR

21. Additional NWS Product • Some local offices offer a link in left column • Most link to state agencies’ websites or the NOAA model • NWS State College, PA made great strides by plotting real-time conditions in Google Maps • NWS Baltimore/Washington shows AQIS product, explanation of AQI colors, links to additional resources

22. Future Improvements • Proposal for updates to NWS Directives • Some AQ products list the “primary pollutant” • Many pollutants are not directly emitted into the atmosphere (i.e. secondary pollutants) • Terminology should be “lead pollutant”

23. Future Improvements • Proposal for updates to NWS Directives • List more information on AIRNow Gateway and other online air quality resources • Explore an improved method of communicating the AQI category for AQAs • At times, TV broadcasters report an incorrect AQI category • Text indicates the category, but some do not view the text • NWS Baltimore/Washington suggested using Air Quality Advisory / Alert / Warning as a better option in the future

24. Summary (1 of 2) • Local NWS offices provide great tools that offer another way to warn the public of poor air quality • AQA, AQIS, a web link to more AQ information on their home page • Reaching millions of people per day including TV meteorologists who regularly check NWS guidance • Their effectiveness was shown through an increase in media requests and public comments • Point your local NWS office to AIRNow Gateway for the AQ forecast • Time-saver for all sides • NWS Wakefield, VA and Baltimore/Washington helped greatly with implementing this method for many Mid-Atlantic states

25. Summary (2 of 2) • Highly recommend a face-to-face meeting • Leads to a better understanding of each agency’s responsibilities • Any misconceptions or confusion from either party can easily be cleared up • Importance of Code Orange can be shown by quantifying the Sensitive Groups category using American Lung Association statistics • Updates to the NWS Directives could help launch the NWS AQ product into a new and improved phase

26. References and Resources • American Lung Association, 2010: State of the Air, Report Card: Groups at Risk. [www.stateoftheair.org/2010/states] • The Baltimore Sun, 2010: Heat alert and bad air; August exits ugly. [weblogs.marylandweather.com/2010/08/] • NWSChat, 2011: Install and Configure Adium for Media Partners [https://nwschat.weather.gov/mediaAdium.php] • NWS Directive System, September 2010: 10-519 WFO Air Quality Products Specification. [www.weather.gov/directives/010/010.htm] • NWS StormReady Contacts, 2010: Local Contact Information. [www.weather.gov/stormready/contact.htm] • UT Dallas Wiki, 2011: UT Dallas Dashboard. [wiki.utdallas.edu/wiki/display/FAQ/National+Weather+Service+Bulletins]

27. Contact Laura LandryMeteorologist ARMA / Ambient Air Monitoring Program llandry@mde.state.md.us Acknowledgements:Virginia DEQ, MWCOG, PSU, Pennsylvania DEP, New Jersey DEP Maryland Department of the Environment1800 Washington Boulevard | Baltimore, MD 21230410-537-3000 | TTY Users: 1-800-735-2258www.mde.state.md.us Martin O’Malley, Governor | Anthony G. Brown, Lt. Governor | Robert M. Summers, Ph.D, Acting Secretary