The Climate Explorer
The Climate Explorer tool provides graphs, maps, and downloadable data of observed and projected climate variables for every county and selected territories in the United States. After the tool’s launch, user feedback revealed several issues with the navigation and use of the tool. NEMAC worked with NOAA’S Climate Program Office to perform usability tests that identified user issues, directing efforts to update the tool for a better user experience.
National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS)
The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), or drought.gov, is designed to provide the best available information and tools to assess the potential impacts of, and to prepare for and mitigate the effects of, drought. As part of a 2020 site redesign, NEMAC partnered with the NIDIS team to create new content and to perform usability studies to guide development of the new design.
The Local Climate Analysis Tool (LCAT)
The Local Climate Analysis Tool (LCAT) helps advanced users identify and predict climate-related impacts on water and weather at a local level. NEMAC partnered with the LCAT team to understand who was using the site and how, and in the process identified new audiences for the tool that expanded LCAT’s user base. In addition, NEMAC worked with the LCAT team to understand how people could use the tool to learn more about the effects of drought to expand LCAT’s user base.