Developing climate services for surfing activity

Identifier:  TDX:4207

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX4207

Authors:  Boqué Ciurana, Anna

Abstract:
This thesis represents a methodological contribution and a step forward towards the development of climate services for surf. Climate services aim to deliver climate information their users. The information provided must help individuals and organizations to implement climate-smart decisions. The Global Framework for Climate Services states that it equips decision-makers in climate-sensitive sectors to help society to adapt to climate variability and change. This global framework established five priority areas of action: agriculture and food security; disaster risk reduction; energy; health; and water. However, climate services can be developed for other sectors, such as tourism. In this thesis we focus on the development of a climate service for surf tourism, which has not attempted before, to our best knowledge. To do so, we first identify the atmospheric and oceanic conditions influencing the practice of surfing. This relies on the previous research and, as a result, we obtain the expected surfing days per year are for the most relevant surf spots in the Iberian Peninsula. This is indicator is validated constructing a citizen science based benchmark, integrated by recorded surfing sessions. Next, to apprehend the actual needs for meteorological and climatic information by users and companies involved in surfing activity we develop and analyze an online survey. Finally, responding the necessities identified in the previous steep, an atmospheric-oceanic database with high spatial resolution is developed through a hybrid downscaling approach. A series of indicators are also designed to advise on the activity in tourist destinations. To ascertain the potential application of these indicators, we test them over Somo (Cantabria, Spain), a pioneer and world-known surf Spot in Spain.