Conceptual characteristics of weather information: An interdisciplinary integrative review

The accuracy and communication of weather information, along with its cognition by the user, play a crucial role in public safety and decision-making. This becomes especially important in the context of increasing climate variability and extreme weather events. However, the effectiveness of weather forecasts is not exclusively determined by the precision but also by how users perceive, interpret, and act upon the information. This paper investigates weather communication’s cognitive and behavioural impacts on the public, addressing key limitations of existing theoretical frameworks. These limitations concern universal comprehension of weather symbols and terminology, the preference for deterministic over probabilistic information and the underestimation of trust’s role in impact-based decision-making. Using an interdisciplinary integrative review methodology, this study develops the ASTDSV framework (Abstract/Spatial/Temporal/Dynamic/Sensorial/Verifiable) to analyse the characteristics of weather information and their implications for user understanding and behaviour. The framework incorporates forecast information, visualisations, mental schemas, and direct observations to provide a comprehensive perspective on user-centred cognition and communication. The findings highlight opportunities to improve clarity, accessibility, and trust in weather communication, emphasising the need for relatable and contextually relevant approaches. The study highlights the importance of education, intuitive visualisations, and the incorporation of uncertainty information to improve trust and decision-making. The ASTDSV framework offers a structured approach for assessing and enhancing weather information, building a foundation for more effective engagement between the meteorological services and the public in addressing weather-related challenges. • New conceptual framework for understanding weather cognition. • Weather cognition comprises sensorial and abstract reasoning. • Forecast users need more visual and personalised information.