Uses, Users, and Use Environments of Television Maps

Abstract

Weather maps have been part of our television environment for more than half a century and, as such, have become part of our culture. Weather maps are seen in a unique environment where users know when and where to tune in to see maps that they have become comfortable viewing. It is argued that these weather maps are good examples of animated cartography and complementarity in cartography. Weather programming on U.S. television is grouped into four types: local, national, all-news, and all-weather. Although it can be argued that more people see weather maps on television than any other type of map, these weather presentations are designed and produced by a community which includes few if any cartographers. The weather maps are used in many different ways, including a general education of the public and entertainment comparable to watching a sporting event. A typology of weather map users is developed based on what users want to get from the maps.