Climate services in a rapidly changing environment: an evaluation of the Sea Ice for Walrus Outlook (SIWO)

Understanding how to design climate services across a range of contexts remains a key priority. This research evaluates the Sea Ice for Walrus Outlook (SIWO), a resource designed to provide information about sea ice, weather, and walruses in Alaska, a region experiencing rapid social and environmental change. The evaluation was based on a set of 22 indicators developed from literature on evaluation, weather and climate services, science communication, and decision support. Two datasets were assessed to evaluate the SIWO: semi-structured interviews (n = 13) and a web-based questionnaire (n = 35). Interpretation of the outcome indicators suggests that the SIWO supported several community needs, including providing information to support travel, documenting historical impacts for disaster relief, and sharing Indigenous Knowledge among villages. The evaluation revealed insights into the kinds of information useful for rural and Indigenous communities, such as the importance of local observations from within and from nearby villages. Recommendations for other emergent organizations providing climate services in rural communities include attention to specific budget considerations to support equitable engagement and compensation, including both local and scientific observations, using multiple channels to disseminate information, and including evaluations in the design of climate services that are aligned with funding cycles.