Situational Awareness and Safety: Using Weather Information to Inform Decision-Making in Antarctic Environments

Abstract

Abstract To avoid hazards, manage risks, and successfully conduct their outdoor activities, people in Antarctica make weather-related decisions every day. Research on Antarctic weather information use and related decision-making, services, and user needs is limited. In a mixed-methods study, we explored how people use weather information to manage activities and weather in Antarctic regions. Survey (n = 62) and interview (n = 35) participants were deployed with National Antarctic Programs and tourism operators across a range of roles, activities, and locations. How and when weather information was used depended on people’s decision contexts, location, activities, previous experience and knowledge. Experienced participants used weather information, their experience, and local knowledge to form and maintain their situation awareness. Situation awareness influenced participant's decision-making, risk assessment, and planning processes and enabled people's adaptation to changing circumstances, hazards, and weather conditions. As a part of these processes, forecasts were used primarily for pre-activity planning and scheduling decisions. Tasks were prioritized and planned based on suitable weather conditions, experience, and safety. During activities, real-time weather data, personal observations, and experience were important for updating situation awareness, risk judgments, decision-making, and maintaining safety. Levels of weather service provision and training varied and were often not fit-for-purpose, which may adversely impact people's safety in Antarctic regions. Results contribute to our understanding of polar weather user needs, and how we may support people to develop the experience, knowledge, and non-technical skills necessary for identifying and avoiding hazards and safe, efficient, and successful outdoor activities.