## **[Exhibit 3A]{.underline}** 

FY 2008 Annual Performance Plan

***NOAA***

[NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION]{.underline}

[FY 2008 ANNUAL PERFORMANCE PLAN (APP)]{.underline}

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is an
environmental science agency whose mission is to understand and predict
changes in the Earth's environment and conserve and manage coastal and
marine resources to meet the Nation's economic, social, and
environmental needs.

Success in a global economy is linked not only to the ability to respond
or react to events but to anticipate and forecast them. Moreover,
understanding the ocean and atmosphere is essential to sustaining the
United States' environmental and economic health. This is critically
important after the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami and back-to-back
battering of four Gulf coast states from Hurricanes Wilma, Katrina, and
Rita. Between August 2004 and October 2005, seven of the ten most costly
hurricanes in United States history hit our shores. Millions of people
depend on NOAA's science, service, and stewardship to help ensure the
safety and resiliency of coastal and inland communities.

NOAA monitoring and prediction products assist community resiliency for
millions of people in the United States, including and particularly in
the fast growing coastal zones. Resilience is the capacity of a system,
community, or society potentially exposed to hazards to adapt by
resisting or changing, to reach and maintain an acceptable level of
functioning and structure. Resilience is a measure of how well
communities can organize to learn from past disasters in order to
improve future protection and reduce risks. Examples of unique and
essential products and services NOAA provides for community resiliency
are satellite imagery, tornado warnings, navigational charts, fishery
stock assessments, hurricane tracking, El Niño assessment and forecasts,
harmful algal bloom predictions, severe weather forecasts, and a range
of information resources, technology, assessment tools, and decision
support tools to help mitigate identified risks and vulnerabilities.

Lives, safety, communities, and businesses depend on reliable weather
and climate forecasts to minimize disruption in economic activity and
everyday life. Accurate predictions of severe weather safeguard both
lives and the economic structure of communities. Maritime commerce and
marine transportation rely on NOAA's integrated observations and
navigation products to operate safely. Coastal communities, representing
over thirty percent of the U.S. gross domestic product, depend heavily
on the resiliency that results from sustaining healthy marine habitats
and a robust ocean ecosystem. NOAA is linking climate change data to
actions that can mitigate the effects of climate change impacts on
coastal communities.

NOAA's science-based management approach provides a solid foundation for
economic growth and a healthy economy. New priorities for global
observation systems, international cooperation, and homeland security
will improve NOAA's delivery and effectiveness of services for all of
its mission goals. Ultimately, NOAA's success will be measured in the
quality of the tools, technologies, information services, and other
services and benefits provided to customers -- the American public.

Priorities/Management Challenges

Every aspect of NOAA's mission -- ranging from managing coastal and
marine resources to predicting changes in the Earth's environment --
faces a new urgency to address intensifying national needs related to
the economy, the environment, and public safety. Priorities for NOAA
action are emerging in climate change, freshwater supply, ecosystem
management, and homeland security. NOAA is advancing regional approaches
and solutions to these challenges to effectively utilize a wealth of
people and programs in communities around the United States.

NOAA's Strategic Plan addresses global emerging trends and guides NOAA
business processes to address those trends. Significant reports such as
the Preliminary and Final Reports of the U.S. Commission on Ocean
Policy, the U.S. Ocean Action Plan, and the Strategic Plan for the U.S.
Climate Change Science Program cite growing needs with respect to the
oceans, coasts, and response to climate changes. Recommendations in such
reports underlie the NOAA Strategic Plan, setting a framework for
addressing the needs of the Nation today and for tomorrow. The Strategic
Plan responds to the President's Management Agenda for a
citizen-centered, results-driven organization that serves all Americans
every day.

The NOAA Strategic Plan has five goals: four "mission goals" and one
"mission support goal." The Strategic Plan sets an agenda to:

> Mission Goals \--

-   Ecosystems: Protect, restore, and manage the use of coastal and
    ocean resources through an ecosystem approach to management.

-   Climate: Understand climate variability and change to enhance
    society's ability to plan and respond.

-   Weather and Water: Serve society's needs for weather and water
    information.

-   Commerce and Transportation: Support the Nation's commerce with
    information for safe, efficient, and environmentally sound
    transportation.

> Mission Support Goal \--

-   Mission Support: Provide critical support for NOAA's mission.

    The Plan's emphasis on the Nation's needs for expanded commerce and
    economic development directly relates to the Administration's focus
    on a healthy and growing economy. NOAA's elevation in FY 2003 of
    ecosystem-based management and climate science to high-priority
    goals in the Plan is especially noteworthy to meet the challenges of
    the 21^st^ century. In recent years, extreme drought and flooding
    conditions in large regions of the Nation have combined to make
    improved water resources prediction an urgent requirement for NOAA's
    future weather and climate mission.

    The Strategic Plan guides all of NOAA's management decisions and
    provides a consistent framework for implementation of Line Office
    and cross-organizational plans, initiatives, and performance
    measures. Through the plan, NOAA employees and contractors can
    better understand their role in meeting NOAA's strategic goals.

### 

Marginal Cost

OMB recommended a plan to demonstrate the marginal cost vs. performance
increase of technologies added to fixed cost platforms. Thus, Navigation
Services looked at the fixed costs of one NOAA ship and the enhancements
to performance that incremental investments in modern technologies can
make to NOAA's data collection. Fixed cost portion of the measure is the
current fleet/NOS Hydro costs, which are in-house costs.  This is
collected each year to populate a Cost/Schedule/Performance worksheet,
but validation of the totals is being performed. The variable portion is
new technology investments -- for FY 2008, autonomous underwater
vehicles (AUVs) \-- and the increased performance these will bring.  The
measure demonstrates how continued investment in existing survey
platforms with performance-boosting technologies will pay off over time.
The AUV assessed here is a small torpedo-shaped sensor that can operate
without tether from a hydrographic survey launch. The analysis considers
adding AUVs to the NOAA Survey Ship THOMAS JEFFERSON to increase survey
capacity.

Navigation Services also looked at marginal cost analysis for the fixed
costs of NOAA ships and the enhancements to performance that incremental
investments in modern technologies can make to NOAA's data collection
efforts. NOAA ships currently carry smaller vessels that are launched
once a survey area is reached. These hydrographic launches enable NOAA
to collect more data with each survey. Equipped with the same technology
as the mother ship, the launches allow NOAA to cover more territory in a
day at sea, thereby increasing operational output and efficiency. The
current fleet of launches is very old, and safety and maintenance issues
impact day-to-day performance. The President's FY 2008 request includes
\$2.4M in PAC funds to begin a replacement program for the launches,
which will bring on new, faster hulls, improved sonar technology systems
and other performance-enhancing characteristics. This measure
demonstrates the cost/benefit and marginal improvements to performance
that complete replacement of the launches will provide.

Efficiency Measures

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) regulatory programs -- "Program
Expenditures Per Index Fish Stock Not Subject To Overfishing." This
measure divides the number of program dollars expended to identify,
prevent, and eliminate overfishing by the number of stocks from the Fish
Stock Sustainability Index (FSSI) that are not subject to overfishing.
The expenditure component of the measure comprises all or part of three
NOAA programs: Fishery Management, Ecosystem Observations, and
Enforcement. Specific lines in the NMFS budget have been identified as
contributing to the identification, prevention, and elimination of
overfishing and thus to the expenditure component of the measure.
Together these lines accounted for nearly \$360 million of the total
NMFS budget of \$823 million in FY 2005. The performance component of
the measure is the number of stocks (out of the 230 stocks that make up
the FSSI) that are identified in the annual Report to Congress on the
Status of U.S. Fisheries as not subject to overfishing. These are stocks
for which the mortality rate is at or below the long-term sustainable
level. Ensuring a mortality rate at or below the sustainable level is
the key to maintaining sustainable stocks and to rebuilding stocks to
sustainable population levels. It is also the factor affecting
population levels over which NMFS has the most direct influence.

Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) -- \"Change in number of
ESA-listed ESU\'s with stable or increasing trends per million dollars
of program expenditure.\" This measure divides annual PCSRF program
expenditures by the change in the number of listed salmon stocks with
stable or increasing populations.

Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) Assessments -- more information
can be found at www.expectmore.gov

[FY 2008 PART Assessments and Status of Implementing PART
Recommendations]{.underline}

Navigation Services (84%)

NOAA is the national authority for navigation data to provide essential
services for the safe movement of goods and people in the U.S. Exclusive
Economic Zone (about 3.4M square nautical miles). Safe movement of
vessels in U.S. waters enhances public safety, economic prosperity, and
environmental well-being. NOAA's Navigation Services components are
constructed around this primary goal, with complementary products and
services deriving from the activities NOAA is authorized to conduct:
hydrographic and topographic surveys; tide and current observations;
geodetic reference and control surveys; field surveys for aeronautical
charts; and geomagnetic, seismological, gravity, and related geophysical
measurements to provide charts and other information for safe marine and
air navigation.

NOAA strives to provide effective navigation and geodetic positioning
services to coastal and maritime communities and works to meet all OMB
recommendations for improvement. In 2003, OMB assessed NOAA's mapping
and charting program, and then reassessed it in 2006 in conjunction with
closely related capabilities in NOAA's marine transportation system and
geodesy programs. NOAA has continued to incrementally build and maintain
the Electronic Navigational Chart suite (ENCs) as supported by OMB in
the 2003 PART and supported in recent President\'s Requests; however,
these efforts have not been fully funded by Congress. To cover all U.S.
waters, the program requires the additional capacity requested by the
Administration to complete the full suite of ENC's needed, but more
importantly maintain the existing ENCs so that they do not become
obsolete and create a potentially significant safety problem for
maritime users. NOAA is also working on the optimal investment strategy
required to adequately survey the 500,000 square nautical miles of
navigationally significant areas by conducting a rigorous cost,
schedule, and performance analysis. NOAA is using efficiency measures to
guide program management. To demonstrate more effectively the links
between program performance and the efficiency measure \"average number
of days from hydrographic survey data acquisition to navigation product
delivery,\" the program is working to break up the measure into
discrete, measurable components to better track accountability and
manage performance. NOAA is further measuring the percent of top 175 US
Seaports with access to NOAA's suite of navigation products and
services. NOAA is integrating Height Modernization grant recipients into
its planning process and including their activities in NOAA's milestones
and performance measures. The FY 2008 President\'s Request for
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle implementation in the hydrographic
surveying program will enable NOAA to incorporate new technology to
better maximize data collection with its survey resources and platforms.
Transitioning this research effort into operations is expected to also
encourage NOAA contractors to integrate AUVs into their survey efforts,
thus enabling NOAA contract dollars to go farther.

  ----------------------- ---------- ----------------------------------------
  **Improvement Plan**    **Action   **Comments**
                          Taken**    

  The Budget provides     Not        NOAA will maintain the existing ENCs in
  funding to expand the   enacted    FY 2006, but not build new ENCs, based
  program\'s capacity to             on the FY 2006 appropriation. FY07
  build and maintain                 President's Budget includes increase of
  ENCs.                              \$1.9 million to allow NOAA to add 70
                                     ENCs in 2007 for a total of 620. We
                                     continue to request this funding in
                                     2008.

  Determine the optimal   No action  New follow-up action.
  investment strategy     taken      
  required to adequately             
  survey the 500,000                 
  square nautical miles              
  of navigationally                  
  significant areas                  
  through the conduct of             
  a rigorous cost,                   
  schedule and                       
  performance analysis.              

  Enhance performance     No action  New follow-up action.
  measures to better      taken      
  demonstrate more                   
  efficient use of                   
  service contracts.                 

  The Budget proposes     No action  New follow-up action.
  funding for             taken      
  state-of-the-art                   
  technology, Autonomous             
  Underwater Vehicles                
  (AUVs), to increase the            
  efficiency of                      
  hydrographic survey                
  data collection.                   
  ----------------------- ---------- ----------------------------------------

National Marine Fisheries Service (55%)

This program was rated "Adequate" in 2002. The original recommendations
have been completed. New recommendations have been added.

  ----------------------- ----------- -----------------------------------------
  **Improvement Plan**    **Action    **Comments**
                          Taken**     

                                      

  Work with Congress to   Complete    Reauthorization legislation has been
  amend the                           enacted and signed by the President.
  Magnuson-Stevens                    Funding Is requested for market-based
  Fishery Conservation                approaches.
  and Management Act to               
  set hard deadlines for              
  ending overfishing and              
  encourage the use of                
  market-based approaches             
  to management.                      

  Work with fishery       Action      NOAA expects to put two Limited Access
  managers to double the  taken, but  Programs (LAP) into operation during FY
  number of fisheries     not         2007, and two more during FY 2008 if the
  managed through         completed   requested funding is approved. This
  market-based approaches             represents 50% of the goal of doubling
  (from 8 to 16 by 2010).             the number of DAPs in operation by 2010.

  Invest in additional    Action      Starting in FY 2006, NOAA has requested
  fish stock surveys and  taken, but  additional funds for these purposes in
  economic and social     not         the President\'s Budget.
  science studies to      complete    
  support management                  
  decisions                           
  ----------------------- ----------- -----------------------------------------

Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (77%)

Following the development of performance measures and other management
improvement actions, the 2002 rating of \"Results Not Demonstrated\" was
increased to \"Moderately Effective\" following a 2006 re-PART. This
program restores stocks of Pacific salmon through improvement and
expansion of salmon habitat. The program provides grants to the states
of California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, and Columbia River and
Pacific Coast Indian tribes.

Since its original evaluation in 2002, PCSRF has developed performance
metrics and has shown significant progress in salmon recovery efforts.
Measures include number of stable or increasing salmon populations,
acres of habitat restored, and stream miles of habitat made accessible.
All targets have been met, including those for stable or increasing
salmon populations. The program still has not been able to allocate
funds based on priority needs of ESA-listed populations. However,
individual states select projects based on the state-established
priorities. In addition, some states match federal funds. The
Administration has proposed a matching requirement and allowing the
Secretary to develop guidelines for targeting funding toward restoration
of risk populations. The program has implemented and adhered to strong
financial and management practices and addressed deficiencies when they
have arisen. However, the link between resources and performance has not
been made explicit in the budget request pending Congressional
acceptance of the Administration\'s proposal.

  ----------------------- ----------- -----------------------------------------
  **Improvement Plan**    **Action    **Comments**
                          Taken**     

  Make an explicit link   Action      The President\'s Budget includes PCSRF
  between resources and   taken, but  performance data (see the PCSRF Base
  performance in future   not         Narrative section).
  budget requests.        completed   

  Propose a budget        Not enacted This has not been enacted by Congress.
  request to allocate                 
  funds based on listed               
  salmon recovery goals.              

  Propose a requirement   Not enacted This has not been enacted by Congress.
  that all states provide             
  a 33% match for Federal             
  funds.                              
  ----------------------- ----------- -----------------------------------------

Coastal Zone Management Act Programs (46%)

The 2003 PART assessment of CZMA Programs contained three
recommendations for improvement. As of the Spring 2006 PART update,
these three recommendations were reported complete. Notably, in 2005,
NOAA launched a phased implementation of performance measures for the
Coastal Zone Management Program (CZMP) and National Estuarine Research
Reserves (NERRS). The measures are being phased in over three years,
beginning with the FY 2006 grants awarded in FY 2005. Data will be
collected from state grantees through annual performance reports in late
Fall 2006 for measures on public access, improved governmental
coordination, and the NERRS Coastal Training Program. The other
measures, including habitat, will be phased in over the next two years.
NOAA has been working to identify a subset of these measures that can be
used as long-term outcome oriented performance measures and efficiency
measures for the PART. The CZMP and NERRS also contribute to NOAA-level
outcome-oriented performance measures, including the GPRA measure,
"annual number of coastal, marine, and Great Lakes ecological
characterizations that meet management needs" and the APP measure
"habitat acres acquired or designated for long-term protection."

In June 2006, NOAA completed the NERRS Research and Monitoring Plan
(2006-2011), which reflects the NOAA-wide Research Plan (2005) and
research needs of managers to ensure that the research opportunities
available in the NERRS are well integrated with NOAA coastal and ocean
research programs. The NERRS has also developed partnerships within and
outside NOAA, for example, to improve delivery of NERRS System-wide
Monitoring Program (SWMP) water and weather data through the Integrated
Ocean Observing System (IOOS) with the National Weather Service,
research the impact of changing land use patterns and human health
issues with NCCOS, link research efforts from nearshore to offshore
locations (with the National Marine Sanctuary Program and EPA's National
Estuary Program), and support research efforts within the Chesapeake Bay
(e.g., community-based restoration and fisheries research support with
NOAA's Chesapeake Bay Office), among others.

In 2005, OMB added a recommendation for the FY 2007 President\'s Budget
proposing to redirect a portion of the program funding to competitive
grants that more directly address emerging regional and national
priorities. The FY 2008 budget recommends re-proposing reforms to better
target and increase the effectiveness of the program. NOAA has completed
initial identification of options for a competitive process and
continues to further develop the proposal in collaboration with state
partners.

  ----------------------- ----------- ----------------------------------------
  **Improvement Plan**    **Action    **Comments**
                          Taken**     

  Redirect a portion of   Action      The FY 2007 President's Budget proposed
  the program funding to  taken, but  to redirect a portion of the program
  competitive grants that not         funding to competitive grants that more
  more directly address   completed   directly address emerging regional and
  regional and national               national priorities. NOAA has prepared a
  priorities.                         set of options for a competitive process
                                      and continues to further develop the
                                      proposal. State partners have agreed to
                                      form a work group to look at the options
                                      and provide input.
  ----------------------- ----------- ----------------------------------------

Climate Program (78%)

Investing in additional climate observations and research priorities to
better understand climate variability. Working jointly with CCSP, NOAA
requests an increase to assess the Atlantic Meridional Overturning
Circulation variability. NOAA will increase the technology refresh of
the TAO Tropical Moored Buoy to replace obsolete components of the
Nation's foremost climate observing systems. NOAA requests an increase
for improved understanding of the processes that control water vapor in
the Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere. The NOAA Climate Program
also supports this improvement through its base research and
observations programs.

Developing tools for decision-makers to assist in responding to climate
change. NOAA will increase a critical component of the NIDIS Drought
Early Warning System. NOAA requests an increase for specific activities
that focus on measurements of soil moisture and creating a U.S. Drought
Portal for the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS).
The NOAA Climate Program also supports this improvement through its base
programs.

  ------------------ ----------- --------------------------- ------------------
  **Improvement      **Action    **Comments**                **FY 2008 Related
  Plan**             Taken**                                 Adjustments or
                                                             Ongoing
                                                             Activities**

  Investing in       Action      NOAA increased the number   NOAA requests an
  additional climate taken, but  of climate variables        increase for
  observations and   not         reported in the annual      implementing a
  research           completed   State of the Climate Report critical component
  priorities to                  to 38%. The goal is to      of the NIDIS
  better understand              robustly quantify and       Drought Early
  climate                        analyze 42 variables (these Warning System.
  variability.                   are documented in the       NOAA requests an
                                 Global Climate Observing    increase for
                                 System Implementation       specific
                                 Plan). In FY 2006, NOAA     activities that
                                 quantified/analyzed 38%     focus on
                                 (16) of the 42, and         measurements of
                                 published the analysis in   soil moisture and
                                 the 2006 State of the       creating a U.S.
                                 Climate Report.             Drought Portal for
                                                             the National
                                                             Integrated Drought
                                                             Information System
                                                             (NIDIS). The NOAA
                                                             Climate Program
                                                             also supports this
                                                             improvement
                                                             through its base
                                                             programs.
  ------------------ ----------- --------------------------- ------------------

Protected Areas (68%)

PART recommended that the Budget maintain funding for the Marine
Protected Areas (MPA) Center and National Marine Sanctuaries Program
(NMSP), but should not continue unrequested program or construction
funds. NOAA has been unable to comply, because enacted budgets have been
below the President's Request. This severely limits the ability of the
MPA Center to maintain operations to execute responsibilities under
Executive Order 13158 to develop a national system of marine protected
areas. NMSP and the MPA Center have maintained performance measures with
targets and timeframes that are ambitious, strategic, and realistic.
NMSP monitors and reports on these measures biannually to ensure targets
are ambitious and performance data is used to improve management and
better address priority management issues. Further, in October FY 2006
the NMSP was favorably evaluated by a nationally recognized evaluation
organization that meets the Office of Management and Budget requirements
for independence, quality, and scope. Regarding the enhancement of the
integration of area-based management programs, NMSP has established
regional offices to facilitate sanctuaries management. NOAA is working
to achieve a \"seamless network for marine sanctuaries. The MPA Center
published a draft Framework for the National System of MPAs for public
comment in the *Federal Register* and will finalize it during FY 2007.
The FY 2008 funding increase of \$8 million for the Northwestern
Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument will contribute directly to
the implementation of an area-based management plan, including new
restrictions for conservation purposes, in cooperation with other
area-based management agencies such as the Department of Interior and
the State of Hawaii.

  ----------------------- ----------- -----------------------------------------
  **Improvement Plan**    **Action    **Comments**
                          Taken**     

  The Budget maintains    Not enacted The President\'s Budget Request continues
  funding for both the                to maintain funding for both the MPA
  MPA Center and NMSP,                Center and NMSP, but does not continue
  but does not continue               unrequested program or construction
  unrequested program or              funds.
  construction funds.                 

  NOAA will establish     Action      NMSP contracted with the National Academy
  review processes at the taken, but  of Public Administration (NAPA) to
  appropriate level and   not         conduct an external review of the
  frequency to evaluate   completed   program, including recommendations about
  effectiveness and                   how NMSP can further improve its
  relevance of coastal                planning, budgeting, and performance
  and ocean area                      measurement processes. The MPA Federal
  management programs.                Advisory Committee completed
                                      recommendations on guiding principles and
                                      criteria for the national system, and
                                      will continue to advise the Departments
                                      of Commerce and the Interior on
                                      developing an effective national system
                                      of MPAs.

  NOAA will work to       Action      NMSP is leading a process under the US
  enhance integration of  taken, but  Ocean Action Plan to enhance coordination
  area-based management   not         among Federal MPA programs on issues such
  programs.               completed   as shared facilities, law enforcement,
                                      monitoring and emergency response. The
                                      MPA Center is drafting a Framework
                                      document that will serve as the blueprint
                                      for the integration of Federal and state
                                      MPAs into a National System. A West Coast
                                      pilot project will begin to integrate
                                      information to evaluate existing MPAs and
                                      identify conservation priorities for new
                                      sites.
  ----------------------- ----------- -----------------------------------------

Ecosystem Research (63%)

The Program provides science for effective oceans and coastal resource
management.  The President's U.S. Ocean Action Plan and two blue-ribbon
panels, the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans
Commission, support many of the Program's activities.  The FY 2006 OMB
PART Assessment Improvement Plan called for eliminating redundancies
within component programs and ensuring that the highest priority science
needs are met for non-competitive funded projects.  In response NOAA has
developed an action plan that will 1) eliminate potential redundancies
through increasing communication, coordination, and clarity within the
Program; and 2) modify the planning process for noncompetitive funding
to ensure alignment with NOAA's highest priorities.

  ----------------------- ----------- -----------------------------------------
  **Improvement Plan**    **Action    **Comments**
                          Taken**     

  Assess the portfolio of Action      Review of research portfolio and program
  research within NOAA\'s taken, but  scopes has been initiated. Draft research
  Ecosystem Research      not         portfolio assessment was to be completed
  Program in order to     completed   in Q4, but has been delayed to FY 2007 Q1
  clarify the role of                 to better accommodate discussions
  each of the Program\'s              involving the merger of two ERP
  components and                      components, Ocean Exploration and the
  eliminate redundancies.             National Undersea Research Program, and
                                      to gain a better idea of FY 2007 funding
                                      prospects for the external portion of the
                                      program.

  Modify planning and     Action      Revision of planning process was
  management processes so taken, but  initiated in Q4 and will incorporate
  that research           not         recommendations in the National Research
  activities meet the     completed   Council Report \"Evaluation of the Sea
  highest priority                    Grant Program Review Process\" regarding
  science needs and                   Sea Grant\'s planning process and the way
  provide a balanced                  local, regional, and national priorities
  response to local,                  are determined.
  regional, and national              
  issues.                             
  ----------------------- ----------- -----------------------------------------

Marine and Aviation Operations (72%)

New follow-up actions include implementing efficiency measures to guide
program management; performing thorough analysis of capital acquisition
alternatives to ensure that investments represent the best value to the
government and the taxpayers; and linking program managers' personal
performance evaluations to program performance results. This program
provides data collection capability to NOAA programs to complete their
environmental stewardship missions. The Office of Marine and Aviation
Operations accomplishes this task by operating specialized government
owned assets and providing outsourcing support for ship and aircraft
time through other sources.

NOAA\'s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) provides safe
operation of NOAA\'s fleet of ships and aircraft which are uniquely
configured and staffed to meet the at-sea and airborne data collection
requirements of all NOAA programs. The NOAA Commissioned Corps, trained
in related disciplines, adds to NOAA\'s flexibility and ability to meet
mission requirements. To constructively address platform capability and
reliability, NOAA has routinely developed Fleet Modernization Plans
which have led to improvements in the fleet\'s capabilities. However,
the average age of the fleet remains high and NOAA is continuing to
pursue an optimal fleet mix. OMAO is investigating the potential use of
emerging technologies for at-sea and airborne data collection.

**FY 2008 Program Changes**

For each program change listed below, we have included a reference to
the GPRA Performance Goa/Measure which supports this increase/decrease.
It is important to note that many of these increases/decreases may
support multiple goals and measures and will not necessarily tie to the
APP Program Increases by Goal. Please note the page in the Budget for
more information.

+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Program Change | ** |      | #  |           | #  |         |      |
|                | Ac |      | Ba |           |  I |         |      |
|                | co |      | se |           | nc |         |      |
|                | mp |      |    |           | re |         |      |
|                | an |      |    |           | as |         |      |
|                | yi |      |    |           | e/ |         |      |
|                | ng |      |    |           | De |         |      |
|                | GP |      |    |           | cr |         |      |
|                | RA |      |    |           | ea |         |      |
|                | ** |      |    |           | se |         |      |
+================+====+======+====+===========+====+=========+======+
|                | GO | Per  | F  | Amount    | F  | Amount  | Page |
|                | AL | form | TE |           | TE |         | in   |
|                |    | ance |    |           |    |         | Bu   |
|                |    | Mea  |    |           |    |         | dget |
|                |    | sure |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | S    |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | uppo |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | rted |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Mapping and    | C  | 4a   | 3  | \$4       | 0  | \$      | 31   |
| Charting       | &T |      | 13 | 4,757,000 |    | 700,000 |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Tide and       | C  | Inte | 1  | \$2       | 0  | \$1,    | 41   |
| Current        | &T | rnal | 07 | 5,363,000 |    | 000,000 |      |
|                |    | Mea  |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | sure |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | Prov |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ided |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Ocean Research | WW | Inte | 0  | \$0       | 1  | \$10,   | 56   |
| Priorities     | /E | rnal |    |           |    | 000,000 | and  |
| Plan           | CO | Mea  |    |           |    |         | 58   |
| Implementation |    | sure |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | Prov |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ided |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| IOOS Regional  | WW | Inte | 0  | \$0       | 2  | \$11,   | 54   |
| Obs            |    | rnal |    |           |    | 500,000 |      |
|                |    | Mea  |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | sure |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | Prov |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ided |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Gulf of Mexico | WW | Inte | 0  | \$0       | 0  | \$5,    | 61   |
| Regional       | /E | rnal |    |           |    | 000,000 |      |
| Collaboration  | CO | Mea  |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | sure |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | Prov |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ided |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| NOAA IOOS      | WW | Inte | 0  | \$0       | 0  | \$2,    | 49   |
|                |    | rnal |    |           |    | 500,000 |      |
|                |    | Mea  |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | sure |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | Prov |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ided |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Ocean Health   | E  | 1f   | 0  | \$0       | 0  | \$1,    | 52   |
| Initiative     | CO |      |    |           |    | 000,000 |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Pribilof       | MS | Inte | 0  | \$        | 0  | (\$1,8  | 68   |
| Islands        |    | rnal |    | 7,227,000 |    | 00,000) |      |
| Cleanup        |    | Mea  |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | sure |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | Prov |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ided |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Marine         | E  | 1e   | 0  | \$3       | 4  | \$8,    | 81   |
| Sanctuary      | CO |      |    | 5,764,000 |    | 000,000 |      |
| Program        |    |      |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Protected      | E  | 1c   | 3  | \$3       | 8  | \$1,    | 103  |
| Resources      | CO |      | 81 | 2,403,000 |    | 850,000 |      |
| Research and   |    |      |    |           |    |         |      |
| Management     |    |      |    |           |    |         |      |
| Programs       |    |      |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Pacific Salmon | E  | 1c   | 1  | \$6       | 0  | (\$3,0  | 105  |
|                | CO |      | 93 | 7,735,000 |    | 00,000) | and  |
|                |    |      |    |           |    |         | 106  |
|                |    |      |    |           |    | \$3,    |      |
|                |    |      |    |           |    | 000,000 |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Marine Mammals | E  | 1c   | 0  | \$3       | 0  | \$2,    | 107  |
|                | CO |      |    | 7,221,000 |    | 000,000 |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Fisheries      | E  | 1a   | 1  | \$13      | 16 | \$17,   | 116  |
| Research and   | CO | and  | ,3 | 3,514,000 |    | 500,000 | and  |
| Management     |    | 1b   | 60 |           |    |         | 117  |
| Base           |    |      |    |           |    |         | and  |
|                |    |      |    |           |    |         | 119  |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Survey and     | E  | 1b   | 0  | \$2       | 0  | \$1,    | 122  |
| Monitoring     | CO |      |    | 3,594,000 |    | 650,000 |      |
| Projects       |    |      |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Anadromous     | E  | 1c   | 0  | \$        | 0  | (\$2,0  | 121  |
| Grants         | CO |      |    | 2,080,000 |    | 80,000) |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Fisheries      | E  | 1c   | 3  | \$2       | 0  | \$10,   | 136  |
| Habitat        | CO | and  |    | 1,272,000 |    | 000,000 |      |
| Restoration    |    | 1d   |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Obse           | E  | 1b   | 63 | \$2       | 0  | \$3,    | 129  |
| rvers/Training | CO |      |    | 9,295,000 |    | 000,000 |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Cooperative    | E  | 1b   | 0  | \$1       | 0  | (\$2    | 145  |
| Research       | CO |      |    | 0,515,000 |    | 00,000) |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| La Jolla       | E  | All  | 0  | \$0       | 0  | \$1,    | 146  |
| Temporary      | CO | GPRA |    |           |    | 000,000 |      |
| Location       |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Pacific Island | E  | All  | 0  | \$0       | 0  | \$5,    | 147  |
| Region and     | CO | GPRA |    |           |    | 000,000 |      |
| Center         |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| NMFS           | E  | All  | 0  | \$        | 0  | \$2,    | 149  |
| Facilities     | CO | GPRA |    | 3,998,000 |    | 048,000 |      |
| (Lena Point)   |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
| O&M            |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Antarctic      | E  | 1b   | 0  | \$        | 0  | \$      | 141  |
| Research       | CO |      |    | 1,506,000 |    | 600,000 |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Aquaculture    | E  | 1a   | 0  | \$        | 5  | \$3,    | 143  |
|                | CO |      |    | 1,052,000 |    | 000,000 |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Laboratories   | C  | 2f   | 2  | \$4       | 0  | \$1,    | 188  |
| and            | li |      | 49 | 9,337,000 |    | 000,000 |      |
| Cooperative    | ma |      |    |           |    |         |      |
| Institutes     | te |      |    |           |    |         |      |
| (CL/S          |    |      |    |           |    |         |      |
| upercomputing) |    |      |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Climate Data   | C  | 2a   | 3  | \$        | 0  | \$2,    | 215  |
| and Info       | li | and  |    | 6,266,000 |    | 000,000 |      |
|                | ma | 2f   |    |           |    |         |      |
|                | te |      |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Competitive    | C  | 2a   | 1  | \$12      | 0  | \$7,    | 198  |
| Research       | li | and  | 02 | 6,049,000 |    | 253,000 |      |
| Program        | ma | Inte |    |           |    |         |      |
|                | te | rnal |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | Mea  |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | sure |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | Prov |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ided |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Laboratories   | WW | 3    | 1  | \$3       | 3  | \$5,    | 228  |
| and            |    | b,3e | 82 | 9,198,000 |    | 000,000 |      |
| Cooperative    |    | and  |    |           |    |         |      |
| Institutes     |    | 3f   |    |           |    |         |      |
| (WAQR/UAS)     |    |      |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Ocean          | E  | 1e   | 17 | \$1       | 0  | \$8,    | 248  |
| Exploration    | CO |      |    | 9,763,000 |    | 000,000 |      |
| and Research   |    |      |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Aquatic        | E  | 1g   | 3  | \$        | 0  | (\$1,5  | 254  |
| Invasive       | CO |      |    | 2,485,000 |    | 00,000) |      |
| Species        |    |      |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Ocean Sensor   | WW | O    | 0  | \$0       | 0  | \$1,    | 290  |
| Operations &   |    | bjec |    |           |    | 350,000 |      |
| Maintenance    |    | tive |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | 3.3  |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| TAO Array      | C  | 2e   | 0  | \$0       | 0  | \$1,    | 286  |
| Refresh        | li | and  |    |           |    | 100,000 |      |
|                | ma | 2f   |    |           |    |         |      |
|                | te |      |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Hurricane Buoy | WW | 3c   | 0  | \$        | 0  | \$3,    | 288  |
| O&M            |    | and  |    | 1,400,000 |    | 000,000 |      |
|                |    | 3d   |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Hurricane      | WW | 3a   | 0  | 0         | 0  | \$1,    | 291  |
| Supplemental   |    | and  |    |           |    | 230,000 |      |
| Operational    |    | 3c   |    |           |    |         |      |
| Costs          |    |      |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Space Weather  | MS | Inte | 0  | \$        | 0  | (\$1,3  | 293  |
| Prediction     |    | rnal |    | 7,487,000 |    | 00,000) |      |
| Center (SWPC)  |    | Mea  |    |           |    |         |      |
| (formerly      |    | sure |    |           |    |         |      |
| Space          |    | Prov |    |           |    |         |      |
| Environment    |    | ided |    |           |    |         |      |
| Center (SEC))  |    |      |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Strengthen     | WW | Inte | 19 | \$2       | 0  | \$1,    | 293  |
| Tsunami (ORF)  |    | rnal |    | 1,497,000 |    | 700,000 |      |
|                |    | Mea  |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | sure |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | Prov |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ided |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| NOAA Profiler  | WW | 3a   | 6  | \$        | 0  | \$1,    | 296  |
| Network (ORF)  |    |      |    | 3,066,000 |    | 670,000 |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| United States  | WW | 3a,  | 0  | \$        | 0  | (\$1,4  | 300  |
| Weather        |    | 3b,  |    | 7,456,000 |    | 56,000) |      |
| Research       |    | 3c,  |    |           |    |         |      |
| Program        |    | 3d,  |    |           |    |         |      |
| (USWRP)        |    | 3e   |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Hurricane      | WW | 3c   | 0  | \$0       | 0  | \$1,    | 304  |
| /Environmental |    | and  |    |           |    | 040,000 |      |
| Modeling       |    | 3d   |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Product        | MS | All  | 1  | \$2       | 0  | \$2,    | 325  |
| Processing and |    | GPRA | 23 | 7,808,000 |    | 600,000 |      |
| Distribution   |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Product        | MS | All  | 1  | \$2       | 0  | \$2,    | 330  |
| Development,   |    | GPRA | 02 | 5,271,000 |    | 600,000 |      |
| Readiness &    |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
| Application    |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Group on Earth | MS | All  | 0  | \$0       | 0  | \$      | 337  |
| Observations   |    | GPRA |    |           |    | 500,000 |      |
|                |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Coastal Data   | MS | All  | 0  | \$        | 0  | (\$1    | 348  |
| Development    |    | GPRA |    | 4,606,000 |    | 00,000) |      |
|                |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| End to End and | MS | All  | 0  | \$0       | 0  | \$2,    | 373  |
| MIS            |    | GPRA |    |           |    | 000,000 |      |
|                |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Activity Based | MS | All  | 0  | \$500,000 | 0  | (\$5    | 373  |
| Budgeting      |    | GPRA |    |           |    | 00,000) |      |
|                |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Administration | MS | All  | 0  | \$        | 0  | (\$1,5  | 373  |
| Business       |    | GPRA |    | 1,500,000 |    | 00,000) |      |
| Process        |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
| Reengineering  |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Facilities     | MS | All  | 0  | \$        | 0  | (\$4,0  | 385  |
| Business       |    | GPRA |    | 4,000,000 |    | 00,000) |      |
| Process        |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
| Reengineering  |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Data           | MS | All  | 0  | \$9       | 29 | \$1,    | 397  |
| Acquisition -  |    | GPRA |    | 5,807,000 |    | 700,000 |      |
| Maritime Crew  |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
| Safety and     |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
| Rotation       |    |      |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Operating      | MS | All  | 7  | \$        | 12 | \$4,    | 400  |
| Differential   |    | GPRA |    | 7,492,000 |    | 600,000 |      |
| for NOAA Ships |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| O&M for Third  | MS | All  | 0  | \$0       | 12 | \$5,    | 411  |
| P-3            |    | GPRA |    |           |    | 510,000 |      |
|                |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| OKEANOS        | MS | All  | 28 | \$        | 0  | \$1,    | 401  |
| EXPLORER       |    | GPRA |    | 1,000,000 |    | 000,000 |      |
|                |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| CELCP          | E  | 1h   | 0  | \$0       | 1  | \$15,   | 531  |
|                | CO |      |    |           |    | 000,000 |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| ASOS Product   | WW | 3e   | 0  | \$        | 0  | (\$2,3  | 491  |
| Improvement    |    |      |    | 3,935,000 |    | 00,000) |      |
| (PAC)          |    |      |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| NWSTG Tech.    | WW | 3a,  | 0  | \$495,000 | 0  | \$      | 492  |
| Refresh (PAC)  |    | 3b,  |    |           |    | 700,000 |      |
|                |    | 3c,  |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | 3e   |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| NOAA Profiler  | WW | 3a   | 0  | \$        | 0  | \$1,    | 495  |
| Conversion     |    |      |    | 3,270,000 |    | 830,000 |      |
| (PAC)          |    |      |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Strengthen     | WW | No   | 0  | \$        | 0  | (\$1,0  | 499  |
| Tsunami (PAC)  |    | GPRA |    | 1,030,000 |    | 30,000) |      |
|                |    | Mea  |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | sure |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Geostationary  | MS | All  | 41 | \$10      | 0  | (\$26,7 | 507  |
| Systems -- I-P |    | GPRA |    | 7,159,000 |    | 80,000) |      |
|                |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Geostationary  | MS | All  | 20 | \$33      | 0  | (\$53,4 | 508  |
| Systems -- R   |    | GPRA |    | 2,448,000 |    | 48,000) |      |
|                |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Polar Orbiting | MS | All  | 31 | \$8       | 0  | \$25,   | 513  |
| Systems - POES |    | GPRA |    | 9,906,000 |    | 000,000 |      |
|                |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Polar Orbiting | MS | All  | 61 | \$33      | 0  | (\$6,5  | 516  |
| Systems -      |    | GPRA |    | 7,870,000 |    | 70,000) |      |
| NPOESS         |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| NPOESS         | MS | All  | 0  | \$        | 0  | (\$2,0  | 519  |
| Preparatory    |    | GPRA |    | 4,455,000 |    | 00,000) |      |
| Data           |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
| Exploitation   |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| NOAA Center    | MS | All  | 0  | \$1       | 0  | (\$5,2  | 541  |
| for Weather    |    | GPRA |    | 9,305,000 |    | 05,000) |      |
| and Climate    |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
| Prediction     |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Pacific        | MS | All  | 0  | \$0       | 0  | \$20,   | 550  |
| Regional       |    | GPRA |    |           |    | 250,000 |      |
| Center         |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| LaJolla        | MS | All  | 0  | \$0       | 0  | \$3,    | 552  |
|                |    | GPRA |    |           |    | 000,000 |      |
|                |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Vessel         | MS | All  | 0  | \$0       | 0  | \$1,    | 559  |
| Equipment and  |    | GPRA |    |           |    | 000,000 |      |
| Technology     |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
| Refreshment    |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| Fisheries      | MS | All  | 5  | \$1       | 0  | (\$13,7 | 562  |
| Survey Vessels |    | GPRA |    | 3,791,000 |    | 91,000) |      |
|                |    | Meas |    |           |    |         |      |
|                |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+
| FSV            | MS | All  | 7  | \$        | \  | (\$3,5  | 562  |
| Calibration    |    | GPRA |    | 3,500,000 | (7 | 00,000) |      |
|                |    | Meas |    |           | \) |         |      |
|                |    | ures |    |           |    |         |      |
+----------------+----+------+----+-----------+----+---------+------+

Targets and Performance Summary - *Final FY 2007 funding levels and
timing could also impact FY 2007 and outyear targets.  *

[Performance Goal for Ecosystems: Protect, restore, and manage the use
of coastal and ocean resources through an ecosystem approach to
management]{.underline}

+---------------+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| **Measure**   | ** | ** | ** | **FY | ** | ** | **Comment**     |
|               | FY | FY | FY | 2006 | FY | FY |                 |
|               | 20 | 20 | 20 | Actu | 20 | 20 |                 |
|               | 03 | 04 | 05 | al** | 07 | 08 |                 |
|               | Ac | Ac | Ac |      | Ta | Ta |                 |
|               | tu | tu | tu |      | rg | rg |                 |
|               | al | al | al |      | et | et |                 |
|               | ** | ** | ** |      | ** | ** |                 |
+---------------+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 1a. Fish      | N  | 4  | 4  | 501  | 5  | 5  | NOAA did not    |
| Stock         | /A | 57 | 81 |      | 05 | 06 | report on this  |
| S             |    | .5 | .5 |      |    |    | measure during  |
| ustainability |    |    |    |      |    |    | FY 2004-2006    |
| Index (FSSI)  |    |    |    |      |    |    | and data for    |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | those years is  |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | provided for    |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | context.        |
+---------------+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 1b.           | N  | 37 | 37 | 38.6 | 40 | 42 | NOAA did not    |
| Percentage of | /A | .0 | .6 |      | .0 | .6 | report on this  |
| Living Marine |    |    |    |      |    |    | measure during  |
| Resources     |    |    |    |      |    |    | FY 2004-2006    |
| (LMR) with    |    |    |    |      |    |    | and data for    |
| Adequate      |    |    |    |      |    |    | those years are |
| Population    |    |    |    |      |    |    | provided for    |
| Assessments   |    |    |    |      |    |    | context. Note   |
| and Forecasts |    |    |    |      |    |    | that the 2004   |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | number is for   |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | the calendar    |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | year; the FY    |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | 2005 actual     |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | transitions to  |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | the fiscal      |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | year.           |
+---------------+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 1c. Number of | 18 | 24 | 24 | 25   | 26 | 27 | NOAA did not    |
| Protected     |    |    |    | [^1] |    |    | report on this  |
| Species       |    |    |    |      |    |    | measure during  |
| Designated as |    |    |    |      |    |    | FY 2003 -- 2005 |
| Threatened,   |    |    |    |      |    |    | and the data    |
| Endangered or |    |    |    |      |    |    | for those years |
| Depleted with |    |    |    |      |    |    | is provided for |
| Stable or     |    |    |    |      |    |    | context.        |
| Increasing    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| Population    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| Levels        |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
+---------------+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 1d. Number of | 5, | 5, | 8, | 7,59 | 5, | 5, | No comments     |
| Habitat Acres | 20 | 56 | 33 | 8/32 | 00 | 00 | required.       |
| Restored      | 0/ | 3/ | 3/ | ,514 | 0/ | 0/ |                 |
| (Annua        |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| l/Cumulative) | 11 | 16 | 24 |      | 37 | 42 |                 |
|               | ,0 | ,5 | ,9 |      | ,5 | ,5 |                 |
|               | 20 | 83 | 16 |      | 14 | 14 |                 |
+---------------+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 1e. Annual    | N  | N  | N  | 62   | 27 | 41 | This measure    |
| number of     | ew | ew | ew |      |    |    | began in FY     |
| Coastal,      |    |    |    |      |    |    | 2006.           |
| Marine, and   |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| Great Lakes   |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| Ecological    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| Char          |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| acterizations |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| that Meet     |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| Management    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| Needs         |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
+---------------+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 1f.           | N  | 16 | 25 | 31   | 35 | 38 | This new        |
| Cumulative    | ew |    |    |      |    |    | measure began   |
| Number of     |    |    |    |      |    |    | in FY 2006.  FY |
| Coastal,      |    |    |    |      |    |    | 2004 and FY     |
| Marine, and   |    |    |    |      |    |    | 2005 data are   |
| Great Lakes   |    |    |    |      |    |    | provided for    |
| Issue-Based   |    |    |    |      |    |    | informational   |
| Forecasting   |    |    |    |      |    |    | purposes.  The  |
| Capabilities  |    |    |    |      |    |    | measure was     |
| Developed and |    |    |    |      |    |    | reworded and    |
| Used for      |    |    |    |      |    |    | targets changed |
| Management    |    |    |    |      |    |    | from            |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | percentages to  |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | cumulative      |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | numbers to      |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | track           |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | contributions   |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | from several    |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | NOAA programs.  |
+---------------+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 1g.           | N  | N  | N  | New  | 8  | 8  | Measure will be |
| Percentage of | ew | ew | ew |      | 5% | 6% | ready for use   |
| Tools,        |    |    |    |      |    |    | in FY 2007 and  |
| Technologies, |    |    |    |      |    |    | reported in the |
| and           |    |    |    |      |    |    | FY 2007         |
| Information   |    |    |    |      |    |    | Performance and |
| Services that |    |    |    |      |    |    | Accountability  |
| Are Used by   |    |    |    |      |    |    | Report.         |
| NOAA          |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| Partn         |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| ers/Customers |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| to Improve    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| Ec            |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| osystem-Based |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| Management.   |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
+---------------+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 1h. Annual    | N  | N  | 1  | \>86 | 2  | 2  | The FY 2007     |
| Number of     | ew | ew | ,7 | mil  | ,0 | ,0 | original target |
| Coastal,      |    |    | 05 | lion | 00 | 00 | was 86,046,286  |
| Marine, and   |    |    |    |      |    |    | acres to be     |
| Great Lakes   |    |    |    |      |    |    | designated as   |
| Habitat Acres |    |    |    |      |    |    | the NW Hawaiian |
| Acquired or   |    |    |    |      |    |    | Islands         |
| Designated    |    |    |    |      |    |    | National Marine |
| for Long-term |    |    |    |      |    |    | Sanctuary.      |
| Protection    |    |    |    |      |    |    | However, the NW |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | Hawaiian        |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | Islands were    |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | designated as a |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | Marine National |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | Monument by the |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | Administration  |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | in FY 2006.     |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | This was the    |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | result of an    |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | unanticipated   |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | presidential    |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | proclamation    |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | that            |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | accelerated the |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | designation of  |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | the protected   |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | area, which     |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | will be         |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | co-managed by   |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | NOAA and U.S.   |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | Fish and        |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | Wildlife        |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | Service. The    |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | target for      |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | CELCP           |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | acquisitions is |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | based on        |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | closing for     |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | projects that   |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | were funded in  |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | previous fiscal |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | years. Funding  |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | provided in FY  |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | 2008 for the    |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | CELCP will show |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | results in FY   |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | 2009 and        |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | beyond. The FY  |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | 2007 and FY     |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | 2008 targets    |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | are all CELCP.  |
+---------------+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+

[Performance Goal for Climate: Understand climate variability and change
to enhance society's ability to plan and respond]{.underline}

+---------------+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| **Measure**   | ** | ** | ** | **FY | ** | ** | **Comment**     |
|               | FY | FY | FY | 20   | FY | FY |                 |
|               | 20 | 20 | 20 | 06** | 20 | 20 |                 |
|               | 03 | 04 | 05 |      | 07 | 08 |                 |
|               | ** | ** | ** | **   | ** | Ta |                 |
|               |    |    |    | Actu |    | rg |                 |
|               | ** | ** | ** | al** | ** | et |                 |
|               | Ac | Ac | Ac |      | Ta | ** |                 |
|               | tu | tu | tu |      | rg |    |                 |
|               | al | al | al |      | et |    |                 |
|               | ** | ** | ** |      | ** |    |                 |
+---------------+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 2a. U.S.      | 17 | 17 | 19 | 25   | 19 | 19 | The FY06 actual |
| Temperature   |    |    |    |      |    |    | was simply an   |
| Forecasts     |    |    |    |      |    |    | anomaly as      |
| (Cumulative   |    |    |    |      |    |    | effects from    |
| Skill Score   |    |    |    |      |    |    | the El Nino and |
| Computed Over |    |    |    |      |    |    | La Nina dropped |
| the Regions   |    |    |    |      |    |    | out of the 48   |
| Where         |    |    |    |      |    |    | month averages. |
| Predictions   |    |    |    |      |    |    | The 1990's El   |
| are Made)     |    |    |    |      |    |    | Nino and La     |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | Nina had an     |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | usually strong  |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | influence on    |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | the measure.    |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | The Skill score |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | is projected to |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | increase to 19  |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | beginning in    |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | FY07 and rising |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | to 20 in FY10.  |
+---------------+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 2b. Reduced   | Id | E  | Re | Re   | Re | Re | The FY2005      |
| the           | en | st | du | duce | du | du | target of 0.48  |
| Uncertainty   | ti | ab | ce | Unc  | ce | ce | Gt Carbon per   |
| in the        | fi | li | U  | erta | U  | U  | Year was        |
| Magnitude of  | ed | sh | nc | inty | nc | nc | exceeded due to |
| the North     | Fi | ed | er | of   | er | er | implementation  |
| American (NA) | ve | fi | ta | Atm  | ta | ta | of new aircraft |
| Carbon Uptake | P  | ve | in | osph | in | in | sites in the    |
|               | il | p  | ty | eric | ty | ty | Midwest.        |
|               | ot | il | of | E    | of | of |                 |
|               | Ca | ot | A  | stim | A  | A  |                 |
|               | rb | a  | tm | ates | tm | tm |                 |
|               | on | tm | os | of   | os | os |                 |
|               | P  | os | ph | NA   | ph | ph |                 |
|               | ro | ph | er | Ca   | er | er |                 |
|               | fi | er | ic | rbon | ic | ic |                 |
|               | li | ic | E  | Up   | E  | E  |                 |
|               | ng | p  | st | take | st | st |                 |
|               | S  | ro | im | to   | im | im |                 |
|               | it | fi | at | +/-  | at | at |                 |
|               | es | li | es | 0.40 | es | es |                 |
|               | a  | ng | of | Gt.  | of | of |                 |
|               | nd | si | NA | Ca   | NA | NA |                 |
|               | fo | te | Ca | rbon | Ca | Ca |                 |
|               | ur | s. | rb | per  | rb | rb |                 |
|               | N  | E  | on | Year | on | on |                 |
|               | ew | st | Up |      | Up | Up |                 |
|               | O  | ab | ta |      | ta | ta |                 |
|               | ce | li | ke |      | ke | ke |                 |
|               | an | sh | to |      | to | to |                 |
|               | ic | ed | +  |      | +  | +  |                 |
|               | Ca | o  | /- |      | /- | /- |                 |
|               | rb | ne | 0. |      | 0. | 0. |                 |
|               | on | o  | 40 |      | 40 | 38 |                 |
|               | Tr | ce | G  |      | G  | G  |                 |
|               | ac | an | t. |      | t. | t. |                 |
|               | ks | ic | Ca |      | Ca | Ca |                 |
|               |    | ca | rb |      | rb | rb |                 |
|               |    | rb | on |      | on | on |                 |
|               |    | on | p  |      | p  | p  |                 |
|               |    | tr | er |      | er | er |                 |
|               |    | ac | Ye |      | Ye | Ye |                 |
|               |    | k; | ar |      | ar | ar |                 |
|               |    | id |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               |    | en |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               |    | ti |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               |    | fi |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               |    | ed |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               |    | t  |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               |    | wo |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               |    | ad |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               |    | di |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               |    | ti |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               |    | on |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               |    | al |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               |    | o  |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               |    | ce |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               |    | an |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               |    | ic |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               |    | ca |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               |    | rb |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               |    | on |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               |    | tr |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               |    | ac |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               |    | ks |    |      |    |    |                 |
+---------------+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 2c. Reduced   | N  | N  | N  | Est  | E  | E  | The 2006 and    |
| the           | ew | ew | ew | abli | st | st | 2007 targets    |
| Uncertainty   |    |    |    | shed | ab | ab | have been       |
| in Model      |    |    |    | 10%  | li | li | scaled back, to |
| Simulations   |    |    |    | imp  | sh | sh | reflect reduced |
| of the        |    |    |    | rove | 1  | 1  | availability of |
| Influence of  |    |    |    | ment | 0% | 5% | funding and     |
| Aerosols on   |    |    |    | in   | i  | i  | scope of field  |
| Climate       |    |    |    | unc  | mp | mp | studies         |
|               |    |    |    | erta | ro | ro |                 |
|               |    |    |    | inty | ve | ve |                 |
|               |    |    |    | in   | me | me |                 |
|               |    |    |    | m    | nt | nt |                 |
|               |    |    |    | odel | in | in |                 |
|               |    |    |    | sim  | u  | u  |                 |
|               |    |    |    | ulat | nc | nc |                 |
|               |    |    |    | ions | er | er |                 |
|               |    |    |    | of   | ta | ta |                 |
|               |    |    |    | how  | in | in |                 |
|               |    |    |    | N    | ty | ty |                 |
|               |    |    |    | orth | in | in |                 |
|               |    |    |    | Amer | m  | m  |                 |
|               |    |    |    | ican | od | od |                 |
|               |    |    |    | aero | el | el |                 |
|               |    |    |    | sols | s  | s  |                 |
|               |    |    |    | i    | im | im |                 |
|               |    |    |    | nflu | ul | ul |                 |
|               |    |    |    | ence | at | at |                 |
|               |    |    |    | cli  | io | io |                 |
|               |    |    |    | mate | ns | ns |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | of | of |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | h  | h  |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | ow | ow |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | N  | N  |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | or | or |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | th | th |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | Am | Am |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | er | er |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | ic | ic |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | an | an |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | ae | ae |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | ro | ro |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | so | so |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | ls | ls |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | i  | i  |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | nf | nf |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | lu | lu |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | en | en |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | ce | ce |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | c  | c  |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | li | li |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | ma | ma |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | te | te |                 |
+---------------+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 2d. Determine | Ca | Ca | C  | Capt | C  | C  | Expansion of    |
| the National  | pt | pt | ap | ured | ap | ap | the climate     |
| Explained     | ur | ur | tu | 97%  | tu | tu | reference       |
| Variance (%)  | ed | ed | re | of   | re | re | network is      |
| for           | mo | mo | 9  | the  | 9  | 9  | delayed, due to |
| Temperature   | re | re | 6. | An   | 7. | 7. | lack of funding |
| and           | th | th | 9% | nual | 2% | 8% | beyond current  |
| Precipitation | an | an | of | Nati | of | of | O&M costs.      |
| for the       | 9  | 9  | t  | onal | t  | t  | Long-term       |
| Contiguous    | 5% | 6% | he | Tem  | he | he | targets will be |
| United States | of | of | An | pera | An | An | delayed until   |
| using USCRN   | t  | t  | nu | ture | nu | nu | 2010.           |
| Stations      | he | he | al | T    | al | al |                 |
|               | An | An | Na | rend | Na | Na |                 |
|               | nu | nu | ti | and  | ti | ti |                 |
|               | al | al | on | 9    | on | on |                 |
|               | Na | Na | al | 1.4% | al | al |                 |
|               | ti | ti | T  | of   | T  | T  |                 |
|               | on | on | em | the  | em | em |                 |
|               | al | al | pe | An   | pe | pe |                 |
|               | T  | T  | ra | nual | ra | ra |                 |
|               | em | em | tu | Nati | tu | tu |                 |
|               | pe | pe | re | onal | re | re |                 |
|               | ra | ra | T  | P    | T  | T  |                 |
|               | tu | tu | re | reci | re | re |                 |
|               | re | re | nd | pita | nd | nd |                 |
|               | T  | T  | a  | tion | a  | a  |                 |
|               | re | re | nd | T    | nd | nd |                 |
|               | nd | nd | 9  | rend | 9  | 9  |                 |
|               | a  | a  | 1. | for  | 2. | 4. |                 |
|               | nd | nd | 4% | the  | 6% | 4% |                 |
|               | ca | mo | of | Co   | of | of |                 |
|               | pt | re | t  | ntig | t  | t  |                 |
|               | ur | th | he | uous | he | he |                 |
|               | ed | an | An | U.S  | An | An |                 |
|               | 8  | 9  | nu |      | nu | nu |                 |
|               | 4% | 0% | al |      | al | al |                 |
|               | of | of | Na |      | Na | Na |                 |
|               | t  | t  | ti |      | ti | ti |                 |
|               | he | he | on |      | on | on |                 |
|               | An | Na | al |      | al | al |                 |
|               | nu | ti | P  |      | P  | P  |                 |
|               | al | on | re |      | re | re |                 |
|               | Na | al | ci |      | ci | ci |                 |
|               | ti | An | pi |      | pi | pi |                 |
|               | on | nu | ta |      | ta | ta |                 |
|               | al | al | ti |      | ti | ti |                 |
|               | P  | P  | on |      | on | on |                 |
|               | re | re | T  |      | T  | T  |                 |
|               | ci | ci | re |      | re | re |                 |
|               | p. | p. | nd |      | nd | nd |                 |
|               | T  | T  | f  |      | f  | f  |                 |
|               | re | re | or |      | or | or |                 |
|               | nd | nd | t  |      | t  | t  |                 |
|               | f  | f  | he |      | he | he |                 |
|               | or | or | Co |      | Co | Co |                 |
|               | t  | t  | nt |      | nt | nt |                 |
|               | he | he | ig |      | ig | ig |                 |
|               | Co | Co | uo |      | uo | uo |                 |
|               | nt | nt | us |      | us | us |                 |
|               | ig | ig | U  |      | U  | U  |                 |
|               | uo | uo | .S |      | .S | .S |                 |
|               | us | us |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               | U. | U. |    |      |    |    |                 |
|               | S. | S. |    |      |    |    |                 |
+---------------+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 2e. Reduced   | N  | N  | N  | 0.53 | 0  | 0  | Sub-optimal     |
| the Error in  | ew | ew | ew | C    | .5 | .  | deployment of   |
| Global        |    |    |    |      | C  | 4C | buoys in        |
| Measurement   |    |    |    |      |    |    | data-poor parts |
| of Sea        |    |    |    |      |    |    | of the ocean    |
| Surface       |    |    |    |      |    |    | have delayed    |
| Temperature   |    |    |    |      |    |    | the target      |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | uncertainty     |
|               |    |    |    |      |    |    | reduction.      |
+---------------+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 2f. Improve   | N  | N  | N  | 33   | 32 | 35 | No comments     |
| Society\'s    | ew | ew | ew | risk | re | re | required.       |
| Ability to    |    |    |    | ass  | gi | gi |                 |
| Plan and      |    |    |    | essm | on | on |                 |
| Respond to    |    |    |    | ents | al | al |                 |
| Climate       |    |    |    | /    | ly | ly |                 |
| Variability   |    |    |    | eva  | -f | -f |                 |
| and Change    |    |    |    | luat | oc | oc |                 |
| Using NOAA    |    |    |    | ions | us | us |                 |
| Climate       |    |    |    | comm | ed | ed |                 |
| Products and  |    |    |    | unic | c  | c  |                 |
| Information   |    |    |    | ated | li | li |                 |
|               |    |    |    | to   | ma | ma |                 |
|               |    |    |    | deci | te | te |                 |
|               |    |    |    | sion | i  | i  |                 |
|               |    |    |    | ma   | mp | mp |                 |
|               |    |    |    | kers | ac | ac |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | ts | ts |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | a  | a  |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | nd | nd |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | ad | ad |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | ap | ap |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | ta | ta |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | ti | ti |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | on | on |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | s  | s  |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | tu | tu |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | di | di |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | es | es |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | co | co |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | mm | mm |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | un | un |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | ic | ic |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | at | at |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | ed | ed |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | to | to |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | de | de |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | ci | ci |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | si | si |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | on | on |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | ma | ma |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | ke | ke |                 |
|               |    |    |    |      | rs | rs |                 |
+---------------+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+

[Performance Goal for Weather and Water: Serve society's needs for
weather and water information]{.underline}

+---------+----+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| **Me    |    | ** | ** | ** | **FY | ** | ** | **Comment**     |
| asure** |    | FY | FY | FY | 20   | FY | FY |                 |
|         |    | 20 | 20 | 20 | 06** | 20 | 20 |                 |
|         |    | 03 | 04 | 05 |      | 07 | 08 |                 |
|         |    | Ac | Ac | Ac | **   | Ta | Ta |                 |
|         |    | tu | tu | tu | Actu | rg | rg |                 |
|         |    | al | al | al | al** | et | et |                 |
|         |    | ** | ** | ** |      | ** | ** |                 |
+---------+----+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 3a.     |    | 1  | 1  | 2  | 32%  | 3  | 4  | NOAA is         |
| Cum     |    | 7% | 7% | 8% |      | 2% | 0% | currently       |
| ulative |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | developing a    |
| Per     |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | more useful     |
| centage |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | measure for     |
| of U.S. |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | reporting in    |
| Sh      |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | the FY 2007     |
| oreline |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | Performance and |
| and     |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | Accountability  |
| Inland  |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | Report.         |
| Areas   |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| that    |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| Have    |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| I       |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| mproved |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| Ability |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| to      |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| Reduce  |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| Coastal |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| Hazard  |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| Impacts |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
+---------+----+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 3b. for | Le | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12   | 13 | Di | Performance     |
| FY07    | ad |    |    |    |      |    | sc | target for FY   |
| rep     | Ti |    |    |    |      |    | on | 2007 is being   |
| orting. | me |    |    |    |      |    | t. | adjusted from   |
| Lead    |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | 14 to match the |
| Time    |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | FY 2006         |
| (Mi     |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | targets, since  |
| nutes), |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | FY 2007         |
| A       |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | performance is  |
| ccuracy |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | expected to     |
| (%),    |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | remain steady   |
| and     |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | (aside from     |
| False   |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | normal          |
| Alarm   |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | statistical     |
| Rate    |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | variability).   |
| (FAR,   |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | In the past,    |
| %) for  |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | the NWS set     |
| Severe  |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | annual GPRA     |
| Weather |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | targets         |
| W       |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | primarily       |
| arnings |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | representing    |
| for     |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | steady          |
| To      |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | incremental     |
| rnadoes |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | improvement     |
| *       |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | each year,      |
| (County |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | however,        |
| Based)* |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | performance in  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | the tornado     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | warning process |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | has reached a   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | plateau and new |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | science and/or  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | technology are  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | needed to       |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | advance these   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | metrics         |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | further. This   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | measure is      |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | being replaced  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | in FY 2008 with |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | "storm based"   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | metrics that    |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | will provide    |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | more accurate   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | data for the    |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | affected areas  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | being subjected |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | to storms.      |
+---------+----+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
|         | Ac | 79 | 75 | 75 | 76   | 76 | Di |                 |
|         | cu |    |    |    |      |    | sc |                 |
|         | ra |    |    |    |      |    | on |                 |
|         | cy |    |    |    |      |    | t. |                 |
+---------+----+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
|         | F  | 76 | 74 | 77 | 78   | 75 | Di | Performance     |
|         | AR |    |    |    |      |    | sc | target for FY   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    | on | 2007 is being   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    | t. | adjusted from   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | 74 to match the |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | FY 2006         |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | targets, since  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | FY 2007         |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | performance is  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | expected to     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | remain steady   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | (aside from     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | normal          |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | statistical     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | variability).   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | In the past,    |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | the NWS set     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | annual GPRA     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | targets         |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | primarily       |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | representing    |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | steady          |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | incremental     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | improvement     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | each year,      |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | however,        |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | performance in  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | the tornado     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | warning process |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | has reached a   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | plateau and new |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | science and/or  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | technology are  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | needed to       |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | advance these   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | metrics         |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | further. This   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | measure is      |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | being replaced  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | in FY 2008 with |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | "storm based"   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | metrics that    |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | will provide    |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | more accurate   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | data for the    |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | affected areas  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | being subjected |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | to storms.      |
+---------+----+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 3b for  | Le | N  | N  | N  | N/A  | N  | 11 | Replaces        |
| 08      | ad | /A | /A | /A |      | /A |    | County-based    |
| Rep     | Ti |    |    |    |      |    |    | measure in FY   |
| orting. | me |    |    |    |      |    |    | 2008. This      |
| Lead    |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | metric provides |
| Time    |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | more accurate   |
| (Mi     |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | forecasting of  |
| nutes), |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | storms and      |
| A       |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | affected areas. |
| ccuracy |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | The new measure |
| (%),    |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | will reduce the |
| and     |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | number of       |
| False   |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | people warned   |
| Alarm   |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | by 70% and      |
| Rate    |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | produce         |
| (FAR,   |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | hundreds of     |
| %) for  |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | millions of     |
| Severe  |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | dollars in time |
| Weather |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | savings.        |
| W       |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| arnings |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| To      |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| rnadoes |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| *(Storm |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| Based)* |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
+---------+----+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
|         | Ac | N  | N  | N  | N/A  | N  | 67 | Replaces        |
|         | cu | /A | /A | /A |      | /A |    | County-based    |
|         | ra |    |    |    |      |    |    | measure in FY   |
|         | cy |    |    |    |      |    |    | 2008. This      |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | metric provides |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | more accurate   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | forecasting of  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | storms and      |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | affected areas. |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | The new measure |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | will reduce the |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | number of       |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | people warned   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | by 70% and      |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | produce         |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | hundreds of     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | millions of     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | dollars in time |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | savings.        |
+---------+----+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
|         | F  | N  | N  | N  | N/A  | N  | 74 | Replaces        |
|         | AR | /A | /A | /A |      | /A |    | County-based    |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | measure in FY   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | 2008. This      |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | metric provides |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | more accurate   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | forecasting of  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | storms and      |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | affected areas. |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | The new measure |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | will reduce the |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | number of       |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | people warned   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | by 70% and      |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | produce         |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | hundreds of     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | millions of     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | dollars in time |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | savings.        |
+---------+----+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 3c.     | Le | 41 | 47 | 54 | 50   | 48 | 49 | Performance     |
| Lead    | ad |    |    |    |      |    |    | target for FY   |
| Time    | Ti |    |    |    |      |    |    | 2007 is being   |
| (Min)   | me |    |    |    |      |    |    | adjusted from   |
| and     |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | 49 to match the |
| A       |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | FY 2006 target. |
| ccuracy |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | NWS originally  |
| (%) for |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | set targets to  |
| Severe  |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | represent       |
| Weather |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | steady          |
| W       |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | incremental     |
| arnings |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | improvement     |
| for     |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | each year as a  |
| Flash   |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | result of       |
| Floods  |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | improvements in |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | science,        |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | technology, and |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | operations.     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | Delays in the   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | implementation  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | of new          |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | capabilities    |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | have occurred   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | over the last   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | few years due   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | to resource     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | constraints, so |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | performance     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | gains have not  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | been realized.  |
+---------+----+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
|         | Ac | 89 | 89 | 88 | 88   | 89 | 90 | Performance     |
|         | cu |    |    |    |      |    |    | target for FY   |
|         | ra |    |    |    |      |    |    | 2007 is being   |
|         | cy |    |    |    |      |    |    | adjusted from   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | 90 to match the |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | FY 2006 target. |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | NWS originally  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | set targets to  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | represent       |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | steady          |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | incremental     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | improvement     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | each year as a  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | result of       |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | improvements in |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | science,        |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | technology, and |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | operations.     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | Delays in the   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | implementation  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | of new          |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | capabilities    |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | have occurred   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | over the last   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | few years due   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | to resource     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | constraints, so |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | performance     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | gains have not  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | been realized.  |
+---------+----+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 3d.     | Na | 1  | 94 | 1  | 101  | 1  | 1  | The target for  |
| Hu      | ut | 07 |    | 01 |      | 10 | 09 | this measure    |
| rricane | ic |    |    |    |      |    |    | was adjusted    |
| F       | al |    |    |    |      |    |    | based on        |
| orecast | M  |    |    |    |      |    |    | improvements    |
| Track   | il |    |    |    |      |    |    | from 1987 to    |
| Error   | es |    |    |    |      |    |    | 2004. The       |
| (4      |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | impacts of      |
| 8 Hour) |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | continued data  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | collection and  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | modeling        |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | techniques will |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | continue to be  |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | evaluated and   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | future          |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | adjustments     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | maybe           |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | necessary.      |
+---------+----+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 3e.     | K  | N  | N  | N  | N/A  | N  | 14 | New Measure for |
| Hu      | no | /A | /A | /A |      | /A |    | FY 2008.        |
| rricane | ts |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| F       |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| orecast |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| In      |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| tensity |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| Error   |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| (48hr)  |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
+---------+----+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 3f.     |    | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30   | 29 | 29 | The target will |
| A       |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | remain constant |
| ccuracy |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | until further   |
| (%)     |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | technological   |
| (Threat |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | or modeling     |
| Score)  |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | improvements    |
| of Day  |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | are made.       |
| 1       |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| Precip  |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| itation |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| Fo      |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
| recasts |    |    |    |    |      |    |    |                 |
+---------+----+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
| 3g.     | Le | 14 | 15 | 17 | 17   | 15 | 15 | Trend analysis  |
| Lead    | ad |    |    |    |      |    |    | continues to    |
| Time    | Ti |    |    |    |      |    |    | indicate an     |
| (Hours) | me |    |    |    |      |    |    | appropriate     |
| and     |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | baseline target |
| A       |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | is established. |
| ccuracy |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | Adjustments to  |
| (%) for |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | the targets     |
| Winter  |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | will be         |
| Storm   |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | evaluated if    |
| W       |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | current         |
| arnings |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | performance     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | continues.      |
+---------+----+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+
|         | Ac | 90 | 91 | 91 | 89   | 90 | 90 | The target will |
|         | cu |    |    |    |      |    |    | remain constant |
|         | ra |    |    |    |      |    |    | until further   |
|         | cy |    |    |    |      |    |    | technological   |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | or modeling     |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | improvements    |
|         |    |    |    |    |      |    |    | are made.       |
+---------+----+----+----+----+------+----+----+-----------------+

[Performance Goal for Commerce and Transportation: Support the Nation's
commerce with information for safe, efficient, and environmentally sound
transportation]{.underline}

+-----------+-----+------+-----+----+-----+--------+----------------+
| **        | *   | **FY | *   | ** | *   | **FY   | **Comment**    |
| Measure** | *FY | 2004 | *FY | FY | *FY | 2008   |                |
|           | 2   | Actu | 2   | 20 | 2   | Ta     |                |
|           | 003 | al** | 005 | 06 | 007 | rget** |                |
|           | Ac  |      | Ac  | Ac | Ta  |        |                |
|           | tua |      | tua | tu | rge |        |                |
|           | l** |      | l** | al | t** |        |                |
|           |     |      |     | ** |     |        |                |
+-----------+-----+------+-----+----+-----+--------+----------------+
| 4a.       | 1,  | 2    | 3,  | 2  | 1,3 | 3,200  | FY 2008 target |
| Reduce    | 762 | ,070 | 079 | ,8 | 50^ |        | is derived     |
| the       |     |      |     | 51 | \*^ |        | from estimates |
| Hyd       |     |      |     |    |     |        | of NOAA and    |
| rographic |     |      |     |    |     |        | contract       |
| Survey    |     |      |     |    |     |        | surveying      |
| Backlog   |     |      |     |    |     |        | performance in |
| Within    |     |      |     |    |     |        | the areas      |
| Navig     |     |      |     |    |     |        | planned for    |
| ationally |     |      |     |    |     |        | survey in      |
| Si        |     |      |     |    |     |        | 2008. The FY   |
| gnificant |     |      |     |    |     |        | 2007 target is |
| Areas     |     |      |     |    |     |        | provided for   |
| (square   |     |      |     |    |     |        | informational  |
| nautical  |     |      |     |    |     |        | purposes.      |
| miles     |     |      |     |    |     |        |                |
| surveyed  |     |      |     |    |     |        |                |
| per year) |     |      |     |    |     |        |                |
+-----------+-----+------+-----+----+-----+--------+----------------+
| 4b.       | New | New  | 32  | 4  | 49  | 60     | FY 2008 target |
| P         |     |      |     | 3. |     |        | is being       |
| ercentage |     |      |     | 25 |     |        | revised upward |
| of U.S.   |     |      |     |    |     |        | due to         |
| counties  |     |      |     |    |     |        | accelerating   |
| rated as  |     |      |     |    |     |        | participation  |
| fully     |     |      |     |    |     |        | in State       |
| enabled   |     |      |     |    |     |        | Advisor        |
| or        |     |      |     |    |     |        | Program        |
| subs      |     |      |     |    |     |        | (requirement   |
| tantially |     |      |     |    |     |        | to be          |
| enabled   |     |      |     |    |     |        | identified as  |
| with      |     |      |     |    |     |        | fully          |
| accurate  |     |      |     |    |     |        | enabled).      |
| po        |     |      |     |    |     |        | Accelerating   |
| sitioning |     |      |     |    |     |        | distribution   |
| capacity  |     |      |     |    |     |        | of and         |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | response to    |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | the County     |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | Scorecard      |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | (requirement   |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | to be          |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | identified as  |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | fully          |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | enabled). This |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | was a new      |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | measure for FY |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | 2006.          |
+-----------+-----+------+-----+----+-----+--------+----------------+
| 4c.       | 57% | 57%  | 57% | 5  | 68% | 68%    | The proposed   |
| Marine    |     |      |     | 5% |     |        | new Marine     |
| Wind --   | 71% | 67%  | 67% |    | 73% | 73%    | GPRA targets   |
| P         |     |      |     | 7  |     |        | for FY 2007    |
| ercentage |     |      |     | 0% |     |        | are more       |
| of        |     |      |     |    |     |        | relevant       |
| Accurate  |     |      |     |    |     |        | r              |
| Forecasts |     |      |     |    |     |        | epresentations |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | of accuracy,   |
| Marine    |     |      |     |    |     |        | and are        |
| Wave      |     |      |     |    |     |        | reflected in   |
| Heights   |     |      |     |    |     |        | the            |
| --        |     |      |     |    |     |        | "Percentage of |
| P         |     |      |     |    |     |        | Accurate       |
| ercentage |     |      |     |    |     |        | Forecasts. The |
| of        |     |      |     |    |     |        | new targets    |
| Accurate  |     |      |     |    |     |        | were           |
| Forecasts |     |      |     |    |     |        | originally     |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | proposed for   |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | FY 2008, but   |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | NWS has the    |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | capability of  |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | reporting the  |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | new targets in |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | FY 2007.       |
+-----------+-----+------+-----+----+-----+--------+----------------+
| 4d.       | 48% | 45%  | 46% | 4  | 62% | 63%    | The proposed   |
| Aviation  |     |      |     | 3% |     |        | new Aviation   |
| Forecast  | 64% | 65%  | 63% |    | 45% | 44%    | GPRA targets   |
| Accuracy  |     |      |     | 6  |     |        | for FY 2007    |
| of        |     |      |     | 4% |     |        | mirror the     |
| Ceiling/V |     |      |     |    |     |        | existing       |
| isibility |     |      |     |    |     |        | GPRAs; however |
| (1 mi/500 |     |      |     |    |     |        | they encompass |
| ft to     |     |      |     |    |     |        | the entire IFR |
| less than |     |      |     |    |     |        | category,      |
| 3         |     |      |     |    |     |        | which is of    |
| m         |     |      |     |    |     |        | significance   |
| i/1000ft) |     |      |     |    |     |        | to all general |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | aviation users |
| Aviation  |     |      |     |    |     |        | and critical   |
| Forecast  |     |      |     |    |     |        | to all         |
| False     |     |      |     |    |     |        | commercial     |
| Alarm     |     |      |     |    |     |        | users. The new |
| Rate for  |     |      |     |    |     |        | targets were   |
| Ceiling/V |     |      |     |    |     |        | originally     |
| isibility |     |      |     |    |     |        | proposed for   |
| (3        |     |      |     |    |     |        | FY 2008, but   |
| mi/1000   |     |      |     |    |     |        | NWS has the    |
| ft or     |     |      |     |    |     |        | capability of  |
| less)     |     |      |     |    |     |        | reporting the  |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | new targets in |
|           |     |      |     |    |     |        | FY 2007.       |
+-----------+-----+------+-----+----+-----+--------+----------------+

^\*^ Based on fuel issues, vessel lay-ups and shortened field season.

[Performance Goal for Mission Support: Provide critical support for
NOAA's mission]{.underline}

There are no GPRA measures for the Mission Support goal since the
activities of this goal support the outcomes of the Mission goals. NOAA
is developing new and improving existing internal management performance
measures for the Mission Support Goal.

Resource Requirements Summary

Obligations\
(\$ in Thousands)

Obligations not BA

  -------------------------------- ----------- --------- ----------- ------------------- -----------
  Performance Goal for Ecosystems: FY 2006     FY 2007   FY 2008     Increase/Decrease   FY 2008
  Protect, restore, and manage the Actual      Request   Base                            Request
  use of coastal and ocean                                                               
  resources through an ecosystem                                                         
  approach to management                                                                 

  **Operations, Research,                                                                 
  Facilities**                                                                           

  National Ocean Service           282,207     183,608   222,925     19,000              241,925

  National Marine Fisheries        779,501     519,496   628,204     45,368              673,572
  Service                                                                                

  Oceanic and Atmospheric Research 127,181     91,639    97,250      6,500               103,750

  National Weather Service         0           0         0           0                   0

  NESDIS                           10,137      11,679    12,912      -100                12,812

  Program Support                  0           0         0           0                   0

  **Procurement, Acquisition, and  65,343      3,331     7,178       15,000              22,178
  Construction**                                                                         

  **Other-Discretionary and        105,314     99,801    103,954     0                   103,954
  Mandatory**                                                                            

  Total                            1,369,684   909,553   1,072,423   85,768              1,158,191

  IT Funding                       8,799       10,895                                    12,239
  -------------------------------- ----------- --------- ----------- ------------------- -----------

Resource Requirements Summary

Obligations\
(\$ in Thousands)

Obligations not BA

  -------------------------------- --------- --------- --------- ------------------- ---------
  Performance Goal for Climate:    FY 2006   FY 2007   FY 2008   Increase/Decrease   FY 2008
  Understand climate variability   Actual    Request   Base                          Request
  and change to enhance society's                                                    
  ability to plan and respond                                                        

  **Operations, Research, and                                                         
  Facilities**                                                                       

  National Ocean Service           \-        \-        \-        \-                  \-

  National Marine Fisheries        1,498     \-        2,022     \-                  2,022
  Service                                                                            

  Oceanic and Atmospheric Research 162,298   176,761   173,836   10,253              184,089

  National Weather Service         13,438    12,255    12,493    1,100               13,593

  NESDIS                           49,884    27,349    29,794    \-                  29,794

  Program Support                  \-        3,028     3,062     \-                  3,062

  **Procurement, Acquisition, and  9,016     7,002     6,971     \-                  6,971
  Construction**                                                                     

  **Other-Discretionary and                                                          \-
  Mandatory**                                                                        

  Total                            236,134   226,393   228,178   11,353              239,531

  IT Funding                       59,542    65,400                                  66,160
  -------------------------------- --------- --------- --------- ------------------- ---------

Resource Requirements Summary

Obligations\
(\$ in Thousands)

Obligations not BA

  -------------------------------- ---------- --------- --------- ------------------- ---------
  Performance Goal for Weather and FY 2006    FY 2007   FY 2008   Increase/Decrease   FY 2008
  Water: Serve society's needs for Actual     Request   Base                          Request
  weather and water information                                                       

  Operations, Research, and                                                            
  Facilities                                                                          

  National Ocean Service           41,384     6,131     11,904    19,000              30,904

  National Marine Fisheries        \-         \-        \-        \-                  \-
  Service                                                                             

  Oceanic and Atmospheric Research 67,322     50,115    53,019    5,000               58,019

  National Weather Service         696,908    726,992   729,947   6,034               735,981

  NESDIS                           14,677     8,495     8,699     \-                  8,699

  Program Support                  \-         90        521       \-                  521

  Procurement, Acquisition, and    106,466    87,001    85,210    (2,800)             82,410
  Construction                                                                        

  Other-Discretionary and                                                             \-
  Mandatory                                                                           

  Total                            926,756    878,825   889,300   27,234              916,534

  IT Funding                       136,262    163,526                                 174,216
  -------------------------------- ---------- --------- --------- ------------------- ---------

Resource Requirements Summary

Obligations\
(\$ in Thousands)

Obligations not BA

  -------------------------------- --------- --------- --------- ------------------- ---------
  Performance Goal for Commerce    FY 2006   FY 2007   FY 2008   Increase/Decrease   FY 2008
  and Transportation: Support the  Actual    Request   Base                          Request
  Nation's commerce with                                                             
  information for safe, efficient,                                                   
  and environmentally sound                                                          
  transportation                                                                     

  Operations, Research, Facilities                                                    

  National Ocean Service           171,546   107,836   132,838   1,700               134,538

  National Marine Fisheries        \-        \-        \-        \-                  \-
  Service                                                                            

  Oceanic and Atmospheric Research \-        \-        \-        \-                  \-

  National Weather Service         15,756    18,882    19,169    1,200               20,369

  NESDIS                           11,426    8,695     9,199     \-                  9,199

  Program Support                  \-        460       529       \-                  529

  Procurement, Acquisition, and    \-        \-        \-        \-                  \-
  Construction                                                                       

  Other-Discretionary and                                                            \-
  Mandatory                                                                          

  Total                            198,728   135,873   161,735   2,900               164,635

  IT Funding                       12,791    12,717                                  13,729
  -------------------------------- --------- --------- --------- ------------------- ---------

Resource Requirements Summary

Obligations\
(\$ in Thousands)

Obligations not BA

  -------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------------- -----------
  Performance Goal for Mission     FY 2006     FY 2007     FY 2008     Increase/Decrease   FY 2008
  Support: Provide critical        Actual      Request     Base                            Request
  support for NOAA's mission                                                               

  **Operations, Research,                                                                   
  Facilities**                                                                             

  National Ocean Service           23,668      27,424      31,222      (1,800)             29,422

  National Marine Fisheries        30,264      28,740      28,985      \-                  28,985
  Service                                                                                  

  Oceanic and Atmospheric Research 15,551      12,084      12,519      \-                  12,519

  National Weather Service         34,706      29,860      37,864      \-                  37,864

  NESDIS                           96,063      89,126      91,598      5,700               97,298

  Program Support                  367,869     342,571     376,590     8,810               385,400

  **Procurement, Acquisition, and  992,293     966,801     930,378     (60,044)            870,334
  Construction**                                                                           

  **Other-Discretionary and        21,315      21,142      24,939      \-                  24,939
  Mandatory**                                                                              

  **Total**                        1,581,728   1,517,748   1,534,095   (47,334)            1,486,761

  IT Funding                       157,855     162,619                                     167,410
  -------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------------- -----------

Resource Requirements Summary

Obligations\
(\$ in Thousands)

Obligations not BA

  ---------------------------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
  ** **                              FY 2006         FY 2007         FY 2008

  Grand Total                        Actual          Request         Request

  **Operations, Research, and                                        
  Facilities (Obligations)**                                         

  National Ocean Service             518,804         324,999         436,789

  National Marine Fisheries Service  811,263         548,236         704,579

  Oceanic and Atmospheric Research   372,351         330,597         358,377

  National Weather Service           760,808         787,990         807,807

  NESDIS                             182,187         145,342         157,802

  Program Support                    367,869         346,151         389,512

  Total ORF                          3,013,283       2,483,315       2,854,866

  **Procurement, Acquisition, and                                    
  Construction (Obligations)**                                       

  National Ocean Service             107,764         3,329           27,673

  National Marine Fisheries Service  29,921          30,623          0

  NOAA Research                      11,555          10,389          10,379

  National Weather Service           97,738          104,908         95,685

  NESDIS                             800,169         885,451         820,506

  Program Support                    125,970         29,432          27,650

  Total PAC                          1,173,117       1,064,132       981,893

  **Other Accounts (Obligations)**                                   

  **Discretionary (Obligations)**                                    

  National Ocean Service             \-              \-              \-

  National Marine Fisheries Service  67,570          20,979          67,804

  Office of Marine and Aviation      1,645           1,820           1,820
  Operations                                                         

  **Mandatory (Obligations)**                                        

  National Ocean Service             8,762           32,331          11,600

  National Marine Fisheries Service  28,983          46,491          24,550

  Program Support                    19,670          19,322          23,119

  ** **                              FY 2006         FY 2007         FY 2008

  Grand Total                        Actual          Request         Request

  Total Discretionary and Mandatory  126,629         120,943         128,893

  Direct                             4,313,029       3,668,390       3,965,652

  Reimbursable                       209,061         394,970         242,000

  **Total Funding**                  **4,522,090**   **4,063,360**   **4,207,652**

  IT Funding                         375,249         415,157         433,754 
  ---------------------------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------

[DOC Strategic Goal 3: Observe, protect, and manage the earth's
resources to promote environmental stewardship]{.underline}

[General Goal/Objective 3.1: Ecosystems: Protect, restore, and manage
the use of coastal and ocean resources through an ecosystem approach to
management]{.underline}

**Rationale:**

Coastal areas are among the most developed in the Nation, with over half
of our population living on less than one-fifth of the land in the
contiguous United States. At over 230 persons per square mile, the
population density of the near shore is three times that of the nation
as a whole. The portion of the U.S. economy that depends directly on the
ocean is also large, with 2.3 million people employed and over \$117
billion in value added to the national economy in 2000. Approximately 89
million people vacation and recreate along U.S. coasts every year. The
amount added to the national economy by the commercial and recreational
fishing industry alone is over \$43 billion annually, with an additional
\$1 billion of marine and freshwater aquaculture sales. With its
Exclusive Economic Zone of 3.4 million square miles, the U.S. manages
the largest marine territory of any nation in the world. Within this
context, NOAA works with its partners to achieve a balance between the
use and protection of these resources to ensure their sustainability,
health, and vitality for the benefit of this and future generations and
their optimal contribution to the Nation's economy and society.

NOAA has unique mandates from Congress to protect, restore, and manage,
the use of coastal and ocean resources. NOAA's unique and essential
services to coastal communities after Hurricanes Wilma, Katrina, and
Rita elevated NOAA's vital role in not only preventing and responding to
hazards and environmental events, but in anticipating and adapting to
incremental environmental changes. NOAA helps restore and maintain the
resilience of coastal and marine ecosystems and communities. To fulfill
this mandate, NOAA and its partners contribute world-class information
and expertise in oceanography, marine ecology, urban and regional
planning, coastal resource management, marine archeology, fisheries
management, conservation biology, natural resource management, and risk
assessment. NOAA's goal is to use an ecosystems approach to management
to balance societal demands with ecosystem requirements. NOAA's approach
to ecosystem management will be incremental and collaborative,
integrating the concerns, priorities, and expertise of all citizens and
sectors in the management of coastal and marine resources.

Until NOAA attains a complete regional ecosystem approach to management,
it will continue to manage on a smaller, more focused basis (e.g.,
state, watershed, and species or site-specific). In the meantime, NOAA
will be improving the science, management, and regulatory processes
currently available to implement a more comprehensive ecosystem approach
to improve management of the Nation's ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes
resources. This incremental and collaborative approach also applies to
the development of NOAA's ecosystem-based performance measures.

# Measure 1a: The Fish Stock Sustainability Index (FSSI)

**Explanation of Measure**

The Fish Stock Sustainability Index tracks the outcome of building and
maintaining fish stocks at productive levels while also capturing the
critical components of NOAA's efforts to get to that outcome, i.e.,
managing fish harvest rates and increasing knowledge about the status of
fish stocks. The FSSI is calculated by assigning a total score between 0
and 4 to each of 230 priority fish stocks (see below). Each stock
receives one point if:

-   NOAA has determined whether or not (1) the stock is overfished (one
    half point) and (2) the stock is subject to overfishing (one half
    point); i.e., scientific knowledge is available about the stock;

-   NOAA's management measures are succeeding at ensuring that fishing
    is at sustainable levels (i.e., level of fishing mortality does not
    exceed the threshold for overfishing);

-   The stock is managed at an acceptable level (i.e., biomass is above
    the level defined as overfished for the stock); and

-   The stock is rebuilt or is at its "optimal" level, the ultimate long
    term end state for a stock (i.e., biomass is within 80% of that
    required to achieve maximum sustainable yield).

The FSSI is computed by summing the scores of the individual stocks.
Thus, the highest possible score for each stock is four and for the
index it is 920. The 230 priority fish stocks were selected for their
importance to commercial and recreational fisheries. Criteria for
selection of stocks include whether they are major stocks (landings
greater than 200,000 pounds), whether they are overfished or subject to
overfishing, whether they have assessments scheduled, whether they have
previously been identified as important, or other factors as
appropriate. These stocks represent about 90% of all commercial landings
in the U.S. NOAA plans for this set of stocks to be tracked over a
5-year period.

***For more information on FSSI, please see the following web site:
<http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/domes_fish/StatusoFisheries/2006/3rdQuarter/Q3-2006-FSSIDescription.pdf>
.***

***FY 2008 Target***

The target for FY 2008 is to increase the FSSI to a score to 506. This
increase is anticipated to result from newly assessed fish stocks. No
stocks are expected to rebuild or be declared no longer overfished
during FY 2008.

###### **Measure 1b: Percentage of Living Marine Resources (LMRs) With Adequate Population Assessments and Forecasts.**

#### Explanation of Measure {#explanation-of-measure .unnumbered}

This measure tracks the percent of priority fish stocks and protected
species stocks that have adequate population assessments and forecasts
available and useful to resource managers. The priority fish stocks
consist of 230 stocks selected for their importance to commercial and
recreational fisheries. They are the same as the stocks tracked under
the FSSI. Protected species stocks tracked for this measure are those
listed under the MMPA and/or ESA, which total 237. This increase from
the original 230 is due to new listings of two species of coral, one
species of sturgeon, and one species of killer whales, as well as the
subdivision of one stock of killer whales into four stocks. There are
thus 467 stocks tracked under this measure.

This measure combines the number of stock assessments for priority fish
stocks and the number of stock assessments and forecasts for protected
species to produce a percentage of LMRs that tracks the scientific basis
for supporting and for evaluating the impact of living marine resource
management actions. The standard of "adequate" is in reference to
improving the level of scientific information on a LMR stock to Tier II
as described in the Fisheries and Protected Species Stock Assessment
Improvement Plans (SAIPs) developed by the National Marine Fisheries
Service. To reach this standard, assessments would have to be based on
recent quantitative information sufficient to determine current stock
status (abundance and mortality) relative to established reference
levels and to forecast stock status under different management
scenarios.

### *FY 2008 Target*

The target for FY 2008 is to maintain adequate assessments for 44.8% of
the tracked living marine resource populations, which include both fish
stocks and protected species. This represents an increase from the
targeted level of 41.1% in FY 2007. Field work for stock assessments is
completed in the year prior to the assessment itself.

**Measure 1c: Number of Protected Species Designated as Threatened or
Endangered under the Endangered Species Act, or as Depleted under the
Marine Mammal Protection Act, with Stable or Increasing Population
Levels**

#### Explanation of Measure

This measure tracks progress at achieving partial recovery of
endangered, threatened or depleted protected species under the
jurisdiction of the National Marine Fisheries Service from a baseline of
65 species established as of January 1, 2004. Number range
CHAPTERProtected species are defined as all marine mammal stocks (except
walruses, polar bears, and manatees) and those domestic non-marine
mammal species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered
Species Act (ESA) that are under the jurisdiction of the National Marine
Fisheries Service. Marine mammal species included in this measure are
those listed as "depleted" under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which
includes any listed under ESA.

Recovery of threatened, endangered or depleted protected species is very
slow and can take decades. While it may not be possible to recover or
de-list a species in the near term, progress can be made to stabilize or
increase the species. For some, it is trying to stop a steep decline
(right whales, stellar sea lions); for others it is trying to increase
their numbers/abundance (Ridley turtles). NOAA's protected species
management efforts are focused on halting declines and conserving
species while still allowing human activities to continue.

### *FY 2008 Target*

The FY 2008 target is to have 27 threatened, endangered or depleted
species with stable or increasing population levels. This is an increase
of one from the FY 2007 target of 26. The species targeted to reach a
stable population status during FY 2008 is the west subpopulation of
Steller Sea Lions.

**Number range CHAPTERMeasure 1d: Number of Habitat Acres Restored
(Annual/Cumulative)**

###### **Explanation of Measure**

Number range CHAPTERNOAA restores habitat areas lost or degraded as a
result of development and other human activities, as well as specific
pollution incidents and sources. Activities are geared toward NOAA trust
resources found across the marine environment and supportive of
anadromous fish species. The intent of this measure is to summarize or
project the geographic area over which ecosystem function has been or
will be improved as the direct result of habitat restoration efforts.

**FY 2008 Target**

The FY 2008 target is to restore an additional 5,000 acres of habitat
for living marine resources. This target is the same as the target for
FY 2007, reflecting level funding.

Development of Crosscutting Ecosystem Performance Goal Measures

Over the last year, NOAA identified new performance measures for its
ecosystem goal. NOAA is designing these measures to systematically track
the effectiveness of NOAA's research and management programs in
improving ecosystem health and productivity. They will improve NOAA's
ability to: decide whether programs should be continued, improved,
expanded, or curtailed; assess the utility of new programs and
initiatives; increase and communicate the effectiveness of program
management; and to satisfy NOAA's accountability requirements.
Specifically, these new performance measures will inform NOAA's
assessment of its efforts to expand ecosystem-based principles and
practices that affect the management of large and nested ecosystems.
NOAA tracked three out of five measures in FY 2006, and NOAA will track
an additional measure in FY 2007. Another measure serves as a proxy for
a measure under long-term development as follows:

-   Two "proxy" measures capture the outcomes of NOAA's work, but NOAA
    will further develop them to measure performance at the ecosystem
    level. As NOAA develops the science and organizational structure to
    track performance at the ecosystem level, NOAA will adopt "ideal"
    measures, and plan and report on them in future Annual Performance
    Plans (APPs).

In the interim:

-   The proxy measure for ecosystems characterized is annual *number of
    coastal, marine, and Great Lakes ecological characterizations that
    meet management needs.* NOAA tracked it in FY 2006.

-   The *ecosystem health* measure will not be ready for use in FY 2007.
    (TBD\-- For progress to date in developing the ecosystem health
    measure, see explanation section of the ecosystem measures.)

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-   NOAA is tracking the *tools and technologies* measure in the
    Department of Commerce *Performance and Accountability Report for FY
    2007.*

-   NOAA reworded the *forecasting* measure and tracked it in FY 2006.

-   The habitat measures, *habitat acres acquired or designated for long
    term protection* and *habitat acres restored* remain separate.
    However, NOAA is evaluating merging the measures.

Although the ecosystem health measure is not ready for use, these other
new measures are assessing progress toward achieving this strategic
outcome of the Ecosystem Goal. These new performance measures, and
others under development, will give NOAA and its stakeholders an
end-to-end analysis of performance for the Ecosystem Goal. These
measures are interconnected and designed to track NOAA's performance for
achieving the greatest impacts.

**Measure 1e: Annual Number of Coastal, Marine and Great Lakes
Ecological Characterizations that Meet Management Needs.**

Sound management of coastal and ocean ecosystems requires
scientifically-based information on their condition. At the most
fundamental level, ecosystem characterization includes identification of
the physical location (ecosystem boundaries), spatial extent, and
biological, chemical, and physical characteristics. NOAA's ecological
characterizations improve understanding of the history, current state,
and future condition of ecosystems. They are cornerstones to
ecosystem-based approaches to management and the basis for many coastal
and ocean management tools including forecasts, assessments, and
management plans.

NOAA will make decisions about what and when to characterize based on
major user demand and requirements identified for each major ecosystem
by agency and regional stakeholders. Characterization efforts will be
prioritized using the following criteria: user community demand and
priorities, including those for NOAA management programs; significance
of issue; and consequences of management action or inaction. NOAA will
focus on protected areas or areas where NOAA has a management mandate,
including essential fish habitat, National Marine Sanctuaries, National
Estuarine Research Reserves, the Great Lakes, the coastal zone, and
coral reef ecosystems. NOAA will work with others to identify key
parameters for characterizing their condition and develop assessments of
their present "health."

The indicator in this measure is characterizations *that meet management
needs.* Management needs, and thus the characterizations required to
address them, vary temporally and geographically. Thus, essential fish
habitat, National Marine Sanctuaries, National Estuarine Research
Reserves, the Great Lakes, the coastal zone, and coral reef ecosystems
will each have different management needs and associated ecological
characterizations.

**FY 2007 and 2008 Targets**

NOAA will conduct ecological characterizations in FY 2007 and FY 2008 at
sites that include the following:

-   National Marine Sanctuaries ([Hawaiian Islands Humpback
    Whale](http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/onms/park/Parks?pID=18), Fagatele
    Bay, Gulf of the Farallones, USS Monitor, Olympic Coast, Stellwagen
    Bank, Thunder Bay).

-   National Estuarine Research Reserves.

-   Coral reef ecosystems (American Samoa, Guam, CNMI, Hawaii, NWHI,
    Florida, Puerto Rico, USVI, and FAS).

-   The coastal zone (e.g., Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River,
    Apalachicola Bay, Coastal Southern Maine, Elwha River Watershed, and
    Coastal Louisiana).

-   Great Lakes (Lake Erie, Huron, Superior, Michigan, and Ontario).

-   Essential fish habitat.

-   Ecological species units.

-   Unexplored areas.

**Measure 1f: Cumulative number of coastal, marine and Great Lakes
issue-based forecasting capabilities developed and used for
management.**

NOAA is developing discrete forecast models that allow resource managers
to make decisions based on predicted environmental and socioeconomic
impacts related to a particular issue. Managers will use these
issue-based forecasts to predict the impacts of a single ecosystem
stressor (i.e., climate change, extreme natural events, pollution,
invasive species, and land and resource use) and to evaluate the
potential of various options to manage those stressors. These forecasts
will be based upon field and laboratory studies, existing data, and
models predicting environmental conditions under different scenarios.
Forecast capabilities will be specific to a geographic area and will be
counted for each ecosystem as they become operational -- HAB forecasts
in the Gulf of Mexico and Gulf of Maine will be counted as two separate
forecast capabilities. Similarly, multiple, distinct forecast
capabilities could be counted within a single ecosystem (i.e., NOAA may
forecast harmful algal blooms (HABs), pink shrimp harvest, and hypoxia
in the Gulf of Mexico).

The ultimate goal is for resource managers to routinely use NOAA's
forecasts to better manage ecosystem use, condition, and productivity.
Progress toward this goal has been documented since 2001 and includes:
Eastern Gulf of Mexico and Gulf of Maine harmful algal bloom alerts
(2001), pink shrimp harvest and Gulf of Mexico hypoxia forecast model
development (2002), transfer of an operational oyster mortality forecast
capability to the US Army Corps of Engineers (2003), transfer of an
operational Eastern Gulf of Mexico harmful algal bloom alert capability
to NOAA's Coastal Services Center (2004), transfer of the Great Lakes
Forecasting System to NOAA programs (i.e., National Ocean Service Center
for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services and National Weather
Service) (2005), and preliminary forecasts for domoic acid in Pacific
Northwest razor clams, coral bleaching, oyster mortality, and real-time
jellyfish prediction in the Chesapeake Bay.

**FY 2007 and 2008 Targets**

Under the current plan for FY 2007, four NOAA ecosystem forecast
capabilities will be developed to inform management, and in FY 2008 an
additional three will be developed. As one example, in FY 2007, NOAA
will update the Great Lakes Operational Forecast System (GLOFS), an
automated model-based prediction system aimed at providing improved
predictions of water levels, water currents, and water temperatures in
the Great Lakes for the commercial, recreation, and emergency response
communities. Also in FY 2007 NOAA will be developing an online Coastal
Communities Planning Atlas for the 30 Texas coastal counties that will
include a modeling tool for evaluating the effects of sea level rise,
storm surge, and other natural hazards on existing infrastructure. In FY
2008, a new modeling tool enabling managers to evaluate the different
impacts of multiple development scenarios will be added to the Coastal
Communities Planning Atlas.

Measure 1g: Percentage of Tools, Technologies, and Information Services
That are Used by NOAA Partners/Customers to Improve Ecosystem-based
Management.

This measure was reworded to incorporate suggestions from the OMB PART
process. It will track NOAA's success in providing tools, technologies,
and information services that enable progress toward the principles of
ecosystem-based management in coastal, marine, and Great Lakes
ecosystems. This measure will capture a range of products and services
that NOAA provides to coastal and marine resource managers. Tracking the
accessibility and use of tools, technologies, and information by target
audiences will allow NOAA to identify and expand its most effective
programs and products. NOAA partners and customers include Federal,
state, local and tribal authorities who make decisions that affect
resources in the U.S. coastal zone, and other users whose actions impact
the condition of coastal ecosystems (e.g., private industry).

Tools include products, methods/processes, and training that require the
development and use of specialized skills. This could include analytical
support tools such as customized software applications, fellowships and
assistantships, or well-documented and repeatable stakeholder processes.
Tools build the capacity of a partner/customer for advancing
ecosystem-based management, and frequently require specialized skills to
use. Examples include: programming applications; databases; GIS and
technology training; decision support tools; process training, etc.
Technologies refer to developing and transferring new technologies, as
well as standards and methods required to ensure the proper application
of these technologies within the user community. This measure also
includes the transfer of underused technologies to improve ecosystem
based management challenges (e.g., biosensors, Automated Underwater
Vehicles (AUVs), genetic markers for fishery stocks) and to support
resource development (e.g., culture systems for aquaculture, marine
pharmaceuticals). Information services encompass data, data products,
educational materials and curricula, and technical assistance provided
to NOAA partners and customers in support of EAM principles. Examples
could include websites, maps, reports, public education programs or
campaigns, etc. Tools or techniques used for modeling or forecasting are
measured elsewhere and excluded here. Use means to be put into service
or applied for the purpose of advancing ecosystem-based management.

**2007 and 2008 Targets**

Resource management programs in NOAA strive to work closely with their
customers to ensure they are addressing customer needs. This measure
will track NOAA's success in achieving that goal and help insure that
NOAA's activities are directed towards the NOAA priority of advancing
ecosystems approaches to management. This measure currently captures
tools, technologies, and information services provided for NOAA
partners/customers by the Coastal and Marine Resources program
(including the NOS National Marine Sanctuary Program, the NOS Coastal
Services Center, and the Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine
Environmental Technology), the Coral program, the Habitat Program (the
NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office and the Office of Response and Restoration\'s
Assessment and Remediation Division), and the Ecosystem Research
Program. Tools, technologies, and information services that support this
measure range from trainings to education grants to DNA sequences. Since
NOAA is reporting on this measure for the first time, the number of
contributors should increase in the future to capture more programs and
programmatic components (e.g., offices). The targets for FY 2007 assume
the House Mark (including earmarks) and for FY 2008 assume the OMB
passback levels. The number of tools, technologies, and information
services developed by NOAA will vary according to the level of funding
appropriated, although we do not expect this to dramatically affect the
percentage of use by NOAA partners and customers.

**Measure 1h: Annual Number of Coastal, Marine, and Great Lakes Habitat
Acres Acquired or Designated for Long-term Protection. (Note: This is a
separate habitat performance measure from the established GPRA measure
*number of habitat acres restored*, 1d.)**

Serious habitat degradation is evident throughout the nation's coastal,
marine, and Great Lakes areas. Current threats to these habitats include
coastal urbanization, fragmentation of habitats, overuse, and impacts of
vessel groundings, dredging, and fishing gear on underwater habitats.
Habitat restoration (the established GPRA measure, 1d) and long-term
protection (this new measure, 1h) are critically needed to help maintain
the function of important coastal and marine ecosystems. Under NOAA's
legislative mandates, NOAA protects and restores key habitats that
provide critical ecosystem functions that support the health of
endangered or threatened species, essential fish habitat, as well as
provide a number of other societal or economic benefits. NOAA maintains
the health of coastal, marine, and Great Lakes habitats by designating
and managing important areas for long-term conservation and by providing
support to state and local governments to protect additional key
habitats by purchasing land from willing sellers.

This *long-term protection* measure tracks the number of acres acquired
with NOAA funds by state or local government agencies from willing
sellers for long-term protection of important coastal habitats, or the
number of acres designated for long-term protection by NOAA or by state
partners, such as through the National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP)
and National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS). The protected
acres are the actual number of acres newly protected in a fiscal year.
The cumulative total represents acres acquired or designated to date for
the NERRS, NMSP, and Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program.
The goal for the long-term protection indicator is variable, as the
yearly target can vary from hundreds to thousands of acres each year.
For example, the initial designation or acquisition for a new reserve or
sanctuary may add hundreds of thousands of acres in one year, while in
other years acquisition may result in several hundred or thousand acres
protected.

The measure does not track NOAA's proactive efforts to educate
landowners and inform decision-makers about reducing the number of
proposals that degrade or destroy habitat or its reactive efforts to
comment on permits requesting development in areas that would have
adverse effects on marine and coastal ecosystems.

**FY 2007 and 2008 Targets**

This measure was under development in the FY 2006 APP and targets for
acres acquired were identified for the FY 2007 APP. Validation and
verification methodologies for each of the contributing components are
under review in FY 2007 to determine whether it is possible to further
harmonize the methodologies used among program components. Target
numbers for "acres *designated* for long-term protection" were
established based on the planned designation of the Mission Aransas
National Estuarine Research Reserve in FY 2006 and planned designation
of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve as the
14^th^ National Marine Sanctuary in FY 2007. However the NW Hawaiian
Islands were designated as a National Marine Monument by the
Administration in FY 2006. This was the result of a Presidential
proclamation that accelerated the designation of the protected area.
This area will be co-managed by NOAA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
NOAA target numbers for "acres acquired for long-term protection" are
difficult to establish because 1) these projects are competitively
selected based on availability of funding and 2) the variability in cost
per acre of land make it difficult to estimate acreage based on average
cost.

***Measure Under Development: Percentage of Coastal, Marine and Great
Lakes Ecosystems with Improved Ecosystem Health (as Demonstrated by a
Suite of Indicators of Ecosystem Health).***

The key outcome of NOAA's Ecosystem Goal is "healthy and productive
ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems that benefit society." NOAA
works to achieve this goal through the execution of numerous legislative
mandates, which convey public trust responsibilities to NOAA for the
nation's coastal and marine resources. NOAA, other Federal, state, and
local government agencies, the private sector, nongovernmental groups,
and the public influence the desired outcome. To gauge progress toward
achieving this goal, NOAA is developing a new performance measure that
indicates whether ecosystem health is improving in each of the large
ecosystems or sub-ecosystems within its purview.

NOAA has made significant progress toward establishing this measure, but
much work remains. For example, NOAA has begun to delineate coastal,
marine, and Great Lakes ecosystems at their largest scale. NOAA will
continue to develop this regional framework, and in consultation with
key stakeholders, will identify sub-ecosystems (encompassing coastal
watersheds, marine waters, and Great Lakes environments). Concurrently,
NOAA will continue to develop an adaptive suite of indicators of
ecosystem health in those regions. Until subecosystems are defined, NOAA
will refine its adaptive suite of indicators of ecosystem health. NOAA
will continue to work toward establishing a system for integrated budget
and performance management that will give NOAA the verified data needed
to track its planned index measure on ecosystem health.

[DOC Strategic Goal 3: Observe, protect, and manage the earth's
resources to promote environmental stewardship]{.underline}

[General Goal/Objective 3.2: Climate: Understand climate variability and
change to enhance society's ability to plan and respond]{.underline}

Weather and climate sensitive industries, ranging from finance,
insurance, and real estate to services, retail and wholesale trade and
manufacturing, directly and indirectly account for about one-third of
the Nation's gross domestic product (GDP), or \$3 trillion. Industries
directly impacted by weather such as agriculture, construction, energy
distribution, and outdoor recreation account for nearly 10 percent of
the Nation's GDP. Drought is estimated to result in average annual
losses to all sectors of the economy of between \$6-8 billion. Given
such stresses as population growth, drought, and increasing demand for
fresh water, and emerging infectious diseases, it is essential for NOAA
to provide reliable observations, forecasts, and assessments of climate,
water, and ecosystems to enhance decision makers' ability to minimize
climate risks. This information will support decisions regarding
community planning, public policy, business management, homeland
security, natural resource and water planning, and public health
preparedness. In the U.S. agricultural sector alone, better forecasts
can be worth over \$300 million in avoided losses annually.

Climate variability and change will increasingly present risks to
people, property and resources, challenge our ability to design and
implement adaptive and mitigation strategies, as well as create new
opportunities. The Nation and the Globe are facing a warming trend in
temperature that along with the associated changes in precipitation and
sea-level rise will have important consequences for the U.S. environment
and economy. The impact of climate change on the economy of the United
States is witnessed by: Drought is a growing national concern with
\$6B-8B in losses per year; Coastal erosion due to storm surges and
sea-level rise will claim roughly 1,500 homes in the U.S. each year for
several decades, at a cost to property owners of \$530M/year as well as
direct damages from erosion of the coastline by 5%; Changes in fish
stock resulting from climate change will include poleward shifts in
distribution of some marine populations, and shifts in the commercially
important species; and the 1997-1998 El Niño is estimated to have had
total U.S. economic impacts on the order of \$25 billion.

NOAA is uniquely positioned to provide decision makers with better
information on the causes, feedbacks, and impacts of climate variability
and change and the tools to enable them to address pressing societal
challenges. It is critical that vital information be made available and
put into forms that are useful and understandable by those who need it.
It also is critical that society have the ability to comprehend and
manage this information to its benefit and to be able to balance
short-term requirements with long-term stability and economic health.
NOAA today is uniquely positioned to lead the development of this
understanding and its application. NOAA's role as a leading climate
agency not only in the United States, but also in the world, is well
established through its position and activities in the commissions and
programs so necessary to improving society's ability to plan for and
respond to climate change.

To enable society to better respond to changing climate conditions,
NOAA, working with national and international partners, will employ an
end-to-end system comprised of integrated observations of key
atmospheric, oceanic, and terrestrial variables; a scientific
understanding of past climate variations and present atmospheric,
oceanic, and land-surface processes that influence climate; application
of this improved understanding to create more reliable climate
predictions on all time scales; and service delivery methods that
continuously assess and respond to user needs with the most reliable
information possible.

These activities will accelerate the development of a structure and
process for improving the relevance of climate science to assist
decision-makers in their development of national, regional and sectoral
adaptation responses (actions to reduce vulnerability, seize
opportunities, and enhance resilience) to variability and long-term
changes in the climate, particularly for industry, natural resource and
water managers, community planners, and public health professionals.

**Measure 2a*:* U.S. Temperature Forecasts (Cumulative Skill Score
Computed Over the Regions Where Predictions are Made)**

**Explanation of Measure**

Accurate temperature forecasts are critical to many sectors of the
national economy, including agriculture and energy utilities. This
measure compares actual observed temperatures with forecasted
temperatures from areas around the country. For those areas of the
United States where a temperature forecast (warmer than normal, cooler
than normal, near-normal) is made, this score measures how much better
the forecast is than the random chance of being correct. Areas where no
forecast for surface temperature is made (i.e., areas designated as
"equal chance" on the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) seasonal forecast
maps) are not included in the computation of the Heidke Skill Score
(HSS), the metric used for this measure to compare actual and observed
temperatures. Heidke skill score is one of several accepted standards of
forecasting in the scientific community. It is calculated as follows:

Heidke skill score: S = ((c-e)/(t-e)) x 100

> where c = number of stations where forecast was correct
>
> and e = number of stations where forecast could be correct by chance =
> (1/3) x total number of stations in a 3 equal class system
>
> and t = number of stations where forecast was made, total

S is approximately equal to one-half of the correlation between forecast
and observations.

The HSS is a function of whether or not a forecast is correct and for
how many locations a forecast is made, but does not reward when the
forecast verifies by chance alone. Skill score is based on a scale of
-50 to +100. If forecasters match a random prediction, the skill score
is zero. Anything above zero shows positive skill in forecasting. Given
the difficulty of making seasonal temperature and precipitation
forecasts for specific locations, a skill score of 20 is considered
quite good and means the forecast was correct in almost 50% of the
locations forecasted. Forecasts will likely be better in El Niño years
than in non-El Niño years. Reported skill score is a cumulative average
over past 48 consecutive 3-month seasons. For example, skill score of 18
reported at the end of FY 2002 is the HSS averaged over 48 surface
temperature forecasts from October 1998 to September 2002. Temperatures
across the United States are measured using NOAA's cooperative network
maintained by volunteers across the nation. Temperature data is
collected and analyzed by NOAA.

In June 2005, NOAA switched to a new method of computing HSS and the new
method will be reflected in the reporting of the FY 05 actual (none of
the data reported in the summary table has changed). The old technique
was done manually, and as such, was subject to occasional human errors.
It was calculated using data for major cities, which resulted in the
score being disproportionately weighted toward the eastern U.S. The new
technique verifies a gridded objective analysis of the forecast field
against a gridded analysis of the observed verification field. This
treats the entire area of the lower 48 states more fairly and
objectively.

# FY 2007 and 2008 Targets

The FY06 actual was simply an anomaly. The Skill score is projected to
increase to 19 beginning in FY07 and rising to 20 in FY10 as improved
modeling and research activities are implemented. Outside of FY06, this
score has remained relatively constant.  This measure is computed using
a 48-month running mean, and the high scores from the end of the strong
El Nino season of 1999-2000 have out.  The FY06 goal was set relatively
high during the 1990\'s when El Nino and La Nina had an unusually strong
influence on the forecast skill score. 

The FY 2007 and FY2008 target scores are 19 and is an increase over the
target for FY04 of 17. Beyond FY 2006, a gradual increase in performance
skill score is expected due to improvements in modeling and research
activities.

Specifically, the National Weather Service accelerated implementation of
the new Climate Forecast System originally scheduled for FY 2005 to FY
2004, which is expected to yield benefits in the late 2005 or early 2006
time period. NOAA's Climate Prediction (CPC) is leading an effort to
spin up a Climate Test Bed which will accelerate the transition of
research improvements to operational climate prediction, and has
redirected nearly 25% of its Federal and contract staff to accelerate
improvements in seasonal climate prediction. Increased collaboration
with the research climate community is also planned to enhance model
diagnostics and testing from the internal and external science
communities. In addition, CPC will expand the collaborative forecast
process to include more scientists and experimental forecast tools in
their operational seasonal forecasts. This targets the best possible
prediction expertise and cutting edge science. Other activities include
completion of North American Monsoon Experiment (NAME) in FY04, aimed at
improving warm-season predictions, and implementing a new training
program that provides forecasts that take into account the latest
science and technology advances and the use of new seasonal climate
tools/products.

**Measure 2b: Reduced the uncertainty in the magnitude of the North
American carbon uptake**

**Explanation of Measure**

By 2009, NOAA will reduce the uncertainty of atmospheric estimates of
the North American carbon uptake by half to +/- 0.3 Gt C per year,
assuming a full network of 36 stations has been established and
monitored. Several inverse transport models are being used to determine
the uncertainty in the North American carbon uptake as the number of
carbon dioxide profiling sites is increased. The uncertainty is
estimated on an annual basis, to track progress toward the long-term
goal. The baseline uncertainty is +/- 0.6 GtC per year (as determined in
2000). Reducing the uncertainty by 50% will allow resolution of the
interannual variability in the North American carbon flux and U.S.
regional carbon dioxide emissions and uptake.

Carbon dioxide is the most important of the greenhouse gases that are
undergoing changes in abundance in the atmosphere due to human activity.
On average, about one half of all the carbon dioxide emitted by human
activity is taken up by the oceans and the terrestrial biosphere (trees,
plants, and soils). These reservoirs of carbon are known as carbon
"sinks." However, the variation in the uptake from year to year is very
large and poorly understood. A large portion of the variability is
thought to be related to the terrestrial biosphere in the Northern
Hemisphere, and quite likely North America itself. NOAA needs to assess
and quantify the source of this variability if it is to provide
scientific guidance to policymakers who are concerned with managing
emissions and sequestration of carbon dioxide. This can only be done by
making regional-scale measurements of the vertical profile of carbon
dioxide across the U.S. which, combined with improved transport models,
can be used to determine carbon dioxide sources and sinks on a regional
(about 600 mile) scale. This will provide a powerful tool to gauge the
effectiveness of carbon management and enhanced sequestration efforts.

Research supporting this measure also ensures a long-term climate
observing system that provides an observational foundation to evaluate
climate variability and change, and provides the mechanism to support
policy and management decisions related to climate variability and
change at national and regional scales. More information can be found at
http://www.cmdl.noaa.gov/carbonamerica/.

**FY 2007 and 2008 Targets**

An intensive interagency field campaign in the north-central United
States is being planned for the growing season in 2007. During 2005, new
aircraft sites in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wisconsin
were implemented for this intensive. The purpose of the campaign is to
reconcile estimates of regional carbon sources and sinks calculated from
atmospheric measurements, with direct estimates utilizing field
measurements, land-based carbon inventories, regional geographic
information, and remote sensing. The campaign also seeks to attribute
sources and sinks of carbon dioxide to ecosystem processes and human
activities within the region.

The expansion of the North American observing network of tall tower and
additional aircraft profiling sites is delayed from the original planned
deployment due to the enacted funding level. Targets in FY 2006 and FY
2007 remain virtually constant from the FY 2005 actual (+/- 0.4 gigatons
C/yr) and achieving the long-term target of +/- 0.3 gigatons C/yr will
be delayed until deployment of the planned network is funded and
completed.

**Measure 2c: Reduced the uncertainty in model simulations of the
influence of aerosols on climate**

**Explanation of Measure**

[The near-term goal.]{.underline} *By 2009, NOAA observational and
theoretical research will reduce the uncertainty in the simulated
influence of North American aerosols on climate by 20%.* The baseline
for comparison will be the level of uncertainty reflected in the 2001
climate-change assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC), which was prepared by the worldwide scientific community.
The meeting of the 20% measure will be judged by the findings of the
forthcoming 2006/7 IPCC assessment, which will update the understanding
of climate change.

[The longer-term goal.]{.underline} By 2013, *NOAA observational and
theoretical research will reduce the uncertainty in the simulated
influence of global aerosols on climate by50%.* The baseline for
comparison will again be the high level of uncertainty reflected in the
2001 climate-change assessment of the IPCC, prepared by the worldwide
scientific community. The meeting of this longer-term 50% measure will
be judged by the findings of forthcoming IPCC assessments, further
updating the understanding of climate change.

[Background on the science.]{.underline} Aerosols are liquid or solid
particles suspended in the atmosphere. They force changes in the climate
system by (i) directly absorbing and scattering of radiation from the
sun and (ii) by changing the way clouds reflect back solar radiation.
While greenhouse gases warm the atmosphere, aerosols and clouds can both
counteract greenhouse gases by reflecting incoming solar radiation and
cooling the atmosphere, or, under different conditions, some aerosols
can absorb solar radiation and some clouds can trap heat, thus heating
the atmosphere. The role of aerosols, clouds, and climate is deemed to
be the largest single uncertainty in the prediction of how human
activities influence climate change (IPCC, 2001). This GPRA measure now
addresses the first of the two factors. In later years the second factor
will also be included.

[NOAA research plan and annual performance measures.]{.underline} To
meet the 2008 goal, NOAA has designed a multi-step research program. It
is complete with annual measures of success of each year's step, plus an
overall evaluation of how all four steps contribute to the 2008 goal.
*Plan.* (1) The multi-stepped plan began in 2002, scoping out the
information needs associated with the climate influence of North
American aerosols. (2) In 2003, instruments were developed to fill the
North American observational gaps. (3) In 2005, monitoring of the
seasonal changes of the aerosols and their climate impact began in one
key North American region. (4) In 2006, NOAA will carryout an intensive
field campaign using long-existing and newly developed instruments in
the Gulf of Mexico region. (5) In 2007, the data from the intensive
field campaign will be analyzed and the necessary laboratory studies
will be carried out. (6) In 2008, intensive field studies will again be
carried out to examine transport and transformation of aerosols in
winter/spring seasons (as opposed to the hitherto summer campaigns).The
results from this field study, monitoring activities, and
laboratory-derived data will be used to evaluate the percentage
improvement in model simulation of the role of North American aerosols
on climate via scattering and absorption of radiation. *Annual
Performance Measures.* Annual targets quantitatively score the success
of each of the individual research tasks in preceding years. Success in
each of these preceding steps is necessary for success in meeting the 10
percent improvement of uncertainty associated with the 2007 goal and the
15% improvement in uncertainty for the 2008 goal.

[Outcome and payoffs.]{.underline} The desired outcome is an improved
science-vetted set of options for changing the impact of North American
aerosols on climate, which can be considered by governments, the private
sector, e.g., transportation and energy production, and the public.
Reductions in the uncertainties surrounding aerosols relate directly to
the confidence with which model simulations can support policy decisions
on the climate issue. Furthermore, since aerosols are also a
human-health, air quality issue, there is the opportunity to quantify
"win-win" opportunities of how decisions made to improve air quality may
also contribute to reduce the forcing of climate change.

#### 

####### FY 2007 and FY 2008 Targets

While 2006 was the first year this measure is presented in this report,
progress toward this near-term goal was being tracked earlier at the
program level. A series of annual research activities from instrument
development in FY2003, to field process studies and long-term monitoring
of aerosol distributions in FY2004 and FY2005, the intensive campaign in
2006, and analyses in 2007 will be utilized to achieve the FY2007 and FY
2008 goals and further enhance our understanding of how aerosols affect
climate.

**Measure 2d: Determine the National Explained Variance (%) for Annual
Average Temperature and Precipitation for the Contiguous United States
using USCRN Stations**

**Explanation of Measure**

This measure is designed to address the significant shortcomings in past
and present observing systems by capturing 98% of the long-term changes
in the national annual average surface air temperature and 95% of the
long-term changes in the national annual average precipitation
throughout the contiguous U.S. using the U.S. Climate Reference Network
(USCRN).

Inadequacies in the present observing system increase the level of
uncertainty when government and business decision-makers consider
long-range strategic policies and plans. The U.S. Climate Reference
Network (USCRN), a benchmark climate-observing network, will provide the
nation with long-term (50 to 100 years) high quality climate
observations and records with minimal time-dependent biases affecting
the interpretation of decadal to centennial climate variability and
change.

The original full national network implementation plan has been scaled
back to \~110 stations deployed across the contiguous U.S., capturing
long-term temperature and precipitation trends only at the national
level across the lower 48 states, due to lower enacted funding. Given
the current and future states of available technologies, the adjusted
network distribution provides for the life cycle high performance
operations and maintenance of the commissioned stations while
maintaining the quality of the data at the highest possible level. The
smaller sized network will not be able to achieve the level of
monitoring and evaluation of climate variations and trends originally
intended at the regional scale. This may be possible if funding for
modernizing the Historical Climatology Network (HCN) is made available
as a part of the NOAA Environmental Real-time Operational Network
(NERON) project.

The USCRN will strengthen the existing climate record through
determination of transfer functions between these stations and the
instrumentation and stations of other observing networks, such as COOP
and ASOS. This will increase assurance of long-term and bias-free
national and global monitoring, including higher-precision,
higher-confidence validation of NOAA's space-based (satellite)
measurements and monitoring capabilities. More information can be found
at http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/crn/performancemeasures.html.

**FY 2007 and FY 2008 Targets**

Due to reduced funding levels in FY 2005 and FY 2006, the deployment of
new stations was suspended and available funds used for operations and
maintenance (O&M) of commissioned observing stations.  All other USCRN
related activities, such as developing instrument transfer functions and
station normals, were suspended during FY 2005 and FY 2006.  In FY 2006
two contract support positions, one a scientist developing transfer
functions and normals and one station history documentation
meteorologist were not rehired. The percent national explained variance
for FY 2006 for the annual average surface air temperature was 97% and
for precipitation, 91.4%.  Provided funding is enacted at the FY 2007
requested level, the target completion date will be extended from FY
2007 to FY 2009 for completing the deployment of the

remainder of the currently planned network of stations across the lower
48 states. In addition, quality control technique improvements have been
delayed, station history (metadata) documentation has been suspended,
and incomplete instrument transfer functions will prevent improvements
in the quality and value of other NOAA observations from in situ and
remote (satellite based) observing systems, as related to climate
monitoring and evaluation of present, past, and future climate variation
and change.

**Measure 2e: Reduced the error in global measurement of sea surface
temperature**

***Explanation of Measure***

This measure is intended to document progress in accurately measuring
the global sea surface temperature. The unit of measure is potential
satellite bias error (in degrees Celsius) of global sea surface
temperature. Bias error is due to a systematic difference between
multiple types of observing instrumentation (e.g., satellites and in
situ buoys, ships, etc.). The current satellite bias error is 0.53°C
(2006). The long-term goal is to reduce the error to 0.2 °C by FY2009.
The maximum allowed bias error has been specified as less than 0.5 °C on
a monthly scale for a 5° latitude-longitude box.

The sea surface, covering over 70% of the Earth surface, has a
tremendous influence on global climate. It is where the atmosphere
responds to the ocean, via the transfer of heat either to or from the
atmosphere. Warmer than normal sea surface temperatures in the tropical
Pacific is a dominant characteristic of the El Niño phenomenon, and
predictive climate models for El Niño must be initialized using the most
precise observed surface temperature possible to produce accurate
forecasts. Since sea-surface temperature is measured by buoys, ships,
and satellites, this performance measure is well-suited as an indicator
of the effectiveness of our integrated ocean observing system.

This performance measure also reflects how improvements in ocean
observations will decrease the uncertainty in global sea surface
temperature measurements, which will ultimately play a role in
calculations of the ocean-atmosphere exchange of heat and the heat
storage in the global ocean. More accurate estimates of sea surface
temperature and ocean heat content will improve our ability to respond
to changes in the climate system.

**FY 2007 and FY 2008 Targets**

The integrated ocean climate observing system was \~53% complete at the
end of 2005. Current limitations in accurate measurements of global sea
surface temperature include insufficient observing platforms in the
global ocean. FY2007 and FY2008 will be dedicated to maintaining current
coverage of the global ocean observing network, working toward global
coverage and the long-term goal of reduced error in the global
measurement of sea surface temperature. The reduction in uncertainty in
sea surface temperature is dependent upon the deployment of global
drifting buoys and subsequent response of the network as the data are
collected. While the target deployment of 1250 buoys was completed in FY
2006, FY2007 and beyond will be dedicated to optimizing the location of
the buoys in order to more effectively reduce uncertainty in estimates
of global sea surface temperature.

**Measure 2f: Improve society\'s ability to plan and respond to climate
variability and change using NOAA climate products and information**

***Explanation of Measure***

This measure documents our success in working directly with stakeholders
to develop and enhance a suite of climate data, monitoring, and
prediction products that are valuable to our customers and stakeholders.
The unit of measure is: regionally-focused climate impacts and
adaptation studies communicated to decision-makers,. The baseline is 28
risk and impact assessments/evaluations published in 2003.

NOAA currently provides state of the art science and discovery
information products to a range of decision makers, from water resource
managers and regional forecast offices, to national and international
assessments, such as the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) and
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). These information
summaries highlight important deliverables such as reducing uncertainty
in climate forcing models (e.g., carbon sources and sinks, effects of
aerosols on climate), as well as in seasonal, interannual, and decadal
climate forecasts. These deliverables form the basis of NOAA's emerging
climate products and services. NOAA requires stakeholder input and
feedback for product development and improvement. These interactions are
facilitated by both interdisciplinary research and NOAA operations,
bridging the gap between research and production, and decision makers.
By increasing the interactions between NOAA and the users of climate
information, NOAA will ensure that climate products and services are
reaching the key decision making sectors.

**FY 2007 and FY 2008 Targets**

NOAA is planning on continuing the development of prototype climate
decision support tools and the broadening of decision support
partnerships through extramural research grants, and enhancements to the
already successful Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA)
Program and newly established Sector Applications Research Program
(SARP). The NOAA Climate Transition Program (NCTP), newly implemented in
FY2005, will continue to focus on successful transfers of experimental
research and information products into operational settings. NOAA plans
to expand RISA into the Alaska region; and through a focus on Coping
with Drought will seek to enhance drought impacts research, generate
directed drought regional and river basin decision support activities,
and transition drought related research tools into operations.

[DOC Strategic Goal 3: Observe, protect, and manage the earth's
resources to promote environmental stewardship]{.underline}

[General Goal/Objective 3.3: Weather and Water: Serve society's needs
for weather and water information]{.underline}

On average, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, and other severe weather
events cause \$11 billion in damages per year. Weather, including space
weather, is directly linked to public safety and about one-third of the
U.S. economy (about \$3 trillion) is weather sensitive. With so much at
stake, NOAA's role in observing, forecasting, and warning of
environmental events is expanding, while economic sectors and the public
are becoming increasingly sophisticated at using NOAA's weather, air
quality, and water information to improve their operational
efficiencies, management of environmental resources, and quality of
life.

NOAA is strategically positioned to conduct sound science and provide
integrated observations, predictions, and advice for decision makers to
manage many aspects of environmental resources--from fresh water to
coastal ecosystems and air quality. Bridging weather and climate time
scales, NOAA will continue to collect environmental data and issue
forecasts and warnings that help protect life and property and enhance
the U.S. economy.

NOAA is committed to excellent customer service. NOAA depends on
partners in the private sector, academia, and government to help
disseminate critical environmental information. NOAA will work even
closer with existing partners and will develop new partnerships to
achieve greater public and industry satisfaction with weather, air
quality and water information. NOAA will expand services to support
evolving national needs, including space weather, freshwater and coastal
ecosystems, and air quality predictions throughout the Nation.

NOAA is committed to improving community resilience --- the capacity of
a system, community, or society potentially exposed to hazards to adapt,
by resisting or changing, in order to reach and maintain an acceptable
level of functioning and structure. This is determined by the degree to
which the social system is capable of organizing itself to increase its
capacity for learning from past disasters and developing better future
protection and improving risk reduction measures. Resilience is a key to
enhancing adaptive capacity and containing the spiraling costs and
impacts associated with hazards. NOAA will provide community resilience
assessment, planning and policy tools at community, regional, national
scales. NOAA will provide information resources such as portal,
geospatial data, integrated coastal ocean information time series, and
visualization data. NOAA will also offer assessment tools covering
hazard risks, vulnerabilities, economic analyses, policy assessments,
predictive assessments, and uncertainty assessments. Importantly, NOAA
will give coastal managers and others indispensable decision support
tools covering scenario planning, policy evaluation, cumulative impact
assessment, impact modeling, and forecasting. Lastly, NOAA offers
capacity building through training, education, and tech transfer.

**Measure 3a: Cumulative Percentage of U.S. Shoreline and Inland Areas
that Have Improved Ability to Reduce Coastal Hazard Impacts**

##### Explanation of Measure

This measure tracks improvements in NOAA\'s ability to assist coastal
areas by estimating the risks of natural hazards. Activities are
underway to develop a coastal risk atlas that will enable communities to
evaluate the risk, extent, and severity of natural hazards in coastal
areas. The risk atlas will help coastal communities make more effective
hazard mitigation decisions to reduce impacts to life and property.
Currently, many coastal communities make major decisions on land use,
infrastructure development, and hazard responses without adequate
information about the risks and possible extent of natural hazards in
their areas. Through the coastal risk atlas, NOS, with other Federal and
state agencies, will provide a mechanism for coastal communities to
evaluate their risks and vulnerabilities to natural hazards and improve
their hazard mitigation planning capabilities.

###### **FY 2007 and 2008 Targets**

NOAA began working to expand phase II of the Coastal Risk Atlas to other
areas within FEMA Region IV (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi) during FY 2003. This expansion did
not result in an increase to the target for FY 2004, but resulted in an
increase in FY 2005. The completion of the expansion in FY 2005
increased the cumulative total to 26,778 miles of the total shoreline
(97,128) or 28 percent. This increase consisted of 2,344 miles of
shoreline for Georgia and 7,721 miles of shoreline for Louisiana. An
evaluation at the end of the phase II expansion determined the
feasibility of continued expansion of the Coastal Risk Atlas beyond FY
2005. If continued expansion is deemed feasible, efforts will focus on
adding Oregon and Texas to the Coastal Risk Atlas. This increase
consisted of 1,357 miles of shoreline for Oregon (53 of the total 1,410
miles of shoreline for Oregon was previously attributed to this measure
in FY 2001) and 3,359 miles of shoreline for Texas in FY 2006. For 2007
and FY 2008, NOAA will expand the coastal risk atlas to include Maryland
and Virginia.

Measure 3b: Lead Time (Minutes), Accuracy (%), and False Alarm Rate
(FAR, %) of Severe Weather Warnings for Tornadoes

##### Explanation of Measure

The lead time for a tornado warning is the difference between the time
the warning was issued and the time the tornado affected the area for
which the warning was issued. The lead times for all tornado occurrences
within the continental U.S. are averaged to get this statistic for a
given fiscal year. This average includes all warned events with zero
lead times and all unwarned events. In FY 2005, the percentage of events
with a lead time greater than zero was 66 percent. Accuracy is the
percentage of time a tornado actually occurred in an area that was
covered by a warning. The difference between the accuracy percentage
figure and 100% represents the percentage of events without a warning.
The false alarm rate is the percentage of times a tornado warning was
issued but no tornado occurrence was verified. The false alarm rate was
added as a reportable measure in FY 2000, although it had been collected
and used internally previously. In FY 2007 NWS is adjusting its goals to
match FY 2006 targets. In the past, the NWS set annual GPRA targets
primarily representing steady incremental improvement each year. This
was appropriate for a period of time earlier this decade; however,
performance in the tornado warning process has reached a plateau and new
science and/or technology are needed to advance these metrics further.
The implementation of new radar technology is matched with increases

in performance goals beyond FY 2008, but for FY 2007, performance is
expected to remain steady (aside from normal statistical variability).
In FY 2008 NWS is changing its tornado measures from county-based
detection to storm-based. The storm-based measures focus on geographic
coverage specific to individual storms with concomitant new verification
strategies; therefore, they are considered new measures with targets
fundamentally distinct from the county-based measures.

**FY 2007 and 2008 Targets**

The FY 2006 and FY 2007 targets for tornado lead time and FAR were
revised in the FY 2007 APP based on analysis of recent trends in
performance, combined with impacts of prior fiscal year budget
reductions and residual impacts those reductions have had on programs. A
delay of the deployment of the ORDA super resolution capability from
spring 2005 to spring 2008, as well as the delay in providing Terminal
Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR) data to an additional 31 Weather Forecast
Offices (WFOs) from FY 2006 to at least FY 2007 due to lack of funding
for maintenance and communications lines, have contributed to the
revision of targets. The super resolution capability was delayed due the
technical design being more challenging than anticipated, and also due
to a NEXRAD tri-agency team decision to deploy the basic ORDA
functionality before deploying super resolution.

The NWS lead time target will be held at 13 minutes for FY 2007. The
implementation of new radar technology is matched with increases in
performance goals beyond FY 2008, but for FY 2007, performance is
expected to remain steady. Beyond FY 2008 performance is expected to
improve due to completion of retrofits of the NEXRAD systems, forecaster
training using the Weather Event Simulator and the Advanced Warning
Operations Course (AWOC), and realization of the operational benefits of
Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System's five software
enhancements.

NOAA now has the capability to provide Storm-Based tornado warnings for
sub-county areas that exactly match the geographical area where the
actual meteorological threat exists. This is in contrast to the current,
county-based system, which blankets entire counties or groups of
counties with warnings. Storm-Based tornado warnings will reduce the
area unnecessarily warned for tornados by an average of 70%. Storm-Based
tornado warnings will produce hundreds of millions of dollars in time
savings for the American economy because many less people will take
cover needlessly. The new system and its associated benefit cannot be
implemented without the new, Storm-Based metrics, which are geared to
measure forecaster performance in this new paradigm.

Measure 3c: Lead Time (Minutes) and Accuracy (%) for Severe Weather
Warnings for Flash Floods

**Explanation of Measure**

The lead time for a flash flood warning is the difference between the
time the warning was issued and the time the flash flood affected the
area for which the warning was issued. The lead times for all flash
flood occurrences within the continental United States are averaged to
get this statistic for a given fiscal year. This average includes all
warned events with zero lead times and all unwarned events. In FY 2005,
the percentage of events with a lead time greater than zero was 74
percent. Accuracy is measured by the percentage of times a flash flood
actually occurred in an area that was covered by a warning. The
difference between the accuracy percentage figure and 100 percent
represents the percentage of events without a warning.

**FY 2007 and 2008 Targets**

The FY 2007 and 2008 targets for the Flash Flood accuracy were adjusted
in the FY 2007 APP based on analysis of performance and budget
reductions in recent fiscal years. NWS expects to improve both flash
flood lead-time and accuracy over the next several years primarily
through the improvement of existing, and the implementation of new,
Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) flash flood decision
assistance tools. However, the FY 2005 and 2006 enacted budgets delayed
the implementation of forecaster-requested enhancements to the
operational AHPS Flash Flood Monitoring and Prediction (FFMP) decision
assistance tool. This will have residual effects in FY 2007 and FY 2008,
which is why the goals have been revised. In the past, the NWS set
annual GPRA targets primarily representing steady incremental
improvement each year. This was appropriate given that periodic
improvements in science, technology, and operations were planned.
However, delays in the implementation of new capabilities have occurred
over the last few years due to resource constraints, so performance
gains have not been realized. For FY 2007, performance is expected to
remain steady (aside from normal statistical variability), therefore,
the FY 2007 targets for Flash Flood Accuracy and Lead Time will remain
at 89% and 48 Minutes, respectively.

Although budget cuts have slowed the improvement process for the flash
flood decision assistance tools, there are still a number of related
efforts that are going forward albeit at a slower pace. The
implementation of NEXRAD Open Radar Data Acquisition (ORDA), originally
scheduled to begin in the fall of 2004, began in FY 2005. ORDA is the
first step in the deployment of new software in FY 2008 which will make
Super Resolution Radar data available to operational staff. The Super
Resolution Radar data includes higher resolution precipitation
estimates, which will give forecasters many more points to average for
basin rainfall computations. The larger number of points for averaging
the rainfall will deliver more precise precipitation input for
forecasting flash floods. Also, implementation of Distributed Modeling
began in FY 2006 and will continue over the next several years. This
will introduce a level of specificity to the hydrologic modeling that
will take advantage of the higher resolution precipitation estimates
provided by the Super Resolution Radar data and improve the precision of
flash flood forecasting. By FY 2008, improvements to precipitation
estimates in mountainous areas will be implemented which will also
improve the precision of forecasting in areas that have historically
been difficult due to lack of data. Lead time and accuracy should be
improved by these new capabilities.

Measure 3d: Hurricane Forecast Track Error (48 Hours)

##### Explanation of Measure

Number range CHAPTERThe public, emergency managers, government
institutions at all levels in this country and abroad, and the private
sector use NOAA hurricane and tropical storm track forecasts to make
decisions on life and property. This goal measures the difference
between the projected location of the center of these storms and the
actual location in nautical miles (nm) for the Atlantic Basin. The goal
is computed by averaging the differences (errors) for all the 48-hour
forecasts occurring during the calendar year. This measure can show
significant annual volatility. Projecting the long-term - trend, and
basing outyear goals on that trend, is preferred over making large
upward or downward changes to the goals each year.

##### FY 2007 and 2008 Targets

Based on an analysis of recent performance and long-term trends, the FY
2006 and FY 2007 targets for hurricane track forecast error have been
lowered from 125nm in FY05 to 110nm in FY07. Based on observed data from
1987 -- 2004, a new trend line for performance has been calculated, and
targets have been adjusted according to the new trend line. The average
track error is projected to decrease due to improvements in
observations, hurricane forecast models, aircraft upgrades, supporting
data and computer infrastructure, and by conducting research within the
U.S. Weather Research Program (USWRP) that will be transferred to NOAA
NWS forecast operations. Specifically, the first generation Hurricane
Weather Research Forecast (HWRF) model assessment will occur during the
2006, with operational implementation scheduled for the 2007 hurricane
season. The HWRF will have high resolution coupled with land, ocean, and
air, will make use of advanced observations for large scale atmosphere
(winds, moisture and temperature) and oceans (seas surface temperatures
and wave heights), and will have nested wave forecast capability. The
Joint Hurricane Testbed, continues to provide a framework for new
upgrades to dynamical models and model components, enhancements to
observed data assimilation techniques, track forecasting algorithms, and
intensity estimation and forecasting algorithms to be developed under
operational conditions. NOAA will also install additional marine buoys
at high priority sites in the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean which will
provide an early warning system of marine observations in the open
ocean. In addition, ten Air Force C-130 aircraft will be equipped with
Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometers in late FY 2005 which will
provide more accurate observations of surface winds. Recent model
upgrades in FY05 and future modeling plans in FY 2006, 07, and 08 are
also expected to improve hurricane prediction over the upcoming years,
and the target will continue to be evaluated.

Measure 3e: Hurricane Intensity Forecast Error (48 Hours)

##### Explanation of Measure

The public, emergency managers, government institutions at all levels in
this country and abroad, and the private sector use NOAA hurricane
intensity forecasts to make decisions on life and property. This measure
will represent the difference between the projected intensity of these
storms and the actual intensity in knots for all hurricanes, tropical
storms, and tropical depressions for the Atlantic basin. The target
baseline was computed by averaging the differences for all 48-hour
forecast made for tropical cyclones forming during the calendar year.

###### 

###### 

###### **FY 2007 and FY 2008 Targets**

Predicting hurricane intensity remains one of the most difficult
forecast challenges we face. We are all aware of the improvements made
in predicting hurricane track forecasts and this has been where NOAA and
the research community have in the past placed their emphasis. Within
the past few years, the emphasis shifted to improving intensity
prediction. Right now we are experiencing only about a 1% increase in
intensity accuracy per year. There has been very little improvement (1%
per year for the 48 hour forecast) in the forecast accuracy for
intensity. The current error is about 14 knots, while in 1990 it was
just under 17 knots. To address this, in FY 2007, NOAA plans to
introduce a new hurricane modeling system, called the Hurricane Weather
Research Forecast model (HWRF). Once the HWRF becomes operational, the
goal is to improve forecast at a rate of 3% per year, which matches well
with the long term rate of improvements for track forecasts. The
Hurricane Intensity measure is to become official in FY 2008, and the
target in knots for FY 2008 is 13.7. Our goal is a 30% improvement in
intensity forecasts by 2015.

NOAA research efforts to improve hurricane intensity prediction will
continue. New instruments, such as the Stepped Frequency Microwave
Radiometer (SMRF), are developed by NOAA researchers. The SMRF will be
installed an all U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft,
beginning late this year. Money from the 2004 Hurricane Supplemental
funding was used for this purpose. We firmly believe technological
improvements, such as these, will further improve our ability to
understand and better predict intensity changes in hurricanes.

Over the past two years, NOAA obtained extensive hurricane data from
aircraft. We are analyzing this information to improve our understanding
of the processes occurring within the hurricane as it undergoes
intensification changes.

NOAA is continuing its research and working with the academic research
community to improve the understanding and improve hurricane intensity
forecasts and heavy rainfall produced from these tropical systems
including: small scale physical processes, the influence of ocean eddy
currents on hurricanes, model improvements coupling wave interactions
with the hurricanes, and using additional observations to better
characterize the influx of energy into the hurricane at the ocean
surface.

In addition, NOAA's Science Advisory Board has commissioned a Hurricane
Intensity Research Working Group to provide input to the agency on
recommended direction in hurricane intensity research. Hurricane
rainfall and intensity fluctuations are the focus of the U.S. Weather
Research Program research efforts as well. In 2006, NOAA will implement
improved short term model forecasts and incorporate detailed radar data
into the model as well. NOAA's Central Computer System will be upgraded
in FY 2007 to increase computational speed and memory storage
capabilities and allow more sophisticated numerical modeling systems of
the hydrosphere.

Measure 3f: Accuracy (%) (Threat Score) of Day 1 Precipitation Forecasts

##### Explanation of Measure

This performance measure tracks the ability of the weather forecasters
of NOAA's Hydrometeorological Prediction Center to predict accurately
the occurrence of one inch or more of precipitation (rain or the water
equivalent of melted snow or ice pellets) twenty-four hours in advance
across the contiguous U.S. This measure was originally, "Accuracy of
3-day Forecast of Precipitation." The measure has been revised to
reflect a more representative and accurate means of measuring the
performance for this strategic goal. Through this measure, the HPC
focuses on relatively heavy amounts of precipitation, usually a half
inch or more in a 24-hour period (short-term flood and flash flood
warnings), because of the major safety and economic impacts such heavy
precipitation can have in producing flooding, alleviating drought, and
affecting river navigation.

The HPC began providing quantitative precipitation forecasts (QPFs) in
1961. These forecasts indicate how much precipitation is expected across
the United States, not just whether it will rain or snow. The HPC began
making QPFs through two days into the future in 1965 and through three
days in 2000. The HPC has tracked the accuracy of these forecasts very
carefully over the years using a metric with the statistical name of
"threat score" or equivalently "critical success indicator". This
accuracy metric ranges from 0 percent, indicating no skill, to 100
percent for a perfect forecast. In verifying the accuracy of a forecast
of 1 inch or more of precipitation for day 1 (the next 24 hours), for
example, the HPC first determines everywhere in the U.S. where an inch
or more actually fell and was observed by rain gauges. On a given day
this occurs only over a very small percentage of the country (although a
1 inch or more precipitation event is significant for the inhabitants of
that particular area). The HPC then compares these observed areas of at
least 1 inch of precipitation with the forecasted areas of at least 1
inch, counting only those points in the United States where HPC
forecasted and observed at least an inch as being an accurate forecast.
(These points are called "hits".) Thus, if HPC forecasts 1 inch to fall
at the point representing Washington, DC, and it observed only 3/4\"
actually had fallen in that specific area, the forecast is then rated as
a "miss", even if an inch of rain was observed to have fallen at the
points nearby representing the area of Fairfax City, Virginia, or the
area of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. The overall accuracy score for the
country for that particular day 1 forecast is then determined by
dividing the total number of correctly forecast points (hits) by the
total number of points where HPC had either forecast at least 1 inch of
liquid precipitation or 1 inch of liquid precipitation had actually
occurred. Thus this measure takes into consideration those areas where 1
inch or more of precipitation was correctly forecast, where it was
forecasted but did not occur, and where it occurred but had not been
forecasted. In summary, to earn a high accuracy score, HPC has to
forecast the time, place, and amount of precipitation very well.

Regarding the quality control of the forecast and verification
processes, HPC forecasters work under the supervisory control of the
Senior Branch Forecaster (SBF), who is responsible for the quality and
content of all products issued during the shift. The day 1 forecast is
prepared by the SBF, who works closely with the day 2-3 forecaster to
ensure consistent forecast products.

The forecasts from complex computerized weather prediction models are
the forecasters' starting point upon which they improve by applying
their experience and scientific knowledge. The forecasters make their
predictions on meteorological workstations. Approximately two days after
the day 1 forecast has been made, the SBF verifies the precipitation
forecasts. Another SBF serves as his or her verification assistant as
needed. These verifying SBFs make sure data necessary for the
verification are available, including the human forecasts and the
observed precipitation observations. The observations of precipitation
are collected by the NWS from several thousand locations around the U.S.

On a meteorological workstation, the verifying SBF displays a graphic of
the precipitation observations with contour lines drawn to indicate the
amounts of precipitation wherever it has been observed over the U.S. The
verifying SBF then reviews this graphic to ensure there are no
noticeable errors or large numbers of missing precipitation data. As
required, the verifying SBF corrects observational errors on the graphic
and supplements missing data areas based on radar information. Once
satisfied with the quality of the observed precipitation graphic, the
verifying SBF runs various workstation programs that provide needed
calculations, save the information, and print out a copy of the
statistics and graphics generated.

With each passing day, a similar procedure is followed. Once all
forecasts for the month have been verified, the verifying SBF runs a
computer program on workstation (called QPFV) that calculates the
monthly values for threat score, equivalent threat score, bias,
probability of detection, and false alarm rate for various precipitation
thresholds (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 inches), saves this
information on workstation QPFV, and prints out a copy of the monthly
statistics. Workstation QPFV data are backed up once a month to two
places -- tape and another workstation. Information in the fundamental
verification database is write protected and can only be modified or
deleted under one user account, which is under the control of a GS-13
meteorologist, whose primary job is not forecasting but techniques
development. This account is password protected.

Several important points should be noted. First, although the accuracy
scores are low with respect to perfection, the accuracy is clearly high
enough to be of major utility to America's decision makers. As indicated
by the numerous requests for HPC's precipitation products, especially in
times of hardship, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Army
Corps of Engineers, the media, and farmers among others all rely heavily
on NOAA forecasts to decide how to proceed.

Secondly, the scores are continuing to improve in accuracy. The metrics
from the last 40 years indicate the day 2 forecasts of at least one inch
of precipitation in 2004 had similar skill to the day 1 forecasts in
1985, and HPC's day 3 forecasts in 2004 were as accurate as the day 2
forecasts in 1995.

**FY 2007 and 2008 Targets**

NOAA has an intensive effort internally and with its partners to improve
the accuracy of its numerical weather prediction models, as well as
enhance the global observing system providing the foundation for
observations needed by these models. During the next several years, NOAA
will implement several numerical weather prediction model enhancements
aimed at improving heavy precipitation forecasts.

In addition, NOAA delivered and installed an upgrade to its Central
Computer System in 2004 and began operational implementation in January
2005 that is improving the delivery of products to the field and
providing system users with enhanced productivity. Another computer
upgrade is planned for the end of FY 2006 which will likely improve
numerical weather and climate prediction. During FY05 the
Hydrometeorological Prediction Center (HPC) initiated the infrastructure
for a Hydrometeorological Testbed (HMT) for the purpose of improving
precipitation forecasts. During FY 2006, HPC will identify high priority
projects within the newly established HMT. The HMT will include
assessing scientific breakthroughs and new techniques to identify
advanced, real-time, data analysis and forecast techniques, numerical
forecast models and methods, observational systems, and
climate-water-weather linkages that could significantly improve the
forecast guidance which are necessary to improving quantitative
precipitation forecasts through seven days. New training and forecast
tools planned over the next couple of years will assist HPC forecasters
in making improved precipitation forecasts. Several model upgrades
planned in FY 2006, 07 and 08 will also lead to improved heavy
precipitation forecasts including improved short-range ensemble
forecasts from 2x/day to 4x/day and extending its forecasts to 87 hours,
implementing WRF-NAM into the NCEP production suite and use of level II
radar data in numerical weather prediction models. The combination of
these activities will lead to improvements in Quantitative Precipitation
Forecasts over the course of the next decade.

#####   {#section-4 .unnumbered}

##### Measure 3g: Lead Time (Hours) and Accuracy (%) of Winter Storm Warnings  {#measure-3g-lead-time-hours-and-accuracy-of-winter-storm-warnings .unnumbered}

##### Explanation of Measure

Number range CHAPTERA winter storm warning provides NOAA customers and
partners advanced notice of a hazardous winter weather event that
endangers life or property, or provides an impediment to commerce.
Winter storm warnings are issued for winter weather phenomena like
blizzards, ice storms, heavy sleet, and heavy snow. This performance
indicator measures the accuracy and advance warning lead time of winter
storm events. Improving the accuracy and advance warnings of winter
storms enables the public to take the necessary steps to prepare for
disruptive winter weather conditions**.**

###### 

###### **FY 2007 and FY 2008 Targets**

The performance indicator measuring the accuracy and advance warning
lead time of winter storm events will rise to 91 percent accuracy and 15
hours lead time in FY 2007 and FY 2008. These advancements will be
attributed to improvements in numerical weather prediction, super
computer upgrades, the use of ensemble modeling forecasting techniques,
and national and local training initiatives such as a winter portion of
the AWOC.

**Program Evaluation**

NOAA's vision for FY 2006 is to provide significantly improved
short-term warning and forecast products and services that enhance
public safety and the economic productivity of the Nation. While it is
difficult to see the improvements on an annual basis because of the
scientific nature and seasonal variations of weather events, historical
trends have shown that NOAA continues to improve the accuracy and
advance warning lead time of severe weather hazards.

Program evaluations at NWS Field Offices are conducted annually. Quality
control procedures are followed to ensure the highest reliability of
gathered data and weather products. The National Academy of Sciences is
also involved in program analysis and evaluation processes on a national
level.

##### Cross-cutting Activities

**Intra-Department of Commerce**

NOAA works closely with the National Institute of Standards and
Technology and the Economic Development Administration on the Federal
Natural Disaster Reduction initiative, which focuses on reducing the
costs of natural disasters, saving lives through improved warnings and
forecasts, and providing information to improve resiliency to disaster.

**Other Government Agencies**

NOAA also works closely with other agencies such as the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, the Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of
Reclamation, the Department of Defense, as well as state and local
governments to complement their meteorological services in the interest
of national security. NOAA works closely with the U.S. Coast Guard to
disseminate marine weather warnings and forecasts and works directly
with the Federal Aviation Administration on aviation forecasts and with
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on launch forecasts
and solar forecast effects.

**Government/Private Sector**

Weather and climate services are provided to the public and industry
through a unique partnership between NOAA and the private meteorological
sector. NOAA provides forecasts and warnings for public safety, and the
private sector promotes dissemination of forecasts and tailors basic
information for business uses.

##### External Factors and Mitigation Strategies

A number of factors unique to the atmospheric sciences must be
considered when reviewing the performance measures for this goal. The
primary factor to consider is the natural variation of this goal related
to annual fluctuations in meteorological conditions. Another factor
concerns the damage to critical equipment (for example, supercomputer
fire and satellite outages) that can affect daily operations for
extended periods, even though numerous safety measures and backup
procedures are in place.

Although the performance measures for this goal may improve, the impact
on society may not be obvious because of factors beyond our control. For
example, hurricane warnings may become more accurate, but because of the
increase in population along the coastlines, the deaths, injuries,
and/or damage estimates may increase.

Improving our understanding of the natural environment requires advanced
infrastructure and therefore continual investment in new technology such
as supercomputers and environmental satellites.

NOAA relies on its partners in the media, private sector, and the state
and local emergency management community to disseminate weather
warnings.

**Program Evaluations:**

The NOAA Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), made up completely of private
sector, university, and other Federal agency scientists, conducts
periodic reviews of the activities of the Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research Laboratories and Joint Institutes. The SAB also
provides guidance on NOAA's Climate Program. A number of NOAA line
offices participate in the activities that support climate research. The
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)
holds management performance reviews several times a year. NWS conducts
reviews of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). In
addition, programs are evaluated by the National Science Foundation and
the National Research Council. NOAA holds annual constituent workshops
at which NOAA's seasonal climate forecast efforts are discussed with the
community of seasonal-to-interannual climate forecast users, and input
is solicited to shape future efforts. NOAA's Climate Program Office,
funded in Oceanic and Atmospheric Research's (OAR) Competitive Research
Programs line item, is reviewed by international science agencies,
universities, and private sector scientists.

**Cross-cutting Activities:**

Strategic international engagement is essential to achieving NOAA's
Climate mission goal. NOAA leads the U.S. Global Climate Observation
System (GCOS), through its research activities it actively contributes
and leads international assessments such as IPCC and ozone, and supports
several observing and data management activities, such as the Baseline
Surface Radiation Network (BSRN), Global Upper Air Network (GUAN), the
Global Surface Network (GSN), and Global energy and Water cycle
experiment (GEWEX).

NOAA conducts climate education and outreach to improve the public
science literacy, to "Support educational efforts to create a more
climate-literate public by developing climate educational materials,
involving teachers in the research process, and generating tools to
allow climate information to be used in decision making."

**[Other Government Agencies:]{.underline}**

NOAA's success depends upon significant interaction with other agencies,
universities, and international organizations. NOAA operates weather and
environmental satellites that are critical to the nation's safety,
productivity, and health, yet these satellites are developed in
coordination with NASA and universities across the country, and
ultimately launched by NASA. Maintaining fisheries and protecting and
preserving marine resources requires coordination with other Federal and
many state agencies and certainly with other countries. Understanding
and solving the critical problem of ozone depletion required close
interaction with industry, international agencies, and non-governmental
organizations, universities, and Federal agencies. Monitoring the
accumulation of greenhouse gases and planning for management options
require international cooperation that is critical at all stages --
including data acquisition and management and the development of
important products and services.

Government/Private Sector

NOAA depends strongly on universities to help accomplish its science
objectives through a network of joint and cooperative institutes and
universities. NOAA also funds academic researchers through competitive,
peer-reviewed programs, namely, OAR's Competitive Research Program
(formerly referred to as the Climate & Global Change Program).

External Factors and Mitigation Strategies

Improving our understanding of the natural environment requires advanced
infrastructure and therefore continual investment in new technology,
such as improved in situ observing systems, supercomputers, and
environmental satellites.

[DOC Strategic Goal 3: Observe, protect, and manage the earth's
resources to promote environmental stewardship]{.underline}

[General Goal/Objective 3.4: Commerce and Transportation: Support the
Nation's commerce with information for safe, efficient, and
environmentally sound transportation]{.underline}

Safe and efficient transportation systems are crucial economic lifelines
for the Nation. NOAA's information products and services are essential
to the safe and efficient transport of goods and people at sea, in the
air, and on land and waterways. More accurate and timely warnings
associated with severe weather threats, marine navigation products and
services, and improved positioning data can better support the growing
commerce on our road, rail, and waterways through improvements in
transportation safety and just-in-time efficiencies. For example, the
U.S. Marine Transportation System (MTS) ships over 95 percent of the
tonnage and more than 20 percent by value of foreign trade through
America's ports, including 48 percent of the oil needed to meet U.S.
energy demands. Merchandise trade valued at over \$729 billion was moved
by maritime vessels between U.S. and foreign seaports in 2002. Container
shipments increased 86 percent between 1992 and 2002. Every year, 134
million passengers are ferried to work and other destinations on U.S.
waterways, along with 5 million cruise ship passengers. Better aviation
weather information could significantly reduce the \$5 billion that is
lost through economic inefficiencies as a result of weather-related air
traffic delays. Improved surface forecasts and specific user warnings
would likely reduce the 7,000 weather-related fatalities and 800,000
injuries from vehicle crashes annually.

As U.S. dependence on surface and air transportation grows over the next
20 years with significant increases in the volume of land transportation
and the projected doubling of maritime trade, better navigation and
weather information will be critical to protect lives, cargo, and the
environment. NOAA is committed to improving the accuracy of its marine
forecasts, providing advanced electronic navigational charts and
real-time oceanographic information, and maintaining a precise
positioning network that mariners need to navigate with confidence.
Consistent, accurate, and timely positioning information derived from
NOAA's positioning services is critical to improve aircraft landings and
the safety and efficiency of road and rail deliveries.

NOAA partners in the academic, government, and private sectors are
essential to realizing this goal. Improved NOAA information will enable
the private weather sector to provide better weather-related forecasts
and information to their clients for improved efficiencies. NOAA will
work with the Federal Aviation Administration and the private sector to
reduce the impacts of weather on aviation without compromising safety.
Reduced risk of marine accidents and oil spills, better search and
rescue capabilities, and other efficiencies that can be derived from
improved navigation and coastal and ocean information and services could
be worth over \$300 million annually around the Nation's coasts. NOAA
will work with port and coastal communities, and with Federal and state
partners, to ensure that port operations and development proceed
efficiently and in an environmentally sound manner. On land,
improvements in weather information will be used more effectively to
reduce the \$42 billion annual economic loss and the 500 million
vehicle-hour delays attributed to weather-related crashes.

Measure 4a: Reduce the Hydrographic Survey Backlog Within Navigationally
Significant Areas (square nautical miles surveyed per year)

##### Explanation of Measure

NOAA conducts hydrographic surveys to determine the depths and
configurations of the bottoms of water bodies, primarily for U.S. waters
significant for navigation. This activity includes the detection,
location, and identification of wrecks and obstructions with side scan
and multi-beam sonar technology and the Global Positioning System (GPS).
NOAA uses the data to produce traditional paper, raster, and electronic
navigational charts for safe and efficient navigation. In addition to
the commercial shipping industry, other user communities that benefit
include recreational boaters, the commercial fishing industry, port
authorities, coastal zone managers, and emergency response planners.
Ships traversing our coastal waters rely on charts based on sounding
data that are more than 50 years old in many places. NOAA has identified
approximately 510,000 square nautical miles of the U.S. Exclusive
Economic Zone as navigationally significant and in need of resurvey.
Since 1994, NOAA has focused primarily on surveying and reporting its
accomplishments in the highest priority areas, many of which carry heavy
commercial traffic, are less than 30 meters deep, and change constantly.
However, this critical area constitutes only a small portion (8 percent)
of the entire navigationally significant area used by large commercial
vessels and recreational boaters. NOAA's surveying activities balance
in-house resources with private sector contracts and use the latest
full-bottom coverage sounding technologies to survey the nation's
coastal areas for navigation.

Weather, mechanical failure, and level of surveying difficulty are
variables for both NOAA and its contractors, and therefore variances
from the targets of +/- 50 square nautical miles per vessel are to be
expected in a normal field season.

**FY 2007 and FY 2008 Targets**

FY 2007 target for hydrographic survey miles acquired is 1,350 based on
the appropriation of the President's Request. The lower target from FY
2006 and FY 2008 is based on fuel issues, vessel lay-ups, and shortened
field season. NOAA's in-house and contract survey resources are on track
to acquire 3,200 square nautical miles in FY 2008, assuming receipt of
the President's Request.

**Measure 4b: Percentage of U.S. Counties Rated as Fully Enabled or
Substantially Enabled with Accurate Positioning Capacity**

**Explanation of Measure**

This measure tracks progress of NOAA's Geodesy program in facilitating
the capacity of state and local governments and the private sector to
utilize accurate positioning information. NOAA will track county level
use of its Online Position User Service (OPUS), submitted accepted
bluebook data, county scorecard submissions, and identification of
county representatives and State Advisors/Coordinators to determine how
well state and local governments and the private sector are enabled with
accurate positioning capacity. The county level is the most appropriate
geographic unit for assessing state and local government and private
sector usage. County-level assessments offer entire U.S. coverage and an
existing infrastructure for addressing spatial issues.

The level of capacity varies across the nation. This variation is
measured as deficient, substantially enabled, and fully enabled.
Deficient capacity to conduct accurate positioning indicates that the
county has not demonstrated it has the NOAA-enabled infrastructure,
tools, and local capacity needed for accurate positioning. Substantially
enabled capacity to conduct accurate positioning indicates the county
has demonstrated it has the NOAA-enabled infrastructure, tools, and
local capacity needed for accurate positioning. Fully enabled capacity
indicates the county has validated NOAA-enabled infrastructure, tools,
and local capacity needed for accurate positioning. This is indicated by
having local interaction through, for example, a submitted and accepted
OPUS project for inclusion in the NOAA's geodetic integrated database.

**FY 2007 and FY 2008 Targets**

Respectively, the targets for FY 2007 and FY 2008 will be 49 percent and
60 percent of U.S. counties rated as fully enabled or substantially
enabled. The FY 2007 target is based on FY 2007 (estimated)
appropriations.

**Measure 4c: Accuracy (%) of Forecast for Wind Speed and Wave Height
(Marine Forecasts)**

Explanation of Measure

This measure was originally a "combined accuracy forecast for marine
wind and wave." The measure has been revised to reflect the individual
wind speed and wave height components. This performance indicator
measures the accuracy of wind and wave forecasts, which are important
for marine commerce.\
\
In accordance with the NWS strategic plan, this measure was added in FY
2000 to reflect another segment of customers (marine) that had not been
represented in other performance measures. The FY 2006 goal was updated
to reflect recent performance and reductions in ongoing NWS training,
operations, and research funding in the FY 2006 enacted budget. Loss of
funding for marine training workshops is directly affecting partnering
opportunities to bring in marine experts outside NWS and NOAA to help
train in marine meteorology. Partnerships also make it possible for NWS
to develop cost-effective expansion of marine observation networks and
growth in research (e.g., Great Lakes Wave Watch III model). Loss of
research partnerships, marine training workshops, and not as many
observations on AWIPS will translate into weaker scores.

The current measures use complex skill scores to represent accuracy. The
skill score is extremely difficult to deconstruct and analyze in order
to seek opportunities for improvement; in essence, it is a "black box."
The proposed new measure is a much more relevant representation of
forecast accuracy. It is the Percentage of Accurate Forecasts, and
accuracy is defined in terms of error. For the marine wind forecast, if
the error is less than 5 knots, the forecast is accurate. This metric
has been calculated

since 1994, so the baseline information is reliable. Similarly, for the
marine wave height forecast, if the wave height forecast error is less
than 2 feet, the forecast is accurate. This metric has also been
calculated since 1994, so the baseline information is reliable. These
measures will be more meaningful to marine users as well as providing
more useful feedback for forecasters.

**FY 2007 and 2008 Targets**

Based on analysis of recent performance, budget constraints and prior
year training reductions, the FY 2006 and FY 2007 targets for marine
forecasts were revised in the FY 2007 APP. Budget and training
reductions from FY 2006 will have residual effects into the first and
second quarters of FY 2007, impacting FY 2007 performance. NWS will
strive to improve marine forecast (wind speed and wave height) accuracy
through the implementation of higher resolution models on AWIPS,
enhanced observation networks, and expanded training for marine
forecasting. More advanced smart tools applied to digital wind data
should improve wave height forecasts. NWS partnerships with boating
organizations (such as U.S. Power Squadron) have yielded more marine
observations that can be displayed as plots on AWIPS. Future releases
and upgrades to AWIPS Interactive Forecast Preparation System software
used by NWS forecasters for forecasts and warnings will help NOAA attain
outyear goals. The marine Professional Development Series effort
continues, with five modules already on-line and more expected to be
on-line into FY 2007.

The current measures use a complex skill score to represent accuracy.
The skill score is extremely difficult to deconstruct and analyze in
order to seek opportunities for improvement. The proposed new measures
are a more relevant representation of forecast accuracy. Accuracy is
defined in terms of error: 2 feet or less for wave height forecasts and
5 knots or less for wind speed forecasts. The measures will be more
meaningful to marine users and provide more useful feedback for
forecasters. Initially planned to be implemented in FY 2008, the NWS has
the capability to replace Marine Wind Speed Forecast Accuracy and Marine
Wave Height Forecast Accuracy metrics with these new metrics,
"Percentage of Accurate Forecasts" and new performance targets in FY
2007. In FY 2007, the Marine Wind Speed Forecast Accuracy metric
(original FY 2007 target of 58%) will be replaced by a new Marine Wind
Forecast Accuracy metric, "Percentage of Accurate Forecasts," with a
target of 68%. In FY 2007, the Marine Wave Height Forecast Accuracy
metric (original FY 2007 target of 68%) will be replaced by a new Marine
Wind Forecast Accuracy metric, "Percentage of Accurate Forecasts," with
a target of 73%. Both targets will remain at the same levels for FY
2008.

**Measure 4d: Accuracy (%) and False Alarm Rate (FAR) (%) of Forecasts
of Ceiling and Visibility (Aviation Forecasts)**

**Explanation of Measure**

In accordance with the NWS strategic plan, this measure was added in FY
2002. Visibility and cloud ceiling forecasts are critical for the safety
of aircraft operations. Accurately forecasting the transition between
Visual Flight Rule and IFR conditions significantly improve general and
commercial aviation flight planning capabilities, improving both flight
safety and efficiencies. The current measures are interesting with
regard to individual forecaster performance, but these conditions are
excessively rare at most sites, making the metric unrepresentative and
unduly influenced by rare and extreme events. Originally planned to be
established in FY 2008, the new metric will be of significance to all
general aviation users and critical to most commercial users, and will
be in place for FY 2007. The original measure, Aviation Forecast
Accuracy of Ceiling/Visibility (1 mi/500 ft to less than 3 mi/1000ft);
will be changed to Aviation Forecast Accuracy of Ceiling/Visibility
Forecasts (3 mi/1000 ft or less). Similarly, the original measure,
Aviation Forecast False Alarm Rate for Ceiling/Visibility (1 mi/500 ft
to less than 3 mi/1000ft); will be changed to Aviation Forecast False
Alarm Rate for Ceiling/Visibility (3 mi/1000 ft or less).

###### **FY 2007 and 2008 Targets**

The FY 2006 target for FAR has was lowered (improved) in the FY 2007 APP
due to greater than anticipated results from the newly deployed AWIPS
Aviation Forecast Preparation System, and COMET Distance Learning
Aviation Course 1. However, the FY 2006 target for accuracy has been
lowered due to a delay in receiving the FY 2006 budget authority, which
will delay the procurement and installation of new water vapor sensors
until the end of 2006. With the added water vapor sensors, the NWS
expects to see continued improvement of aviation forecasts for low
ceiling and visibility as well as improved forecasts of icing and
convection. Continued improvement in aviation forecasts will be
accomplished through the implementation of an improved observational
sensing strategy, higher resolution forecast models, and improved
guidance tools integrated into AWIPS and the Aviation Forecast
Preparatory System for our meteorologists to focus on this forecast
challenge.

The current set of accuracy and false alarm rate measures are useful
with regard to individual performance forecasters, but the weather
conditions for which forecast performance is judged through these
metrics are excessively rare at most sites. This makes the metrics
unrepresentative and unduly influenced by rare and extreme events. In
addition, this thin slice of conditions, between Instrument Flight Rules
(IFR) and Limited Instrument Flight Rules (LIFR), is of little meaning
to commercial operators and at best represents only a subset of
conditions meaningful to general aviators. The proposed new GPRA
measures mirror the existing GPRAs; however they encompass the entire
IFR category, which is of significance to all general aviation users and
critical to all commercial users. Originally planned for implementation
in FY 2008, the Aviation Forecast Accuracy metric will be modified in FY
2007 to represent the range of conditions from Instrument Flight Rules
(IFR) category to the ground (i.e., any condition less than 1,000 feet
and/or 3 miles). In FY 2007, the Aviation Forecast False Alarm metric
will be modified to represent the range of conditions from Instrument
Flight Rules (IFR) category to the ground (i.e., any condition less than
1,000 feet and/or 3 miles). The FY 2007 targets for Aviation Forecast
Accuracy and False Alarm Rate are 62% and 45%, respectively. The FY 2008
targets for Aviation Forecast Accuracy and False Alarm Rate are 63% and
44%, respectively.

**Program Evaluation**

NOAA's goal to promote safe navigation is evaluated at a variety of
levels, from peer reviews of products, papers, and projects, to internal
and external reviews of entire programs and quarterly reviews of NOAA's
overall performance in navigation products and services. Constituent
input is an important part of the evaluation process and is solicited
regularly through constituent workshops.

From 1992 to 1996, a number of National Research Council Marine Board
studies examined the nautical charting program and its transition into
the digital era. NOAA incorporated study recommendations on areas such
as reducing the survey backlog, implementing new digital production
techniques, and delivering new electronic chart products to the program.
The Hydrographic Services Improvements Act of 1998 provided Congress and
NOAA an opportunity to evaluate NOAA's capabilities for acquisition and
dissemination of hydrographic data, develop standards and formats for
hydrographic services, and contract for the acquisition of hydrographic
data. NOAA now contracts out over 50 percent of its annual critical area
hydrographic survey requirements while maintaining Federal competence
and expertise with existing and developing surveying technologies. NOAA
is currently studying its contracting policy with a target date of April
2006 for publishing revisions.

In 1998, Congress authorized the Height Modernization study to evaluate
the technical, financial, legal, and economic aspects of modernizing the
national height system with GPS. The study demonstrated the significant
benefits to the Nation in terms of dollars and lives saved associated
with GPS technology, and it led to current development of the vertical
component of the National Spatial Reference System. In 1999, NOAA
completed an assessment of its tidal currents program to develop
guidelines for future current surveys to update U.S. reference stations
for the Tidal Current Tables. The September 1999 Report to Congress that
assessed the U.S. Marine Transportation System (MTS) further articulated
the need for coordinated Federal leadership to achieve the MTS vision of
becoming the world's most technologically advanced, safe, efficient,
globally competitive, and environmentally responsible system for moving
goods and people. NOAA's navigation safety support functions underwent
substantial review to identify opportunities for greater integration
among Federal agencies. More recently, the 2003 National Academy of
Sciences Report on establishing a *Geospatial Framework for the Coastal
Zone*, the Transportation Research Board's 2004 examination of the
Federal Role in the Marine Transportation System, the 2004 U.S.
Commission on Ocean Policy report and the U.S. Ocean Action Plan have
guided NOAA's approach to integrating and delivering its Navigation
Services programs.

##### Cross-cutting Activities

# Intra-Department of Commerce

In partnership with the Technology Administration and National
Telecommunications and Information Administration within the Department
of Commerce and other civil agencies from all civil departments, NOAA
participates on the Interagency GPS Executive Board, which with the
Department of Defense jointly manages the GPS satellite program as a
national asset. Now a dual-use system heavily employed by civilian and
commercial sectors, GPS is a global information utility that the United
States has committed to provide free to the world for use as the
international standard for navigation, positioning, and timing.

**Other Government Agencies**

NOAA works closely with agencies such as the Department of
Transportation (DOT), the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers in support of Marine Transportation System and
Homeland Security goals and objectives to identify and improve
navigation services while enhancing safety. NOAA and DOT also cooperate
on the development of the Nationwide Differential GPS System, which
employs NOAA's Continuously Operating Reference Stations to enable
highly accurate GPS positioning in three dimensions across the nation.
This system benefits from a multipurpose cooperative effort among
government, academia, and the commercial sector and supports numerous
NOAA objectives and activities. In addition, NOAA and DOT's Federal
Highways Administration are partnering to improve road weather forecasts
for surface transportation, and NOAA is participating in the Next
Generation Air Transportation System Joint Planning & Development Office
with the Federal Aviation Administration and other agencies to improve
aviation weather for efficiency gains and safety improvements. NOAA's
navigation and weather for transportation services also play a role in
emergency and Homeland Security preparedness and response.

### 

### External Factors and Mitigation Strategies

Weather has a significant impact on the promotion of safe navigation
activities. Both in-house and contract hydrographic survey schedules can
be affected by adverse weather conditions and equipment failure, as can
aerial photography flights scheduled for shoreline photogrammetry. Storm
damage frequently renders water-level stations inoperable, affecting
surveying capabilities and real-time observations of water levels and
currents so critical to safe navigation. Natural disasters such as
earthquakes and hurricanes can elevate the need to survey an area
because of shoreline changes or obstruction accumulation; man-made
impacts such as shifts in shipping patterns, newly regulated shipping
lanes, port expansions, or wrecks will also impact NOAA's survey
schedule. Finally, in addition to mission activities, NOAA ships and
aircraft provide immediate response capabilities for unpredictable
events such as search and recovery efforts after the TWA Flight 800 and
Egypt Air Flight 990 crashes; damage assessments after major oil spills
such as the Exxon Valdez and the grounding of the New Carissa off the
Oregon coast in 1999; and severe hurricanes, most recently Isabel in
2003, Charlie and Ivan in 2004, and Dennis in 2005. NOAA mitigates these
impacts with backup plans for relocating assets to other projects, or by
reassessing survey schedules.

[Performance Goal for Mission Support: Provide critical support for
NOAA's Mission]{.underline}

[DOC Strategic Goal 3: Observe, protect, and manage the earth's
resources to promote environmental stewardship]{.underline}

Strong, effective, and efficient support activities are necessary for us
to achieve our Mission Goals. Our facilities, ships, aircraft,
environmental satellites, data-processing systems, computing and
communication systems, financial and administrative offices, and our
approach to management provide the foundation of support for all of our
programs. This critical foundation must adapt to evolving mission needs
and, therefore, is an integral part of our strategic planning. It also
must support US homeland security by providing NOAA services, such as
civil alert relays through NOAA Weather Radio and air dispersion
forecasts, in response to national emergencies. NOAA ships, aircraft,
and environmental satellites are the backbone of the global Earth
observing system and provide many critical mission support services. To
keep this capability strong and current with our Mission Goals, we will
ensure that NOAA has adequate access to safe and efficient ships and
aircraft through the use of both NOAA platforms and those of other
agency, academic, and commercial partners. We will work with academia
and partners in the public and private sectors to ensure that future
satellite systems are designed, developed, and operated with the latest
technology. In addition, safe and adequate facilities and
state-of-the-art information technology are essential to the improvement
of NOAA's operations and service delivery. NOAA's long-range facility
planning and comprehensive maintenance planning are underway with the
goal to ensure right-sized, cost-effective, and safe facilities.

To achieve our Mission Goals, we must also commit to organizational
excellence through management and leadership across a "corporate" NOAA.
We will provide effective administrative, financial, and information
technology services that enable us to deliver effective products and
services. We will continue to improve the policy, programmatic, and
managerial functions that support our Mission Goals. Our administrative
and finance programs will ensure effective communication inside and
outside NOAA, and efficient management of our assets, business
processes, and financial resources.

There are no GPRA measures for the Mission Support goal since the
activities of this goal support the outcomes of the Mission goals. NOAA
is developing new and improving existing internal management performance
measures for the Mission Support Goal.

*Data Validation and Verification*

NOAA's Budget Office coordinates an annual review of the performance
data to ensure that it is complete and accurate. During this process,
significant deviations from projected targets, if any, are discussed
with the appropriate NOAA Line Office so that changes or corrections can
be made to help meet NOAA's performance goals. The actual validation
process is conducted by individual NOAA Line Offices. The verification
aspects depend on individual Line Office. For oceans and
fisheries-related measures, stock assessments and reviews (internal,
and/or peer) are common. For weather related measures, the verification
process is, among other things, through comparison of predicted weather
to the actual event. For the climate-related measures, verification is
through, among other things, quality control of data. Satellite data are
compared with on site data to help validate data accuracy.

+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| # P       | #      | #   | #      | # Interna  | #        | # A    |
| erformanc |  Data  | Fre | Data S | l Control  | Data Lim | ctions |
| e Measure | Source | que | torage | Procedures | itations |  to be |
|           |        | ncy |        |            |          |  Taken |
+===========+========+=====+========+============+==========+========+
| Measure   | Stock  | Qua | NMFS   | Results    | Results  |        |
| 1a: The   | asses  | rte | Stock  | will be    | can only |        |
| Fish      | sments | rly | Infor  | reported   | be       |        |
| Stock     | and    |     | mation | quarterly  | reported |        |
| Susta     | status |     | System | in a       | when the |        |
| inability | de     |     | (SIS)  | signed     | SIS is   |        |
| Index     | termin |     |        | memo from  | updated  |        |
| (FSSI)    | ations |     |        | the        | with new |        |
|           |        |     |        | Fishery    | inf      |        |
|           |        |     |        | Management | ormation |        |
|           |        |     |        | Program    | from the |        |
|           |        |     |        | Manager to | field    |        |
|           |        |     |        | the NMFS   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Chief      |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Financial  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Officer    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | and are    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | housed and |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | made       |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | available  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | in a       |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | database   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | managed by |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | the NMFS   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Office of  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Management |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | and        |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Budget;    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | monthly    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | reporting  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | on         |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | p          |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | erformance |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | to NOAA    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Deputy     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Under      |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Secretary  |          |        |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | Stock  | Qua | NMFS   | Results    | Results  | Discu  |
| 1b:       | asses  | rte | Stock  | will be    | can only | ssions |
| P         | sments | rly | Infor  | approved   | be       | are    |
| ercentage | r      |     | mation | by the     | reported | o      |
| of Living | eports |     | System | NMFS Chief | when the | ngoing |
| Marine    | and    |     | (SIS)  | Science    | SIS is   | to     |
| Resources | ESA    |     | and    | Advisor    | updated  | i      |
| with      | status |     | Excel  | and        | with new | nclude |
| Adequate  | r      |     | sprea  | reported   | inf      | pro    |
| P         | eviews |     | dsheet | quarterly  | ormation | tected |
| opulation |        |     | main   | in a       | from the | s      |
| As        |        |     | tained | signed     | field    | pecies |
| sessments |        |     | by     | memo from  |          | in the |
| and       |        |     | NMFS'  | the        |          | NMFS   |
| Forecasts |        |     | Office | Ecosystem  |          | Stock  |
|           |        |     | of     | Ob         |          | Infor  |
|           |        |     | Pro    | servations |          | mation |
|           |        |     | tected | Program    |          | System |
|           |        |     | Res    | Manager to |          |        |
|           |        |     | ources | the NMFS   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Chief      |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Financial  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Officer    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | and are    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | housed and |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | made       |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | available  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | in a       |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | database   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | managed by |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | the NMFS   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Office of  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Management |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | and        |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Budget;    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | quarterly  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | reporting  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | on         |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | p          |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | erformance |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | to NOAA    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Deputy     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Under      |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Secretary  |          |        |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | MMPA   | Ann | Excel  | Results    | MMPA     | Discu  |
| 1c:       | stock  | ual | sprea  | are        | stock    | ssions |
| Number of | asse   |     | dsheet | reported   | as       | are    |
| protected | ssment |     | main   | quarterly  | sessment | o      |
| species   | r      |     | tained | in a       | reports  | ngoing |
| d         | eports |     | by     | signed     | are      | to     |
| esignated | and    |     | NMFS'  | memo from  | updated  | i      |
| as        | ESA    |     | Office | the        | only     | nclude |
| th        | status |     | of     | Protected  | once a   | pro    |
| reatened, | r      |     | Pro    | Species    | year and | tected |
| en        | eviews |     | tected | Program    | ESA      | s      |
| dangered, |        |     | Res    | Manager to | status   | pecies |
| or        |        |     | ources | the NMFS   | reviews  | in the |
| depleted  |        |     |        | Chief      | are      | NMFS   |
| with      |        |     |        | Financial  | updated  | Stock  |
| stable or |        |     |        | Officer    | only     | Infor  |
| i         |        |     |        | and are    | every    | mation |
| ncreasing |        |     |        | housed and | one to   | System |
| p         |        |     |        | made       | five     |        |
| opulation |        |     |        | available  | years    |        |
| levels    |        |     |        | in a       | d        |        |
|           |        |     |        | database   | epending |        |
|           |        |     |        | managed by | on       |        |
|           |        |     |        | the NMFS   | priority |        |
|           |        |     |        | Office of  | and fund |        |
|           |        |     |        | Management | avai     |        |
|           |        |     |        | and        | lability |        |
|           |        |     |        | Budget;    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | quarterly  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | reporting  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | on         |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | p          |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | erformance |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | to NOAA    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Deputy     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Under      |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Secretary  |          |        |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | I      | Qua | The    | Results    | Data is  | None   |
| 1d:       | nterim | rte | Resto  | are        | p        |        |
| Number of | and    | rly | ration | reported   | rimarily |        |
| acres of  | final  |     | Center | quarterly  | provided |        |
| coastal   | pr     |     | Da     | in a       | by       |        |
| habitat   | ogress |     | tabase | signed     | grantees |        |
| restored  | r      |     | (RCDB) | memo from  |          |        |
| (         | eports |     |        | the        |          |        |
| annual/cu | from   |     |        | Habitat    |          |        |
| mulative) | each   |     |        | Program    |          |        |
|           | p      |     |        | Manager to |          |        |
|           | roject |     |        | the NMFS   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Chief      |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Financial  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Officer    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | and are    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | housed and |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | made       |          |        |
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|           |        |     |        | database   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | managed by |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | the NMFS   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Office of  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Management |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | and        |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Budget;    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | quarterly  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | reporting  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | on         |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | p          |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | erformance |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | to NOAA    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Deputy     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Under      |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Secretary. |          |        |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | Chara  | Ann | Me     | Results    | NOAA     |        |
| 1e:       | cteriz | ual | tadata | are        | focuses  |        |
| Annual    | ations |     | from   | reported   | on       |        |
| number of | focus  |     | all    | monthly to | p        |        |
| coastal,  | on     |     | contri | the        | rotected |        |
| marine,   | eco    |     | buting | Ecosystems | areas or |        |
| and Great | system |     | s      | Research   | areas    |        |
| Lakes     | sites: |     | ources | program    | where    |        |
| e         | Na     |     | to the | (ERP)      | NOAA has |        |
| cological | tional |     | m      | program    | a clear  |        |
| characte  | Marine |     | easure | manager    | ma       |        |
| rizations | Sanctu |     | is     | and NOAA   | nagement |        |
| that meet | aries, |     | main   | Chief      | mandate. |        |
| m         | Na     |     | tained | Financial  | NOAA     |        |
| anagement | tional |     | by     | Officers;  | works to |        |
| needs.    | Est    |     | ma     | quarterly  | identify |        |
|           | uarine |     | nagers | reports on | key      |        |
|           | Re     |     | for    | p          | pa       |        |
|           | search |     | the    | erformance | rameters |        |
|           | Res    |     | c      | data are   | for      |        |
|           | erves, |     | oastal | submitted  | charac   |        |
|           | coral  |     | and    | to the     | terizing |        |
|           | reef   |     | marine | NOAA       | their    |        |
|           | ecosy  |     | res    | Deputy     | co       |        |
|           | stems, |     | ources | Under      | nditions |        |
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|           | oastal |     | system |            | ass      |        |
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|           | Great  |     | search |            | of their |        |
|           | Lakes, |     | pr     |            | present  |        |
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|           | ential |     | and    |            | C        |        |
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|           |        |     | eports |            | e        |        |
|           |        |     | is     |            | cosystem |        |
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|           |        |     | in a   |            | c        |        |
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|           |        |     | tabase |            | te       |        |
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+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | Eco    | Ann | Me     | Results    | For      | NOAA   |
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+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
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| ecosystem | Plan   |     |        | provided.  |          | proved |
| based     | goal/p |     |        | Each Line  |          | mana   |
| ma        | rogram |     |        | Office     |          | gement |
| nagement. | str    |     |        | will       |          | and    |
|           | ucture |     |        | report     |          | tr     |
|           |        |     |        | total      |          | acking |
|           |        |     |        | annual     |          | pur    |
|           |        |     |        | values to  |          | poses. |
|           |        |     |        | a central  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | repository |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | where a    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | single     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | percentage |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | value will |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | be         |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | determined |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | and        |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | archived   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | in a       |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | secure     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | r          |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | epository. |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Data is    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | managed in |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | a          |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | dec        |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | entralized |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | system by  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | co         |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | ntributing |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | line       |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | offices    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | with       |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | validation |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | and        |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | ve         |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | rification |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | on any     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | partner    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | for TTIS   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | to ensure  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | no double  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | counting   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | of data.   |          |        |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | The    | An  | Me     | Results    | The goal | Since  |
| 1h:       | cumu   | nua | tadata | are        | for the  | this   |
| Annual    | lative | lly | from   | reported   | l        | m      |
| number of | total  | by  | all    | annually   | ong-term | easure |
| coastal,  | repr   | e   | contri | to the     | pr       | does   |
| marine,   | esents | ach | buting | co         | otection | not    |
| and Great | data   | P   | s      | ntributing | i        | c      |
| Lakes     | on     | rog | ources | NOAA       | ndicator | apture |
| habitat   | acres  | ram | to the | program    | is       | all    |
| acres     | from   | M   | m      | (Coastal   | v        | NOAA's |
| acquired  | the    | ana | easure | and Marine | ariable, | acti   |
| or        | Na     | ger | is     | Resources  | as the   | vities |
| d         | tional |     | m      | Program    | yearly   | to     |
| esignated | Est    |     | anaged | (CMRP) and | target   | p      |
| for       | uarine |     | by the | NOAA Chief | can vary | rotect |
| long-term | Re     |     | C      | Financial  | from     | ha     |
| p         | search |     | oastal | Officers   | hundreds | bitat, |
| rotection | R      |     | and    | for        | to       | NOAA   |
| (         | eserve |     | Marine | approval;  | t        | seeks  |
| Annual/Cu | (      |     | Res    | monthly    | housands | to     |
| mulative) | NERRS) |     | ources | reports on | of acres | expand |
|           | Pr     |     | P      | p          | each     | the    |
|           | ogram; |     | rogram | erformance | year.    | m      |
|           | Na     |     | M      | data are   | For      | easure |
|           | tional |     | anager | submitted  | example, | in the |
|           | Marine |     | and    | to the     | the      | f      |
|           | Sanct  |     | stored | NOAA       | initial  | uture. |
|           | uaries |     | in an  | Deputy     | des      |        |
|           | Pr     |     | Excel  | Under      | ignation | NOAA   |
|           | ogram; |     | sprea  | Secretary. | or       | is     |
|           | and    |     | dsheet |            | acq      | l      |
|           | the    |     | with   |            | uisition | ooking |
|           | C      |     | l      |            | for a    | at the |
|           | oastal |     | imited |            | new      | feasi  |
|           | and    |     | a      |            | reserve  | bility |
|           | Est    |     | ccess. |            | or       | of     |
|           | uarine |     | The    |            | s        | f      |
|           | Land   |     | final  |            | anctuary | urther |
|           | Conser |     | perfo  |            | may add  | harmo  |
|           | vation |     | rmance |            | hundreds | nizing |
|           | Pr     |     | data   |            | of       | m      |
|           | ogram. |     | re     |            | t        | ethodo |
|           |        |     | ported |            | housands | logies |
|           |        |     | an     |            | of acres | used   |
|           |        |     | nually |            | in one   | among  |
|           |        |     | in     |            | year,    | contri |
|           |        |     | perfo  |            | while in | buting |
|           |        |     | rmance |            | other    | p      |
|           |        |     | r      |            | years    | rogram |
|           |        |     | eports |            | acq      | compo  |
|           |        |     | is     |            | uisition | nents. |
|           |        |     | m      |            | may      |        |
|           |        |     | anaged |            | result   |        |
|           |        |     | in a   |            | in       |        |
|           |        |     | secure |            | several  |        |
|           |        |     | NOS    |            | hundred  |        |
|           |        |     | da     |            | or       |        |
|           |        |     | tabase |            | thousand |        |
|           |        |     | for    |            | acres    |        |
|           |        |     | annual |            | pr       |        |
|           |        |     | mile   |            | otected. |        |
|           |        |     | stones |            |          |        |
|           |        |     | and    |            | Other    |        |
|           |        |     | annual |            | lim      |        |
|           |        |     | and    |            | itations |        |
|           |        |     | lon    |            | are the  |        |
|           |        |     | g-term |            | ti       |        |
|           |        |     | perfo  |            | meliness |        |
|           |        |     | rmance |            | of       |        |
|           |        |     | mea    |            | r        |        |
|           |        |     | sures. |            | eporting |        |
|           |        |     | C      |            | by grant |        |
|           |        |     | hanges |            | rec      |        |
|           |        |     | to     |            | ipients, |        |
|           |        |     | rep    |            | accuracy |        |
|           |        |     | orting |            | of       |        |
|           |        |     | data   |            | co       |        |
|           |        |     | r      |            | nversion |        |
|           |        |     | equire |            | from     |        |
|           |        |     | ap     |            | hectares |        |
|           |        |     | proval |            | to acres |        |
|           |        |     | by the |            | for some |        |
|           |        |     | NOS    |            | data,    |        |
|           |        |     | a      |            | and the  |        |
|           |        |     | dminis |            | time     |        |
|           |        |     | trator |            | delay    |        |
|           |        |     | (m     |            | between  |        |
|           |        |     | anaged |            | funding  |        |
|           |        |     | by an  |            | and      |        |
|           |        |     | e-mail |            | com      |        |
|           |        |     | wo     |            | pletion. |        |
|           |        |     | rkflow |            |          |        |
|           |        |     | ap     |            |          |        |
|           |        |     | proval |            |          |        |
|           |        |     | sy     |            |          |        |
|           |        |     | stem). |            |          |        |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | Fo     | M   | NWS'   | NOAA       | Because  | None   |
| 2a: U.S.  | recast | ont | Na     | performs   | of       |        |
| te        | data,  | hly | tional | quality    | natural  |        |
| mperature | observ |     | C      | control on | (and     |        |
| -- skill  | ations |     | enters | the        | unpred   |        |
| score     | from   |     | for    | observed   | ictable) |        |
|           | U.S.   |     | E      | data (for  | var      |        |
|           | W      |     | nviron | example,   | iability |        |
|           | eather |     | mental | error      | of       |        |
|           | Fo     |     | Pred   | checking,  | climate  |        |
|           | recast |     | iction | e          | regimes, |        |
|           | Of     |     |        | limination | the      |        |
|           | fices, |     |        | of         | skill    |        |
|           | and    |     |        | d          | score    |        |
|           | from a |     |        | uplicates, | can      |        |
|           | coope  |     |        | and        | f        |        |
|           | rative |     |        | int        | luctuate |        |
|           | n      |     |        | er-station | cons     |        |
|           | etwork |     |        | c          | iderably |        |
|           | main   |     |        | omparison) | from one |        |
|           | tained |     |        | both at    | season   |        |
|           | by     |     |        | the CPC    | to       |        |
|           | volu   |     |        | and U.S.   | another. |        |
|           | nteers |     |        | Weather    | For      |        |
|           | across |     |        | Forecast   | example, |        |
|           | the    |     |        | Office     | for the  |        |
|           | nation |     |        | level. In  | periods  |        |
|           |        |     |        | June 2005, | in       |        |
|           |        |     |        | NOAA has   | fluenced |        |
|           |        |     |        | also       | by a     |        |
|           |        |     |        | i          | strong   |        |
|           |        |     |        | mplemented | ENSO     |        |
|           |        |     |        | an         | forcing, |        |
|           |        |     |        | objective  | GPRA     |        |
|           |        |     |        | ve         | measure  |        |
|           |        |     |        | rification | tends to |        |
|           |        |     |        | procedure  | be high. |        |
|           |        |     |        | to         | Lower    |        |
|           |        |     |        | minimize   | scores   |        |
|           |        |     |        | the impact | occur    |        |
|           |        |     |        | of human   | during   |        |
|           |        |     |        | errors in  | the      |        |
|           |        |     |        | the        | periods  |        |
|           |        |     |        | c          | when     |        |
|           |        |     |        | omputation | ENSO is  |        |
|           |        |     |        | of skill   | in its   |        |
|           |        |     |        | score;     | neutral  |        |
|           |        |     |        | monthly    | phase.   |        |
|           |        |     |        | reporting  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | on         |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | p          |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | erformance |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | to NOAA    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Deputy     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Under      |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Secretary. |          |        |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | NOAA's | Ann | NOAA's | Quality    | Number   | None   |
| 2b:       | Global | ual | Earth  | assurance  | of tall  |        |
| Reduced   | Carbon |     | System | and        | tower/   |        |
| the       | Cycle  |     | Re     | c          | aircraft |        |
| Un        | Re     |     | search | alibration | sites    |        |
| certainty | search |     | Labo   | against    | and our  |        |
| in the    | P      |     | ratory | known      | ability  |        |
| Magnitude | rogram |     |        | standards  | to       |        |
| of the    |        |     |        | performed  | inc      |        |
| North     |        |     |        | by NOAA    | orporate |        |
| American  |        |     |        |            | these    |        |
| Carbon    |        |     |        |            | data     |        |
| Uptake    |        |     |        |            | into     |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | advanced |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | carbon   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | models   |        |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | NOAA's | Ann | NOAA's | Quality    | Number   | None   |
| 2c:       | Atmos  | ual | Earth  | assurance  | of       |        |
| Reduced   | pheric |     | System | and        | mo       |        |
| the       | Compo  |     | Re     | c          | nitoring |        |
| Un        | sition |     | search | omparisons | sites    |        |
| certainty | and    |     | Labo   | against    | for      |        |
| in Model  | C      |     | ratory | 2001       | vertical |        |
| Si        | limate |     |        | int        | dist     |        |
| mulations | P      |     |        | ernational | ribution |        |
| of the    | rogram |     |        | a          | of       |        |
| Influence |        |     |        | ssessments | a        |        |
| of        |        |     |        | by leading | erosols, |        |
| Aerosols  |        |     |        | experts in | process  |        |
| on        |        |     |        | the        | studies  |        |
| Climate   |        |     |        | aeros      | that     |        |
|           |        |     |        | ol-climate | include  |        |
|           |        |     |        | community  | i        |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | ntensive |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | field    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | c        |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | ampaigns |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | and      |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | la       |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | boratory |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | based    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | data,    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | and our  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | ability  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | to       |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | include  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | these in |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | global   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | models   |        |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | NOAA's | M   | NOAA's | Monte      | Number   | None   |
| 2d:       | Na     | ont | Na     | Carlo      | of       |        |
| Determine | tional | hly | tional | s          | stations |        |
| the       | Cl     |     | Cl     | imulations | comm     |        |
| Actual    | imatic |     | imatic | based on   | issioned |        |
| Long-term | Data   |     | Data   | operation  | in the   |        |
| Changes   | Center |     | Center | stations;  | Climate  |        |
| in        |        |     |        | monthly    | R        |        |
| Te        |        |     |        | reporting  | eference |        |
| mperature |        |     |        | on         | Network  |        |
| and       |        |     |        | p          |          |        |
| Prec      |        |     |        | erformance |          |        |
| ipitation |        |     |        | to NOAA    |          |        |
| Over the  |        |     |        | Deputy     |          |        |
| United    |        |     |        | Under      |          |        |
| States    |        |     |        | Secretary  |          |        |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | NOAA's | Qua | P      | Quarterly  | Number   | None   |
| 2e:       | Office | rte | acific | reporting  | of       |        |
| Reduced   | of     | rly | Marine | mechanism  | deployed |        |
| the Error | C      |     | E      | on         | o        |        |
| in Global | limate |     | nviron | u          | bserving |        |
| Me        | Observ |     | mental | ncertainty | p        |        |
| asurement | ations |     | Labo   | in sea     | latforms |        |
| of Sea    |        |     | ratory | surface    | in the   |        |
| Surface   |        |     |        | t          | global   |        |
| Te        |        |     |        | emperature | ocean    |        |
| mperature |        |     |        | mea        |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | surements; |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | quarterly  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | reporting  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | on         |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | p          |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | erformance |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | to NOAA    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Deputy     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Under      |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Secretary  |          |        |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | NOAA's | Ann | NOAA's | Annual     | C        | None   |
| 2f:       | Office | ual | C      | e          | hallenge |        |
| Improve   | of     |     | limate | xamination | of       |        |
| s         | Global |     | P      | of grants  | system   |        |
| ociety\'s | Pr     |     | rogram | awarded    | atically |        |
| ability   | ograms |     | Office | and        | co       |        |
| to plan   |        |     |        | research   | llecting |        |
| and       |        |     |        | activities | resear   |        |
| respond   |        |     |        | undertaken | ch-based |        |
| to        |        |     |        | that       | outputs  |        |
| climate   |        |     |        | result in  | showing  |        |
| va        |        |     |        | various    | evidence |        |
| riability |        |     |        | outputs    | of       |        |
| and       |        |     |        | (e.g. peer | inte     |        |
| change    |        |     |        | review     | ractions |        |
| using     |        |     |        | pub        | with     |        |
| NOAA      |        |     |        | lications, | stak     |        |
| climate   |        |     |        | workshops) | eholders |        |
| products  |        |     |        | showing    | to       |        |
| and       |        |     |        | evidence   | com      |        |
| in        |        |     |        | of         | municate |        |
| formation |        |     |        | rese       | risks of |        |
|           |        |     |        | arch-based | climate  |        |
|           |        |     |        | in         | var      |        |
|           |        |     |        | teractions | iability |        |
|           |        |     |        | with       | and      |        |
|           |        |     |        | decision   | change   |        |
|           |        |     |        | makers     | and to   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | develop  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | means of |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | coping   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | with     |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | impacts. |        |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | Na     | An  | NOS    | This       | This     | None   |
| 3a:       | tional | nua | and    | measure    | measure  |        |
| C         | Ocean  | lly | NESDIS | tracks the | tracks   |        |
| umulative | S      |     | will   | cumulative | the      |        |
| p         | ervice |     | c      | percent of | dev      |        |
| ercentage | (NOS)  |     | ollect | shoreline  | elopment |        |
| of U.S.   | C      |     | inform | and inland | and      |        |
| shoreline | oastal |     | ation, | areas with | implem   |        |
| and       | Se     |     | c      | improved   | entation |        |
| inland    | rvices |     | onduct | ability to | of the   |        |
| areas     | C      |     | assess | reduce the | Coastal  |        |
| that have | enter, |     | ments, | impact of  | Risk     |        |
| improved  | Na     |     | and    | coastal    | Atlas as |        |
| ability   | tional |     | store  | hazards.   | an       |        |
| to reduce | Sate   |     | data.  | In the     | i        |        |
| coastal   | llite, |     |        | past, the  | ndicator |        |
| hazard    | Data   |     |        | types of   | of       |        |
| impacts   | and    |     |        | projects   | improved |        |
|           | Infor  |     |        | included   | ability  |        |
|           | mation |     |        | in the     | to       |        |
|           | S      |     |        | reported   | identify |        |
|           | ervice |     |        | results    | the      |        |
|           | (N     |     |        | differed   | extent   |        |
|           | ESDIS) |     |        | from one   | and      |        |
|           | Na     |     |        | year to    | severity |        |
|           | tional |     |        | the next;  | of       |        |
|           | C      |     |        | therefore, | coastal  |        |
|           | oastal |     |        | the        | h        |        |
|           | Data   |     |        | potential  | azards.  |        |
|           | Devel  |     |        | for        | Reaching |        |
|           | opment |     |        | counting a | these    |        |
|           | Center |     |        | portion of | targets  |        |
|           | and    |     |        | the        | will     |        |
|           | other  |     |        | shoreline  | depend   |        |
|           | F      |     |        | more than  | on the   |        |
|           | ederal |     |        | once       | ac       |        |
|           | and    |     |        | existed.   | tivities |        |
|           | state  |     |        | For        | of other |        |
|           | ag     |     |        | example,   | Federal  |        |
|           | encies |     |        | one year a | and      |        |
|           |        |     |        | project    | state    |        |
|           |        |     |        | may        | agencies |        |
|           |        |     |        | improve an | with     |        |
|           |        |     |        | area's     | ma       |        |
|           |        |     |        | ability to | nagement |        |
|           |        |     |        | reduce the | responsi |        |
|           |        |     |        | impacts of | bilities |        |
|           |        |     |        | h          | in this  |        |
|           |        |     |        | urricanes, | area.    |        |
|           |        |     |        | and then   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | another    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | year a     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | separate   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | project    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | may        |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | improve    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | the same   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | area's     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | ability to |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | reduce the |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | impacts of |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | another    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | coastal    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | hazard     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | such as    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | inland     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | flooding.  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | To avoid   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | confusion, |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | this       |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | measure    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | currently  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | only       |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | tracks the |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | d          |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | evelopment |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | and        |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | impl       |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | ementation |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | of the     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Coastal    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Risk       |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Atlas. All |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | data used  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | in the     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Coastal    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Risk Atlas |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | are        |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | quality    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | controlled |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | and the    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | risk       |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | assessment |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | met        |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | hodologies |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | have been  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | peer       |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | reviewed   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | with       |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | quarterly  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | reporting  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | on         |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | p          |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | erformance |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | to NOAA    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Deputy     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Under      |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Secretary. |          |        |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | Na     | M   | NWS    | Ve         | Only     | Review |
| 3b: Lead  | tional | ont | headqu | rification | c        | all    |
| time      | W      | hly | arters | is the     | onfirmed | wa     |
| (         | eather |     | and    | process of | tornado  | rnings |
| minutes), | S      |     | the    | comparing  | reports  | and    |
| accuracy  | ervice |     | Office | the        | are used | storm  |
| (%), and  | (NWS)  |     | of     | predicted  | to       | data   |
| false     | field  |     | Cl     | weather to | verify   | after  |
| alarm     | o      |     | imate, | reported   | tornado  | each   |
| rate      | ffices |     | Water, | event.     | w        | event  |
| (FAR, %)  |        |     | and    |            | arnings. | to     |
| of severe |        |     | W      | Warnings   | Radar    | learn  |
| weather   |        |     | eather | are        | reports  | from   |
| warnings  |        |     | Se     | collected  | are not  | past   |
| for       |        |     | rvices | from every | used. If | experi |
| tornadoes |        |     | (      | NWS        | a        | ences. |
| (to       |        |     | OCWWS) | office,    | tornado  | Use    |
| change    |        |     |        | quality    | occurs   | the    |
| from      |        |     |        | c          | but is   | infor  |
| cou       |        |     |        | ontrolled, | not      | mation |
| nty-based |        |     |        | and        | r        | l      |
| to        |        |     |        | matched to | eported, | earned |
| st        |        |     |        | confirmed  | it       | to     |
| orm-based |        |     |        | tornado    | doesn't  | i      |
| in FY     |        |     |        | reports.   | go into  | mprove |
| 2008)     |        |     |        | Reports    | the      | fo     |
|           |        |     |        | are        | database | recast |
|           |        |     |        | validated  | for      | skill  |
|           |        |     |        | by WFOs    | verif    | and    |
|           |        |     |        | using      | ication. | p      |
|           |        |     |        | concise    | Th       | roduct |
|           |        |     |        | and        | erefore, | q      |
|           |        |     |        | stringent  | it is    | uality |
|           |        |     |        | guidelines | possible | in the |
|           |        |     |        | outlined   | for      | f      |
|           |        |     |        | in NWS     | t        | uture. |
|           |        |     |        | I          | ornadoes |        |
|           |        |     |        | nstruction | to be    |        |
|           |        |     |        | 10-1605.   | under-r  |        |
|           |        |     |        | From these | eported, |        |
|           |        |     |        | data,      | es       |        |
|           |        |     |        | ve         | pecially |        |
|           |        |     |        | rification | in       |        |
|           |        |     |        | statistics | sparsely |        |
|           |        |     |        | are        | p        |        |
|           |        |     |        | computed.  | opulated |        |
|           |        |     |        | OCWWS      | areas.   |        |
|           |        |     |        | monitors   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | monthly    | While    |        |
|           |        |     |        | p          | l        |        |
|           |        |     |        | erformance | ong-term |        |
|           |        |     |        | throughout | per      |        |
|           |        |     |        | the NWS,   | formance |        |
|           |        |     |        | and the    | has      |        |
|           |        |     |        | regional   | shown a  |        |
|           |        |     |        | he         | steady   |        |
|           |        |     |        | adquarters | increase |        |
|           |        |     |        | monitor    | in       |        |
|           |        |     |        | p          | forecast |        |
|           |        |     |        | erformance | a        |        |
|           |        |     |        | within     | ccuracy, |        |
|           |        |     |        | their      | inte     |        |
|           |        |     |        | respective | r-annual |        |
|           |        |     |        | regions.   | scores   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | tend to  |        |
|           |        |     |        | All data   | f        |        |
|           |        |     |        | is         | luctuate |        |
|           |        |     |        | reported   | due to   |        |
|           |        |     |        | on to NWS  | varying  |        |
|           |        |     |        | and NOAA   | weather  |        |
|           |        |     |        | leadership | patterns |        |
|           |        |     |        | on a       | from     |        |
|           |        |     |        | monthly    | year to  |        |
|           |        |     |        | basis.     | year.    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | Some     |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | weather  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | patterns |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | are more |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | d        |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | ifficult |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | to       |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | forecast |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | than     |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | others.  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | For      |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | ecasters |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | perform  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | better   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | during   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | large    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | o        |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | utbreaks |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | due a    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | high     |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | level of |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | sit      |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | uational |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | aw       |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | areness, |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | well     |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | defined  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | tornadic |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | radar    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | images,  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | and      |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | i        |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | ncreased |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | co       |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | nfidence |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | based on |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | tornado  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | reports  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | which    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | verify   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | warnings |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | during   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | these    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | large    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | scale    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | events.  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | These    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | three    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | factors  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | lead to  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | longer   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | lead     |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | times,   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | higher   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | a        |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | ccuracy, |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | and      |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | lower    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | false    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | alarm    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | rates.   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | The peak |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | level of |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | tornadic |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | activity |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | occurs   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | April    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | through  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | June     |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | each     |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | year. A  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | s        |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | econdary |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | peak     |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | activity |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | time     |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | period   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | is       |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | October  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | and      |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | November |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | in the   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | sout     |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | heastern |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | United   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | States.  |        |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | Na     | M   | NWS    | Ve         | While    | Review |
| 3c: Lead  | tional | ont | headqu | rification | l        | all    |
| Time      | W      | hly | arters | is the     | ong-term | wa     |
| (Minutes) | eather |     | and    | process of | per      | rnings |
| and       | S      |     | the    | comparing  | formance | and    |
| Accuracy  | ervice |     | Office | the        | has      | storm  |
| (%) for   | (NWS)  |     | of     | predicted  | shown a  | data   |
| Severe    | field  |     | Cl     | weather to | steady   | after  |
| Weather   | o      |     | imate, | reported   | increase | each   |
| Warnings  | ffices |     | Water, | event.     | in       | event  |
| for Flash |        |     | and    |            | forecast | to     |
| Floods    |        |     | W      | Warnings   | a        | learn  |
|           |        |     | eather | are        | ccuracy, | from   |
|           |        |     | Se     | collected  | inte     | past   |
|           |        |     | rvices | from each  | r-annual | experi |
|           |        |     | (      | NWS        | scores   | ences. |
|           |        |     | OCWWS) | office,    | tend to  | Use    |
|           |        |     |        | quality    | f        | the    |
|           |        |     |        | c          | luctuate | infor  |
|           |        |     |        | ontrolled, | due to   | mation |
|           |        |     |        | and        | varying  | l      |
|           |        |     |        | matched to | weather  | earned |
|           |        |     |        | confirmed  | patterns | to     |
|           |        |     |        | flash      | from     | i      |
|           |        |     |        | flood      | year to  | mprove |
|           |        |     |        | reports.   | year.    | fo     |
|           |        |     |        | Reports    | Some     | recast |
|           |        |     |        | are        | weather  | skill  |
|           |        |     |        | validated  | patterns | and    |
|           |        |     |        | by WFOs    | are more | p      |
|           |        |     |        | using      | d        | roduct |
|           |        |     |        | concise    | ifficult | q      |
|           |        |     |        | and        | to       | uality |
|           |        |     |        | stringent  | forecast | in the |
|           |        |     |        | guidelines | than     | f      |
|           |        |     |        | outlined   | others.  | uture. |
|           |        |     |        | in NWS     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | I          | Ty       |        |
|           |        |     |        | nstruction | pically, |        |
|           |        |     |        | 10-1605.   | 1st and  |        |
|           |        |     |        | OCWWS      | 2nd      |        |
|           |        |     |        | monitors   | Quarters |        |
|           |        |     |        | monthly    | have     |        |
|           |        |     |        | p          | higher   |        |
|           |        |     |        | erformance | lead     |        |
|           |        |     |        | throughout | times,   |        |
|           |        |     |        | the NWS,   | while    |        |
|           |        |     |        | and the    | the 3rd  |        |
|           |        |     |        | regional   | and 4th  |        |
|           |        |     |        | he         | Q        |        |
|           |        |     |        | adquarters | uarters, |        |
|           |        |     |        | monitor    | during   |        |
|           |        |     |        | p          | the      |        |
|           |        |     |        | erformance | co       |        |
|           |        |     |        | within     | nvective |        |
|           |        |     |        | their      | season,  |        |
|           |        |     |        | respective | bring    |        |
|           |        |     |        | regions.   | the      |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | annual   |        |
|           |        |     |        | All data   | average  |        |
|           |        |     |        | is         | down.    |        |
|           |        |     |        | reported   | Sprin    |        |
|           |        |     |        | on to NWS  | g/summer |        |
|           |        |     |        | and NOAA   | m        |        |
|           |        |     |        | leadership | esoscale |        |
|           |        |     |        | on a       | events   |        |
|           |        |     |        | monthly    | (e.g.,   |        |
|           |        |     |        | basis.     | thunde   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | rstorms) |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | are more |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | d        |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | ifficult |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | to       |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | predict  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | than     |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | larger   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | synoptic |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | scale    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | systems; |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | hence    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | lower    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | scores   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | are      |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | expected |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | in the   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | 3^rd^    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | and      |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | 4^th^    |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | q        |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | uarters. |        |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | NWS/Tr | Ann | TPC    | Hurricane  | Veri     | NOAA   |
| 3d:       | opical | ual |        | storm      | fication | will   |
| Hurricane | Pred   |     |        | ve         | of       | report |
| Track     | iction |     |        | rification | actual   | on the |
| Forecasts | Center |     |        | is         | track    | tr     |
| Error (48 | (TPC)  |     |        | performed  | and      | acking |
| Hours)    |        |     |        | for        | i        | of     |
|           |        |     |        | h          | ntensity | for    |
|           |        |     |        | urricanes, | versus   | ecasts |
|           |        |     |        | tropical   | forecast | at 24, |
|           |        |     |        | storms,    | is very  | 48 and |
|           |        |     |        | and        | a        | 7      |
|           |        |     |        | tropical   | ccurate. | 2-hour |
|           |        |     |        | d          | However, | inte   |
|           |        |     |        | epressions | actual   | rvals. |
|           |        |     |        | regardless | annual   |        |
|           |        |     |        | of whether | scores   |        |
|           |        |     |        | these      | vary up  |        |
|           |        |     |        | systems    | to 20%   |        |
|           |        |     |        | are over   | in some  |        |
|           |        |     |        | land or    | years    |        |
|           |        |     |        | water. The | due to   |        |
|           |        |     |        | TPC issues | the type |        |
|           |        |     |        | track and  | and      |        |
|           |        |     |        | intensity  | location |        |
|           |        |     |        | forecast   | of the   |        |
|           |        |     |        | throughout | h        |        |
|           |        |     |        | the life   | urricane |        |
|           |        |     |        | of a       | events.  |        |
|           |        |     |        | hurricane. | Some     |        |
|           |        |     |        | The actual | types of |        |
|           |        |     |        | track and  | systems  |        |
|           |        |     |        | intensity  | can be   |        |
|           |        |     |        | are        | more     |        |
|           |        |     |        | verified   | ac       |        |
|           |        |     |        | through    | curately |        |
|           |        |     |        | surface    | fo       |        |
|           |        |     |        | and        | recasted |        |
|           |        |     |        | aircraft   | than     |        |
|           |        |     |        | mea        | others.  |        |
|           |        |     |        | surements. | For      |        |
|           |        |     |        | NOAA       | example, |        |
|           |        |     |        | calculates | hu       |        |
|           |        |     |        | the        | rricanes |        |
|           |        |     |        | average    | that     |        |
|           |        |     |        | accuracy   | begin in |        |
|           |        |     |        | of the TPC | the      |        |
|           |        |     |        | track and  | northern |        |
|           |        |     |        | intensity  | sections |        |
|           |        |     |        | forecasts  | of the   |        |
|           |        |     |        | for the    | h        |        |
|           |        |     |        | Atlantic   | urricane |        |
|           |        |     |        | basin at   | f        |        |
|           |        |     |        | the end of | ormation |        |
|           |        |     |        | each       | zone     |        |
|           |        |     |        | hurricane  | tend to  |        |
|           |        |     |        | season.    | be much  |        |
|           |        |     |        | Reported   | harder   |        |
|           |        |     |        | errors are | to       |        |
|           |        |     |        | for        | ac       |        |
|           |        |     |        | hurricane  | curately |        |
|           |        |     |        | and        | f        |        |
|           |        |     |        | tropical   | orecast. |        |
|           |        |     |        | storm      | Out-year |        |
|           |        |     |        | stages     | measures |        |
|           |        |     |        | only       | depend   |        |
|           |        |     |        | because of | on a     |        |
|           |        |     |        | a more     | stable   |        |
|           |        |     |        | limited    | funding  |        |
|           |        |     |        | historical | profile  |        |
|           |        |     |        | ve         | and take |        |
|           |        |     |        | rification | into     |        |
|           |        |     |        | record for | account  |        |
|           |        |     |        | tropical   | new      |        |
|           |        |     |        | de         | sat      |        |
|           |        |     |        | pressions. | ellites, |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | improved |        |
|           |        |     |        | All data   | forecast |        |
|           |        |     |        | is         | models,  |        |
|           |        |     |        | reported   | new and  |        |
|           |        |     |        | to NWS and | c        |        |
|           |        |     |        | NOAA       | ontinued |        |
|           |        |     |        | leadership | research |        |
|           |        |     |        | on an      | ac       |        |
|           |        |     |        | annual     | tivities |        |
|           |        |     |        | basis.     | of the   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | U.S.     |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | Weather  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | Research |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | Program  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | (USWRP), |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | and      |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | inv      |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | estments |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | in       |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | critical |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | o        |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | bserving |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | systems  |        |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | NWS/Tr | Ann | TPC    | Hurricane  | Veri     | Hur    |
| 3e:       | opical | ual |        | storm      | fication | ricane |
| Hurricane | Pred   |     |        | ve         | of       | Int    |
| Intensity | iction |     |        | rification | actual   | ensity |
| Forecast  | Center |     |        | is         | track    | is     |
| Error (48 | (TPC)  |     |        | performed  | and      | p      |
| Hours)    |        |     |        | for        | i        | lanned |
|           |        |     |        | h          | ntensity | to be  |
|           |        |     |        | urricanes, | versus   | added  |
|           |        |     |        | tropical   | forecast | as a   |
|           |        |     |        | storms,    | is very  | perfo  |
|           |        |     |        | and        | a        | rmance |
|           |        |     |        | tropical   | ccurate. | m      |
|           |        |     |        | d          | However, | easure |
|           |        |     |        | epressions | actual   | prior  |
|           |        |     |        | regardless | annual   | to FY  |
|           |        |     |        | of whether | scores   | 2008   |
|           |        |     |        | these      | vary up  | OMB    |
|           |        |     |        | systems    | to 20%   | submi  |
|           |        |     |        | are over   | in some  | ssion. |
|           |        |     |        | land or    | years    |        |
|           |        |     |        | water. The | due to   |        |
|           |        |     |        | TPC issues | the type |        |
|           |        |     |        | track and  | and      |        |
|           |        |     |        | intensity  | location |        |
|           |        |     |        | forecast   | of the   |        |
|           |        |     |        | throughout | h        |        |
|           |        |     |        | the life   | urricane |        |
|           |        |     |        | of a       | events.  |        |
|           |        |     |        | hurricane. | Some     |        |
|           |        |     |        | The actual | types of |        |
|           |        |     |        | track and  | systems  |        |
|           |        |     |        | intensity  | can be   |        |
|           |        |     |        | are        | more     |        |
|           |        |     |        | verified   | ac       |        |
|           |        |     |        | through    | curately |        |
|           |        |     |        | surface    | fo       |        |
|           |        |     |        | and        | recasted |        |
|           |        |     |        | aircraft   | than     |        |
|           |        |     |        | mea        | others.  |        |
|           |        |     |        | surements. | For      |        |
|           |        |     |        | NOAA       | example, |        |
|           |        |     |        | calculates | hu       |        |
|           |        |     |        | the        | rricanes |        |
|           |        |     |        | average    | that     |        |
|           |        |     |        | accuracy   | begin in |        |
|           |        |     |        | of the TPC | the      |        |
|           |        |     |        | track and  | northern |        |
|           |        |     |        | intensity  | sections |        |
|           |        |     |        | forecasts  | of the   |        |
|           |        |     |        | for the    | h        |        |
|           |        |     |        | Atlantic   | urricane |        |
|           |        |     |        | basin at   | f        |        |
|           |        |     |        | the end of | ormation |        |
|           |        |     |        | each       | zone     |        |
|           |        |     |        | hurricane  | tend to  |        |
|           |        |     |        | season.    | be much  |        |
|           |        |     |        | Reported   | harder   |        |
|           |        |     |        | errors are | to       |        |
|           |        |     |        | for        | ac       |        |
|           |        |     |        | hurricane  | curately |        |
|           |        |     |        | and        | f        |        |
|           |        |     |        | tropical   | orecast. |        |
|           |        |     |        | storm      | Out-year |        |
|           |        |     |        | stages     | measures |        |
|           |        |     |        | only       | depend   |        |
|           |        |     |        | because of | on a     |        |
|           |        |     |        | a more     | stable   |        |
|           |        |     |        | limited    | funding  |        |
|           |        |     |        | historical | profile  |        |
|           |        |     |        | ve         | and take |        |
|           |        |     |        | rification | into     |        |
|           |        |     |        | record for | account  |        |
|           |        |     |        | tropical   | new      |        |
|           |        |     |        | de         | sat      |        |
|           |        |     |        | pressions. | ellites, |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | improved |        |
|           |        |     |        | All data   | forecast |        |
|           |        |     |        | is         | models,  |        |
|           |        |     |        | reported   | new and  |        |
|           |        |     |        | to NWS and | c        |        |
|           |        |     |        | NOAA       | ontinued |        |
|           |        |     |        | leadership | research |        |
|           |        |     |        | on an      | ac       |        |
|           |        |     |        | annual     | tivities |        |
|           |        |     |        | basis.     | of the   |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | U.S.     |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | Weather  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | Research |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | Program  |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | (USWRP), |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | and      |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | inv      |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | estments |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | in       |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | critical |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | o        |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | bserving |        |
|           |        |     |        |            | systems. |        |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | The    | M   | World  | The        | The      | NOAA   |
| 3f:       | Hy     | ont | W      | Hydromete  | 40-year  | will   |
| Accuracy  | dromet | hly | eather | orological | record   | imp    |
| (%)       | eoro-l |     | Bu     | Prediction | of       | lement |
| (Threat   | ogical |     | ilding | Center has | per      | p      |
| Score) of | Pred   |     |        | produced   | formance | lanned |
| day 1     | iction |     |        | Qu         | i        | w      |
| prec      | Center |     |        | antitative | ndicates | eather |
| ipitation | and    |     |        | Pre        | there    | obser  |
| forecasts | state  |     |        | cipitation | can be   | vation |
|           | ag     |     |        | Forecasts  | cons     | and    |
|           | encies |     |        | since the  | iderable | num    |
|           |        |     |        | early      | v        | erical |
|           |        |     |        | 1960s and  | ariation | mo     |
|           |        |     |        | has kept   | in the   | deling |
|           |        |     |        | ve         | per      | improv |
|           |        |     |        | rification | formance | ements |
|           |        |     |        | statistics | measure  | along  |
|           |        |     |        | related to | from     | with   |
|           |        |     |        | the        | year to  | o      |
|           |        |     |        | Qu         | year.    | ngoing |
|           |        |     |        | antitative | This     | re     |
|           |        |     |        | Pre        | v        | search |
|           |        |     |        | cipitation | ariation | pro    |
|           |        |     |        | Forecast   | is       | jects. |
|           |        |     |        | program    | heavily  | The    |
|           |        |     |        | since that | d        | H      |
|           |        |     |        | time. HPC  | ependent | ydrome |
|           |        |     |        | f          | on the   | teorol |
|           |        |     |        | orecasters | v        | ogical |
|           |        |     |        | work under | ariation | Test   |
|           |        |     |        | the        | of       | Bed    |
|           |        |     |        | s          | weather  | will   |
|           |        |     |        | upervisory | regimes  | be     |
|           |        |     |        | control of | over the | ex     |
|           |        |     |        | the Senior | course   | panded |
|           |        |     |        | Branch     | of a     | to     |
|           |        |     |        | Forecaster | year and | acce   |
|           |        |     |        | (SBF), who | from     | lerate |
|           |        |     |        | is         | year to  | the    |
|           |        |     |        | r          | year.    | tran   |
|           |        |     |        | esponsible | Scores   | sition |
|           |        |     |        | for the    | are      | of     |
|           |        |     |        | quality    | usually  | re     |
|           |        |     |        | and        | lower,   | search |
|           |        |     |        | content of | for      | advanc |
|           |        |     |        | all        | example, | ements |
|           |        |     |        | products   | in years | into   |
|           |        |     |        | issued     | with     | the    |
|           |        |     |        | during the | cons     | opera  |
|           |        |     |        | shift. The | iderable | tional |
|           |        |     |        | SBF having | su       | pred   |
|           |        |     |        | the        | mmertime | iction |
|           |        |     |        | additional | preci    | of     |
|           |        |     |        | duty of 24 | pitation | pr     |
|           |        |     |        | hour       | not      | ecipit |
|           |        |     |        | pre        | as       | ation. |
|           |        |     |        | cipitation | sociated |        |
|           |        |     |        | forecast   | with     |        |
|           |        |     |        | ve         | tropical |        |
|           |        |     |        | rification | c        |        |
|           |        |     |        | verifies   | yclones. |        |
|           |        |     |        | the        |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | pre        |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | cipitation |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | forecasts. |          |        |
|           |        |     |        |            |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | All data   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | are        |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | examined   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | for        |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | accuracy   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | and        |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | quality    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | control    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | procedures |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | are        |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | applied,   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | as         |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | described  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | in the     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | D          |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | escription |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | of Measure |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | section.   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        |            |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Ve         |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | rification |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | is the     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | process of |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | comparing  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | the        |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | predicted  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | pre        |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | cipitation |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | amounts to |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | the        |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | observed   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | amounts    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | over the   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | co         |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | nterminous |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | U.S.       |          |        |
|           |        |     |        |            |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | All data   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | is         |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | reported   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | on to NWS  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | and NOAA   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | leadership |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | on a       |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | monthly    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | basis.     |          |        |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | Na     | Qua | The    | Ve         | While    | Review |
| 3g: Lead  | tional | rte | re     | rification | l        | all    |
| Time      | W      | rly | gional | is the     | ong-term | wa     |
| (Hours)   | eather |     | h      | process of | per      | rnings |
| and       | S      |     | eadqua | comparing  | formance | and    |
| Accuracy  | ervice |     | rters, | predicted  | has      | storm  |
| (%) of    | (NWS)  |     | NWS    | weather to | shown a  | data   |
| Winter    | field  |     | headqu | a reported | steady   | after  |
| Storm     | o      |     | arters | event.     | increase | each   |
| Warnings  | ffices |     | and    | Warnings   | in       | event  |
|           |        |     | the    | are        | forecast | to     |
|           |        |     | Office | collected  | a        | learn  |
|           |        |     | of     | from each  | ccuracy, | from   |
|           |        |     | Cl     | NWS        | inte     | past   |
|           |        |     | imate, | office;    | r-annual | experi |
|           |        |     | Water, | quality    | scores   | ences. |
|           |        |     | and    | c          | tend to  | Use    |
|           |        |     | W      | ontrolled, | f        | the    |
|           |        |     | eather | and        | luctuate | infor  |
|           |        |     | Se     | matched to | due to   | mation |
|           |        |     | rvices | confirmed  | varying  | l      |
|           |        |     | (      | winter     | weather  | earned |
|           |        |     | OCWWS) | storm      | patterns | to     |
|           |        |     |        | reports.   | from     | i      |
|           |        |     |        | Reports    | year to  | mprove |
|           |        |     |        | are        | year.    | fo     |
|           |        |     |        | validated  | Some     | recast |
|           |        |     |        | by WFOs    | weather  | skill  |
|           |        |     |        | using      | patterns | and    |
|           |        |     |        | concise    | are more | p      |
|           |        |     |        | and        | d        | roduct |
|           |        |     |        | stringent  | ifficult | q      |
|           |        |     |        | guidelines | to       | uality |
|           |        |     |        | outlined   | forecast | in the |
|           |        |     |        | in NWS     | than     | f      |
|           |        |     |        | I          | others.  | uture. |
|           |        |     |        | nstruction |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | 10-1605.   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | OCWWS      |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | monitors   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | monthly    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | p          |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | erformance |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | throughout |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | the NWS,   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | and the    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | regional   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | he         |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | adquarters |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | monitor    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | p          |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | erformance |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | within     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | their      |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | respective |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | regions.   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        |            |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | All data   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | is         |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | reported   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | on to NWS  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | and NOAA   |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | leadership |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | on a       |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | quarterly  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | basis.     |          |        |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | Pr     | M   | Na     | National   | NO       | Na     |
| 4a:       | ogress | ont | tional | Ocean      | AA-owned | tional |
| Reduce    | r      | hly | Ocean  | Service    | ships    | Ocean  |
| hyd       | eports |     | S      | applies    | and      | S      |
| rographic | on     |     | ervice | its        | co       | ervice |
| survey    | data   |     | mai    | e          | ntractor | mai    |
| backlog   | col    |     | ntains | stablished | survey   | ntains |
| within    | lected |     | hydrog | ve         | assets   | hydrog |
| navig     | from   |     | raphic | rification | can be   | raphic |
| ationally | hydrog |     | survey | and        | affected | survey |
| si        | raphic |     | perfo  | validation | by       | perfo  |
| gnificant | survey |     | rmance | methods.   | changes  | rmance |
| areas     | pla    |     | data   | The        | in       | data   |
| (square   | tforms |     | at     | measure    | vessel   | at     |
| nautical  |        |     | NOAA's | has a +/-  | avai     | NOAA's |
| miles     |        |     | Hydrog | 50 square  | lability | Hydrog |
| surveyed  |        |     | raphic | nautical   | or       | raphic |
| per year) |        |     | S      | mile       | co       | S      |
|           |        |     | urveys | variance.  | ndition. | urveys |
|           |        |     | Div    | Targets    | Weather  | Div    |
|           |        |     | ision. | are set    | can also | ision. |
|           |        |     |        | annually   | affect   |        |
|           |        |     |        | based on   | s        |        |
|           |        |     |        | resources  | cheduled |        |
|           |        |     |        | available; | surveys. |        |
|           |        |     |        | monthly    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | reports on |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | p          |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | erformance |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | to NOAA    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Deputy     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Under      |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Secretary. |          |        |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | NOAA's | Qua | Aut    | NOAA will  | OPUS     | None   |
| 4b:       | Online | rte | omated | validate a | customer |        |
| P         | Po     | rly | da     | County's   | data is  |        |
| ercentage | sition |     | tabase | capacity   | limited  |        |
| of U.S.   | User   |     | at     | for local  | and will |        |
| counties  | S      |     | Na     | p          | be       |        |
| rated as  | ervice |     | tional | ositioning | expanded |        |
| fully     | (OPUS) |     | Ocean  | through    | through  |        |
| enabled   |        |     | S      | direct     | P        |        |
| or        |        |     | ervice | co         | aperwork |        |
| subs      |        |     |        | ordination | R        |        |
| tantially |        |     |        | with       | eduction |        |
| enabled   |        |     |        | l          | Act-     |        |
| with      |        |     |        | ocalities, | approved |        |
| accurate  |        |     |        | such as    | surveys  |        |
| po        |        |     |        | OPUS       | of       |        |
| sitioning |        |     |        | project    | cu       |        |
| capacity  |        |     |        | acceptance | stomers. |        |
| (Goal:    |        |     |        | by NOAA.   |          |        |
| Increase  |        |     |        | By         |          |        |
| p         |        |     |        | assessing  |          |        |
| ercentage |        |     |        | the user   |          |        |
| of        |        |     |        | needs of   |          |        |
| counties  |        |     |        | county     |          |        |
| rated as  |        |     |        | surveyors, |          |        |
| subs      |        |     |        | counties,  |          |        |
| tantially |        |     |        | and their  |          |        |
| or fully  |        |     |        | as         |          |        |
| enabled,  |        |     |        | sociations |          |        |
| with the  |        |     |        | through    |          |        |
| infras    |        |     |        | successive |          |        |
| tructure, |        |     |        | limited    |          |        |
| tools,    |        |     |        | dis        |          |        |
| and       |        |     |        | tributions |          |        |
| dem       |        |     |        | of a       |          |        |
| onstrated |        |     |        | county     |          |        |
| local     |        |     |        | scorecard, |          |        |
| capacity  |        |     |        | NOAA will  |          |        |
| for       |        |     |        | validate   |          |        |
| accurate  |        |     |        | that the   |          |        |
| pos       |        |     |        | geodesy    |          |        |
| itioning, |        |     |        | program is |          |        |
| from      |        |     |        | meeting    |          |        |
| 32.2% in  |        |     |        | local      |          |        |
| 2005 to   |        |     |        | p          |          |        |
| 92% in    |        |     |        | ositioning |          |        |
| 2011).    |        |     |        | needs;     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | quarterly  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | reporting  |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | on         |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | p          |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | erformance |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | to NOAA    |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Deputy     |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Under      |          |        |
|           |        |     |        | Secretary. |          |        |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | NWS    | M   | The    | Ve         | Due to   | NOAA   |
| 4c:       | field  | ont | NWS    | rification | the      | will   |
| Accuracy  | o      | hly | and    | is the     | large    | deploy |
| (%) of    | ffices |     | the    | process of | volume   | en     |
| Forecast  |        |     | Na     | comparing  | of data  | hanced |
| for Winds |        |     | tional | the        | gathered | ve     |
| and Waves |        |     | C      | predicted  | and      | rsions |
| (Marine   |        |     | enters | weather    | c        | of     |
| F         |        |     | for    | with the   | omputed, | AWIPS, |
| orecasts) |        |     | E      | actual     | docum    | u      |
|           |        |     | nviron | event.     | entation | pgrade |
|           |        |     | mental |            | for the  | new    |
|           |        |     | Predic | Forecasts  | accuracy | fo     |
|           |        |     | tion's | and        | of       | recast |
|           |        |     | Ocean  | ob         | forecast | m      |
|           |        |     | Mo     | servations | for wind | odels, |
|           |        |     | deling | are        | and      | imp    |
|           |        |     | Branch | collected  | waves    | lement |
|           |        |     |        | from each  | cannot   | new    |
|           |        |     |        | marine     | be       | wave   |
|           |        |     |        | zone for   | f        | fo     |
|           |        |     |        | which the  | inalized | recast |
|           |        |     |        | NWS issues | until    | m      |
|           |        |     |        | a          | well     | odels, |
|           |        |     |        | forecast.  | into the | and    |
|           |        |     |        | The OCWWS  | f        | i      |
|           |        |     |        | stores and | ollowing | mprove |
|           |        |     |        | quality    | fiscal   | c      |
|           |        |     |        | controls   | year.    | ommuni |
|           |        |     |        | all data,  | Out-year | cation |
|           |        |     |        | compares   | measures | and    |
|           |        |     |        | forecasts  | depend   | d      |
|           |        |     |        | to         | on a     | issemi |
|           |        |     |        | obs        | stable   | nation |
|           |        |     |        | ervations, | funding  | tech   |
|           |        |     |        | and        | profile  | niques |
|           |        |     |        | computes   | and take | to     |
|           |        |     |        | ve         | into     | marine |
|           |        |     |        | rification | account  | users. |
|           |        |     |        | s          | improved |        |
|           |        |     |        | tatistics. | use of   | In FY  |
|           |        |     |        |            | the      | 2008,  |
|           |        |     |        | WFO        | WSR-88D, | the    |
|           |        |     |        | managers   | new      | Marine |
|           |        |     |        | regularly  | sat      | Wind   |
|           |        |     |        | monitor    | ellites, | Speed  |
|           |        |     |        | forecast   | improved | Fo     |
|           |        |     |        | pe         | forecast | recast |
|           |        |     |        | rformance. | models,  | Ac     |
|           |        |     |        | The        | new and  | curacy |
|           |        |     |        | regional   | c        | metric |
|           |        |     |        | he         | ontinued | (FY    |
|           |        |     |        | adquarters | research | 2008   |
|           |        |     |        | and the    | ac       | target |
|           |        |     |        | OCWWS      | tivities | of     |
|           |        |     |        | monitor    | of the   | 58%)   |
|           |        |     |        | p          | USWRP,   | will   |
|           |        |     |        | erformance | and      | be     |
|           |        |     |        | monthly    | inv      | re     |
|           |        |     |        | for their  | estments | placed |
|           |        |     |        | respective | in       | by a   |
|           |        |     |        | management | critical | new    |
|           |        |     |        | areas.     | o        | Marine |
|           |        |     |        |            | bserving | Wind   |
|           |        |     |        | All data   | systems, | Fo     |
|           |        |     |        | is         | and      | recast |
|           |        |     |        | reported   | implem   | Ac     |
|           |        |     |        | to NWS and | entation | curacy |
|           |        |     |        | NOAA       | of       | m      |
|           |        |     |        | leadership | AWIPS.   | etric, |
|           |        |     |        | on a       |          | "Perc  |
|           |        |     |        | monthly    | Inte     | entage |
|           |        |     |        | basis.     | r-annual | of     |
|           |        |     |        |            | scores   | Ac     |
|           |        |     |        |            | tend to  | curate |
|           |        |     |        |            | f        | Forec  |
|           |        |     |        |            | luctuate | asts," |
|           |        |     |        |            | due to   | with a |
|           |        |     |        |            | varying  | target |
|           |        |     |        |            | weather  | of     |
|           |        |     |        |            | p        | 68%.   |
|           |        |     |        |            | atterns. | In FY  |
|           |        |     |        |            | Some     | 2008,  |
|           |        |     |        |            | patterns | the    |
|           |        |     |        |            | are more | Marine |
|           |        |     |        |            | d        | Wave   |
|           |        |     |        |            | ifficult | Height |
|           |        |     |        |            | to       | Fo     |
|           |        |     |        |            | forecast | recast |
|           |        |     |        |            | than     | Ac     |
|           |        |     |        |            | others.  | curacy |
|           |        |     |        |            | Marine   | metric |
|           |        |     |        |            | wind     | (FY    |
|           |        |     |        |            | speed    | 2008   |
|           |        |     |        |            | and wave | target |
|           |        |     |        |            | height   | of     |
|           |        |     |        |            | f        | 68%)   |
|           |        |     |        |            | orecasts | will   |
|           |        |     |        |            | scores   | be     |
|           |        |     |        |            | n        | re     |
|           |        |     |        |            | aturally | placed |
|           |        |     |        |            | vary     | by a   |
|           |        |     |        |            | (        | new    |
|           |        |     |        |            | accuracy | Marine |
|           |        |     |        |            | +/- 4%   | Wind   |
|           |        |     |        |            | per      | Fo     |
|           |        |     |        |            | year)    | recast |
|           |        |     |        |            | due to   | Ac     |
|           |        |     |        |            | fluc     | curacy |
|           |        |     |        |            | tuations | m      |
|           |        |     |        |            | in the   | etric, |
|           |        |     |        |            | number   | "Perc  |
|           |        |     |        |            | of       | entage |
|           |        |     |        |            | extreme  | of     |
|           |        |     |        |            | events   | Ac     |
|           |        |     |        |            | measured | curate |
|           |        |     |        |            | over NWS | Forec  |
|           |        |     |        |            | marine   | asts," |
|           |        |     |        |            | areas    | with a |
|           |        |     |        |            | per      | target |
|           |        |     |        |            | year.    | of     |
|           |        |     |        |            |          | 73%.   |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+
| Measure   | NWS    | M   | NWS    | Forecasts  | Due to   | Forec  |
| 4d:       | field  | ont | headqu | and        | the      | asters |
| Accuracy  | o      | hly | arters | ob         | large    | within |
| (%) and   | ffices |     | and    | servations | volume   | each   |
| FAR (%)   |        |     | OCWWS  | are        | of data  | WFO    |
| of        |        |     |        | collected  | gathered | will   |
| Forecasts |        |     |        | from each  | and      | co     |
| of        |        |     |        | airport    | c        | ntinue |
| Ceiling   |        |     |        | for which  | omputed, | to     |
| and       |        |     |        | the NWS    | docum    | m      |
| V         |        |     |        | issues a   | entation | onitor |
| isibility |        |     |        | forecast.  | for this | their  |
| (Aviation |        |     |        | The OCWWS  | measure  | recent |
| F         |        |     |        | stores and | cannot   | past   |
| orecasts) |        |     |        | quality    | be       | fo     |
|           |        |     |        | controls   | f        | recast |
|           |        |     |        | all data,  | inalized | perfo  |
|           |        |     |        | compares   | until    | rmance |
|           |        |     |        | forecasts  | well     | to     |
|           |        |     |        | to         | into the | learn  |
|           |        |     |        | obs        | f        | from   |
|           |        |     |        | ervations, | ollowing | exper  |
|           |        |     |        | and        | fiscal   | ience. |
|           |        |     |        | computes   | year.    |        |
|           |        |     |        | ve         | Out-year | The    |
|           |        |     |        | rification | measures | re     |
|           |        |     |        | s          | depend   | gional |
|           |        |     |        | tatistics. | on a     | headqu |
|           |        |     |        |            | stable   | arters |
|           |        |     |        | F          | funding  | and    |
|           |        |     |        | orecasters | profile  | the    |
|           |        |     |        | within     | and take | OCWWS  |
|           |        |     |        | each WFO   | into     | will   |
|           |        |     |        | are able   | account  | co     |
|           |        |     |        | to         | improved | ntinue |
|           |        |     |        | stratify   | use of   | to     |
|           |        |     |        | ve         | the      | m      |
|           |        |     |        | rification | WSR-88D, | onitor |
|           |        |     |        | statistics | new      | perfo  |
|           |        |     |        | to his/her | sat      | rmance |
|           |        |     |        | personal   | ellites, | m      |
|           |        |     |        | scores on  | improved | onthly |
|           |        |     |        | specific   | forecast | for    |
|           |        |     |        | days to    | models,  | their  |
|           |        |     |        | learn from | new and  | resp   |
|           |        |     |        | recent     | c        | ective |
|           |        |     |        | e          | ontinued | mana   |
|           |        |     |        | xperience. | research | gement |
|           |        |     |        |            | ac       | areas. |
|           |        |     |        | WFO        | tivities |        |
|           |        |     |        | managers   | of the   | The    |
|           |        |     |        | regularly  | USWRP,   | or     |
|           |        |     |        | monitor    | and      | iginal |
|           |        |     |        | forecast   | inv      | me     |
|           |        |     |        | pe         | estments | asure, |
|           |        |     |        | rformance. | in       | Av     |
|           |        |     |        | The        | critical | iation |
|           |        |     |        | regional   | o        | Fo     |
|           |        |     |        | he         | bserving | recast |
|           |        |     |        | adquarters | systems, | Ac     |
|           |        |     |        | and the    | and      | curacy |
|           |        |     |        | OCWWS      | implem   | of     |
|           |        |     |        | monitor    | entation | Ceilin |
|           |        |     |        | p          | of       | g/Visi |
|           |        |     |        | erformance | AWIPS.   | bility |
|           |        |     |        | monthly    |          | (1     |
|           |        |     |        | for their  | Inte     | mi/500 |
|           |        |     |        | respective | r-annual | ft to  |
|           |        |     |        | management | scores   | less   |
|           |        |     |        | areas.     | tend to  | than 3 |
|           |        |     |        |            | f        | mi/10  |
|           |        |     |        | All data   | luctuate | 00ft); |
|           |        |     |        | is         | due to   | will   |
|           |        |     |        | reported   | varying  | be     |
|           |        |     |        | on to NWS  | weather  | c      |
|           |        |     |        | and NOAA   | p        | hanged |
|           |        |     |        | leadership | atterns. | to     |
|           |        |     |        | on a       | Some     | Av     |
|           |        |     |        | monthly    | patterns | iation |
|           |        |     |        | basis.     | are more | Fo     |
|           |        |     |        |            | d        | recast |
|           |        |     |        |            | ifficult | Ac     |
|           |        |     |        |            | to       | curacy |
|           |        |     |        |            | forecast | of     |
|           |        |     |        |            | than     | Ceilin |
|           |        |     |        |            | others.  | g/Visi |
|           |        |     |        |            |          | bility |
|           |        |     |        |            | Year to  | For    |
|           |        |     |        |            | year     | ecasts |
|           |        |     |        |            | var      | (3     |
|           |        |     |        |            | iability | m      |
|           |        |     |        |            | is plus  | i/1000 |
|           |        |     |        |            | or minus | ft or  |
|           |        |     |        |            | 3        | less). |
|           |        |     |        |            | percent  | Simi   |
|           |        |     |        |            | for both | larly, |
|           |        |     |        |            | Accuracy | the    |
|           |        |     |        |            | and FAR. | or     |
|           |        |     |        |            | Ty       | iginal |
|           |        |     |        |            | pically, | me     |
|           |        |     |        |            | 3^rd^    | asure, |
|           |        |     |        |            | and      | Av     |
|           |        |     |        |            | 4^th^    | iation |
|           |        |     |        |            | quarter  | Fo     |
|           |        |     |        |            | scores   | recast |
|           |        |     |        |            | during   | False  |
|           |        |     |        |            | the      | Alarm  |
|           |        |     |        |            | co       | Rate   |
|           |        |     |        |            | nvective | for    |
|           |        |     |        |            | season   | Ceilin |
|           |        |     |        |            | have     | g/Visi |
|           |        |     |        |            | lower    | bility |
|           |        |     |        |            | accuracy | (1     |
|           |        |     |        |            | scores   | mi/500 |
|           |        |     |        |            | and      | ft to  |
|           |        |     |        |            | i        | less   |
|           |        |     |        |            | ncreased | than 3 |
|           |        |     |        |            | FARs     | mi/10  |
|           |        |     |        |            | than the | 00ft); |
|           |        |     |        |            | 1^st^    | will   |
|           |        |     |        |            | and      | be     |
|           |        |     |        |            | 2^nd^    | c      |
|           |        |     |        |            | Quarter  | hanged |
|           |        |     |        |            | cool     | to     |
|           |        |     |        |            | season   | Av     |
|           |        |     |        |            | months.  | iation |
|           |        |     |        |            |          | Fo     |
|           |        |     |        |            |          | recast |
|           |        |     |        |            |          | False  |
|           |        |     |        |            |          | Alarm  |
|           |        |     |        |            |          | Rate   |
|           |        |     |        |            |          | for    |
|           |        |     |        |            |          | Ceilin |
|           |        |     |        |            |          | g/Visi |
|           |        |     |        |            |          | bility |
|           |        |     |        |            |          | (3     |
|           |        |     |        |            |          | m      |
|           |        |     |        |            |          | i/1000 |
|           |        |     |        |            |          | ft or  |
|           |        |     |        |            |          | less). |
+-----------+--------+-----+--------+------------+----------+--------+

THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK

[^1]: This was reported as 24 in the FY 2006 PAR. This actual updates
    that estimate.