Step 3: Refine the climatology questions, identifying the climate variables and statistical parameters needed to address them

With a clearer picture of area’s physical setting and climate, you can hone in on the information that you’ll need to gather from the climate products. Review your questions from Step 1, narrowing and focusing them as you consider the following:

• What are the climate variables of interest (for example, winds, temperatures, ceilings, or visibilities)?

• What statistical parameters should offer the most useful information about each climate variable? Maximums and minimums? Extremes? Averages?

• What time periods are relevant? Do you need hourly, daily, seasonal, or yearly information, or a long-term average?

Here’s an example of how the focus of a situation can change after acquiring additional information.

• Initial question: What’s the best time to hold operations in February?

• Refined question: What are the typical conditions for ceiling, visibility, cloud cover and cloud level, and surface winds at the location during February? Based upon these conditions, which two-week week window should be best for conducting helicopter maneuvers?

Notice how the refined question includes a timeframe, location, climate variables of interest, and the application for which the climate information will be used. Being as specific as possible will help you obtain the right information and products.