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What is a weather/climate story?

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What is a weather or climate story?

Here in the Highlands, the weather (short-term atmospheric conditions) usually changes multiple times a day. The climate (long-term weather patterns) is also changing, although it is not always as easy to see.

Climate change is causing more frequent extreme weather events (storms, heavy downpours, strong winds) and different weather patterns over time (average temperature increases, extended dry periods). The Highland Weather & Climate Story Map was designed to collect your stories about how both weather and climate impact you.

If it helps, think of a weather or climate story as having three parts: (1) place, (2) impact, and (3) details.


Build Your Story

  • Home
  • Settlement (town, village, hamlet, neighbourhood, etc.)
  • Business or organisation
  • Public facility or building (library, hospital, school, etc.)
  • Historic Site (castle, cairn, lighthouse, etc.)
  • Outdoor recreation space (play park, beach, woodland walk, etc.)
  • Managed land (croft, farm, forestry, etc.)
  • Transportation route (ferry, train, bus, car, bike, walking, etc.)
  • Environmental feature (wetland, Caledonian forest, loch, etc.)

Extreme Weather

  • Transportation disruption
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Event cancellation
  • Property damage
  • Construction and repair delays
  • Power outages
  • Overheating
  • Supply chain disruption
  • Business continuity
  • Tourism levels

Trends

  • Heat and energy costs
  • Garden productivity and species choice
  • Landscape change
  • Property value
  • Insurance costs
  • Pest infestations
  • Food availability
  • Shorter winter seasons
  • Increased tick-borne illness
  • Changes to cultural heritage sites
  • Biodiversity change and loss
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Cost of living
  • Tourism levels
  • Livestock health
  • Agriculture and forestry productivity
  1. When did this happen?
  2. What will you do differently?
  3. What did you learn?
  4. Who was impacted?
  5. What did you lose or gain?
  6. What did you change?
  7. How did you feel?
  8. What did you change?
  9. Why is this place important?
  10. What did it cost you?

Example: Wick Harbour

Storm Babet caused significant damage to Wick harbour in just a few hours. At the same time, albeit much slower, climate change-related decline in marine health is impacting commercial fishing businesses in the North Sea, including those that use Wick harbour.

Even though Storm Babet was a single incident in the past, your experience of Storm Babet can provide valuable insights into how you will experience extreme weather events in the future. 

And while climate change impacts (like declining marine health) may unfold gradually, your observations and foresight are equally valuable.

Extreme storms and marine health decline are examples of weather and climate impacts, but they are not stories... yet.

In this example:

  1. Place =  Wick harbour
  2. Impact = Storm Babet & marine health in the North Sea
  3. Details = ?

Details are the Heart of Your Story

The details of a story are only known to the people, communities, businesses, and ecosystems experiencing these impacts first-hand. Without these details, we don't have a full picture. For example, how do these impacts make people feel? What is being done to address them? What does this cost?

Once you have an idea of what you would like to share, you have two options: the Story Map and the Extended Survey. Both of these tools will walk you through each step of sharing an experience from a specific place. The only difference is the level of depth. Sharing a story on the Story Map can take as little as 2 minutes. You will only be asked a couple of key questions to spark your memory. The Extended Survey will take about 15 minutes because it includes additional questions to guide your response. 


Other FAQs:

What is Highland Adapts?

Highland Adapts is the partnership behind the Highland Weather & Climate Story Map. Our mission is to bring together communities, businesses, land managers and the public sector to facilitate transformational action towards a prosperous, climate-ready Highland. Click here to learn more.

Why are you collecting weather and climate stories?

Stories add nuance, context, and humanity to other kinds of climate data.

Highland Adapts is currently undertaking the first Highland Climate Risk and Opportunity Assessment. Climate risk assessments often involve analysing data and models to understand the potential impacts of climate change. While these methods are essential for quantifying risks, they can overlook the nuanced, complex, and varied ways climate change affects different places. Click here to learn more.

What if I haven’t lived in one place long enough to notice any changes?

That's ok! We are interested in your current experiences, past experiences, and any observations of changes over time. As demonstrated by the example above, a single experience (like weather damage from a storm) is just as valuable as a trend observed over time (like changing commercial fishing practices). Share whatever is most applicable to you.

Do I have to answer every question on the survey?

No, you do not have to answer every question. Please only answer the questions that feel relevant to you. This is particularly relevant for the Extended Survey, which has a large number of questions covering a wide range of different topics.

Where do I start?

Place a pin on the Story Map or fill out the Extended Survey.