An Investigation of Human Processing of Information in Weather Forecasting

摘要

As an approach to the analysis of human functions in complex systems, techniques were devised and tested for analyzing information processing by weather forecasters. The field interview as a source of information on the utilization of centrally-prepared aids to forecasting was evaluated at two Air Force Weather stations. The presentation of weather information via a forecaster's console was simulated in the laboratory and tested experimentally both as a means for analyzing information processing by forecasters and as a test bed for evaluating new approaches to the display of weather information. The results of the interviews and the experiment are discussed regarding their implications for weather forecasting and for research methodology, and further studies are recommended.