• TV weather forecasts including video clips
• media and climate change issue
• use of social media to convey weather and climate information
• ways to present climatological information in an appealing way for the media and general public
• effective communication of science, scientific ideas and concepts, and research results
• warnings in case of severe weather events, role of different media in the warning system, a single voice concept
• internet as efficient and popular media in meteorology
• monthly meteorological bulletins and annals
• radio as a traditional media for delivering weather data and forecasts
• development of new communication strategies and use of social media
• tips on how to interact with users and journalists
• perception of provided information among users
• use of new technologies
• role of press officers within the National weather services
• role of science journals and publishers
• communicating uncertainty in seasonal forecast and climate projections
The communication aspects of biometeorology are crucial for effectively conveying scientific information and tailoring policies to develop actions and protection measures for human health. Information must be presented in an easily understandable manner and tailored to the needs of the users. Additionally, the communication channels should be focused on the target audience, and the media used must be appropriate.
These aspects were highlighted at the symposium, which covered various important fields of human biometeorology. This included not only thermal aspects such as the quantification of heat, cold, and other related factors for different spatial aspects, like heat and extreme heat conditions, but also the development of heat warnings. It also addressed the quantification of indoor conditions and outdoor parks and spaces, and the application of prediction models for different climates and situations. Human biometeorology encompasses not only thermal aspects (heat stress), which are particularly relevant in the context of climate change, but also air pollution and the combination of thermal and air pollution factors. More scientific research is needed, as the adverse effects on human health are often due to the combination of several factors simultaneously.
Natural particles in the air, their automatic measurement, and modeling have an increased impact due to population sensitization and increased pollen emissions caused by climate change. Rapid weather changes and infectious diseases are also significant factors.
Another important aspect, beyond scientific analysis to identify factors affecting human health and well-being, is the creation of comprehensive data sets covering all areas of human biometeorology for current and future climate conditions.
Finally, communication by experienced scientists and weather forecasters is crucial for the successful application of biometeorological knowledge and information in daily life and long-term climate-resilient planning in the context of climate change.
The symposium was co-organized by the International Society of Biometeorology, the World Meteorological Organization, the EMS Media and Communication Committee, the Slovenian Meteorological Society, and the Slovenian Environment Agency. It was sponsored by the Solco W. Tromp Foundation.
How to cite: Cegnar, T.: Weather and Well-Being: Communicating Biometeorological Knowledge for Public Health, EMS Annual Meeting 2025, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 7–12 Sep 2025, EMS2025-135, https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2025-135, 2025.
National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) are under growing pressure to deliver fast, clear, and scientifically accurate information. As public interest in weather and climate continues to rise, the role of the press officer is gaining strategic importance—not only during extreme events, but also in everyday communication with the media, users, and the wider public. But who is best suited to take on this role?
This presentation raises a rarely discussed yet highly relevant question: should the press officer within an NMHS be a meteorologist or have a background in geosciences? Drawing from the author's experience as a trained meteorologist and head of communications in an NMHS, the talk explores the benefits and challenges of combining scientific expertise and communication skills in one professional profile.
Key advantages of this dual role include the ability to interpret complex data independently, anticipate misunderstandings, respond accurately to journalists' questions, and communicate directly with stakeholders—without relying on lengthy internal chains of translation. This is particularly valuable during time-critical situations.
However, challenges also exist. Scientific training does not guarantee communication excellence, and juggling technical and editorial tasks can be demanding. Depending solely on science-trained communicators may also limit collaboration with professionals in public relations, journalism, or digital media, potentially missing opportunities to reach and engage broader audiences.
The presentation will also touch on the question of editorial control: how much freedom should non-meteorologists have when adapting scientific content? How can NMHSs ensure accuracy while encouraging creativity and accessibility? Are internal review mechanisms needed when content is produced outside the scientific team?
Rather than offering a universal solution, this talk aims to spark discussion and share experiences across NMHSs. As communication becomes a core strategic function, the profile of the press officer deserves closer attention—not only in terms of skills and qualifications, but also regarding institutional support, recognition, and long-term development.
How to cite: Špoler Čanić, K.: Should Press Officers at National Meteorological Services Be Meteorologists? A View from Inside, EMS Annual Meeting 2025, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 7–12 Sep 2025, EMS2025-611, https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2025-611, 2025.
In June 2004 the First (and so far only) World Conference on Broadcast Meteorology was held in Barcelona. It brought together many broadcast meteorologists from Europe and the US, as well as a good selection from the developing world who attended a pre-Conference training workshop. The FWCBM was organised by the International Association for Broadcast Meteorology (IABM) in conjunction with (and substantially financed by) Forum Barcelona 2004.
The mid-1990’s was an active time in fomenting cooperation in European meteorological circles. The EMS itself came into being during the mid-to-late 1990s. The IABM had been established in 1994 as an association of weather broadcasters, building on contacts that had been established by the Festival International de Meteo, now succeeded by the Forum International de Meteo.
One of the big questions troubling European meteorology in the 1990’s was the availability and cost of weather data, and the implications of this challenge for weather broadcasters was one of the key motivating factors behind the establishment of the IABM. As the Association developed, however, it became an outlet for weather broadcasters to discuss other challenges, such as how they should approach the question of climate change within their daily work – a challenge that remains with us.
In the developed world of the 1990’s the medium of television was still “king” when it came to communicating weather information. The FWBCM in 2004 took place on the cusp of change, as the use of the internet was becoming mainstream as a new communication medium for information, including weather information. Facebook was launched that year, and three years later the first iPhone was launched.
In this presentation Gerald Fleming, one of the Co-Chairs of the FWCBM, will reflect on the event and on how the landscape of weather broadcasting has changed utterly over the past decades.
How to cite: Fleming, G.: Reflections on three decades of Weather Broadcasting, EMS Annual Meeting 2025, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 7–12 Sep 2025, EMS2025-250, https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2025-250, 2025.
It is an important question. What does weather look like? How best do we communicate dangerous situations to the public, so they know what to look for to stay safe? How do we better show climate change? How do we increase engagement to share more information?
The answer to all of these questions is as simple as LIVE cameras.
Why just talk about the snow in the mountains? Show it to your viewers… in real time.
Why just talk about this morning’s earthquake? Show a nearby camera shaking.
Why just warn viewers and social media followers about a line of dangerous storms? Show the storm, and its shelf clouds, wall clouds, and lighting… in real time… and follow that storm as it crosses the sky.
Why just talk about how beautiful the sunrise or sunset was today? Show it… in real time… or with an automatically created timelapse.
Our easy to set up HD PTZ camera systems and production server make it easy to quickly create quality weather content to share with viewers, visitors to your website, and social media followers.
And it’s more than just local! With our network of cameras, climate content can come from around the world. From London to Aruba to Honolulu, from Kenton-on-Sea to Kranj to Kaiserslautern, from Volcan de San Salvador to Mount Hood to the Matterhorn, thousands of cameras are at your disposal, all live, all on one system.
Enhance your weather presentations with real time, real-world examples of tornados, hurricanes, thunderstorms, lenticular clouds, crepuscular clouds, fog, smog, vog, floods, and Saharan dust. Don’t just explain what’s happening in the atmosphere, show it!
Some examples of our products in use showing what weather looks like: https://vimeo.com/1074005706/dde06ff047
How to cite: Levy, P., McKee, P., and Speicher, T.: What does weather look like?, EMS Annual Meeting 2025, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 7–12 Sep 2025, EMS2025-249, https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2025-249, 2025.
How to cite: Thompson, J., Dessai, S., Jenkins, S., Ling Sui, Y., Summers, B., and Taylor, A.: Clustering Nations for Climate Risk Communication and Preparedness: A Model-Based Approach, EMS Annual Meeting 2025, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 7–12 Sep 2025, EMS2025-578, https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2025-578, 2025.
As technology evolves, it is important to keep the public informed about meteorological extremes in a reliable and effective way. In recent years, the communication of extremes is dominated by low effort, clickbait articles and the new possibilities of data visualisation are not yet fully explored and presented to the public. For these reasons, we present a methodology together with an interactive data visualisation platform, which can be used to evaluate past weather conditions and to visualise unusual periods in a simplified, easy-to-understand manner. The following innovative principles were used in our design: (1) the definitions of unusual phenomena must be based on relative thresholds and take into account seasonality; (2) the reference climatology must be spatially relevant; (3) the results should not be bound to specific calendar years or months; (4) unusual phenomena should be visualised simultaneously (to provide a compound framework). The expression “unusual” is used to describe anomalous values in contrast to the more commonly used “extreme”, because we aim to highlight periods with non-absolute weather extremes. With the use of these principles the comparison of unusual periods from different seasons also becomes possible and easy due to the definitions selected and the interactive nature of the visualisation. As input, daily meteorological data available at 70 stations across Hungary from 2002 to 2024 were used to create the methodology, where a total of 9 unusual weather phenomena are currently defined using temperature, precipitation and wind gust as basic variables. We developed a web-based application to visualise these unusual phenomena and added further functions and visualisations that can be useful for a wide range of users. In that regard, this application can also be seen as a science communication platform that gives its users a complex set of tools to explore and understand meteorological data.
How to cite: Mikes, M. Z., Hollós, R., Dezső, Z., and Pongrácz, R.: Evaluation, visualisation and communication of unusual weather phenomena in a compound framework, EMS Annual Meeting 2025, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 7–12 Sep 2025, EMS2025-146, https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2025-146, 2025.
People are paying increasing attention to the care of their pets, and TV viewers are showing a growing interest in content that is related to pets. As a result, television networks are constantly looking for ways to improve their ratings and attract more viewers. In response to this ongoing battle for ratings, bTV Media Group in Bulgaria has introduced a new approach in its weather forecast segment. Over time, the station has started paying more attention to forecasts that are specifically related to the needs of pets, taking into account the weather conditions and the different seasons throughout the year.
This initiative is a collaborative effort that brings together various specialists, including grooming experts, veterinarians, and nutritionists, who work together to provide relevant advice. These professionals are crucial in ensuring that the information shared is both accurate and helpful for pet owners who want to take better care of their animals in different weather conditions. This interdisciplinary approach is not only beneficial for pets but also helps pet owners stay informed about how weather changes might affect their pets' well-being.
The pet-related forecasts and tips are usually featured during the weekends, particularly in the morning, as part of the weekend morning show. The meteorologist often engages in a conversation with the hosts of the show, where they discuss how the weather may impact pets and provide useful recommendations. Through this initiative, bTV aims to inform and educate pet owners, helping them create a more comfortable and safe environment for their pets, no matter the season. I would love to share my experience with this project.
How to cite: Tsalova, S.: Weather and Pets, EMS Annual Meeting 2025, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 7–12 Sep 2025, EMS2025-261, https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2025-261, 2025.
In consideration of the Early Warning for All (EW4ALL) initiative, it might be instructive to see how the weather warning system has evolved in the USA since the first tornado warning was issued in 1948. Since then, National Weather Service forecasters have routinely issued watches (statements that atmospheric conditions are favorable for dangerous weather), and warnings (statements that dangerous weather is imminent or happening) for a wide variety of warm season and cold season weather events. Remote sensing and other advances have made these weather alerts more accurate over the years, and modern methods of dissemination have increased the speed and effectiveness with which these alerts have been transmitted to broadcasters and other delivery systems for delivery to the public. In recent years, researchers have studied the effectiveness of these weather warnings, identifying certain issues that have emerged - such as dealing with false alarms, proper communication of warning information, and how the public reacts behaviorally when warnings are issued.
How to cite: Trobec, J.: Dissemination and communication of weather warnings in the USA, EMS Annual Meeting 2025, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 7–12 Sep 2025, EMS2025-658, https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2025-658, 2025.
Record global temperatures and an increase in extreme weather events in 2023 and 2024 underline once more the urgent need to tackle climate change and its far-reaching environmental, social and economic consequences. As these impacts grow more severe, it is crucial for the scientific community to communicate climate research effectively to both the public and policymakers. Bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and public understanding is essential for favoring informed decision-making and meaningful action on climate issues.
While scientists are among the most trusted professionals, enhancing communication efforts requires collaboration across disciplines - particularly with experts in communication. At the 2024 Annual Meeting of the European Meteorological Society (EMS) in Barcelona, we organized a workshop for climate scientists focused on the challenges of communicating climate science. Bringing together specialists in neuroscience, communication, activism, and journalism, the workshop fostered cross-disciplinary discussions to develop strategies for increasing public engagement with the climate crisis.
In this presentation, we summarize the workshop’s key outcomes, emphasizing the need to train climate scientists in communication skills, expand interdisciplinary collaboration, and apply insights from neuroscience to better address cognitive biases and foster attitude change.
Major takeaways include:
- recognizing and valuing the expertise and perspectives of the other party in the dialogue (dialogue-model),
- understanding the influence of cognitive dissonance and biases in climate science communication, and
- crafting persuasive, evidence-based narratives that highlight both problem and solution through partnerships with communication professionals, such as journalists.
These recommendations aim to empower the next generation of climate scientists to engage with society as trusted and impactful communicators.
How to cite: Mittermeier, M., Portal, A., Meroni, A., Böhnisch, A., and Khodayar Pardo, S.: Bridging Science and Society: Insights from Workshop on Climate Communication during EMS Annual Meeting 2024, EMS Annual Meeting 2025, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 7–12 Sep 2025, EMS2025-715, https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2025-715, 2025.
EUMETNET launched its new website in March 2025. The website was redesigned to make complex meteorological information easier to find and use. We faced challenges in organising diverse technical information from many member services into a clear, simple structure. The navigation and programme pages were restructured and renamed to help users quickly access key content without confusion. We worked closely with experts to standardise page formats and improve search functionality. The update also focused on making the site accessible to a wide range of users, from scientists to policymakers. By streamlining the layout, we reduced duplication and improved clarity. The new platform supports better sharing of weather and climate information across Europe. Interactive sessions with our Programme Managers and feedback from our Member NMS helped us create a user-friendly experience. Overall, the redesign makes EUMETNET’s resources more open and easier to explore.
How to cite: Albus-Moore, A.: Making meteorological information accessible: The EUMETNET website redesign journey, EMS Annual Meeting 2025, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 7–12 Sep 2025, EMS2025-703, https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2025-703, 2025.
“Segnali dal clima in FVG” (Signals from the climate in Friuli Venezia Giulia region) is an informative publication designed for the general public offering a regional and local perspective on climate change. The magazine explores this complex theme from three perspectives: CHANGES, IMPACTS, ACTIONS.
It is born from the commitment of the Clima FVG Working Group, that brings together the region’s leading scientific and research institutions, which share the belief that addressing the challenges posed by climate change to our society requires not only scientific and technological advancements but also widespread public awareness and understanding.
To bring the public closer to a topic that is still often perceived as distant, “Segnali dal clima in FVG” presents different facets of climate change starting from the account of events and situations that have recently affected Friuli Venezia Giulia region, while also highlighting how the local dimension is connected to the global one.
The basic idea is to draw on the knowledge that the research institutions belonging to the Clima FVG WG constantly elaborate, translating it into accessible and engaging content for the general public. “Segnali dal clima in FVG” takes the form of a popular science magazine, published annually: the articles are collected on a voluntary basis from experts within the Clima FVG WG’s institutions, according to the authors' willingness and topics’ availability. Each year different climate-related themes are explored and highlighted, providing locally relevant knowledge about weather and climate, cryosphere, freshwater, sea, lagoon, ecosystems, agriculture, forests, wildfires, buildings, urban areas, social and psychological issues, animal and human health etc.
The story-telling of events and phenomena is accompanied by explanations, mini-glossaries, examples. The magazine’s structure and reading path helps non-expert readers to understand how changes, impacts and actions are connected, showing how climate changes affect the environment and human activities and what mitigation and adaptation actions we can put in place, both at a collective and at an individual level. This should help ease and manage the possible anxiety-inducing effect of part of the information by framing the messages into a constructive perspective.
Editorial coordination is managed by ARPA FVG. All the editorial, graphic design and production process is done "in-house" without additional funding.
The magazine is published and freely available online. A limited number of copies are printed on paper for institutional purposes and for distribution to policy makers.
Further positive outcomes of “Segnali dal clima in FVG” come from the drafting process itself, which involves establishing new relationships with experts from various scientific institutions and the most diverse disciplines, contributing to valuable insights that help shape regional climate policies.
How to cite: Flapp, F., Stel, F., Caprotti, E., Tudorov, N., Stefanelli, S., Bacaro, G., Colucci, R. R., Giorgi, F., Peressotti, A., Raicich, F., and Solidoro, C.: “Signals from the climate in FVG”: a magazine for the citizens, to raise public awareness of climate change in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, EMS Annual Meeting 2025, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 7–12 Sep 2025, EMS2025-89, https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2025-89, 2025.
In the last years in Slovenia we had several types of weather shows. From short weather talk of weather presenter with the evening news anchor to around 8 minutes long conversation about the weather topics in the morning talking show and classical evening TV weather show with or without weather presenter. While people in the last years less and less understand the weather it is of great importance that meteorologists are present on TV and speak about all weather-related topics, to educate the viewers about the normal and extreme weather in our country and worldwide. Not only the weather itself, also the pollen forecast, UV index, temperature trends and probability of precipitation in the next days is important to be spoken to the public. Also, we have to talk about the past weather cases that people don't forget what the possible range of temperatures or precipitation is in one day or month to not be that surprised when the extremes happen. Classical evening TV weather show has exact format and the time limit which means there is not much time to talk about the weather outside next days time period or outside your country. People have a lot of interests, do different sports, have gardens or just love to spend the day off outside. This is why they like to hear about the weather also in some other aspects. When there will be the high or low tide on the sea, is in the mountains possibility for snow avalanches or just what are the temperatures of lakes and rivers on a very hot summer day. People also travel around the world so information about the weather worldwide is of their interest. Weather forecasts are just one click away on our phones and computers, but the knowledge of the weather- and weather-related topics are harder to find, so some of main tasks of meteorologists in the future will be the education of people to better understand the weather around us.
How to cite: Hladnik Zakotnik, V.: Different kinds of weather TV shows with meteorologists on a national television in Slovenia in the last years, EMS Annual Meeting 2025, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 7–12 Sep 2025, EMS2025-114, https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2025-114, 2025.
The communication of meteorological information becomes increasingly complex and refined as demographic trends evolve, methods of forecast consumption transform, and distribution channels become progressively fragmented. In light of severe weather events and their effects, both operational and theoretical communication paradigms must adapt, ensuring that as many affected individuals as possible are made aware of the risks, consequences, and relevant guidance. Although there are numerous institutional practices concerning weather, warnings and impacts communication, alongside the WMO reports (2015, 2021) outlining best practices, we recognise an expanding opportunity for more thorough, discussion-based collaboration on an international scale. This recognised gap and opportunity for interdisciplinary knowledge exchange prompted us to establish the MetComms Group, which unites meteorologists, meteorological officers, communicators, researchers, analysts, interface designers, broadcast meteorologists, and others to exchange insights and experiences regarding best practices in weather communication. The Group's aim is to evaluate the most effective approaches that are contextually relevant, resource-appropriate, and applicable across diverse forecast providers and countries.
The concept for the Group originated during the EMS2024 Annual Meeting in Barcelona, envisioned as a forum for open dialogue and participant interaction, rather than plainly a presentation format. The Group convened for the first time in February 2025, and we aim to broaden our network of professionals interested in this field, inviting any new members and discussion proposals. Our current ongoing agenda includes the following subjects:
1st Impact-oriented warnings
2nd Communicating Weather Information to Authorities and Emergency Services
3rd Assessing the effectiveness of Hazard warnings
4th The cry-wolf effect on public and professional perceptions
5th Information exchange among various meteorological professionals
Based on our preliminary discussions and input from the invited members, there is a clear demand for such a dialogue-driven platform and a desire for closer collaboration that can foster the enhancement of practices and facilitate smoother communication across nations.
How to cite: Bukowski, F. and Grasso, V.: MetComms as an international platform for discussion about scientific, operational, and innovational knowledge in meteorological communications, EMS Annual Meeting 2025, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 7–12 Sep 2025, EMS2025-112, https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2025-112, 2025.
In Italy, regional meteorological services form the backbone of the weather warning system, providing crucial monitoring and forecasting for civil protection agencies. Tuscany's LaMMA Consortium, a collaboration between the Regional Authority and the National Research Council (CNR), has played this role for over two decades. To optimize its service and enhance communication effectiveness, LaMMA annually surveys Tuscan civil protection entities, soliciting feedback on their satisfaction with weather warnings and identifying persistent challenges and information needs.
This presentation will analyze key findings from recent LaMMA surveys, highlighting a significant hurdle in the communication chain: the gap between the expectations of public administrators and the inherent uncertainties in weather prediction. Tasked with making critical decisions based on meteorological information, these users often demand highly detailed spatial and temporal forecasts. However, the probabilistic nature of atmospheric science and the increasing use of ensemble forecasting present a challenge, as administrators often struggle to interpret and utilize probabilistic information effectively. This difficulty is particularly evident in the context of "yellow" (moderate risk) alerts and the forecasting of convective events like thunderstorms, where forecast uncertainty is often more pronounced. Indeed, feedback reveals a strong demand for more detailed and localized forecasts, coupled with improved communication of uncertainty, particularly concerning these yellow alerts and thunderstorms. Furthermore, respondents expressed a desire for more technical information and training for civil protection personnel, alongside a recognized need to enhance direct communication with the public and integrate hydrogeological data into the warning process. The calibration and consistency of alerts are also considered crucial for maintaining public trust in the system.
The presentation will explore the implications of this communication gap.
How to cite: Grasso, V., Betti, G., Pasi, F., Tei, C., Torrigiani, T., and Gozzini, B.: Weather warning system in Tuscany (Italy): assessing user needs and the gap between expectations and predictability, EMS Annual Meeting 2025, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 7–12 Sep 2025, EMS2025-298, https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2025-298, 2025.
Researchers in the field of meteorology often have the task of identifying new patterns in measured or forecasted data. Once these patterns are discovered, we must present them in a way that is understandable to researchers from related fields and to industrial users who require specifically processed data.
For such purposes, merely numerical data presentation is not sufficient. We also need graphical representation. When we want to exchange results with users from other fields outside meteorology, the first choice is usually a program for graphs and spreadsheets like Excel (or other similar packages). However, for more complex data, the capabilities of these packages quickly become insufficient. In our research group, which mainly focuses on atmospheric pollution modeling, we have therefore developed a dedicated database and accompanying graphical representations that address at least some of the challenges in this area.
Many atmospheric phenomena exhibit 24-hour cycles. The source of these cycles is, of course, the influence of solar radiation, both directly and indirectly, on other meteorological variables. However, since there are no specialized programs available for graphical representation of 24-hour cycles, we developed an algorithm for statistical analysis of variables with a 24-hour cycle and an appropriate graphical representation of the results – a diagram we named "sunflower." The idea behind the algorithm and the implementation of the graphical representation will be explained in detail during the presentation.
From the graphical representation "sunflower," we developed an additional graphical representation called "weather flower" which allows for an innovative graphical display of weather forecasts based on a similar principle.
In the second part of the presentation, we will present several graphical solutions for presenting vertical profiles of wind, temperature, and relative humidity. These graphical representations are useful for both measurements and weather model forecasts. Users from the nuclear power plant also utilize these solutions, as profiles data are crucial input for air pollution dispersion models in the event of accidental atmospheric releases. In addition, they aim to understand dedicated weather forecasts with fine temporal and spatial resolution, both for dispersion prediction and general use. This is an example of good practice where research knowledge in meteorology is directly applied in industry.
How to cite: Božnar, M. Z., Grašič, B., Mlakar, P., and Popović, D.: Meteorological measurements and weather forecasts presentation for researchers and higher level industrial users, EMS Annual Meeting 2025, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 7–12 Sep 2025, EMS2025-193, https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2025-193, 2025.
For meteorological and climate services to be truly impactful, they must be developed with a clear understanding of users’ needs and the context in which decisions are made. The growing availability of seasonal and sub-seasonal (S2S) forecasts, for example, could greatly benefit the agricultural sector. However, little is known about the effectiveness and actionability of S2S products in European real-world farming contexts. Additionally, there is often a lack of opportunities for meaningful dialogue between producers and users of forecasts, which limits the uptake and improvements of S2S forecasts.
To help bridge this gap, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute (MET Norway), within the framework of the Climate Futures centre for research-based innovation, has been exploring the use of serious games as an innovative methodology to foster dialogue with agricultural stakeholders about the opportunities and limits of the institute’s S2S information services: the 21-day forecast, which was recently launched, and the seasonal forecast, which is currently in the final development phase before becoming operational.
In collaboration with the Norwegian Agricultural Advisory Service, we have developed Melkeværet, a hybrid board-digital game simulating farming decision-making in the milk-production sector. The players sit around a board showing the calendar of a productive season by weekly steps. They compete in producing milk by making strategic decisions with the support of short-, medium- and long-term weather forecast information. The digital support shows the players the grass growing process on their fictional farms and calculates each one’s performance.
A series of game sessions were carried out in 2024 and 2025, which involved more than 30 participants in total, among which farmers, agricultural consultants, researchers and meteorologists. The first results show that Melkeværet is effective in making the participants feel engaged and promoting the exchange of information. Importantly, the game sessions highlighted farmers’ decision-making strategies and needs related to S2S products as a key aspect in attempts to integrate weather and climate information across timescales. The game sessions shed light on how farmers simultaneously rely on weather observations, memories from past seasons, and sharing of information through networks of trust relationships. They also revealed farmers’ need to compare probabilistic forecasts in real time with normal conditions and earlier forecasts. The sessions showed that farmers prefer written descriptions of upcoming conditions over purely numerical or graphical formats, and that they see seasonal forecasts as especially valuable for making decisions during the initial planning phase of the season.
Future steps involve both the organization of additional game sessions for continuing to explore the use of S2S forecast information in the agricultural sector, and the further development of Melkeværet. We are currently exploring the inclusion of AI-based forecast products, as well as scoping Melkeværet to other (geographical) scenarios for supporting international collaboration.
How to cite: Vigna, I., Sivle, A., and Jeuring, J.: Serious gaming to create spaces for meaningful dialogue between producers and users of subseasonal to seasonal forecasts , EMS Annual Meeting 2025, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 7–12 Sep 2025, EMS2025-176, https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2025-176, 2025.
This project presents an innovative educational card game designed to familiarize players with climate data from Slovenian meteorological stations. Inspired by classic comparative card games — such as those featuring cars, where players compete based on the highest engine power or acceleration — this game applies a similar format to environmental education. Each card represents a different meteorological station in Slovenia and includes a set of relevant climate indicators, especially temperature records.
The gameplay is simple and competitive: players take turns choosing a specific variable to compare, then each reveals the corresponding value from their top card. The player with the highest (or lowest, depending on the category) value wins the round and collects the cards. The goal is to collect as many cards as possible, while also gaining a deeper understanding of local climate characteristics.
The cards are based on real meteorological data, allowing players to engage with authentic information in a fun and interactive way. The selection of indicators encourages reflection on both short-term weather phenomena and long-term climate patterns, offering opportunities to discuss climate change, regional differences, and the importance of long-term observations.
In addition to entertainment, the game serves as a learning tool suitable for use in schools, workshops, and informal educational settings. It can be adapted for different age groups by adjusting the complexity of indicators or including additional context and explanations. The project also opens doors for further expansion — such as thematic sets (e.g., extreme events, climate change scenarios) or digital versions with interactive visualizations.
By combining elements of play, competition, and environmental science, this card game offers a unique approach to raising awareness about climate and fostering curiosity about the natural world through localized, data-driven content.
How to cite: Klančar, M.: Climate Cards: Battle of the Weather Stations!, EMS Annual Meeting 2025, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 7–12 Sep 2025, EMS2025-111, https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2025-111, 2025.
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