Weather Presentation and Delivery – What Is the Value of This and How Can We Measure It?

Abstract

Introduction: It has always been clear that weather information has a value, and the improvements in meteorological science over recent decades have enabled forecasts of longer range and greater certainty, augmenting the value of weather information considerably. In approaching the question of placing a value on meteorological services, the work of Freebairn and Zillman provides a useful framework, dividing weather information into “Public Goods” and “Private Goods”, with the intervening category of “Mixed Goods” relating to products and services which can be either “Public” or “Private”, depending upon context or indeed upon national economic policy.