OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL COORDINATOR

FOR METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES OFCM AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH

FCM-P1-2014

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The Federal Plan

for Meteorological Services

and Supporting Research

Fiscal Year 2015

50th Anniversary Edition

A Half-Century of Multi-Agency Collaboration
THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND 

SUPPORTING RESEARCH (ICMSSR) 

MR. SAMUEL P. WILLIAMSON, Chairman 

Federal Coordinator 

MR. MARK BRUSBERG 

Department of Agriculture 

DR. LOUIS UCCELLINI 

Department of Commerce 

RADM JONATHAN WHITE 

United States Navy 

Department of Defense 

MR. RALPH STOFFLER 

United States Air Force 

Department of Defense 

MR. RICKEY PETTY 

Department of Energy 

MR. JOEL WALL 

Science and Technology Directorate 

Department of Homeland Security 

MR. JOHN VIMONT 

Department of the Interior 

MR. MARK KEHRLI 

Federal Highway Administration 

Department of Transportation 

 MR. PAUL FONTAINE 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Department of Transportation 

DR. JONATHAN M. BERKSON 

United States Coast Guard 

Department of Homeland Security 

DR. DAVID R. REIDMILLER 

Department of State 

DR. ROHIT MATHUR 

Environmental Protection Agency 

MR ROY WRIGHT 

Federal Emergency Management Agency 

Department of Homeland Security 

DR. RAMESH KAKAR 

National Aeronautics and Space 

 Administration 

DR. PAUL SHEPSON 

National Science Foundation 

MR. DONALD E. EICK 

National Transportation Safety Board

MR. SCOTT FLANDERS 

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

MR. MICHAEL F. BONADONNA, Secretariat 

Office of the Federal Coordinator for 

Meteorological Services and Supporting Research 

 
The Federal Plan for 

Meteorological 

Services and 

Supporting Research 

FISCAL YEAR 2015 

50th Anniversary Edition 

FEDERAL COORDINATOR FOR METEOROLOGICAL 

SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH 

Silver Spring Metro Center, Building 2 (SSMC 2) 

 1325 East West Highway, Suite 7130 

Silver Spring, MD 20910 

301.628.0112 

FCM-P1-2014 Editor: Mr. Anthony Ramirez

September 2014 Assistant: Ms. Erin McNamara

WASHINGTON, D.C. Assistant: Mr. Kenneth Barnett

iv 

PREFACE 

This edition of the Federal Plan for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research marks the 

50th anniversary of the annual plan. The plan today articulates the provision of meteorological 

services and supporting research by agencies of the Federal Government just as it did 50 years 

ago. Dr. Robert M. White, the first Federal Coordinator for Meteorology, noted in the preface to 

the first plan: 

“The best guarantee of achieving an economical use of Federal meteorological 

resources is to have all agencies working together toward a common goal. The 

many similarities in agency requirements and programs present both a challenge 

and an opportunity for the Federal Government to achieve a higher return on its 

investment in meteorological programs, better use of scientific manpower, and 

improved meteorological services.” 

These words still ring true today, reverberating across decades that have seen interagency 

coordination and collaboration deliver better weather reconnaissance aircraft systems, numerical 

weather prediction, and research strategies to improve hurricane forecasting and warning, a 

national network of highly-capable Doppler weather radars, significant reductions in weatherrelated aircraft accidents, and successful advocacy for the high performance computing that 

powers today’s weather forecasts and atmospheric dispersion models critical to responding 

effectively to major emergencies. 

I am pleased to report that today our agencies are continuing to work together toward a common 

goal in a number of important areas. In 2014, we reactivated the Committee for Operational 

Environmental Satellites to improve interagency communication and coordination of matters 

regarding the use of environmental satellites. In 2014 we began and in 2015 will complete a midcourse assessment of progress in achieving our strategic research plan for tropical cyclones. We 

will continue to plan, organize, and host the Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference to share 

information and prepare for next year’s hurricane season, including publishing the 2015 National 

Hurricane Operations Plan. I am also eager to see the proof of concept system under 

development for dual-polarization phased array radar and the possibility to move forward with a 

full-scale Advanced Technology Demonstrator for Multifunction Phased Array Radar (MPAR). 

MPAR represents a potential breakthrough in economy across a number of radar applications. 

This is also an exciting time for discovering, acquiring, and employing new data streams from 

satellites, networks of observing networks across the country, and unmanned aerial systems—all 

of which our interagency coordinating groups will be addressing in fiscal year (FY) 2015. In 

data-related work, we will also seek to reactivate the Satellite Telemetry Interagency Working 

Group (STIWG) in FY 2015. Reactivating STIWG will heighten agency awareness of the 

Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) Data Collection System (DCS) and 

opportunities for data sharing and collaboration. GOES DCS has grown to approximately 26,000 

stations sending almost 700,000 transmissions containing an estimated 6 million observations per 

day. 
v 

This edition of the Federal Plan provides additional information on the topics I’ve just described 

as well as much more information about activities across the agencies. It provides Congress and 

the Executive Branch with a review of agency programs and activities in FY 2014 and a 

comprehensive account of proposed programs for FY 2015. The Federal Plan's narratives, 

timelines, and schedules are current as of September 2014. 

I extend my thanks to our agency partners and their staffs for their dedicated efforts to contribute 

to this important document. 

 

 //Signed// 

 Samuel P. Williamson 

 Federal Coordinator for Meteorological 

 Services and Supporting Research 
vi 

Table of Contents 

PREFACE.............................................................................................................iv 

SECTION 1 AGENCY FUNDING FOR METEOROLOGICAL OPERATIONS AND 

SUPPORTING RESEARCH .................................................................................................................. 1-1 

AGENCY BUDGET SUMMARIES..............................................................................1-1 

 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE........................................................................1-1 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE/NATIONAL OCEANIC AND AMOSPHERIC 

ADMINISTRATION .......................................................................................................................... 1-2 

 National Weather Service ............................................................................................................. 1-2 

 National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Services .............................................. 1-3 

 Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research .............................................................................. 1-5 

 National Ocean Service ................................................................................................................. 1-6 

 Office of Marine and Aviation Operations ................................................................................... 1-7 

 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE .......................................................................................................... 1-7 

 U.S. Air Force ............................................................................................................................... 1-7 

 U.S. Army ..................................................................................................................................... 1-9 

 U.S. Navy .................................................................................................................................... 1-10 

 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY .............................................................................. 1-13 

 U.S. Coast Guard ........................................................................................................................ 1-13 

 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR .............................................................................................. 1-14

 Bureau of Land Management ...................................................................................................... 1-14 

 National Park Service ................................................................................................................. 1-15 

 U.S. Geological Survey ............................................................................................................... 1-15 

 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ..................................................................................... 1-15 

 Federal Aviation Administration ................................................................................................ 1-15 

 Federal Highway Administration ................................................................................................ 1-16 

 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ............................................................................. 1-16 

 NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION .............................................. 1-17 

 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ................................................................................. 1-18 

 

BUDGET TABLES 

 Table 1 Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research Costs by Agency ....................... 1-19 

Table 2 Operational Costs by Budget Category .......................................................................... 1-20 

Table 3 Supporting Research and Development Costs by Budget Category .............................. 1-21 

 Service Category Definitions ....................................................................................... 1-21 

Table 4 Operational Costs by Service Category ......................................................................... 1-23 

Table 5 Support Research and Development Costs by Service Category................................... 1-23 

Table 6 Personnel Authorizations Supporting Meteorological Operations and Research .......... 1-24 

Table 7 Interagency Fund Transfers ........................................................................................... 1-25 

Table 8 Facilities/Locations/Systems Taking Meteorological Observations .............................. 1-26 
vii 

SECTION 2: FEDERAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH 

PROGRAMS ......................................................................................................................................... 2-1 

FEDERAL COORDINATION AND PLANNING FOR METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND 

SUPPORTING RESEARCH .................................................................................................................. 2-3 

STATUTORY BASIS FOR THE FEDERAL COORDINATION PROCESS ................................... 2-3 

 OFCM COORDINATING INFRASTRUCTURE .............................................................................. 2-4 

 OFCM HIGHLIGHTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014 AND PLANS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 ......... 2-6 

 Activities Reporting to the Federal Coordinator 

 Support for Plans and Analyses Mandated by the COASTAL Act of 2012 ................................. 2-6 

 National Plan for Civil Earth Observations .................................................................................. 2-7 

 National Aviation Weather Program Council ............................................................................... 2-7

 National Operational Processing Centers Program Council ......................................................... 2-8 

 Committee for Operational Processing Centers ............................................................................ 2-8

 Observational Data........................................................................................................................ 2-9 

 Committee for Operational Environmental Satellites ................................................................. 2-10 

 National Space Weather Program Council ................................................................................. 2-10

 Executive Council for Multifunction Phased Array Radar ......................................................... 2-11 

 Committee for Environmental Services, Operations, and Research Needs ................................ 2-11 

 Hurricane and Winter Storms Operations and Research and Interdepartmental 

 Hurricane Conference .................................................................................................... 2-11 

 Disaster Impact Assessments and Plans: Weather and Water Data ............................... 2-13 

 Atmospheric Transport and Diffusion (ATD) .............................................................. 2-14 

 Committee for Integrated Observing Systems ............................................................................ 2-15 

 Unmanned Aerial Systems ............................................................................................. 2-16 

 Committee for Cooperative Research ......................................................................................... 2-17 

 Tropical Cyclone Research ............................................................................................ 2-17 

 Weather Information for Surface Transportation .......................................................... 2-17 

 Committee for Environmental Information Systems and Communications ............................... 2-17 

 Meteorological Codes .................................................................................................... 2-18 

 OFCM External Collaborations .................................................................................................. 2-18 

 NAS/NRC Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate ............................................. 2-18 

 NAS/NRC Space Science Board, Committee on Space and Solar Physics ................... 2-18 

 American Meteorological Society ................................................................................. 2-18 

 FY 2014 OFCM PUBLICATIONS ................................................................................................... 2-18 

BASIC SERVICES ................................................................................................................................ 2-21 

 OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES .............................. 2-21 

 NOAA/National Weather Service ............................................................................................... 2-21 

 NOAA/National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service ................................. 2-24 

 NOAA/Office of Marine and Aviation Operations ..................................................................... 2-30 

 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Basic Meteorological Services ...................... 2-32 

 SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ........................................................ 2-32 

 Interagency Collaborative Research Programs and Projects ...................................................... 2-32 
viii 

 NOAA/National Weather Service ............................................................................................... 2-35 

 NOAA/ National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service ................................ 2-36 

 NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research .............................................................. 2-38 

 NASA Supporting Research for Basic Meteorological Services ................................................ 2-48 

 National Science Foundation ...................................................................................................... 2-50 

AGRICULTURAL AND LAND MANAGEMENT METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES .............. 2-51

 OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES .............................. 2-51 

 Interagency Programs ................................................................................................................. 2-51 

 U.S. Department of Agriculture .................................................................................................. 2-51 

 Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management................................................................ 2-56 

 SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ........................................................ 2-57 

 U.S. Department of Agriculture .................................................................................................. 2-57 

AVIATION SERVICES ........................................................................................................................ 2-59 

 OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES .............................. 2-59 

 Interagency Collaborative Operational Products and Services ................................................... 2-59 

 NOAA/National Weather Service ............................................................................................... 2-64 

 Federal Aviation Administration ................................................................................................ 2-66 

 SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ........................................................ 2-76 

 The National Airspace System of the Future .............................................................................. 2-76 

 FAA Interagency Planning Office ................................................................................. 2-77 

 FAA NextGen Office ..................................................................................................... 2-77 

 FAA AWG and AWSD Roles in NextGen Transition .................................................. 2-78 

 The NAS Infrastructure Portfolio .................................................................................. 2-79 

 NOAA/National Weather Service ............................................................................................... 2-80 

 NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research ............................................................... 2-80 

Federal Aviation Administration ................................................................................................ 2-82 

CLIMATE SERVICES ......................................................................................................................... 2-91 

 OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES .............................. 2-91 

 NOAA/National Weather Service ............................................................................................... 2-91 

 NOAA/NESDIS/National Climatic Data Center ........................................................................ 2-91 

 NOAA/Office of Marine and Aviation Operations ..................................................................... 2-93 

 United States Air Force ............................................................................................................... 2-94 

 United States Navy ..................................................................................................................... 2-95 

 United States Geological Survey ................................................................................................ 2-96 

 Department of State .................................................................................................................... 2-96 

 SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ........................................................ 2-98 

 NOAA/NESDIS/National Climatic Data Center ........................................................................ 2-99 

 NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research ............................................................. 2-101 

 Laboratories and Programs .......................................................................................... 2-102 

 Department of Agriculture/National Institute of Food and Agriculture ................................... 2-107 

 United States Geological Survey ............................................................................................. 2-108 
ix 

 National Aeronautics and Space Administration ...................................................................... 2-110 

 Department of Energy/Office of Science .................................................................................. 2-115 

 National Science Foundation .................................................................................................... 2-120 

EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND HOMELAND SECURITY SERVICES .................................. 2-121 

 OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ............................ 2-121 

 Federal Emergency Management Agency ................................................................................ 2-121 

 U.S. Coast Guard ...................................................................................................................... 2-122 

 Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric Assessment Center ................................................... 2-123 

 NOAA/National Weather Service ............................................................................................. 2-124 

 NOAA/National Ocean Service ................................................................................................ 2-125 

 NOAA/Office of Marine and Aviation Operations ................................................................... 2-126 

 United States Air Force ............................................................................................................. 2-126 

 United States Navy ................................................................................................................... 2-127 

 U.S. Marine Corps .................................................................................................................... 2-128 

 U.S. Geological Survey ............................................................................................................. 2-128 

 Department of Energy ............................................................................................................... 2-129 

 Nuclear Regulatory Commission .............................................................................................. 2-131 

 SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ...................................................... 2-131 

 NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research ............................................................ 2-131 

 Department of Energy ............................................................................................................... 2-133 

 Nuclear Regulatory Commission .............................................................................................. 2-133 

HYDROMETEOROLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES SERVICES ........................................ 2-135 

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ............................ 2-135 

 Interagency Collaborative Programs and Products ................................................................... 2-135 

 NOAA/National Weather Service ............................................................................................. 2-135 

 NOAA/Office of Marine and Aviation Operations ................................................................... 2-140 

 U.S. Department of Agriculture ................................................................................................ 2-140 

 U.S Army Corps of Engineers .................................................................................................. 2-141 

 U.S. Geological Survey ............................................................................................................. 2-142 

 Nuclear Regulatory Commission .............................................................................................. 2-143 

 SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ...................................................... 2-143 

 NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research ............................................................. 2-143 

 Department of Agriculture ........................................................................................................ 2-145 

 Nuclear Regulatory Commission .............................................................................................. 2-145 

MILITARY SERVICES ...................................................................................................................... 2-147 

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ............................ 2-147 

 U.S. Air Force, Operational Organizations ............................................................................... 2-147 

 Air Force Products and Services .................................................................................. 2-152 

 U.S. Army, Weather Support Structure .................................................................................... 2-155 

 Army Products and Services ........................................................................................ 2-158 

 U.S. Navy, Operational Organizations...................................................................................... 2-158 
x 

 Navy Products and Services ......................................................................................... 2-164 

 U.S. Marine Corps, METOC Service ....................................................................................... 2-166 

 Marine Corps Products and Services ........................................................................... 2-170 

 U.S. Coast Guard ...................................................................................................................... 2-171 

 SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ...................................................... 2-171 

 National Unified Operational Prediction Capability Research Partnering Initiative ................ 2-171 

 U.S. Air Force Supporting Research Programs and Projects .................................................... 2-172 

 U.S. Army Supporting Research Programs and Projects .......................................................... 2-174 

 U.S. Navy Supporting Research Programs and Projects........................................................... 2-178 

 

SPACE WEATHER SERVICES ........................................................................................................ 2-179

 OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ............................ 2-179 

 NOAA/National Weather Service ............................................................................................. 2-179 

 U.S. Air Force ........................................................................................................................... 2-180 

 U.S. Geological Survey ............................................................................................................. 2-182 

 Federal Emergency Management Agency ................................................................................ 2-183 

 SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ...................................................... 2-183 

 NOAA/National Weather Service ............................................................................................. 2-183 

 U.S. Geological Survey ............................................................................................................. 2-185 

 National Aeronautics and Space Administration ...................................................................... 2-185 

 Department of Energy ............................................................................................................... 2-186 

 National Science Foundation .................................................................................................... 2-187 

 U.S. Air Force ........................................................................................................................... 2-187 

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES ................................................................................. 2-189 

 OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ............................ 2-189 

 NOAA/National Weather Service ............................................................................................. 2-189 

 NOAA/National Ocean Service ................................................................................................ 2-190 

 U.S. Coast Guard ...................................................................................................................... 2-193 

 SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ...................................................... 2-194 

 DOT/Federal Highway Administration .................................................................................... 2-194

 DOT/Federal Railroad Administration ..................................................................................... 2-198 

 NOAA/National Ocean Service ................................................................................................ 2-198 

WILDLAND FIRE WEATHER SERVICES .................................................................................... 2-199 

 OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ............................ 2-199 

 Interagency Collaborative Programs and Products ................................................................... 2-199 

 Fire Weather Services in the National Coordination Structure for Wildland Fire 

 Management .............................................................................................................................. 2-199 

 NOAA/National Weather Service ............................................................................................. 2-201 

 USDA/U.S. Forest Service ....................................................................................................... 2-202 

 U.S. Geological Survey ............................................................................................................. 2-204 

 SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ...................................................... 2-205 

 USDA/U.S. Forest Service ....................................................................................................... 2-205 
xi 

 National Aeronautics and Space Administration ...................................................................... 2-206 

OTHER SPECIALIZED SERVICES ................................................................................................ 2-209 

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ............................ 2-209 

 National Aeronautics and Space Administration ...................................................................... 2-209 

 U.S. Air Force Space Launch Support ...................................................................................... 2-213 

 U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command ................................................................... 2-214 

 National Park Service/Fish and Wildfire Service ..................................................................... 2-215 

 Nuclear Regulatory Commission .............................................................................................. 2-216 

 SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ...................................................... 2-216 

 U.S. Army ................................................................................................................................. 2-216 

 National Park Service ............................................................................................................... 2-217 

 National Aeronautics and Space Administration ...................................................................... 2-218 

 Environmental Protection Agency ............................................................................................ 2-220 

APPENDIX A - ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................... A-1 

Inside Back Cover – Agency Points of Contact 
1-1 

SECTION 1 

AGENCY FUNDING FOR METEOROLOGICAL OPERATIONS 

AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH 

AGENCY BUDGET SUMMARIES 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

The Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) budget request for FY 2015 is $70.0 million for operations 

and supporting research, a 2.2% decrease from the FY 2014 funding level. The decrease in funding is 

mainly in the areas of supporting research and costs, although a decline in meteorological operations is 

also anticipated. USDA staffing levels remain unchanged at 103 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. 

USDA has requested $49.9 million for research and development programs, a decrease of $1.2 million 

(2.4%) from 2014. Most of the decrease is for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in the area of 

Agricultural and Land Management. ARS is the USDA’s principal in-house scientific research agency, 

conducting research on how to cope with annual variations of weather on crop and animal production, 

ecosystem services, and the environmental and economic sustainability of agricultural enterprises. 

Funding is also decreased for the Forest Service (FS) in the area of Wildland Fire Weather. The 

research and development mission of the Forest Service is to develop and deliver knowledge and 

innovative technology to improve the health and use of the Nation’s forests and grasslands. Research at 

the Forest Service includes studies of the long-term effects of air pollution on forests and water 

resources. The Forest Service is also the world leader in developing emissions factors from fires and 

modeling its dispersion. For the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), there is a slight 

increase in funding. NIFA funding supports research projects that collect, analyze, and utilize short and 

long-term weather and climate data as a base of information for the projection and prediction of 

climatic trends related to environmental impacts on agro-ecosystems, forests, and rangelands and the 

development of adaptation and mitigation strategies for natural resources and production management. 

The FY 2015 amount requested for meteorological operations is $20.0 million, down (1.5%) from the 

$20.3 million funding level in FY 2014. Operational activities include specialized weather observing 

RESOURCE INFORMATION AND AGENCY PROGRAM UPDATES 

The narratives and tables in this section summarize the budgetary information for the Federal 

government for fiscal years (FY) 2014 and 2015. The funds shown are used to provide meteorological 

services and associated supporting research with service improvements as their immediate objectives. 

Fiscal data are current as of the end of September 2014 and are subject to later changes. The data for 

FY 2015 do not have legislative approval and do not constitute a commitment by the United States 

Government. The budget data are prepared in compliance with Section 304 of Public Law 87-843, in 

which Congress directed that an annual horizontal budget be prepared for meteorological programs 

conducted by the Federal agencies. 
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

1-2 

networks such as the SNOTEL (SNOw pack TELemetry) network operated by the Natural Resources 

Conservation Service (NRCS) Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting program (SSWSF) and the 

Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS) network managed by the Forest Service. The SNOTEL 

and RAWS networks provide cooperative data for NOAA’s river forecast activities, irrigation water 

supply estimates, and Bureau of Land Management operations. The SSWSF program, managed by the 

NRCS National Water and Climate Center, provides western states and Alaska with information on 

future water supplies. The Forest Service uses meteorological data and interpretation skills data for 

decision making regarding wildland fire management. The meteorological staff of the Office of the 

Chief Economist’s World Agricultural Outlook Board (OCE/WAOB) routinely collects global weather 

data and agricultural information to assess the impact of growing season weather conditions on crops 

and livestock production prospects, keeping USDA commodity analysts, the Chief Economist, and the 

Secretary of Agriculture and top staff well informed of weather impacts on crops and livestock 

worldwide. The Risk Management Agency (RMA) provides administration and oversight of programs 

authorized under the Federal Crop Insurance Act. 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE/NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION 

National Weather Service 

The National Weather Service (NWS) funding request for the FY 2015 President’s Budget totals $1.06 

billion and 4,617 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. This is a 0.1% increase over the FY 2014 

Spend Plan. In 2015, NOAA proposes to restructure NWS Operations, Research, and Facilities (ORF) 

and Procurement, Acquisition and Construction (PAC) account Programs, Projects, and Activities 

(PPA) as part of a broader effort to evolve the NWS to deliver more efficient, responsive, and 

advanced operations to the Nation. This proposal, which will align the NWS budget to both function 

and performance, is critical to advancing the Department’s Weather-Ready Nation goal. Significant 

requested increases and decreases in funding over the FY 2014 program include the following: 

 Responding to Congressionally-Requested Studies of NWS. NOAA requests $3.0 million to 

support effective response to recommendations of two recently-completed independent studies 

of the National Weather Service. The requested increase will support analysis of workforce and 

infrastructure; enhanced demonstration and testing capabilities; improved stakeholder outreach; 

and improved evaluation capacity. 

 Centralized Water Forecasting Demonstration. NOAA requests $4.0 million to design, 

develop, and test a new national hydrologic modeling and forecast system to be deployed at the 

National Water Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This centralized approach enables both the 

implementation of scientific advances and national consistency. 

 Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) Service Life Extension Program. NOAA 

requests $9.3 million to extend the useful life of the aging NEXRAD infrastructure that 

underpins severe weather forecast and warning services for high-impact events. A Service Life 

Extension Program is required to sustain current weather forecast and warning services until 

the next generation of weather radars are identified, developed, and deployed. Without this 

investment, NEXRAD availability will degrade beginning in 2020, resulting in radar outages 

and gaps and negative impact to tornado and flash flood warnings. 
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

1-3 

 Ground Readiness Project. NOAA requests $6.0 million to ensure utilization of the substantial 

increase in environmental satellite, radar, and model data that will improve weather warnings 

and forecasts. NWS’s ground readiness activities are a multi-year effort that was initiated in the 

FY 2013 President’s Budget and began work with funding from the Disaster Relief 

Appropriations Act, 2013. 

 NWS Telecommunications Gateway (NWSTG) Legacy Replacement. NOAA requests $5.0 

million to continue re-architecture of its Telecommunications Gateway and its backup into a 

modern, scalable, extensible, and reliable system. The Telecommunications Gateway is the hub 

for collection and transmission of hydrometeorological observations and products for NOAA’s 

customers.

 Relocation of the National Logistics Supply Center/National Reconditioning Center 

(NLSC/NRC). NOAA requests $8.1 million for the relocation of NLSC/NRC from the 

Bannister Federal Complex in Kansas City, Missouri (MO) as required by the General Services 

Administration (GSA), who plans to sell the property.

 Regional Enterprise Application Development and Integration (READI) Teams. NOAA 

requests a $10.0 million reduction to reflect the significant efficiencies that can be achieved by 

transition to a new information technology service delivery model for the NWS forecast 

offices. NWS will create regionalized IT collaboration teams enabling higher consistency of 

service delivery with minimal impacts to NWS’ mission. 

 Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project (HFIP). NOAA requests an $8.2 million decrease 

to delay on-going research toward improving hurricane track and intensity prediction within the 

HFIP. NWS anticipates meeting HFIP goals of 20 percent improvement for both track and 

intensity in a demonstration mode by the end of the 2015 hurricane season. The remaining 

funding will provide for maintenance of already developed hurricane models within a research 

environment. 

 Next Generation Air Transportation System Weather Program (NextGen). NOAA requests a 

$9.0 million dollar decrease to maintain continuity of NOAA support for the NextGen initiative 

and implement key IT infrastructure efforts, while conducting NextGen science and application 

development and implementation at a slower pace to reduce annual costs. This allows for a reevaluation of NextGen goals and scope with NextGen partners.

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Services 

The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Services (NESDIS) funding request for 

the FY 2015 President’s Budget totals $2.25 billion and 909 FTE. This is a 7.7% increase over the FY 

2014 Spend Plan. 

NESDIS is responsible for managing all aspects of remotely gathered environmental data. This 

includes procurement, launch, operation, product development, and product distribution of the 

Nation’s civil operational environmental satellites and corresponding data. In addition, NESDIS 

manages the NOAA environmental data collections, provides assessments that describe climate, and 

disseminates data and information to meet the needs of users in commerce, industry, agriculture, 

science, and engineering, as well as federal, state, and local governments. 

Budget Restructure: 
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

1-4 

In FY 2015, NOAA is proposing to restructure NESDIS Operations, Research, and Facilities (ORF) 

and Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction (PAC) appropriation account projects, programs, and 

activities (PPAs) as part of a broader effort to reorganize several of its components to best fulfill its 

critically important mission and to examine more cost-effective means of providing its products and 

services. The new budget structure strengthens both the satellite and data management sides of 

NESDIS and better coordinates systems engineering and common ground services. 

Modifications to major systems acquisition programs for FY 2015 include the following: 

 Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). NOAA requests an increase of $95.4 million for a total of 

$916.3 million. These funds are necessary to continue the build of the JPSS-1 and JPSS-2 satellite 

missions. Additionally, these funds enable JPSS to pursue the procurement of ATMS and CrIS 

spares to reduce schedule risk. The FY 2015 priority is to maintain the critical polar weather satellite 

observations in the United States’ afternoon orbit including the following activities: operate and 

sustain the Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite, which was launched 

October 28, 2011; maintain the planned launch of JPSS-1 by no later than Q2 FY 2017 and launch 

JPSS-2 by Q1 FY 2022; add robustness to the JPSS flight segment; and continue re-development of 

the common ground system for the JPSS missions (S-NPP, JPSS-1, JPSS—2). The requested 

increase in funds are necessary to continue to maintain S-NPP operations, complete development of 

the JPSS-1 spacecraft, and support the integration of the Visible/Infrared Imager/Radiometer Suite 

(VIIRS), Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), 

Clouds and Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES), and Ozone Mapping Profiler Suite-Nadir 

(OMPS-N). 

 Jason-3. NOAA requests an increase of $7.2 million for a total of $25.7 million to continue the 

development of the Jason-3 satellite in partnership with European Organisation for the Exploitation 

of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES). 

NOAA’s European partners have provided the spacecraft, altimeter, and precision orbit components, 

and NASA, on behalf of NOAA, has completed the build of mission instruments and has delivered 

the completed instrument to CNES for satellite integration. NASA also completed spacecraft 

integration and testing in FY 2013. The Administration has received approval for an FY 2014 

reprogramming package that maintains a Q2 FY 2015 Jason-3 launch. 

 GOES-R. NOAA requests an increase of $38.9 million for a total of $980.8 million to continue 

satellite engineering development, production, integration, testing, and launch activities for the foursatellite GOES-R Series Program. NOAA needs the requested increase in funding to maintain 

instruments, satellite, and ground system developments that are all currently under contract in 

order to meet the planned launch dates of 2Q FY 2016 for GOES-R and 3Q FY 2017 for 

GOES-S. The funds will also be used to continue the development activities for GOES-T and 

GOES-U to maintain their launch schedules.

 Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR). NOAA requests a decrease of $2.6 million in 

FY 2015 for a total of $21.1 million to complete the refurbishment of the DSCOVR satellite 

and sensors for solar wind observations and to deliver the spacecraft for a U.S. Air Force 

(USAF) launch. NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), under a reimbursable agreement, 
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will complete the refurbishment of DSCOVR, which is currently housed at GSFC in Greenbelt, 

MD. 

 Solar Irradiance, Data and Rescue (SIDAR). NOAA requests an increase of $15.0 million and 

2 FTE for a total of $15.0 million and 2 FTE in FY 2015 to implement the acquisition strategy 

for hosting the already purchased and built Total Solar Irradiance Sensor (TSIS). TSIS will 

provide measurements of the variability in the Sun’s total output. As part of the SIDAR project, 

NOAA will also continue to support two international partnerships: satellite search and rescue 

via the Search And Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT) system and environmental data 

collection and relay via the Advanced Data Collection System (ADCS). 

 COSMIC-2/Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation (GNSS RO). NOAA 

requests an increase of $4.8 million and 0 FTE for a total of $6.8 million and 1 FTE for ground 

reception and processing of GNSS RO satellite data from GNSS RO satellites provided by 

Taiwan and USAF. The GNSS RO ground system is part of an international partnership between 

Taiwan’s National Space Organization (NSPO), USAF, and Brazil, for a Constellation Observing 

System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC) follow-on. In this COSMIC followon partnership, NSPO has agreed to procure 12 satellite buses and integration of instruments, and 

USAF will procure the instruments and provide launch services. Together, NOAA, Taiwan, and 

Brazil will provide the ground system. In addition to the COSMIC follow-on partnership, NOAA 

will continue to support the reception and processing of COSMIC and foreign satellite radio 

occultation data. 

Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research 

The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) request for funding related to meteorological 

supporting research in the FY 2015 President’s Budget totals $160.3 million and 408 FTE. This is a 

14.6% increase over the FY 2014 Spend Plan. 

Requested FY 2015 funding for Weather and Air Chemistry Research (W&ACR), including 

Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes and Weather and Air Chemistry Research Programs is $84.9 

million. This amount represents a net increase of $3.8 million or 4.7% from the FY 2014 Spend Plan. 

Increases would go to improve the readiness of those weather and related research projects associated 

with critical technologies, model improvements, and service applications to a stage of development 

that will enable a successful future transition to operations for deployment by NOAA’s operational 

entities. OAR’s Weather and Air Chemistry Research supports R&D that provides the Nation with 

more accurate and timely warnings and forecasts of high impact weather events and their broader 

impact on issues of societal concern such as weather and air quality; and supports research that 

provides the scientific basis for informed management decisions about weather, water, and air quality. 

Requested FY 2015 funding for Climate Labs and Cooperative Institutes is $75.5 million. This amount 

represents a net increase of $ 16.6 million, or 28% from the FY 2014 Spend Plan. These funds will go 

toward research activities that will help to gain a comprehensive understanding of the physical, 

chemical, and dynamical processes that shape our climate including maintaining and enhancing 

NOAA’s Atmospheric Baseline Observatories to deliver policy-relevant information on greenhouse 

gas emissions, supporting northward development of NOAA’s Arctic Observing Network, providing 

focused drought impacts research and applications development to underserved regions of the country 
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and supporting of the U.S. Global Change Research Program’s priority research areas. OAR’s 

Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes are central to the effort of the climate research community to 

improve that understanding, to test our understanding through the development of state-of-the-art Earth 

System Models, and then to use those models to predict the future state of the climate. Observations of 

the Earth system and their analysis underpin the efforts that form the scientific basis for Climate 

Research. 

National Ocean Service 

The National Ocean Service (NOS) request for funding related to meteorological supporting research 

in the FY 2015 President’s Budget totals $30.1 million and 117 FTE. This is a 0.8% increase over the 

FY 2014 Spend Plan. These funds allow for expanded operation of the National Water Level 

Observation Network (NWLON), and continued operation of the Physical Oceanographic Real-Time 

System (PORTS®) program, the data quality control program known as the Continuous Operational 

Real-time Monitoring System (CORMS), and the Ocean Systems Test and Evaluation Program 

(OSTEP), which is a development program for bringing new sensor technology into operations. Both 

the NWLON and PORTS® programs include subsets of operational water level stations with 

meteorological sensors installed for various partners and users, including the NWS. This is level 

funding with the FY 2014 Spend Plan. 

Though traditionally an oceanographic observing system, NWLON/PORTS® technology allows 

multiple other sensors to be added, including meteorological sensors such as wind 

speed/direction/gusts, air temperature, relative humidity and barometric pressure. Additionally, NOS 

has eight PORTS® stations with operational visibility sensors, in Mobile Bay, AL, San Francisco Bay, 

CA and Jacksonville, FL. These meteorological observations provide important data for improving and 

verifying marine weather forecasts and warnings. NOS has upgraded and enhanced the majority of its 

NWLON stations with new meteorological sensors. This increase in meteorological observations has 

led to a 10% increase in the probability of detection of marine weather events and a ten minute 

increase in lead times for marine warnings, according to actual verification data for special marine 

warnings (WFO Sterling). 

Navigation data users require a complete picture of their operating environment, which includes local 

meteorological data, to make safe and cost-effective decisions. Leveraging existing observing 

infrastructure is a cost-effective alternative to establishing new platforms to collect these data. The 

additional meteorological data improves the accuracy of NWS forecasts for storm surge, marine wind 

speed, and marine wave heights, used by both marine navigation and coastal communities when 

extreme weather events occur. The real-time data can be used by emergency responders to make sound 

decisions based upon the most up to date and accurate information. For example, when coastal areas 

are flooding, emergency responders must know which evacuation routes are still viable and other 

related information that most accurately reflects the current state of the physical environment. 

In FY 2013, the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act provided $3.0 million to NOS’ Center for 

Operational Oceanographic Products and Services in order to repair and rebuild NWLON and 

PORTS® stations which were damaged by the storm. 
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

1-7 

Office of Marine and Aviation Operations 

The FY 2015 President’s Budget requests $31.6 million and 121 FTE for the Office of Marine and 

Aviation Operations (OMAO) Aircraft Operations. This is a 1.4% increase over the FY 2014 Spend 

Plan. OMAO supports meteorological operations and research activities by collection of related data 

from ships and aircraft. The fleet of aircraft support NOAA’s mission of science, service, and 

stewardship. The aircraft operate throughout the United States and around the world; over open oceans, 

mountains, coastal wetlands, and the Arctic. OMAO provides capable, mission-ready aircraft and 

professional crews to study global climate change and air quality, assess marine mammal populations, 

survey coastal erosion, investigate oil spills, conduct coastal mapping, survey snowpack levels for 

flood prediction, and improve hurricane prediction models. AOC flight crews operate in some of the 

world’s most demanding flight regimes including flying into the eye of a hurricane. 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

U.S. Air Force 

The Air Force (AF) resources for meteorological support fall into two primary categories: general 

operations and investment and research. The total AF weather operations and investment funding 

requested for FY 2015 is $135.5 million, a one percent decrease from FY2014, 2948 active duty 

military and 440 civilian personnel authorizations. Additionally, the AF provides resources for spacebased environmental monitoring development and operations managed by Air Force Space Command, 

including the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) and the Space Situational Awareness 

Environmental Monitoring (SSAEM). 

Operations 

The operations support portion of the AF weather FY 2015 budget request is $110.4 million to fund 

day-to-day environmental support to the Department of Defense (DoD), the Active and Reserve 

Components of the Air Force and Army, 10 unified commands, and other agencies as directed by the 

Chief of Staff of the Air Force. The AF employs over 3,388 military and civilian personnel to conduct 

these activities at more than 250 locations worldwide. Approximately 85 percent of personnel 

specialize in weather; the remainder includes communications, computer, information technology, 

program management, program analysis, administrative, and logistics specialists. 

Investment (Acquisition and Research) 

The total Air Force budget request for meteorological investment (acquisition and research) for FY 

2015 is $25.1 million. As part of the Air Force Strategic Weather Modernization Plan, the AF 

continues investing in modernized environmental prediction and commercial-off-the-shelf technologies 

that enhance automation and optimize resources. The AF plans to invest in the following efforts in FY 

2015 and beyond: 

 Weather Data Analysis (WDA). WDA is a large-scale processing, services-oriented 

architecture system providing the capability to ingest, process, store, access/retrieve, and 

disseminate meteorological and oceanographic (METOC) data. WDA will provide Open 

Geospatial Consortium, Intelligent Data Services, and Web Coverage Processing Service for 

weather products across multiple security enclaves. These services include both machine-to-
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machine and machine-to-human capabilities. WDA will provide a centralized web service 

capability across multiple security enclaves employing a services oriented architecture via a 

common URL. WDA will use commercial-off-the-shelf software as the primary component for 

visualization of weather data for web browser-based presentation for weather, command and 

control, mission operations, and combat support personnel. WDA will add new data for 

presentation to web users and provide weather forces applications which enhance weather 

operations effectiveness and integration in joint/AF operations. WDA also will provide 

enterprise storage, cross domain capabilities, and network hardware and software for the AF’s 

centralized meteorological production center.

 Numerical Weather Modeling (NWM). NWM includes numerical weather prediction (NWP) 

models; cloud analysis and forecasting models; land surface characterization models; aerosol, 

atmospheric constituent, and point analysis models/applications; and both global and mesoscale 

ensembles. Weather Research and Forecast Model (WRF) will develop advances in 

parameterization via science algorithms, atmospheric chemical constituent specification, and 

model coupling to improve forecasting performance in all levels of the atmosphere with an 

emphasis on the lower atmosphere. NWM will integrate new satellite data and assimilation 

schema into cloud analysis/forecasting products to improve our high cadence products. 

Ensemble capabilities, both global and regional scale, will provide operationally-focused 

meteorological intelligence for military operators/warfighters by objectively quantifying the 

forecast certainty of mission-impacting meteorological parameters to optimize operational risk 

management for decision making at all echelons. These ensembles will provide probabilistic 

algorithms for high-impact variables. 

 Space Weather Analysis and Forecast System (SWAFS). SWAFS is the primary operational 

DoD source for space weather data, models, and products. SWAFS ingest and databases 

ground- and space-based space weather data and employs models and applications to create and 

disseminate specified space weather analysis, warning, and forecast products for weather and 

space operations personnel. SWAFS will perform integration work for the Global Assimilation 

of Ionospheric Measurements (GAIM) – Full Physics (FP) model to improve specification and 

forecasts of the ionosphere; verification and validation of D-region addition to GAIM-FP; 

incorporation of data sources from new satellite systems; and net-centric data availability of 

magnetospheric model output and data visualization for web browser and User Defined 

Operational Picture users. 

 Environmental Data Cube Support System (EDCSS). EDCSS provides Air and Space Natural 

Environment data for DoD Modeling and Simulation (M&S) applications. EDCSS supports 

Live Virtual Constructive (LVC) Operational Training and provides DoD M&S users a 

correlated and realistic natural environment with tailorable scenarios for specific warfighter 

effects. EDCSS will integrate real-time meteorological data; service-oriented weather decision 

aids; and improved scenario management capabilities for LVC users. 

The goals of these efforts are to provide accurate, relevant, and timely meteorological intelligence to 

operators and warfighters at all levels of operations, within their decision cycle(s), and in a manner that 

facilitates exploitation of the current and forecasted environmental conditions. 
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United States Army 

The U.S. Army (USA) estimates a $27.1 million requirement and 46 civilian personnel authorizations 

for FY 2015 consisting of $14.1 million for operational support and $13.1 million for research and 

development. Funding for operational support decreased by 10 percent, and research and development 

decreased by 4 percent for FY 2015. Staffing levels decreased slightly. 

Army monies for meteorology are spent on research and development related to the Army mission; the 

development, production, and maintenance of Army meteorological systems; staff meteorological 

functions at selected headquarters; and weather-related training at the Training and Doctrine Command 

(TRADOC) schools and centers. 

Headquarters, Department of the Army, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2, employs two full-time meteorologists for the coordination of meteorological support within the Department of the Army and 

with other DoD and Federal Agencies and organizations, and the development of Department of the 

Army policy concerning weather, environmental services, and oceanographic support to the Army (not 

to include those environmental services functions assigned to the Corps of Engineers). The United 

States Air Force provides one full-time staff weather officer to serve as a liaison between the AF and 

the Army Staff. Headquarters, U.S. Army North employs one civilian meteorologist to address 

meteorological issues at its headquarters. Forces Command, U.S. Army Europe, Eighth U.S. Army, 

U.S. Army Pacific, and U.S. Army South have Air Force Active Component, Reserve Component, 

civilian, or contract meteorologists who conduct meteorological staff services at these locations. 

TRADOC employs both Army and Air Force personnel to manage its meteorological-related activities. 

As part of the TRADOC weather support structure, the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence 

(USAICoE) employs one full time meteorologist to manage weather capabilities development efforts. 

The two AF specialists also oversee USAICoE’s combined Army/Air Force Battlefield Weather 

Course (3 weeks of instruction) held at Ft. Huachuca, AZ. TRADOC employs one meteorologist to 

oversee the Distributed Common Ground System-Army (DCGS-A) weather initiatives and objectives. 

DCGS-A is the Army’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance enterprise for the analysis and 

processing, exploitation, and dissemination of information and intelligence data, across all echelons. 

DCGS-A leverages also Air Force Weather Capabilities, integrates tailored weather information and 

products provided by the Air Force and disseminates to Army command and control systems. 

Weather equipment maintenance and training costs at the Artillery school accounted for the majority of 

weather-related expenditures within TRADOC. Funds were programmed for operations support related 

to training development, instructor/support personnel, logistics (expendable supplies), and repair costs 

for artillery meteorological systems at the U.S. Army Field Artillery School (USAFAS). 

The Army requested 2014 procurement funds for the completion of Profiler Block III fielding that was 

initiated in 2013. The Army requested 2014 RDT&E funds for the Profiler Virtual Module (PVM). 

PVM is a product improvement to the Profiler Block III. The product improvement includes changing 

the weather model and changing the software to be Common Operating Environment compliant. FY 

2015 procurement funds are required for procurement and fielding of PVM. FY 2015 RDT&E funds 

are required for PVM Common Operating Environment interoperability development with Advanced 

Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems (AFATDS) Version 2. 
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In its civil operational activities, the Corps of Engineers (COE) uses a network of about 10,850 landbased gages. About 55 percent of these sites collect meteorological data, 35 percent collect a 

combination of hydrologic and meteorological data, and 10 percent collect hydrologic or water quality 

data. The meteorological gages commonly measure precipitation and temperature. All data are used in 

the regulation of COE dams and other water projects, for flood control, navigation, hydroelectric 

power, irrigation, water supply, water quality, and recreation. The COE funds or partially funds nearly 

half of all the gages it uses. 

 

The COE funds NOAA/National Weather Service (NWS) to collect and maintain precipitation 

information from 876 meteorological sites. The COE funds the NWS for hydro-meteorological studies 

and funds the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for maintaining hydro-meteorological data collection 

services for 2479 sites. The rest of the sites are maintained by the COE. Services performed by USGS 

vary by site and by year, and can include site visits, maintenance of equipment, replacement of 

damaged equipment, field measurements for verification of data and continuous monitoring of data 

results. About 90 percent of all COE sites provide real-time data via satellite, microwaves, meterbursts, 

landlines, or radio. Data from COE gage sites are available to NWS, and to other federal, state and 

local agencies. 

U.S. Army Europe and U.S. Army Pacific maintain a small budget to fund Army-owned automated 

weather-sensing systems within their respective areas of responsibility. 

Budgets for meteorological research decrease 10 percent from FY 2014 to FY 2015 as a result of fiscal 

constraints affecting all Department of Defense organizations. Within the Army Materiel 

Command/Research Development & Engineering Command will continue research and development 

efforts in basic and applied atmospheric science. The Army Test and Evaluation Command’s 

meteorology program budget in FY 2015 will be nearly unchanged from the original FY 2014 budget. 

The High Performance Computing Modernization Office awarded ATEC a 2014 Designated Support 

Partition, a large allocation of computer resources at the Navy’s DoD Supercomputing Research 

Center at Stennis Space Center, for extension of the ensemble version of the Four-Dimensional 

Weather (4DWX) weather modeling system currently in operations at Dugway Proving Ground, to all 

the ATEC test ranges. Development of this capability will continue in 2015. 

U.S. Navy 

The U.S. Navy FY 2015 budget request for meteorological programs is $ 113.3 million, made up of 

$ 96.3 million for operations and $ 17.0 million to support enabling research. These numbers reflect a 

slight decrease from FY 2014. Requested manpower authorizations for FY 2015 include 415 Navy 

active duty, 370 Marine Corps active duty, and 75 civilian personnel authorizations. 

Naval Oceanography Program (NOP) 

The Chief of Naval Operations, through the Oceanographer of the Navy, sponsors operational Navy 

Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC) services and related research and development. In 2012, 

the Oceanographer of the Navy acquired responsibility for funding the Navy’s meteorology and 

oceanography Operations & Maintenance (O&M, N) funding from the Chief of Naval Operations 

(N43). Since August 2012, the Oceanographer of the Navy has served as the Director of 

Oceanography, Space, and Maritime Domain Awareness for the Navy, within the Information 
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Dominance Corps. In March 2014, the Chief Of Naval Operations signed the formal approval for an 

Information Dominance Type Command. Discussions are ongoing as to how this new development 

will shape Navy Weather activities. 

The Navy provides meteorological services for Navy and joint forces, meteorological products to the 

Marine Corps, and oceanographic support to all elements of the Department of Defense, as well as to 

allied and coalition partners. The Navy sponsors programs in five closely related disciplines: 

meteorology, oceanography, space, maritime domain awareness, and positioning, navigation, and 

timing (PNT). All are used to protect ships, aircraft, fighting personnel, other platforms (manned and 

unmanned), and shore establishments from adverse ocean and weather conditions, and to provide a 

decisive tactical or strategic edge by exploiting the physical environment to optimize the performance 

and efficiency of platforms, sensors, and weapons. Naval METOC personnel (Navy and Marine Corps) 

are required to provide intelligence preparation of the operational environment (IPOE) for decision 

makers by assessing the impact of atmospheric and ocean phenomena on platforms, sensors, and 

weapon systems. Navy and Marine Corps METOC personnel provide for safe space, aviation, surface, 

and submerged movement, maneuver, and navigation in support of naval, joint, and combined forces, 

operating around the globe. This is done with a cadre of highly trained military and civilian personnel, 

educated in both sciences and warfighting services. By teaming with and leveraging the efforts of other 

agencies and activities, the NOP meets these challenges in a cost-effective manner, providing a full 

spectrum of products and services to provide decision makers in the field with environmental decision 

superiority while using only a small percentage of the Federal weather budget. Two high-profile 

elements of the NOP, Earth System Prediction Capability (ESPC) and Littoral Battlespace Sensing, are 

discussed in Section 2, in the subsection of Military Services on Navy Products and Services. 

Operational Support 

Naval METOC provides a wide array of essential tactical, operational strategic METOC products and 

services to operating forces afloat and ashore. These services include collecting and processing 

environmental data using resources such as oceanographic ships, aircraft, satellites, and computing 

systems. These products and services enhance the performance of active and passive sensor and 

weapon systems; optimize the effectiveness of the sea control mission for mine counter-measures; and 

identify the environmental effects that influence the performance of fixed and mobile warfare systems 

and tactics. General and tailored oceanographic, acoustic, and meteorological forecasts are provided 

daily to fleet commanders and individual operating units from the Meteorology and Oceanography 

Command's numerical modeling and forecasting centers and from forecasting support activities located 

worldwide. Funding primarily supports national security interests and also benefits maritime 

commerce. Operational support for the Navy and Marine Corps includes the day-to-day provision of 

METOC products and services. As naval operations in the littoral increase, Naval METOC support is 

directed towards providing on-scene capabilities to personnel that directly furnish environmental data 

for sensor, weapon system, and personnel planning and employment. These on-scene capabilities are 

key elements for enabling the war-fighters to take advantage of the natural environment as part of 

battlespace management. Owing to the crucial interrelationship of the ocean and the atmosphere, Naval 

METOC requires various oceanographic products to provide the requisite meteorological services. In 

addition to aviation and maritime METOC support, Navy and Marine Corps METOC teams provide a 

variety of unique services on demand, such as electro-optical, electro-magnetic, and acoustic 

propagation models and products, METOC-sensitive tactical decision aids, and global sea ice analyses 

and forecasts. 
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Systems Acquisition. Naval METOC systems acquisition is accomplished through the Program 

Executive Office for Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence and Space (C4I 

and Space) in San Diego, California. This funds new and replacement meteorological equipment for all 

Navy and Marine Corps Air Stations, all Navy ships, USMC Operational Forces units and other 

activities required to provide weather observations and provides safety of flight capabilities. The 

procurement has been thoroughly coordinated with other DOD and civilian agencies. Program also 

funds replacement of Survey Vessel shipboard mission equipment, deep and multibeam SONARs, Side 

Scan SONARs, Hydrographic Survey Launches, Ship Moving Vessel Profilers, Unmanned Under 

Water Gliders, and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles. The Oceanographer of the Navy also funded 

through its SCN, two new research vessels (one in FY11; one in FY12), to be operated by civilian 

research institutions in coordination with the University National Oceanographic Laboratory System 

(UNOLS). An additional Auxillary General Survey vessel (T-AGS) will be delivered in FY 15. 

Navy’s Earth System Prediction Capability (ESPC). The Navy’s Earth System Prediction Capability 

(ESPC) is a program to develop next generation environmental prediction employing emerging 

technologies in physical coupled prediction across the air-sea interface as well as to land, near space, 

sea ice, and other physical interactions. Additionally, ensemble-based probabilistic prediction for 

informed decision making is being addressed and collaborations with other operational prediction 

agencies through common technology standards is being implemented to develop an improved coupled 

weather and ocean prediction across multiple time scales from tactical to strategic. 

The Navy’s ESPC will provide a more accurate, longer range, global ocean, atmosphere, and sea ice 

forecast system for decision support to safety of flight, safety of navigation, sensor and weapon 

performance, and mission planning, mitigation and effectiveness decisions. Development of global 

coupled ensemble technologies will provide increased accuracy for lead times of 1-10 days as well as a 

new capability for accurate forecasts from the Tropics to the Arctic at tactical, operational, and 

strategic lead times. It will develop a Navy interface to NOAA’s products for seasonal to multi-annual 

lead times for deliberate planning through integrating atmosphere, ocean, ice, land and near-space 

forecast models into a seamless prediction system. This effort is the Navy contribution to a National 

ESPC for improved cross-Agency Research to Operations collaboration, and the development of more 

accurate forecast systems and more efficient computational architectures to allow for improved realtime operational prediction. 

The Navy’s ESPC directly enables achievement of warfighter decision superiority through improved 

knowledge of the physical environment. Such knowledge is key to the realization of Navy operational 

concepts critical to future warfighting capabilities such as the Undersea Dominance Operating 

Concept (UDOC) and Electromagnetic Maneuver Warfare (EMW). In both cases, knowledge of the 

current and future physical environment and its impact on the acoustic and electromagnetic spectrums 

directly supports the warfighter’s ability to optimize courses of action and mitigate environmental 

operational impacts.

Through-the-Sensor (TTS) Capabilities. The Hazardous Weather Detection and Display Capability 

(HWDDC) and Tactical Environmental Processor (TEP) are TTS technologies which will passively tap 

Navy air-search radars to obtain and display hazardous weather information. The HWDDC and TEP 

systems will be based off common modular weather processing algorithms and will have similar data 

product and display capabilities. Essentially, they represent one common set of processing algorithms 

applied to two different radars. The differences in capabilities supported by the systems are driven by 
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the differences in the individual radars. 

The HWDDC addresses a fleet requirement for real-time hazardous weather detection/display to 

support safety of flight and operations planning within Carrier and Expeditionary Strike Groups. The 

knowledge of hazardous weather conditions afloat greatly enhances readiness and combat posture. 

Research and Development (R&D) 

Naval METOC R&D is cooperatively sponsored by the Oceanographer/Navigator of the Navy and the 

Chief of Naval Research. This program enables the warfighter of the future to effectively carry out 

their mission by transitioning to operational use research performed by the Office of Naval Research. 

The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command is the primary office responsible for transitioning 

Naval research to operational use. All research and development funded by the Oceanographer of the 

Navy is in direct support of the Naval mission or selected missions. 

Naval R&D efforts typically have applications to meteorological, oceanographic, and/or tactical 

systems. The Navy’s tabulation of budget data includes R&D funding for basic research, applied 

research, demonstration and validation, and engineering and manufacturing development. Projects 

initiated by the Navy and Marine Corps, under sponsorship of the Oceanographer/Navigator of the 

Navy, transition from engineering development to operational naval systems. Such efforts include 

advances in Naval METOC forecasting capabilities, enhancements to communications and data 

compression techniques, further development and improvement of models to better predict METOC 

parameters in littoral regions, and an improved understanding of the impact these parameters have on 

sensors, weapons systems, and platform performance. 

The Naval METOC community works closely with research developers and operational forces to 

ensure that naval and joint force commanders will always have the most accurate, timely, and georeferenced METOC information available for successful operations. 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 

U.S. Coast Guard 

All of the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) funding for meteorological programs is for operations support. 

For FY 2015, the requested funding level is $29.9 million and 108 personnel authorizations (107 

military and 1 Federal). The Coast Guard does not have a specific program and budget for 

meteorology—all meteorological activities are accomplished as part of general operations. The USCG 

does not track meteorological costs at an organizational level, so the funding level is an estimate. The 

Coast Guard’s activities include the collection and dissemination of meteorological and iceberg 

warning information for the benefit of the marine community. The Coast Guard also collects coastal 

and marine observations from its shore stations and cutters and transmits these observations daily to 

the Navy’s Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center and NOAA’s National Weather 

Service. These observations are used by both the Navy and NOAA in generating weather forecasts. 

The Coast Guard also disseminates a variety of weather forecast products and warnings to the marine 

community via radio transmissions. Coast Guard shore stations often serve as sites for NWS automated 

coastal weather stations, and the National Data Buoy Center provides logistics support in deploying 
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and maintaining NOAA offshore weather buoys from Coast Guard cutters. The International Ice Patrol 

conducts iceberg surveillance operations and provides warnings to mariners on the presence of 

icebergs in the North Atlantic shipping lanes. Coast Guard efforts in meteorological operations and 

services have not changed significantly during recent years 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Land Management 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requested funding for FY 2015 is $4.66 million and 38 FTE 

which is a 2.3% increase over the total allocated from FY 2014. The BLM funds two principal 

programs—the soil, water, and air (SWA) program and the fire weather activities of the Office of Fire 

and Aviation (OFA). 

Soil Water and Air Program (SWA). The FY 2015 budget request for SWA meteorological operations 

is estimated at $1.55 million and 10 FTE, which is a 6.9% increase over the amount allocated in FY 

2014. The FY 2015 estimate includes $600,000 for labor and logistics to support climate and weather 

data collection efforts by BLM resource management staff, and approximately $965,000 for project 

implementation. Projects include 1) collection of meteorological data and operation of RAWS stations 

equipped with additional instruments to measure soil moisture and winter precipitation not required for 

fire monitoring, 2) maintenance of eight stations in the NRCS SCAN network, 3) operation of six 

NADP sites, and 4) operation of a newly installed meteorological monitoring site at Inigok Station 

within the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska.. The SWA program initiates efforts to collect 

additional data through cooperative efforts with other agencies or with resource management staff in 

state and field offices when existing monitoring networks are not sufficient to meet the needs for airresource-related information. 

Fire and Aviation Directorate (FA). The FY 2015 FA budget request for meteorological operations is 

estimated at $3.1 million and 28 FTE, no change from FY2014. This represents BLM support for 

meteorologists at the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) and Geographic Area 

Coordination Centers (GACCs) and BLM support of the Interagency Remote Automatic Weather 

Station (RAWS) network. An additional $920,000 is generally recovered through reimbursable 

accounts with non-Department of Interior (DOI) agencies for RAWS support. Funded activities related 

to the RAWS network include maintenance, travel, transportation, services, supplies, and equipment. 

Some agencies incur additional costs in support of the RAWS network through commercially 

contracted maintenance services. 

The interagency RAWS network is an important tool for wildland fire management which directly 

supports the protection of life and property. All affected Federal agencies within DOI participate in its 

acquisition, operation, and support. The BLM, in particular, has a lead role in the maintenance of the 

RAWS network, providing both data distribution services and equipment support. Participating 

agencies address common issues and coordinate efforts to ensure the collection of accurate and useful 

fire weather data. 

Under the Predictive Services Program, meteorologists who specialize in fire weather services team 

with intelligence specialists and wildland fire analysts at the GACCs and the NICC to form Predictive 
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

1-15 

Services units. The Predictive Services units act as centers of expertise to produce integrated planning 

and decision-support tools that enable more proactive, safe, and cost-effective fire management. 

National Park Service 

The National Park Service (NPS) FY 2015 budget request is approximately $2.8 million, essentially 

flat funding from FY 2014. The NPS expends about $0.9 million on atmospheric research with a focus 

on measurements of all forms of atmospheric reactive nitrogen and on aerosol science. The goal of this 

research is to identify the sources of air pollution that are affecting park ecosystems and visibility and 

to quantify their impacts. The NPS also expends approximately $1.9 million in routine air quality, 

visibility, and meteorological monitoring networks. 

U.S. Geological Survey 

The U.S. Geological Survey requests and expends approximately $66,000 per year conducting postwildfire debris flow warning operations. 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

For FY 2015, the FAA is requesting a total of $398 million, 149 FTE and 964 Contractor 

Authorizations for Aviation Weather related, Operations Support, Major Systems Acquisitions, 

Recurring Research and Development Costs, and Systems Development; an approximate 6% increase 

from FY 2014 actual funding received. The actual funding for the Aviation Weather Programs in FY 

2014 was $375 million. The changes are comprised of: 

 No significant change in reported numbers for Operations Support from an actually received 

$296.3 million in FY 2014 to a requested $296.4 million in FY 2015. 

 An increase in reported numbers for Major Systems Acquisitions from an actually received 

$55.4 million in FY 2014 to a requested $74.2 million in FY 2015. 

 An increase in reported numbers for recurring Research and Development Costs from an 

actually received $18.2 million in FY 2014 to a requested $21.8 million in FY 2015. 

 No significant change in reported numbers for Systems Development from an actually received 

$4.8 million in FY 2014 to a requested $5.2 million in FY 2015. 

The funding changes reflect major initiatives in the Aviation Weather programs to support the Next 

Generation (NextGen) National Air Transportation System. These changes will bring enhancements, 

including the dissemination of weather products and decision-making information. 

United States (U.S.) Code Title 49 Section 44720 (49 U.S.C. 44720) designates the FAA as the 

Meteorological Authority for domestic and international aviation weather services of the U.S. In this 

capacity, the FAA provides requirements for the administration of aviation weather services to the 

National Weather Service (NWS). The FAA is responsible for ensuring compliance with these services 
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

1-16 

and with maintaining International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended 

Practices as specified in Annex 3-Meteorological Service for International Air Navigation. 

Federal Highway Administration 

Due to the extended time for road construction projects, the Department of Transportation does not go 

through an annual budget process but typically uses a six-year authorization. The current transportation 

authorization allocates $100 million for the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Research 

Program. Of this, for FY 2015, the Road Weather Management Program (RWMP) has budgeted $2.0 

million. All of RWMP’s funding is for applied research. The majority of RWMP activity involves 

software development and studies under the research and development category to develop decisionsupport systems that integrate high-resolution road weather data and products with transportationoriented applications and management strategies. 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

The anticipated funding level in FY 2015 for directed meteorological research is about $6.4 million 

and 43 FTE, a 1.1% decrease from FY 2014. All of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 

funding of meteorological and air quality programs is for supporting basic and applied research. 

Continued attention is being paid to the effects of airborne toxins and fine particulate matter on human 

health, on the effect of climate change on air quality, and the impact of air pollution on human health 

and sensitive ecosystems. In addition, to promote excellence in environmental science and engineering, 

the EPA supports a national research grants program for investigator-initiated research. The funding 

for grants (with reliance on quality science and peer review) and for graduate fellowships (to support 

the education and careers of future scientists) will provide for a more balanced, long-term capital 

investment in improved environmental research and development. The funding for the grants program 

in FY 2015 is anticipated to be comparable to that in FY 2014. 

The EPA’s Research Grants Program will fund research in areas, including ecological assessment, air 

quality, environmental fate and treatment of toxins and hazardous wastes, effects of global climate 

change on air quality, and exploratory research. The portion of these grants that will be awarded for 

meteorological research during FY 2015 cannot be foreseen, but it is probable that the grant awards 

will increase the base amount of $6.4 million listed above for directed meteorological research. 

The EPA continues its development and evaluation of air quality models for air pollutants on all 

temporal and spatial scales as mandated by the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990. Research will focus 

on urban, mesoscale, regional, and multimedia models, which will be used to develop air pollution 

control policies, human and ecosystem exposure assessments, and air quality forecasts. There will be 

increased emphasis placed on meteorological research into global-to-regional-to-urban-local formation 

and intercontinental transport of air contaminants in support of the revisions to the National Ambient 

Air Quality Standards and ecosystem protection strategies. Increased efficiency of computation and 

interpretation of model results are being made possible by means of supercomputing and scientific 

visualization techniques.
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

1-17 

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) estimated meteorological operations 

and research budget request for FY 2015 is $573.6 million and 4 FTE. This request is an increase of 

16.4 percent from the FY 2014 budget of $492.7 million. The budget figures reported are based on 

relevant missions and programs in the Earth Science Division1

 and the Heliophysics Division2 within 

the Science Mission Directorate (SMD), and the Human Exploration and Operations Mission 

Directorate (HEOMD). Across the directorates, NASA estimates the extent to which each mission and 

program contributes and relates to meteorological operations and research activities. 

NASA Earth Science advances understanding of the Earth system, its components and their 

interactions, its changes, and the consequences of these changes for life. The program pioneers the use 

of remote sensing data, primarily space-based, in new and innovative ways, and leverages NASA’s 

unique capabilities in global Earth observation. Earth Science Research sponsors basic disciplinary and 

interdisciplinary research, Earth system modeling efforts, the Airborne Science project (which 

provides access to aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems), and supercomputing efforts supporting a 

variety of programs. At least 90 percent of the funds of the Earth Science Research program are 

competitively awarded to investigators from academia, the private sector, and NASA Centers. The 

program uses satellite and airborne measurements, coupled with cutting-edge analyses and numerical 

models, to turn observations into information and understanding. 

NASA takes an organized approach to address complex, interdisciplinary Earth science problems, 

integrating science across the programmatic elements in pursuit of a comprehensive understanding of 

the Earth system. The resulting programmatic structure comprises six interdisciplinary and interrelated 

science focus areas. These areas are: 

 Climate Variability and Change: Improve the ability to predict climate changes by better 

understanding the roles and interactions of oceans, atmosphere, land, and ice in the climate 

system; 

 Atmospheric Composition: Advance the understanding of changes in the Earth’s radiation 

balance, air quality and the ozone layer that result from changes in atmospheric composition; 

 Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems: Detect and predict changes in Earth's ecological and chemical 

cycles, including land cover, biodiversity, and the global carbon; 

 Water and Energy Cycle: Enable better assessment and management of water quality and 

quantity to accurately predict how the global water cycle evolves in response to climate change; 

 Weather: Improve the capability to predict weather and extreme weather events; and 

 Earth Surface and Interior: Characterize the dynamics of Earth’s surface and interior, 

improving the capability to assess and respond to natural hazards and extreme events. 

 

1

 The Earth Science Division (ESD) reported budget includes an estimate of weather observations and research and closely 

related program activities. Research and satellite mission budgets are estimated proportionally to their overall contributions 

to activities reported, noting that the objective of ESD’s program is to advance Earth System science. 

2 This report includes Heliophysics Division research assets and programs that contribute significantly to the advancement 

of space weather knowledge and to the transfer of that knowledge into space weather prediction systems. 
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

1-18 

NASA also supports space weather research through the Heliophysics Division within NASA’s SMD. 

The objective of the Heliophysics Division is to explore and understand the dynamic processes 

connecting the Sun, the Earth and planetary space environments, and the outer reaches of our solar 

system and develop the knowledge to predict extreme conditions in space to protect life and society. 

Research areas in space weather for the coming year include: 

 Prediction of the polarity and magnitude of the north-south component of the interplanetary 

magnetic field as it approaches Earth; 

 Physics-based methods to predict connectivity of solar energetic particle (SEP) sources to 

points in the inner heliosphere, tested by location, timing, and longitudinal separation of SEPs; 

 Ion-neutral interactions in the topside ionosphere. 

In addition to research, NASA also engages in space weather operations within the HEOMD. The 

HEOMD objective is weather-related safety of manned spacecraft, satellites, scientific instruments, 

and launch vehicles. The greatest challenge is to accurately measure and forecast tropospheric and 

space weather events that strongly impact launch and landing operations. 

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 

For FY 2015, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) total planned contract expenditures of 

$1.73 million ($337,000 for operations and $1.39 million for supporting research) and 7 FTE is for 

meteorological operations to continue: 

 technical assistance for the analysis of atmospheric dispersion for routine and postulated 

accidental releases from nuclear facilities 

 conducting meteorological research in support of licensing activities, including consideration of 

site specific probable maximum precipitation analysis at certain facilities 

 preparation of guidance on meteorological issues in licensing actions 

 review of proposed sites for possible construction of new nuclear power plants 

The meteorological support program in the NRC includes analyzing and utilizing meteorological data 

in atmospheric transport and dispersion models. These models provide insight on plume pathways in 

the near- and far-fields for building wake and dispersion characteristics to perform dose calculations on 

postulated releases into the environment. Meteorological information is used as input to the 

probabilistic safety assessment, the assessment of the radiological impacts of routine releases from 

normal operations, the assessment of other (non-radiological) hazards (including rare external events 

such as extreme storms) that may impact safe operation of the facility, and the assessment of design or 

operational changes proposed for the facility. 

Current and projected research activities include updating the methods used to estimate the effects of 

extreme precipitation events, and developing an integrated approach for probabilistic flood hazard 

assessment (PFHA). During FY 2012, research was initiated to address the influence of orographic 

features on extreme precipitation events. This work was continued in FY 2013 and FY 2014 and is 

prioritized for those areas of the United States where new nuclear power plants are proposed or where 

existing nuclear power plants are utilizing these concepts. This work will provide the design basis for 

flood protection systems. Site specific probable maximum precipitation analysis research was also 

initiated during FY 2014. This work will compare how these analyses compare to NOAA 
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

1-19 

Hydrometeorological Reports (HMRs) and what acceptance criteria the NRC should apply to 

determine the licensing acceptability of these methods. 

The nuclear power industry continues to pursue approval for new nuclear power plants. Numerous 

early site permit, combined license, and design certification applications have been received and are 

currently under review. These reviews will also consider regional climatology and local meteorology. 

In addition to its internal review activities, the NRC may seek assistance from other Federal agencies 

to support its safety and environmental reviews. 

The March 2011 accident at the Fukushima Dia-ichi nuclear power plant, which was caused by an 

earthquake and subsequent tsunami, resulted in the NRC issuing letters to all its operating nuclear 

power plant licensees requesting that they reevaluate flooding hazards at their sites using updated 

information and present-day regulatory guidance and methodologies. The NRC licensees were 

requested to provide their responses on a staggered three-year basis, beginning in March 2013. The 

NRC staff, along with support from its consultants, has begun reviewing the flood hazard reevaluations 

that have been submitted to date to determine whether additional regulatory actions are necessary to 

protect the site against the reevaluated flooding hazards. 

BUDGET TABLES 

Table 1 Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research Costs* by Agency 

This table summarizes, by agency, both meteorological operations and supporting research costs. 

Funding levels for FY 2014 are congressionally appropriated funds. FY 2015 numbers indicate the 

funding requested in the President’s FY 2015 budget. The change percentages between FY 2014 and 

FY 2015 are also shown. 

 TABLE 1 Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research Costs* by Agency

 (Thousands of Dollars)

% of % of % of % of

Operations FY14 Supporting Research FY14 Total FY14 FY15

AGENCY FY14 FY15 %CHG TOTAL FY14 FY15 %CHG TOTAL FY14 FY15 %CHG TOTAL TOTAL

Agriculture 20340 20034 -1.5 0.5 51163 49917 -2.4 5.5 71503 69951 -2.2 1.5 1.4

Commerce/NOAA(Subtot) 3150094 3332023 5.8 83.7 200577 201341 0.4 22.0 3350671 3533364 5.5 72.5 72.1

 NWS 1026400 1048354 2.1 26.3 36187 14993 -58.6 1.6 1062587 1063347 0.1 23.0 21.7

 NESDIS 2062635 2221926 7.7 55.8 24459 26000 6.3 2.8 2087094 2247926 7.7 45.2 45.9

 OAR 0 0 0 0 139931 160348 14.6 17.5 139931 160348 14.6 3.0 3.3

 NOS 29907 30143 0.8 0.8 0 0 0 0 29907 30143 0.8 0.6 0.6

 OMAO 31152 31600 1.4 0.8 0 0 0 0 31152 31600 1.4 0.7 0.6

Defense(Subtot) 227031 220783 -2.8 5.5 52483 55184 5.1 6.0 279514 275967 -1.3 6.1 5.6

 Air Force 112161 110412 -1.6 2.8 24667 25102 1.8 2.7 136828 135514 -1.0 3.0 2.8

 Navy 99213 96301 -2.9 2.4 14195 17006 19.8 1.9 113408 113307 -0.1 2.5 2.3

 Army 15657 14070 -10.1 0.4 13621 13076 -4.0 1.4 29278 27146 -7.3 0.6 0.6

Homeland Security (Subtot) 29720 29887 0.6 0.8 0 0 0 0 29720 29887 0.6 0.6 0.6

 USCG 29720 29887 0.6 0.8 0 0 0 0 29720 29887 0.6 0.6 0.6

Interior/BLM (Subtot) 6602 6708 1.6 0.2 915 900 -1.6 0.1 7517 7608 1.2 0.2 0.2

 BLM 4563 4669 2.3 0.1 0 0 0 0 4563 4669 2.3 0.1 0.1

 NPS 1973 1973 0.0 0.0 915 900 -1.6 0.1 2888 2873 -0.5 0.1 0.1

 USGS 66 66 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 66 66 0.0 0.0 0.0

Transportation(Subtot) 351680 370570 5.4 9.3 27030 29013 7.3 3.2 378710 399583 5.5 8.2 8.2

 FAA 351680 370570 5.4 9.3 23030 27013 17.3 3.0 374710 397583 6.1 8.1 8.1

 FHWA 0 0 0 0 4000 2000 -50.0 0.2 4000 2000 -50.0 0.1 0.0

EPA 0 0 0 0 6500 6430 -1.1 0.7 6500 6430 -1.1 0.1 0.1

NASA 2327 2189 -5.9 0.1 490390 571440 16.5 62.4 492717 573629 16.4 10.7 11.7

NRC 284 337 18.7 0.0 1410 1390 -1.4 0.2 1694 1727 1.9 0.0 0.0

DOE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 3788078 3982531 5.1 100.0 830468 915615 10.3 100.0 4618546 4898146 6.1 100.0 100.0

% of FY TOTAL 82.0% 81.3% 18.0% 18.7% 100.0% 100.0%

*The FY 2014 funding reflects Congressionally appropriated funds; the FY 2015 funding reflects the amount requested in the President's FY 2015 budget

submission to Congress.
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

1-20 

Table 2 Operational Costs by Budget Category 

This table describes the agency plans to obligate their funds for meteorological operations by budget 

category. The two major categories are Operations Support and Major Systems Acquisition. To a large 

degree, these categories correspond to non-hardware costs (Operations Support) and hardware costs 

(Systems Acquisition). 

 

 

Table 3 Supporting Research and Development Costs by Budget Category 

This table describes the agency plans to obligate their funds for meteorological supporting research 

and Development by budget category. Similar to operational funding in table 2, these categories are 

Research and Development (non-hardware) and Systems Development (hardware). 

 Operations % of

 Support Total FY15

AGENCY FY14 FY15 FY14 FY15 FY14 FY15 %CHG TOTAL

Agriculture 20340 20034 0 0 20340 20034 -1.5 0.5

Commerce/NOAA(Subtot) 1142421 1169087 2007673 2162936 3150094 3332023 5.8 83.7

 NWS 920946 942735 105454 105619 1026400 1048354 2.1 26.3

 NESDIS 160416 164609 1902219 2057317 2062635 2221926 7.7 55.8

 OAR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 NOS 29907 30143 0 0 29907 30143 0.8 0.8

 OMAO 31152 31600 0 0 31152 31600 1.4 0.8

Defense(Subtot) 187040 183154 39991 37629 227031 220783 -2.8 5.5

 Air Force 82122 80338 30039 30074 112161 110412 -1.6 2.8

 Navy 91061 88746 8152 7555 99213 96301 -2.9 2.4

 Army 13857 14070 1800 0 15657 14070 -10.1 0.4

Homeland Security (Subtot) 29720 29887 0 0 29720 29887 0.6 0.8

 USCG 29720 29887 0 0 29720 29887 0.6 0.8

Interior/BLM 6602 6708 0 0 6602 6708 1.6 0.2

 BLM (Subtot) 4563 4669 0 0 4563 4669 2.3 0.1

 SWA 1450 1550 0 0 1450 1550 6.9 0.0

 OFA 3113 3119 0 0 3113 3119 0.2 0.1

 NPS 1973 1973 0 0 1973 1973 0.0 0.0

 USGS 66 66 0 0 66 66 0.0 0.0

Transportation(Subtot) 296255 296350 55425 74220 351680 370570 5.4 9.3

 FAA 296255 296350 55425 74220 351680 370570 5.4 9.3

 FHWA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

EPA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NASA 2229 2189 98 0 2327 2189 -5.9 0.1

NRC 284 337 0 0 284 337 18.7 0.0

DOE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 1684891 1707746 2103187 2274785 3788078 3982531 5.1 100.0

% of FY TOTAL 44.5% 42.9% 55.5% 57.1% 100.0% 100.0%

TABLE 2 Operational Costs by Budget Category

(Thousands of Dollars)

Major Systems

Acquisition
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

1-21 

Tables 4 and 5, Operational Costs and Supporting Research Costs by Service Category 

These tables indicate how the funds identified in Tables 2 and 3 are divided among the eleven service 

categories. Table 4 reflects how the agencies plan to obligate operational funds and Table 5 supporting 

research funds. The service categories evolve over time, as applications change with technology and 

with societal needs. The service category definitions are described below: 

Service Category Definitions 

 Basic Services. Basic services include the basic meteorological service system, to include observations, public weather 

forecasts, severe weather warnings and advisories, and the meteorological satellite activities of NOAA. Basic services 

also include the operations and supporting research of other Federal agencies that have been identified as contributing 

to basic meteorological services. 

 Agriculture and Land Management Meteorological Services. Agricultural and land management meteorological 

services are those services and facilities established to meet the requirements of the agricultural industries and Federal, 

state, and local agencies charged with the protection and maintenance of the Nation's land areas. Meteorological 

services specifically tailored for wildland fire management are reported under the wildland fire weather service 

category. 

 Aviation Services. Aviation services are those specialized meteorological services and facilities established to meet the 

requirements of general, commercial, and military aviation. Civil programs that are directly related to services solely 

% of

 Total FY15

AGENCY FY14 FY15 FY14 FY15 FY14 FY15 %CHG TOTAL

Agriculture 51163 49917 0 0 51163 49917 -2.4 5.5

Commerce/NOAA(Subtot) 189143 198821 11434 2520 200577 201341 0.4 22.0

 NWS 26623 14343 9564 650 36187 14993 -58.6 1.6

 NESDIS 24459 26000 0 0 24459 26000 6.3 2.8

 OAR 138061 158478 1870 1870 139931 160348 14.6 17.5

 NOS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 OMAO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Defense(Subtot) 36114 34108 16369 21076 52483 55184 5.1 6.0

 Air Force 10963 7074 13704 18028 24667 25102 1.8 2.7

 Navy 14195 17006 0 0 14195 17006 19.8 1.9

 Army 10956 10028 2665 3048 13621 13076 -4.0 1.4

Homeland Security (Subtot) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 USCG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Interior/BLM 915 900 0 0 915 900 -1.6 0.1

 BLM (Subtot) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 SWA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 OFA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 NPS 915 900 0 0 915 900 -1.6 0.1

 USGS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Transportation(Subtot) 22200 23848 4830 5165 27030 29013 7.3 3.2

 FAA 18200 21848 4830 5165 23030 27013 17.3 3.0

 FHWA 4000 2000 0 0 4000 2000 -50.0 0.2

EPA 6500 6430 0 0 6500 6430 -1.1 0.7

NASA 175315 187487 315075 383953 490390 571440 16.5 62.4

NRC 1410 1390 0 0 1410 1390 -1.4 0.2

DOE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTAL 482760 502901 347708 412714 830468 915615 10.3 100.0

% of FY TOTAL 58.1% 54.9% 41.9% 45.1% 100.0% 100.0%

TABLE 3 Supporting Research and Development Costs by Budget Category

(Thousands of Dollars)

Recurring

R&D Costs

Systems

Development
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

1-22 

for aviation and military programs in support of land-based aviation and medium- or long-range missile operations are 

included. Detailed aviation services/products for specific areas include, but are not limited to, ceiling and visibility, 

convective hazards, en route winds and temperatures, ground de-icing, in-flight icing, terminal winds and temperatures, 

turbulence, volcanic ash, and other airborne hazardous materials. 

 Climate Services. Climate services are specialized meteorological and hydrological services established to meet the 

requirements of Federal, state, and local agencies for information on the historical, current, and future state of the earth 

system. Climate services include observations, monitoring, assessments, predictions, and projections of the 

atmosphere, hydrosphere, and land surface systems. 

 Emergency Response and Homeland Security Services. Emergency response and homeland security services are those 

specialized meteorological services and facilities established to meet the requirements of Federal, state, and local 

agencies responding to natural disasters and security incidents. This category includes the use of atmospheric transport 

and diffusion (ATD) models for predicting the dispersion of airborne toxic substances; it also includes natural disaster 

monitoring and prediction services and the transport of water-borne toxic substances not included in basic services. 

 Hydrometeorology and Water Resources Services. Hydrometeorology and water resources services are those 

specialized meteorological services and facilities that combine atmospheric science, hydrology, and water resources in 

order to meet the requirements of Federal, state, and local agencies for information on the effects of precipitation 

events on infrastructure, water supplies, and waterways. These products and services also meet the needs of the general 

public in the conduct of everyday activities and for the protection of lives and property. 

 Military Services. Military services are those meteorological operations, services, and capabilities established to meet 

the unique requirements of military user commands and their component elements. Programs and services that are not 

uniquely military in nature are reported under another service category (e.g., Basic Services, Aviation Services 

[civilian], Surface transportation Services, or Emergency Response and Homeland Security Services). 

 Space Weather Services. Space Weather Services are those specialized meteorological services and facilities 

established to meet the needs of users for information on space weather conditions and space weather storms that can 

affect terrestrial systems, space systems, Earth’s atmosphere, and the space environment. Space weather services 

include monitoring and alerting of space weather storms and their effects on technological infrastructure and human 

safety. Early warning of an approaching space weather storm, so that timely protective response is possible, is an 

important part of space weather services. 

 Surface Transportation. Surface transportation services are those specialized meteorological services and facilities 

established to meet the weather information needs of the following surface transportation sectors: roadways, long-haul 

railways, the marine transportation system, rural and urban transit, pipeline systems, and airport ground operations. The 

roadway sector includes state and Federal highways and all state and local roads and streets. The marine transportation 

system includes coastal and inland waterways, ports and harbors, and the intermodal terminals serving them. Rural and 

urban transit includes bus and van service on roadways and rail lines for metropolitan subway and surface “light-rail” 

systems.

 Wildland Fire Weather Services. Wildland fire weather services are those specialized meteorological services and 

facilities established to meet the requirements of the wildfire management community at the Federal, state, tribal, and 

local levels. The primary areas of service are to support the reduction of wildfire initiation potential and the mitigation 

of both human and environmental impacts once initiation does occur. Services can include support to first responders 

and land managers and climate services tailored to wildland fire management. 

 Other Specialized Services. Other specialized services include weather and climate information services and facilities 

established to meet the special needs of user agencies or constituencies not included in basic services or the preceding 

service categories. This service category includes any efforts to integrate the social sciences into meteorological 

operations, applications, and services not already described in the preceding sections. 
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

1-23
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

1-24 

Table 6 Personnel Authorizations Supporting Meteorological Operations and Research 

This table includes both current and FY 2015 requested personnel authorizations (Federal (FTE), 

Contractor, Military) required to perform or support meteorological operations and supporting 

research. The breakdown among federal, contractor, and military authorizations is shown for the first 

time in this Plan. The total, federal agency, staffing requested for FY 2015 is 13,928, a 2.6% decrease 

from FY 2014. 

Table 7 Interagency Fund Transfers 

This table summarizes the reimbursement of funds from one agency to another during FY 2014. 

Agencies routinely enter into reimbursable agreements when they determine an agency can provide a 

given activity more cost-effectively. While specific activities and amounts may vary from year-to-year, 

the pattern reflects a significant level of interagency cooperation. 

 

Agency Federal Contractor Military*

Current FY 

2014 Federal Contractor Military*

Requested 

FY 2015 %CHG

% of FY 15 

TOTAL

Agriculture 103 8 0 111 103 8 0 111 0.0 0.8

Commerce/NOAA Subtotal 6262 1901 0 8163 6172 1901 0 8073 -1.1 58.0

 NWS 4721 741 0 5462 4617 741 0 5358 -1.9 38.5

 NESDIS 907 897 0 1804 909 897 0 1806 0.1 13.0

 OAR** 399 201 0 600 408 201 0 609 1.5 4.4

 NOS 114 62 0 176 117 62 0 179 1.7 1.3

 OMAO 121 0 0 121 121 0 0 121 0.0 0.9

Defense Subtotal 573 110 3993 4676 561 103 3733 4397 -6.0 31.6

 Air Force 447 71 3208 3726 440 66 2948 3454 -7.3 24.8

 Navy 79 20 415 514 75 18 415 508 -1.2 3.6

 Marine Corps 0 0 370 370 0 0 370 370 0.0 2.7

 Army 47 19 0 66 46 19 0 65 -1.5 0.5

Homeland Security-USCG 1 0 107 108 1 0 107 108 0.0 0.8

Interior/BLM Subtotal 46 7 0 53 46 7 0 53 0.0 0.4

 BLM Soil/Water/Air Program 10 0 0 10 10 0 0 10 0.0 0.1

 BLM Fire Weather Program 28 4 0 32 28 4 0 32 0.0 0.2

 NPS 8 3 0 11 8 3 0 11 0.0 0.1

Transportation Subtotal 152 969 0 1121 152 969 0 1121 0.0 8.0

 FHWA 3 5 0 8 3 5 0 8 0.0 0.1

 FAA 149 964 0 1113 149 964 0 1113 0.0 8.0

EPA 39 11 0 50 43 8 0 51 2.0 0.4

NASA 4 3 0 7 4 3 0 7 0.0 0.1

NRC 7 0 0 7 7 0 0 7 0.0 0.1

DOE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Totals 14296 13928 -2.6 100.0

* Active Duty (does not include National Guard or Reserve)

** all research

TABLE 6 Personnel Authorizations Supporting Meteorological Operations and Research

(Full Time Equivalent Staff Years)
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

1-25 

 

Supporting

Transferred from: To: Operations Research

DOC/NOAA

NESDIS 0 0

OAR DOE 4076

OAR USDA 231

DHS

USFA DOI/BLM-FA 125 Lightning

USDA

USDA/USFS DOI/BLM-OFA 629

RAWS maintenance 

contracts

USDA/USFS DOI/BLM 101 Lightning

USDA/USFS DOI/BLM 0

Smoke Monitoring 

Cache Management

DOD

Air Force DOC/NOAA/NWS 1518 189

Air Force DOC/NOAA/NESDIS 100

Air Force DOC/NOAA/OAR 125

Air Force DOC/OFCM 165

Air Force DOI/USGS 450

Air Force NASA 396 700

Air Force NSF

Air Force NSF/UCAR/NCAR 2200

Navy DOC/NOAA/OAR 2508

Army OFCM

USACE DOC/NOAA/NWS 231

USACE DOI/USGS 19738

USACE USDA NRCS

USACE DOC/NOAA/OAR 300

DOD DOI/BLM OFA 0

DOI

USGS DOC/NOAA/OAR 100

DOI/NPS USDA 397

National Atmospheric 

Deposition Program

DOI/NPS EPA 288

CASTNet Filter Pack 

Analysis

DOI/BOR USDA NRCS

DOI DOC/NOAA/OAR 35

DOI/BLM SWA USDA-NIFA 62

DOI/BLM SWA USDA 50 NRCS

DOT

FAA Weather DOC/NOAA/NWS 13653

IAA-Center Weather 

Service Unit

FAA Weather DOC/NOAA/NWS 65 IAA

DOT DOC/NOAA/OAR 446

NASA

DOD/USAF/45th Space Wing 800 0

DOC/NOAA/NDBC 0 100

DOE DOC/NOAA/OAR 2481

State/Local USDA 103 NRCS

DOI/BLM-FA 250

RAWS maintenance 

contracts

TABLE 7 Interagency Fund Transfers 

 for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research 

FY2014 Funds ($K) Estimated or Planned
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

1-26 

Table 8 Facilities/Locations/Systems Taking Meteorological Observations 

This table shows the number of facilities/locations/systems at which the Federal agencies carry out or 

oversee the taking of various types of meteorological observations. 

TABLE 8 Facilities/Locations/Systems Taking Meteorological Observations

No. of 2014 

TYPE OF OBSERVATION by AGENCY Locations 

Surface, land 

Commerce (NOAA/NWS all types) 29315 

ASOS: 315 COOP: 9000 MESONET: 

20000 

Commerce (NOAA/OAR manned Atmospheric 

Baseline Observations) 6 

Commerce (NOAA/OAR Climate Reference 

Network) 114 

Commerce (NOAA/NWS/INL Mesonet) 35 

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) 

Mesonest used by Pocatello Weather 

Service Forecast Office. 35 according 

to the NOSC. 

Commerce (NOAA/NWS Weather Monitoring 

 Stations) 16 

Commerce (NOAA/OAR/ARL SORD Mesonet) 22 

Special Operations And Research 

Division (SORD) 

Air Force (U.S. & Overseas) 231 

Navy (U.S. & Overseas) 68 

Marine Corps (U.S. & Overseas) 24 

Army (U.S. & Overseas) 18 

Transportation (FAA Contract Wx Obsg Stn)* 136 

Transportation (FAA Auto Wx Obsg Stn - 

AWOS) 188 

Transportation (FAA Auto Wx Sensor Sys - 

AWSS) 44 

Transportation (FAA Auto Sfc Obsg Sys - 

ASOS)** 571 

Transportation (FAA Flight Service Stations in 

Alaska)*** 17 

Transportation (FHWA-Road Wx Obsg Stn) 2437 

Homeland Security (USCG Coastal) 50 

Interior (NPS Air Program) 32 

Interior (BLM Soil/Water/Air Program) 481 

Interior (BLM Office of Fire and Aviation) 971 

Agriculture (Forest Service Smoke Monitors) 30 

Agriculture (Forest Service RAWS) 944 

Agriculture (Forest Service Research) 78 

Agriculture (NRCS active manual snow courses) 1160 

Agriculture (NRCS automated SNOTEL stations) 885 

Agriculture (NRCS automated SCAN stations) 203 

Agriculture (Agricultural Research Service) 25 

NASA (HEOMD) 1 

Total 38102 

*Note: All 136 FAA Contract Wx Obsg Stations are colocated with a FAA or 

Commerce (NWS) ASOS 
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

1-27 

**Note: Transportation (FAA oversight Auto Sfc Obsg Sys, non-Fed 

inspected 1400) 

***Note: 17 Flight Service Stations in Alaska since 2007 owned and 

supported by Harris Corporation 

Surface, marine 

Commerce (NOAA/NOS/SEAS-equipped ships) 622 

Commerce (NOAA/NOS/PORTS) 67 stations with met sensors 

Commerce (NOAA/NOS/NWLON) 180 stations with met sensors 

Commerce (NOAA/NWS Coastal-Marine 

 Autom Network) 47 

Commerce (NOAA/NWS/NDBC Buoys--moored) 102 does not include TAO and DART 

Commerce (NOAA/OAR/AOML Buoys--drifting) 1238 

Navy (Ships with met personnel) 29 

Navy (Ships without met personnel) 259 

Homeland Security (USCG Cutters) 249 

NASA (Buoys - moored) 0 

Total 2793 

Upper air, balloon 

Commerce (NOAA/NWS U.S.) 92 

Commerce (NOAA/NWS Foreign, 

Cooperative) 10 

Cooperative Hurricane Upper-Air 

Stations (CHUAS) 

Commerce (NOAA/NWS met/ozone/ 

water vapor) 25 

Air Force, Mobile 1 

Army, Fixed (U.S. & Overseas) 10 

Army, Mobile (U.S. and Overseas) 8 

Navy, Fixed (U.S. & Overseas) 

Navy, Mobile(U.S. & Overseas) 

Navy, Ships 

Marine Corps, Mobile 13 

NASA (U.S. and Overseas) 0 

Total 159 

Atmospheric Profilers 

Commerce (NOAA/NWS) (404 and 

449 MHz) 32 

Air Force (Eastern Range) (915 MHz) 

Air Force (Eastern Range) (SODARS) 

Air Force (Western Range) (915 MHz) 

Air Force (Western Range) (50 MHz) 

Air Force (Western Range SODARS) 

Army 4 

NASA (50 MHz) HEOMD 1 

Total 37 

Doppler weather radar (WSR-88D) sites 

Commerce (NOAA/NWS) 122 

Air Force (U.S. & Overseas) 26 

Transportation-FAA (Off CONUS) 13 

Total 161 

Doppler weather radar (Not WSR-88D) sites 

Air Force (Fixed, Deployed)) 20 
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

1-28 

Army 3 

Navy (Fixed) 

Commerce (NOAA/NWS Research Phased Array 

Radar- NWRT) 1 

Total 24 

Airport Terminal Doppler weather radars 

Transportation-FAA (Commissioned) 45 

Total 45 

Conventional radar (non-Doppler) sites 

Commerce (NOAA/NWS) 0 legacy radars removed in 2013 

Air Force, Mobile Units 

Army (U.S. and Overseas) 

Transportation (FAA (WSP)) 34 

Total 34 

 

Off-site WSR-88D Principle User Processors 

(PUPs) 

Air Force (OPUPs only) 7 

Marine Corps (U.S. & Overseas) 

Army 

Total 7 

Weather reconnaissance Aircraft 

Commerce (NOAA/OMAO) 3 

Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) – WC130J 

Total 3 

Geostationary meteorological satellites (No. 

operating) 

GOES 12 - South America Decommissioned 

GOES 13 - Operational East 1 

GOES 14 - On-Orbit Storage 1 

GOES 15 - Operational West 1 

NESDIS Total 3 http://www.oso.noaa.gov/goesstatus/ 

Polar meteorological satellites (No. operating) 

METOP-B - AM Primary 1 

METOP-A - AM Backup 1 

NOAA 15 - AM Secondary 1 

NOAA 16 - PM Secondary Decommissioned 

NOAA 17 - AM Backup Decommissioned 

NOAA 18 - PM Secondary 1 

NOAA 19 - PM Prime Service Mission 1 

SNPP - PM Primary 1 

NESDIS 

SubTotal 6 http://www.oso.noaa.gov/poesstatus/ 

Air Force (2 primary, 2 secondary, 

2 tactical) 6 

Navy (WINDSAT and GFO) 1 

Total 13 

Electric Field Mills (Surface) 
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

1-29 

Air Force (Eastern Range - (KSC) 1 

Army 5 

Total 1 

Lightning Detection Systems 

Air Force (Eastern and Western Range CloudGround) 2 

Air Force (Eastern and Western Range- NLDN & Total 

Ltng Sys) 2 

Army 7 

NASA (KSC Lightning Mapping Array) 1 

Total 11 

Rocketsondes 

Army Total 0 
Section 1. Agency Funding for Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research

1-30 
SECTION 2 

FEDERAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND 

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS 
Section 2 Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 
 Federal Coordination and Planning 

2-3

FEDERAL COORDINATION AND PLANNING 

FOR METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH 

STATUTORY BASIS FOR THE FEDERAL COORDINATION PROCESS 

In 1963, Congress and the Executive Office of the President expressed concern about the 

adequacy of the coordination of Federal meteorological activities. In response, Congress directed 

in Section 304 of Public Law 87-843 (the Appropriations Act for State, Justice, Commerce, and 

Related Agencies) that the Bureau of the Budget prepare an annual horizontal budget for all 

meteorological programs in the Federal agencies. The Bureau of the Budget (now the Office of 

Management and Budget, OMB) issued a report in 1963 entitled Survey of Federal 

Meteorological Activities. That report described each agency’s program for meteorological 

services and products and detailed the relationships among the programs of the various agencies. 

The report revealed close cooperation but little evidence of systematic coordination. Based on its 

survey, the Bureau of the Budget issued a set of ground rules to be followed in the coordination 

process. It established a permanent general philosophy for assignment and assessment of agency 

roles in the field of meteorology and set certain goals to be achieved by the coordination process. 

The Bureau of the Budget tasked the Department of Commerce (DOC) to establish the 

coordinating mechanism in concert with the other Federal agencies. It also reaffirmed the 

concept of having a central agency—the DOC—responsible for providing common 

meteorological facilities and services and clarified the responsibilities of other agencies for 

providing meteorological services specific to their mandated missions. 

The implementation of these directives by DOC led to the creation of OFCM and the 

appointment of the first Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting 

Research (the Federal Coordinator). The Federal Committee for Meteorological Services and 

Supporting Research (FCMSSR) was established in 1964 to provide policy-level agency 

representation and guidance to the Federal Coordinator in addressing agency priorities, 

The mission of the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting 

Research (OFCM) is to ensure the effective use of Federal meteorological resources by leading the 

systematic coordination of operational weather requirements, services, and supporting research among 

the Federal agencies. Its high-level focus includes cross-agency needs and requirements, issues and 

problems, studies, reports, plans, handbooks, and crosscut reviews, assessments, and analyses. 

The OFCM operates with policy guidance from the Federal Committee for Meteorological Services 

and Supporting Research (FCMSSR). The principal work in coordinating meteorological activities 

and in the preparation and maintenance of OFCM reports, plans, and other documents is accomplished 

by the OFCM staff with the advice and assistance of the Interdepartmental Committee for 

Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (ICMSSR) and more than 30 program councils, 

committees, working groups, and joint action groups. The members who serve on these entities are 

Federal agency representatives. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

2-4 

requirements, and issues related to services, operations, and supporting research. The FCMSSR 

also resolves agency differences that arise during the coordination of meteorological activities 

and the preparation of Federal plans. 

FCMSSR comprises representatives of the 15 Federal agencies that engage in meteorological 

activities or supporting research, have a major need for meteorological services, or set policy and 

direction for such services and research. These 15 agencies are the Departments of Agriculture 

(USDA), Commerce (DOC), Defense (DOD), Energy (DOE), Homeland Security (DHS), the 

Interior (DOI), State (DOS), and Transportation (DOT); the Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Science Foundation 

(NSF), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

(NRC); and OMB and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The Under 

Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, who is also the Administrator of the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), serves as the FCMSSR 

Chairperson. 

OFCM COORDINATING INFRASTRUCTURE 

The OFCM coordinating infrastructure diagram on page 2-5 shows the current program councils, 

committees, working groups (WG), and joint action groups (JAG) through which OFCM carries 

out its mission of ensuring the effective use of Federal meteorological resources by coordinating 

operational weather requirements, services, and supporting research among the Federal agencies. 

FCMSSR is shown at the top of the diagram, as the policy guidance advisor to the Federal 

Coordinator. 

 The Interdepartmental Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research 

(ICMSSR), which is chaired by the Federal Coordinator, is the primary program 

management body of the Federal coordinating structure. ICMSSR provides advice to 

OFCM, implements FCMSSR policies, and oversees the committees and working groups 

that address observing systems, weather operations and services, operational processing 

centers, and automated weather information systems. The full membership of ICMSSR is 

shown on the inside cover of this Federal Plan. 

 The Program Councils, which are directly under FCMSSR and are each chaired by the 

Federal Coordinator, coordinate key programs at the highest interagency policy decisionmaking level, and ensure that the programs meet joint requirements. In addition to 

establishing policy, the program councils coordinate development and oversee the 

preparation and implementation of national program plans, which include research and 

development (R&D), systems development, validation and integration, acquisition 

strategy, operational concepts, agency roles, and management. 

 The committees and their working groups and joint action groups operate at the program 

and working levels to provide: (1) a forum for each agency to report activities, 

challenges, and achievements; (2) a mechanism to coordinate change and problem 

solving; (3) a way to collect, document, and consolidate agency requirements and 

inventories; (4) oversight for coordinated system development; (5) a vehicle for 

coordinating with other groups internal and external to the coordinating infrastructure; 
 Federal Coordination and Planning 

2-5
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

2-6 

and (6) a mechanism for the preparation of studies, agreements, standards, protocols, 

reports, and national plans. 

Using these multiagency groups, OFCM pursues the following objectives as the means to 

achieve its mission: 

 Document agency programs and activities in a series of national plans and reports that 

enable agencies to adjust their individual ongoing programs, and provide a means for 

communicating new ideas and approaches to fulfill requirements. 

 Provide structure and programs to promote continuity in development and coordination 

of interagency plans and procedures for meteorological services and supporting research. 

 Prepare analyses, summaries, or evaluations of agency meteorological programs and 

plans that provide a factual basis for the executive and legislative branches to make 

appropriate decisions on the allocation of funds. 

 Review federal weather programs and federal requirements for meteorological services 

and supporting research. This review may suggest additions or revisions to current or 

proposed programs or identify opportunities for improved efficiency, reliability, or cost 

avoidance through coordinated actions and integrated programs. 

OFCM HIGHLIGHTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014 AND PLANS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 

Federal coordination activities during FY 2014 and plans for FY 2015 are described here, 

organized by program council and ICMSSR standing committee. The highlights begin with 

activities reporting directly to the Federal Coordinator, followed by the program councils and the 

ICMSSR standing committees. 

Activities Reporting to the Federal Coordinator 

Support for Plans and Analyses Mandated by the COASTAL Act of 2012 

Congress passed the Consumer Option for an Alternative System to Allocate Losses 

(COASTAL) Act in June 2012 to lower the cost of the National Flood Insurance Program by 

better discerning wind versus storm surge damages in cases where little tangible evidence 

beyond a building’s foundation remains for the proper adjustment of insurance claims after a 

hurricane or tropical storm. This law requires NOAA to produce detailed post-storm analyses 

following named storms that affect the coastal zone of the United States. These analyses are to 

be submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within 90 days. NOAA is 

required to make all data and post-storm assessments available to the public and to maintain an 

online database. The law mandates that the database and post-storm model be operational by 

December 28, 2013 (540 days after enactment). 

The COASTAL Act also requires that NOAA, in consultation with OFCM, provide several 

interim deliverables to Congress, including an assessment of current capabilities and needs to 

provide the required post-storm analyses. The Federal Coordinator established the Joint Action 

Group for the COASTAL Act Post-Storm Analysis (JAG/CAPSA) to develop a COASTAL Act 

Capabilities Development Plan (CACDP) in collaboration with NOAA. The plan, which was 

submitted to the NOAA Administrator on April 15, 2013 and released to the Department of 
 Federal Coordination and Planning 

2-7

Commerce on June 7, 2013, provides for the collection of the required observational (covered) 

data to support post-storm assessments. 

The JAG/CAPSA, working with OFCM’s Working Group for Disaster Impact Assessments and 

Plans: Weather and Water (WG/DIAP) also developed an observing protocol to support 

collection of data for the post-storm analyses required by the COASTAL Act. This protocol was 

published in December 2013. The protocol will be included in subsequent editions of the 

National Plan for Disaster Impact Assessments: Weather and Water Data (Publication FCMP33). 

The JAG/CAPSA also facilitated population of the Coastal Wind and Water Event Database for 

the Named Storm Event Model. 

National Plan for Civil Earth Observations 

In July 2014 the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in the 

Executive Office of the President issued the National Plan for Civil Earth Observations on 

behalf of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). The plan was the culmination 

of interagency coordination in support of the 2013 National Strategy for Civil Earth 

Observations that began with an assessment of the federal Earth observation enterprise organized 

around 13 societal benefit areas (SBAs). OFCM led teams of subject matter experts through the 

assessment process for the weather and space weather SBAs and participated as a member of the 

Assessment Working Group (AWG). The original assessment was conducted under the auspices 

of the temporary National Earth Observations Task Force and subsequent triennial assessments 

will be conducted by a new AWG aligned under the U.S. Group on Earth Observations 

(USGEO). USGEO is a subcommittee of the NSTC’s Committee on Environment, Natural 

Resources, and Sustainability (CENRS). The Federal Coordinator for Meteorology is a member 

of CENRS. 

Planning for the second national Earth observation assessment began in FY 2014 with the 

assessment to follow in FY 2015, again organized along the same 13 SBAs used in the first 

assessment. OFCM anticipates playing a significant role again in the space weather SBA analysis 

in FY 2015. 

National Aviation Weather Program Council 

OFCM supports implementation of the National Aviation Weather Program, which is a broad 

interagency effort to advance meteorological standards, improve products, enhance services, and 

conduct research that contributes to the overall goal of providing state-of-the-art information to 

aviation end users where and when they need it. OFCM also participates in the Next Generation 

Air Transportation System (NextGen) Weather Working Group (NWWG) and Friends/Partners 

in Aviation Weather (FPAW). 

In FY 2014, OFCM supported the Research, Engineering, and Development (RE&D) initiative 

managed by FAA’s Interagency Planning Office (IPO), the successor organization to the 

NextGen Joint Planning and Development Office. The NextGen Senior Policy Committee (SPC) 

directed the RE&D initiative to identify mid-term programs that are in an R&D phase and that 

may be key to the implementation of NextGen capabilities. OFCM staff provided subject matter 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

2-8 

expertise for the identification of potential projects, served on the RE&D team charged with 

selecting the final projects from among dozens of nominations, and helped prepare the RE&D 

report to the NextGen Executive Board and SPC. OFCM staff also successfully advocated 

selection of the Multifunction Phased Array Radar project and developed the MPAR-related 

sections of the report. 

OFCM staff also supported aviation-related initiatives related to meteorological codes and 

observing practices under the auspices of other OFCM coordinating groups. 

National Operational Processing Centers Program Council 

In FY 2014, OFCM continued to support and lead the National Operational Processing Centers 

Program Council (NOPC). The NOPC provides senior management oversight for the Committee 

for Operational Processing Centers (COPC) and facilitates improved collaboration among the 

NOPC member organizations that have direct oversight of COPC members. The NOPC principal 

members are NOAA National Weather Service (NWS); NOAA National Environmental 

Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS); the U.S. Navy Meteorology and 

Oceanography Command; and the U.S. Air Force Directorate of Weather. The NOPC sets 

policy; provides strategic vision, planning, program guidance, and interagency funding authority; 

identifies future roadmap capabilities for their own agencies; determines how to effectively 

position themselves for future requirements and collaboration; and identifies coordinated 

approaches to solving the Nation’s highest priority environmental information needs. 

NOPC held two meetings in FY 2014 focused on three broad areas: (1) space-based 

environmental monitoring, (2) operational processing center (OPC) data exchange, and (3) 

numerical weather prediction. The council received updates on the Joint Polar Satellite System 

(JPSS), Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R Series (GOES-R), and Committee 

for Operational Environmental Satellites (COES) activities. The OPC data exchange topic 

focused on the status of the Non-secure Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNet) Federated 

Gateway implementation and the continued need to establish and fund a second point of presence 

to exchange data between DOD and NOAA. Lastly, the numerical weather prediction updates 

focused on review of the Earth System Prediction Capability (ESPC) program, NWS activities 

funded by Hurricane Sandy disaster relief, and a review of NSF’s visiting scientist program and 

the university-based ensemble project. 

Committee for Operational Processing Centers 

In FY 2014, COPC continued to facilitate improved processing and backup capabilities for 

NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Prediction and Office of Satellite and Product 

Operations, the Air Force Weather Agency, and the U.S. Navy’s Fleet Numerical Meteorology 

and Oceanography Center and Naval Oceanographic Office. Semiannual meetings of COPC 

continued in FY 2014 and are expected to continue in FY 2015. 

Activities under COPC and its Working Group for Cooperative Support and Backup included the 

work of three subgroups. The Joint Action Group for Operational Community Modeling has and 

will continue to enhance the implementation of ensembles among the centers. The Joint Action 

Group for Centralized Communications Management worked to create a second data exchange 
 Federal Coordination and Planning 

2-9

point between NOAA and DOD in Boulder, Colorado. And the Working Group for 

Observational Data (WG/OD), formerly the Joint Action Group for Operational Data Acquisition 

for Assimilation (JAG/ODAA), updated their terms of reference to reflect their long-term, 

ongoing activities and the range of areas they are addressing for data exchange among the OPCs. 

These groups will continue their respective activities in FY 2015. 

Observational Data 

The Working Group for Observational Data (WG/OD) facilitates the acquisition, processing, and 

exchange of observational data among the national operational processing centers (OPCs) and 

other related data centers. The primary focus areas are the following: 

 Acquisition, processing, and exchange of meteorological, oceanographic, and space 

environmental data. 

 Interface among the OPCs, their research and development partners in the Joint Center 

for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA), and the other national data and prediction 

centers for the purpose of coordinating and satisfying national requirements for 

observational data. 

 Coordination of data formatting standards where practical and the implementation of 

approved data product enhancements and new data products. 

 Coordination of observational data issues that overlap related responsibilities of other 

OFCM committees and COPC groups. 

 Assurance that the OPCs and related data centers are provided the maximum quality and 

optimum quantity of observational environmental data streams required for assimilation 

into their respective processes. 

During FY 2014, the working group completed a number of satellite data-related activities. It 

satisfied a number of interagency satellite data flow requests, most notably the acquisition of 

GOES hourly winds. It also initiated action to acquire additional satellite data sources, including 

Indian National Satellite (INSAT) sea surface temperature data for the Navy, Global 

Precipitation Measurement (GPM) data for the Air Force and Navy, and Oceansat-2 ocean color 

data for the Navy. The Working Group also initiated an update to the Environmental Satellite 

Data Annex under the Data Acquisition, Processing, and Exchange (DAPE) Memorandum of 

Agreement (MOA). 

In FY 2015, the group will pursue a number of non-satellite (conventional) data and satellite 

data-related activities. The group will develop a Conventional Data Annex for the DAPE MOA, 

outlining the principal guidelines for interagency conventional data acquisition, processing, and 

exchange. They will also seek improvements in the conventional data bulletin subscription 

process, continue to monitor issues arising from the World Meteorological Organization 

(WMO)-mandated conventional data product transition to binary format (BUFR), and assist in 

the development of data flow through the DOD-mandated Nonsecure Internet Protocol Router 

Network (NIPRNET) Federated Gateway and NESDIS's Product Distribution and Access (PDA) 

data communication and dissemination system. In the satellite data area, the working group will 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

2-10 

pursue access to pre-operational meteorological satellite data for testing, as well as development 

and implementation of a data flow pathway for imagery and data from Japan’s new Himawari-8 

satellite scheduled for launch in October 2014. Lastly, spanning both conventional and satellite 

data, the group will continue development of OPC data inventories to identify significant data 

gaps. 

Committee for Operational Environmental Satellites 

Responding to stakeholder desire to improve interagency communication and coordination of 

matters regarding the use environmental satellites, OFCM reactivated the Committee for 

Operational Environmental Satellites (COES). In FY 2014, the NOPC approved establishment of 

COES under NOPC as a sister committee to COPC. COES will help advance the goals of the 

NOPC to achieve interagency coordination of operational environmental satellite systems 

planning. The objectives of the COES are the following: 

 Foster interagency review and coordination of approved requirements for operational 

environmental satellite programs. 

 Promote free and open exchange of information on environmental satellite systems 

development, satellite data systems architecture, continuity plans, and data exploitation 

readiness plans. 

 Consider potential use of research satellite capabilities to augment operational systems in 

meeting user needs, and develop plans to transition research data into operational 

products and new applications. 

 Facilitate working-level relationships between federal members and other stakeholders to 

effectively resolve interagency issues on the availability of environmental satellite data 

and products from future systems. 

 Establish dialog with other groups currently engaged in various aspects of environmental 

satellites, data readiness, and data exploitation. 

National Space Weather Program Council 

Over the past year, the National Space Weather Program Council (NSWPC) has sought closer 

coordination of space weather science, research, and services to the Nation. The NSWPC 

directed the Committee for Space Weather (CSW) to develop an implementation plan to achieve 

the goals described in the 2010 National Space Weather Program Strategic Plan and, in 

response, CSW established the Joint Action Group for Space Weather Implementation Planning. 

The action group comprises six working groups to address the five goals of the Strategic Plan as 

well as disaster preparedness, readiness, and response. Development of the implementation plan 

began in April 2014, supported by more than 50 subject matter experts from all nine NSWPC 

agencies, with projected completion by the end of calendar year 2014. 

The NSWPC also supported the review and publication of the 2014 National Plan for Civil 

Earth Observations by OSTP (see pg. 2-7) following significant support and leadership of the 

first national Earth observation assessment’s space weather SBA team in FY 2012. The NSWPC 

agencies expect to participate in the space weather SBA team for the next triennial Earth 

observation assessment beginning in FY 2015. 
 Federal Coordination and Planning 

2-11

Executive Council for Multifunction Phased Array Radar 

The Multifunction Phased Array Radar (MPAR) initiative seeks to consolidate the radar 

surveillance missions of four agencies: DOD, DHS, DOC/NOAA, and DOT/Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), reducing the number of radars required and consolidating operations and 

logistics. The MPAR Working Group, comprising various elements of the four stakeholder 

agencies as well as representatives from several other interested agencies, meets several times a 

year to review program progress and plan interagency activities. In April 2014 the Executive 

Council directed preparation of a plan for development and testing of an MPAR Advanced 

Technology Demonstrator (ATD) with a full-scale, dual-polarization, active electronicallyscanned array (AESA) antenna and processing system capable of demonstrating dual 

polarization and multifunctionality. NOAA and FAA, who have been investing in MPAR risk 

reduction, participate in a Government Engineering Team (GET), with OFCM sharing leadership 

responsibilities and hosting face-to-face meetings. The GET supports interagency collaboration 

to determine priorities, review study results, and make decisions on resources. In advance of the 

ATD, NOAA and FAA paid for the development of a proof-of-concept system with a small 

phased array being built from ten 64-element dual-polarization panels. MIT Lincoln Laboratory 

has been developing the dual polarization panel technology for several years and is building the 

trailer-mounted array for delivery in winter 2015. The panel will be used to confirm the dualpolarization capability of the MIT panels and to test other fundamental aspects of the technology. 

If proven, the technology will be applied to build the ATD, which will replace the legacy SPY1A phased array radar at the National Severe Storms Laboratory. Planning for the ATD is 

underway while proof of concept system assembly is monitored. 

Meanwhile, MPAR outreach continues with the following groups: (1) FAA’s Interagency 

Planning Office on the Research, Engineering, and Development initiative (see the earlier section 

on the National Aviation Weather Program Council); (2) DOD spectrum management 

leadership; (3) the interagency Wind Turbine Radar Interference Mitigation Working Group; (4) 

the DOD/FAA terminal radar systems modernization group; and (5) the Air Force NextGen lead 

service office. 

Committee for Environmental Services, Operations and Research Needs 

The Committee for Environmental Services, Operations and Research Needs (CESORN) covers 

a wide range of basic meteorological services and supporting research. Areas for coordination 

vary from year to year based on agency needs. 

Hurricane and Winter Storms Operations and Research and the Interdepartmental 

Hurricane Conference 

In FY 2014, the Working Group for Hurricane and Winter Storms Operations and Research 

(WG/HWSOR) continued to manage the interagency operations plans for hurricanes and winter 

storms and address related issues relevant to the federal meteorological community. 

The National Hurricane Operations Plan (NHOP) describes individual agency responsibilities 

and prescribes operational procedures, common reference points, formats for data exchange, 

tropical cyclone names and pronunciations, and other information to achieve economy and 

efficiency in the provision of tropical cyclone forecasting and warning services to the Nation. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

2-12 

The plan is reviewed and updated annually in advance of the hurricane season to address action 

items and implement agreements reached at the Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference (IHC). 

The working group published the 52nd edition of the NHOP in FY 2014, including updated 

guidance on notification procedures among the tropical cyclone forecasting centers, DOD 

weather reconnaissance support to NOAA, tropical cyclone names and pronunciations, data 

codes, and air traffic control-related procedures. 

WG/HWSOR also manages the National Winter Storms Operations Plan (NWSOP) to 

coordinate the activities of the federal agencies providing enhanced observations of severe winter 

storms that affect the coastal regions of the United States. The plan focuses on the coordination 

of requirements for DOD and NOAA aircraft reconnaissance observations with the goal of 

improving the accuracy and timeliness of winter storm forecasts and warning services. The 

current NWSOP was published prior to the 2012-2013 winter season and minor changes for the 

2013-2014 winter season were not deemed significant enough to warrant an early update to the 

plan. A new edition of the plan will be published in FY 2015. 

The WG/HWSOR depends on the annual IHC to meet its hurricane-related responsibilities. The 

following paragraphs summarize the FY 2014 IHC and Tropical Cyclone Research Forum. 

OFCM hosts the IHC each year to provide a forum for the responsible federal agencies, together 

with representatives from the academic community, industry, and other user communities such 

as emergency management, to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season and make 

improvements to the Nation's hurricane forecasting and warning program. OFCM develops the 

agenda with input from working groups under CESORN and the Working Group for Tropical 

Cyclone Research (WG/TCR) under the Committee for Cooperative Research (CCR). 

OFCM hosted the 68th Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference and Tropical Cyclone Research 

Forum March 3-6, 2014, in a combination face-to-face and online, virtual conference. The 

primary face-to-face locations were the NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction in 

College Park, Maryland, and the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. The distribution 

of attendees included 73 in-person and 220 virtual attendees representing eight federal agencies 

as well as academia, private industry, and the media. Notably, a winter storm closed federal 

offices (including the conference location) in the Washington, DC, area on March 3, but the 

WG/HWSOR meeting and other conference activities continued via virtual conference. Despite 

the virtual conference mode enabling the conference to continue on schedule, several participants 

noted the significant loss of interaction overall when the IHC has a large virtual attendance. 

The theme was “Tropical Cyclone Research: Assessing the Past – Planning for the Future” and 

the IHC and forum sessions included the following topics, examining capabilities improvements 

and identified gaps for each area with a common thread of assessing the transition of research to 

operations: 

 Research priorities of the operational centers. 

o Intensity and rapid intensification. 

o Structure. 

o Track. 
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o Sea state and sea heights. 

o Storm surge. 

o Precipitation and inland flooding. 

o Genesis 

 Observations and observing strategies. 

 Federal numerical modeling and data assimilation initiatives. 

 Social science research results and demonstration projects. 

More information on capability achievements and identified gaps may be found in the 

conference summary available in the special projects section of the ofcm.gov web site. 

The forum also included a special session to summarize the assessment results and propose a 

plan of action for a mid-course assessment of the Interagency Strategic Research Plan for 

Tropical Cyclones: The Way Ahead (FCM-P36-2007). 

The action items developed at the conference are listed below: 

 OFCM will post conference presentations and the conference summary on the conference 

web page. (Complete) 

 OFCM will publish the annual NHOP, to include changes recommended to and accepted 

by the WG/HWSOR, no later than May 15, 2014. (Complete) 

 OFCM will initiate a mid-course assessment on the Interagency Strategic Research Plan 

for Tropical Cyclones: The Way Ahead (FCM-P36-2007) to be completed by the 

WG/TCR. (In progress) 

Disaster Impact Assessments and Plans: Weather and Water Data 

Disaster-relevant data acquired from many routine observing systems often do not provide data 

coverage and density sufficient to adequately document the effects of a major storm or flood or 

enable understanding of small-scale, localized weather and water processes. As a result, routine 

observations are supplemented by mobile observing system data and post-storm analysis of 

impact features, such as high water marks and wind damage, to fill information gaps and obtain 

more complete spatial coverage. Collecting this information contributes to determination of the 

intensity and magnitude of storms and may support Presidential disaster declarations. The 

information may also be used in a number of other ways: to assess threat potential; validate 

emergency management and hurricane storm surge models; update FEMA flood insurance rate 

maps; assist in evaluating indeterminate loss causes; and improve forecasting models. 

Furthermore, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and various state agencies use 

the data to improve building codes and construction practices. 

To improve the efficiency of data collection and promote sharing of data within an organized, 

interagency disaster impact assessment process, the Federal Coordinator established the Working 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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Group for Disaster Impact Assessments and Plans: Weather and Water Data (WG/DIAP) in 

2010. The WG/DIAP published the National Plan for Disaster Impact Assessments: Weather 

and Water Data (NPDIA) in October 2010. The plan documents the types of data required, the 

acquisition processes, and the coordinating procedures to be used leading up to, during, and 

following a significant storm event. 

In response to the COASTAL Act of 2012 requirement to establish a protocol for data collection 

for post-storm assessments (see pg. 2-6), the WG/DIAP developed a COASTAL Act Data 

Protocol Annex to the NPDIA. This annex outlines the interagency protocol for responding to 

storms that could come under provisions of the COASTAL Act of 2012. It describes the plan for 

capturing the necessary data and assembling it in NOAA’s Coastal Weather and Water Event 

Database (CWWED) for assimilation into NOAA’s Named Storm Event Model (NSEM). It also 

specifies how these data are made available to FEMA, other federal, state, and local government 

agencies, private insurance adjusters, and the general public to help evaluate indeterminate loss 

causes and insurance coverage responsibilities. The next revision of the NPDIA will include the 

new COASTAL Act data protocol. 

Other upcoming changes to the NPDIA include the latest data collection protocol for response to 

tsunamis and the revised Enhanced Fujita (tornado) Scale now under development. 

Aerial support from the Civil Air Patrol provides one of the sources of pre-event and post-event 

data to support impact assessments. Under the OFCM-coordinated Air Force-NOAA 

Memorandum of Agreement for Civil Air Patrol support, in FY 2015 OFCM will continue to 

coordinate post-storm data acquisition surveys in response to natural disasters and agency 

requirements. The annual agreement between OFCM and the U.S. Air Force for reimbursable 

support funds Civil Air Patrol missions such as Alaska glacial lake damming assessments, 

tornado damage photos and video, and severe flooding imagery. 

Atmospheric Transport and Diffusion (ATD) 

On June 25, 2014, OFCM cosponsored a special session of the 18th annual George Mason 

University Atmospheric Transport and Dispersion Modeling Conference. The theme of the 

session was Progress in Governmental Atmospheric Transport and Dispersion Modeling and 

Response. Subject matter experts from DOC/NOAA (National Weather Service/National Centers 

for Environmental Prediction, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research/Air Resources 

Laboratory (ARL), and National Ocean Service/Office of Response and Restoration), DOE 

(National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center), DOD (U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and 

Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)), DHS (Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric 

Assessment Center (IMAAC)), and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Pacific Northwest 

National Laboratory) participated in the session’s panel discussion. 

The session addressed the following topics: 

 Current status. Agency leaders discussed roles and plans in federal ATD field 

experiments, modeling, responsibilities, and governance; the status of existing modeling 

capabilities; and how model output is provided to decision makers. 
 Federal Coordination and Planning 

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 Advances. Scientists and experts presented and discussed improvements made to 

observations, models, and processes in the past year. 

 Gaps. Participants discussed known areas of basic and applied research needs, model 

development, and tool development that comprise the highest priorities to address. 

 Future plans. Participants discussed areas of concern the community should pursue or 

continue to pursue. 

This year’s session included a sharper focus on experimentation, with presentations on the 

following topics: 

 Project Sagebrush, an effort by ARL’s Field Research Division to advance the 

fundamental observation-based understanding of atmospheric transport and diffusion 

beyond the still-used results of the 1956 Prairie Grass project. 

 The Army’s Granite Mountain Atmospheric Sciences Testbed (GMAST). 

 The Mountain Terrain Atmospheric Modeling and Observations (MATTERHORN) field 

campaign that was conducted at GMAST. 

Discussion following the presentation centered on the possible application of multiple model 

outputs for several related reasons: to compare model outputs to select the best output for the 

particular application; to compare model outputs to help estimate and express the uncertainty of 

the results in particular situations; or to create an ensemble to perhaps select a composite or 

hybrid solution. This approach would help address concerns expressed during the session about 

the lack of error bars on the ATD model output. 

In FY 2015, OFCM plans to follow up with the federal agencies on the issues that arose during 

the GMU conference. In addition, OFCM will continue to participate in FEMA’s Scientific 

Support Working Group, through which an opportunity exists for interagency resources to help 

support the DHS Radiological and Nuclear Response and Recovery R&D Investment Plan. 

Committee for Integrated Observing Systems 

In FY 2014, the Committee for Integrated Observing Systems (CIOS) continued its work in 

support of the Network of Weather and Climate Observing Networks (NOWCON) initiative 

described in this section in previous-year Federal Plan for Meteorological Services and 

Supporting Research editions. NOWCON grew out of federal meteorological community interest 

in weather and climate observing networks and the 2009 publication of a National Research 

Council (NRC) report, cosponsored by OFCM, titled Observing Weather and Climate from the 

Ground Up – A Nationwide Network of Networks. In brief, the theme of the report is that the 

United States enjoys an effective synoptic-scale weather observing network, but society demands 

increasingly finer-scale weather and climate information. State and local governments, 

corporations, academic institutions, and individuals have deployed a rapidly growing array of 

individual sensors and sensor networks in patchwork fashion across the country and much of the 

data from these systems remain unknown or inaccessible to a wider audience of potential users. 

CIOS continues to provide a venue for federal agencies to respond to this report and collaborate 

with the American Meteorological Society on its national network of networks 

recommendations. Early attention has centered on metadata, providing a catalyst encouraging the 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

2-16 

implementation of metadata for surface observations across the federal agencies and the broader 

non-federal weather and climate observing network community. In FY 2015, CIOS will 

investigate ways to leverage available resources and work already underway to streamline and 

standardize the implementation of metadata in compliant formats. 

In other activities during FY 2014, CIOS continued to examine potential updates to Federal 

Meteorological Handbook No. 1, Surface Weather Observations and Reports to take advantage 

of enhanced capabilities of new instrumentation, incorporate other changes that have been 

awaiting implementation, and address additional emerging issues. This work will continue into 

FY 2015. 

Also in FY 2015, OFCM will begin collaboration with the NWS Radar Operations Center to 

update the Federal Meteorological Handbook No. 11, Doppler Radar Meteorological 

Observations. 

Unmanned Aerial Systems 

The Joint Action Group for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for Environmental Monitoring 

(JAG/UAS-EM) supported several interagency meetings on UAS utilization. In May 2014, 

OFCM hosted a NOAA Sensing Hazards with Operational Unmanned Technology (SHOUT) 

interagency planning meeting. SHOUT is a multi-year program to deploy the NASA Global 

Hawk aircraft for high impact weather observations. Throughout the year, OFCM also provided 

a number of venues for the NOAA UAS program to share information and coordinate across the 

federal agencies. 

Additionally, OFCM aligned JAG/UAS-EM activities with other groups working UAS 

development and utilization issues including the Interagency Coordinating Committee for 

Airborne Geosciences Research and Applications (ICCAGRA) and the NSTC Subcommittee for 

Unmanned Systems. 

The ICCAGRA meets semiannually to improve cooperation, foster awareness, facilitate 

communication among airborne instrument-sponsoring agencies, and serve as a resource to 

senior-level management on airborne geosciences issues. The Committee facilitates cooperation 

on the use of airborne platforms and payloads for individual investigators as well as national and 

international field campaigns. OFCM supports ICCAGRA through meeting participation and 

access to the OFCM federal meteorological coordinating infrastructure. 

OFCM continues to support the activities of the CENRS Ocean Science and Technology 

Subcommittee’s work on unmanned systems. OFCM’s participation provides a connection to 

meteorological research and service providers and supports effective coordination of unmanned 

system applications across the federal enterprise. 
 Federal Coordination and Planning 

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Committee for Cooperative Research 

Tropical Cyclone Research 

For additional information on tropical cyclone research, see the Working Group for Hurricane 

and Winter Storms Operations and Research and Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference 

section above. 

In 2007, the Joint Action Group for Tropical Cyclone Research completed the Interagency 

Strategic Research Plan for Tropical Cyclones: The Way Ahead. This plan presented a shared set 

of R&D priorities matched to operational requirements from the tropical cyclone forecast and 

warning centers and served as a baseline for NOAA’s Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program 

(HFIP). In 2008, 2010, and 2012 the Working Group for Tropical Cyclone Research (WG/TCR) 

assessed agency research activities mapped against tropical cyclone research needs and 

operational priorities. The assessments have enabled WG/TCR to establish a successful process 

to accomplish the following tasks: 

 Update the operational priorities. 

 Evaluate how research is contributing to meeting operational priorities. 

 Support informed research manager decisions on future investments. 

 Facilitate interagency collaboration and coordination. 

Following the biennial assessment schedule described above and in response to a 68th

Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference (IHC) action item, in FY 2014 the working group 

identified preliminary capability gaps and challenges and in FY 2015 will complete a mid-course 

assessment of the 2007 plan. 

Weather Information for Surface Transportation 

In FY 2014, OFCM continued to explore weather services and R&D activities supporting the 

surface transportation community, building on its earlier publication Weather Information for 

Surface Transportation--National Needs Assessment Report. Part of this activity included 

participation in AMS Intelligent Transportation Systems/Surface Transportation Committee 

meetings and activities. 

In FY 2015, OFCM will explore development of a coordinated research plan for surface 

transportation weather information in conjunction with related activities in other parts of the 

coordinating infrastructure (e.g., CIOS). 

Committee for Environmental Information Systems and Communications 

In FY 2015, the Committee for Environmental Information Systems and Communications 

(CEISC) will explore opportunities for interagency collaboration on definition and 

implementation of geospatial standards for information exchange. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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Meteorological Codes 

In FY 2014, OFCM formed the Joint Action Group for IWXXM Implementation (METAR 

Transition) in response to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) initiative to 

transition the METAR family of codes (METAR, SPECI, TAF, and SIGMET) from the current 

alphanumeric format to an Extensible Markup Language (XML)-based code. The JAG is 

charged with developing and implementing an interagency plan to prepare federal agencies to 

meet the ICAO code transition phase points over the next 5 years. 

In addition, some of the expected revisions of Federal Meteorological Handbook No. 1, Surface 

Weather Observations and Reports described above (see the CIOS section, pg. 2-16) will involve 

coding practices, which fall under the purview of the Working Group for Meteorological Codes. 

OFCM External Collaborations 

NAS/NRC Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate 

OFCM continues its mutually beneficial interactions with the National Research Council (NRC). 

The Federal Coordinator participates in the NRC Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate 

(BASC) strategic planning workshops and attends regularly scheduled BASC meetings. 

NAS/NRC Space Science Board, Committee on Space and Solar Physics 

The executive secretary of the NSWPC provided program updates to the NRC Space Science 

Board (SSB) and its Committee on Space and Solar Physics (CSSP). The OFCM anticipates that 

the CSSP will continue to invite the NSWPC members and the executive secretary to participate 

in its semiannual meetings. The OFCM and SSB are seeking ways to leverage each other’s 

strengths in bringing together the federal and nongovernmental space weather communities.

American Meteorological Society 

OFCM supports AMS activities by participating in AMS conferences and workshops and other 

environmental science education and outreach programs. In FY 2014, OFCM co-authored and/or 

presented two papers at the 94th AMS Annual Meeting. OFCM will present two papers at the 

95th Annual meeting in 2015. 

FY 2014 OFCM PUBLICATIONS 

The publications listed in the table below were prepared in hard copy and/or were added to 

OFCM’s web site (www.ofcm.gov) during FY 2014. 

OFCM PUBLICATION DATE NUMBER 

PLANS (P)

Federal Plan for Meteorological Services and Supporting 

Research, Fiscal Year 2014 

October 2013 FCM-P1-2013 
 Federal Coordination and Planning 

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OFCM PUBLICATION DATE NUMBER 

National Hurricane Operations Plan 

 2014 Build 14.1 Dual Pol WSR-88D Tropical 

Cyclone Operations Plan (05/29/2014) ◦"QUICK 

CHECK" List 

 2013 Build 13.1-13.2 Dual Pol WSR-88D Tropical 

Cyclone Operations Plan (05/15/2013) ◦"QUICK 

CHECK" List 

May 2014 FCM-P12-2014 

PROCEEDINGS

2014 Tropical Cyclone Research Forum/ 

68th Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference Summary Report 

March 2014 

Proceedings of the Special Session, 18th Annual George Mason University (GMU) 

Atmospheric Transport and Dispersion Modeling Conference 

June 2014 

 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

2-20 
2-21 

BASIC SERVICES 

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 

NOAA/National Weather Service 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service 

(NWS) provides climate, water, weather, ocean and space weather warnings and forecasts for the 

United States, its territories, adjacent waters, and ocean areas to help protect life and property 

and enhance the national economy. These services are provided through 122 Weather Forecast 

Offices (WFO), 13 River Forecast Centers (RFC), and the National Centers for Environmental 

Prediction (NCEP). These offices collect data, prepare local warnings and forecasts, and 

disseminate information to the public, both nationally and internationally, through NOAA 

Weather Radio (NWR), satellite-based telecommunication systems, radiofacsimile, the media, 

and the internet. NWS forecasters issue short-duration watches and warnings for severe weather, 

such as tornadoes and severe thunderstorms, as well as long-duration watches, warnings, and 

advisories for hazardous winter weather conditions, high wind events, dense fog, flooding, and 

extreme temperatures. 

The NWS uses surveillance technologies such as a national network of Doppler weather radars, 

satellites operated by NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service 

(NESDIS), aircraft observations, data buoys for marine observations and tsunami detection, 

surface weather observing systems at airports, and weather balloons to obtain vertical 

measurements of the atmosphere. Some observations are obtained through the Cooperative 

Observer Program, a nationwide network of volunteer-operated weather observing sites. Many 

other observations are contributed through arrangements with publicly and privately operated 

networks. Observations feed sophisticated environmental prediction models running on high 

performance supercomputers, which provide weather, water, climate, ocean and space weather 

forecast guidance that is available to users. The NWS’ highly trained and skilled workforce uses 

powerful workstations to analyze these data to issue forecasts and warnings around the clock. A 

high-speed communications hub allows for the efficient exchange of these data and products 

among NWS components, partners, and other users. NWS integrated dissemination infrastructure 

including NOAA Weather Radio, satellite broadcast, and the internet rapidly distributes this 

information. 

For purposes of this Federal Plan, Basic Services include the basic meteorological service system, to 

include observations, public weather forecasts, severe weather warnings and advisories, and the 

meteorological satellite activities of NOAA. Basic Services also include the operations and supporting 

research of other Federal agencies that have been identified as contributing to basic meteorological 

services. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

2-22 

The NWS creates forecasts in digital formats and makes them readily available. Forecasters use 

their expertise to maintain an up-to-date digital forecast database of weather elements. This 

information is stored in the National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD). Output from the NDFD 

is publicly available in the form of web graphics on the Internet and in several other digital 

formats. Outreach, education, and feedback are also critical elements in effective public response 

and improvements to NWS services. 

RFCs routinely generate short range 

(deterministic) through extended range 

(probabilistic) river forecasts and 

(deterministic) flash flood guidance. 

Information from the RFCs serves as the 

basis for local flood and flash flood 

warnings, watches, and advisories issued by 

the WFOs. Some RFCs, especially those in 

mountainous regions, also provide watersupply volume and peak-flow forecasts based 

on snow pack in high elevations. These water 

supply forecasts are used by a wide range of 

decision makers, including those in 

agriculture, hydroelectric dam operation and 

electricity generation, and water resources 

management. National Operational 

Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center 

(NOHRSC) provides comprehensive snow 

observations, analyses, data sets and map 

products for the Nation. NOHRSC products 

and services are used by RFCs and WFOs to 

develop a variety of hydrologic products 

such as spring flood outlooks, water supply outlooks, river and flood forecasts, and reservoir 

inflow forecasts. The capabilities of NWS Hydrologic Services were recently expanded through 

the implementation of the Community Hydrologic Prediction System (CHPS) at the 13 NWS 

RFCs. CHPS is the RFC operational framework, allowing for broad systems interoperability to 

support new water resources-related forecasts. 

NCEP consists of nine national centers that provide a backbone of national expertise for both 

forecast and numerical guidance. The NCEP Storm Prediction Center (SPC) provides forecasts 

and watches for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes over the contiguous United States. The SPC 

also monitors heavy rain, heavy snow, and provides national outlooks on fire weather potential. 

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) provides forecasts of tropical weather systems and issues 

watches and warnings for the U.S. and surrounding areas for systems in the tropical North 

Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Eastern Pacific and provides educational outreach and 

guidance for the international community in the region. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center 

(Honolulu) and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (Guam) provide additional tropical cyclone 

coverage for the central and western Pacific, though not part of NCEP. The Weather Prediction 

Center (WPC) provides analyses and forecast products with a focus on precipitation amount and 

type, winter precipitation, model diagnostics, surface pressure, frontal analysis and forecast 

The Advanced Weather Interactive Processing 

System (AWIPS) is a technologically advanced 

information processing, display, and 

telecommunications system. AWIPS is an 

interactive computer system that integrates all 

meteorological and hydrological data, and all 

satellite and radar data, and enables the 

forecaster to prepare and issue more accurate 

and timely forecasts and warnings. (NOAA 

Image) 
Basic Services 

2-23 

products for the medium range (days 3-7). The Ocean Prediction Center (OPC), along with 

NHC, issues marine forecasts for the Atlantic and Pacific oceans from the equator to the northern 

polar regions. The Aviation Weather Center (AWC) provides aviation warnings and forecasts of 

hazardous flight conditions at all levels within domestic and international air space. The Climate 

Prediction Center (CPC) provides assessments and forecasts of the impact of short-term climate 

variability, emphasizing enhanced risks of weather-related extreme events for use in mitigating 

losses and maximizing economic gain. The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) provides 

real-time monitoring and forecasting of solar and geophysical events which impact satellites, 

power grids, communications, navigation, and many other technological systems. The 

Environmental Modeling Center (EMC) develops and improves numerical weather, climate, 

hydrological and ocean prediction through applied research in data analysis, modeling and 

product development. NCEP Central Operations (NCO) sustains and executes the operational 

suite of numerical environmental analysis and forecast models and prepares NCEP products for 

dissemination. They also process and manage the flow of data and products to and from the 

NCEP centers, partners, and customers. 

There are other specialized service centers within the NWS, such as the Pacific Tsunami 

Warning Center (PTWC) and the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC), which use data 

from a worldwide seismic network and Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis 

(DART) buoys located throughout the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Caribbean Sea to issue 

tsunami watches and warnings for all U.S. and many international coastal communities. The 

National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) is responsible for the deployment and maintenance of 

coastal and ocean buoys and sensors that are used for marine forecasts and analysis of oceanbased storms. The NWS Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) located in Anchorage, Alaska, 

provides worldwide warnings and advisories to aviation interests regarding airborne volcanic ash 

hazards (see further description of the global system of VAACs in the section on volcanic ash in 

Aviation Services.) 

NWS forecasters support several health-related programs such as Heat Health, and the 

Ultraviolet Index. Heat Health Watch Warning Systems (HHWWS) have been developed for 

select cities to provide advance notice of excessive heat events that produce the greatest number 

of weather-related deaths. 

NWS’ suite of products and services enable core partners’ decisions when weather, water, or 

climate has a direct impact on the protection of lives and livelihoods. As NWS works to fulfill 

the vision of a Weather-Ready Nation (WRN) its diverse portfolio of service capabilities will 

become more focused on a framework approach that will enable the agency to provide the 

foundational information and Impact-Based Decision Support Services (IDSS) needed. It is at 

this juncture where NWS’ highly skilled workforce provides significant value to achieve its 

mission. IDSS is the foundational concept of NWS’ WRN. Rather than developing and 

transmitting a suite of products at fixed times during the day and expecting stakeholders to fully 

understand and take appropriate action; IDSS changes the paradigm so information users drive 

the update frequency and value-added meaning of the product. IDSS also provides greater 

flexibility for forecasters to work with key governmental partners and even embed within their 

emergency operations centers to give first hand support to enhance decision making and public 

safety. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

2-24 

In 2015, NOAA proposes to restructure the NWS budget to function. This restructure will restore 

budget credibility and transparency by strengthening internal controls and customer service 

while improving coordination and collaboration among activities that serve NWS’ overall 

mission. Guided by the recent National Academy of Sciences, “Becoming Second to None,” and 

the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), “Forecast for the Future: Assuring the 

Capacity of the NWS” reports, NWS will continue to evolve and improve its weather, water, and 

climate products and services to enhance performance. In FY 2015 NWS continues making the 

bold vision for the WRN, a reality. 

NOAA/National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service 

NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) operates 

the Nation’s civil operational environmental satellite system, making constant observations of 

the Earth and its oceans and atmosphere. Satellite observations are collected, processed, and used 

to develop weather, climate, ocean, and other environmental products, services, and long-term 

data records that benefit the American public. 

NOAA’s main satellite constellations are the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites 

(GOES) and Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites (POES). These two systems 

provide the U.S. component of a joint environmental monitoring system in partnership with the 

European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT). NOAA 

also operates the Suomi National Polar Partnership (S-NPP) mission, a NOAA-NASA mission 

which is the precursor to the future NOAA Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). S-NPP became 

NOAA’s primary afternoon orbit satellite on May 1, 2014. On behalf of the Department of 

Defense (DoD), NESDIS also operates the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) 

spacecraft, part of the military’s sixth generation of weather satellites. NOAA also operates 

Jason-2, a joint U.S.-European specialized polar orbiting satellite that measures ocean surface 

topography. In addition, on behalf of the Department of Commerce, NESDIS licenses the 

operation of commercial remote-sensing land-imaging satellites. NESDIS also provides longterm stewardship of environmental data, managing the world’s largest collection of climatic, 

geophysical, and oceanographic data derived from both in situ and space-based systems. 

Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) 

POES circle the Earth in a nearly north-south orbit at an altitude of 517 miles, passing close to 

both poles. These satellites ensure observational data for any region of Earth are no more than 

six hours old. Data from POES support global weather forecasting models, long-term global 

climate change research, and hazard detection and mitigation. NESDIS operates polar orbiters. In 

addition to S-NPP, NOAA-15, NOAA-18, and NOAA-19 satellites continue to transmit data as 

back-up and secondary satellites. NESDIS also manages the command, control, and 

communications functions of DoD’s DMSP. MetOp-B, operated by EUMETSAT and launched 

in 2012, provides operational environmental monitoring in the mid-morning orbit. MetOP-A 

provides secondary coverage. The MetOp satellites carry three instruments provided by NOAA. 

In addition, NOAA operates Jason-2, a joint U.S.-European specialized polar-orbiting satellite. 

This spacecraft’s mission is to provide physical data of the ocean surface, including ocean 

surface altimetry, sea wave height, sea wave period, surface roughness, and other measurements. 
Basic Services 

2-25 

This mission, also called the Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM) is a follow-on to the 

successful Jason-1 mission developed by the French space agency—Centre National d’Etudes 

Spatiales (CNES)—and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). 

Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) 

JPSS is the next generation of U.S. civil polar-orbiting satellites, with the first launch scheduled 

for FY 2017 and S-NPP providing coverage as a bridge mission between POES and JPSS. 

Because weather forecasters rely on data from NOAA’s current on-orbit assets, efforts to 

develop the first of the JPSS platforms will focus on ensuring both short and long-term 

continuity in crucial weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, and climate monitoring 

data. S-NPP was successfully launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA, on October 28, 

2011. It is intended to provide operational support, serve as a prototype for the next-generation 

of NOAA’s polar-orbiting satellites, and provide continuity for NASA’s Earth Observing System 

mission. In 2013, operation was transferred to NOAA’s Office of Satellite Product Operations 

(OSPO). In FY 2014, instruments for the next satellite to be launched, JPSS-1, will start to be 

delivered, and the JPSS-1 spacecraft will begin integration. The satellite is scheduled to be 

launched no later than the second quarter of FY 2017. JPSS continues to enhance the ground 

segment of the program to support S-NPP operations as well as to prepare for JPSS-1. NOAANESDIS maintains a strong partnership with EUMETSAT, which will continue to be a 

cornerstone of a joint polar-orbiting constellation and will ensure NOAA-NESDIS’ ability to 

provide continuous measurements. JPSS-1 will host the same instrument complement as S-NPP, 

with the exception of the OMPS-Limb. In FY 2015 JPSS expects to have the JPSS-2 instruments 

on contract and the JPSS-2 spacecraft contract awarded. JPSS-2 is planned for launch in FY 

2022. 

Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) 

GOES spacecraft orbit Earth in a geosynchronous orbit at an altitude of 22,300 miles, which 

means they orbit the equatorial plane of the Earth at a speed matching the Earth’s rotation. The 

GOES system provides continuous observations of environmental conditions of North, Central, 

and South America and the surrounding oceans. These spacecraft provide data critical for fast, 

accurate weather forecasts and warnings, detection of solar storm activity, and relay of distress 

signals from emergency beacons. They provide nearly continuous monitoring necessary for 

effective, detailed, and extensive weather forecasting, prediction, and environmental monitoring. 

There are two operational geostationary satellites for the North American region, GOES-East at 

75°W and GOES-West, at 135°W, plus an on-orbit spare satellite at 105°W. Each operational 

satellite continuously views nearly one-third of the Earth’s surface. GOES-P was launched on 

March 4, 2010, and was renamed GOES-15 once it was successfully on orbit. GOES-15 is the 

third and last in the current series of NOAA geostationary satellites. The current constellation 

consists of GOES-15 (West), GOES-13 (East), and GOES-14 (on-orbit spare). GOES-12, an 

older satellite operational as GOES-East starting in 2003 and moved to provide coverage for 

South America in 2010, was decommissioned in August 2013. 
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GOES Series R 

Geostationary satellites remain the 

weather sentinels for NOAA—tracking 

hurricanes, severe storms, clouds, and 

ocean features. The next-generation 

geostationary satellite series is called the 

Geostationary Operational Environment 

Satellite–R Series (GOES-R). The 

advanced spacecraft and instrument 

technology used on the GOES-R Series 

will result in more timely and accurate 

weather forecasts. It will improve support 

for the detection and observations of 

meteorological phenomena and directly 

benefit public safety, protection of 

property, and ultimately, economic health 

and development. The GOES-R 

Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) will 

scan its field of view on the Earth nearly 

five times faster, with more than three 

times the spectral coverage and four times 

the spatial resolution of the current GOES. 

GOES-R will provide users such as 

meteorologists and government agencies 

with approximately 60 times the amount of data currently provided. A new instrument, the 

Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM), will be capable of measuring total lightning activity 

continuously day and night with a horizontal resolution on the order of 10 km and detection 

efficiency ranging between 70-90%. 

To ensure user readiness, forecasters and other users must have access to prototype advanced 

products within their operational environment well before launch. The GOES-R Proving Ground 

(http://www.goes-r.gov/users/proving-ground.html) engages the National Weather Service 

(NWS) forecast, watch, and warning community and other agency users in pre-operational 

demonstrations of the new and advanced capabilities that will be available from GOES-R, as 

compared to the current GOES constellation. Examples of the advanced products include 

improvements on: volcanic ash detection, lightning detection, dust and aerosol detection, 

synthetic cloud and moisture imagery, as well as one-minute interval rapid scan imagery. A key 

component of the GOES-R Proving Ground is the two-way interaction between the researchers 

who introduce new products and techniques and the forecasters who then provide feedback and 

ideas for improvements that can best be incorporated into NOAA’s integrated observing and 

analysis operations. 

GOES-R is a collaborative development and acquisition effort between NOAA and NASA. In 

FY 2014, the GOES-R Series Program plans to continue development of the GOES-R spacecraft 

to meet phased instrument delivery milestones which began in 2013. Development of the Core 

Geostationary Operational Environment Satellite–R 

Series (GOES-R). Image courtesy GOES-R Series 

Program and Lockheed Martin Space Systems 

Company 
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Ground and Antenna Systems will also continue. The GOES-R satellite has planned launch 

readiness for early FY 2016. 

NOAA/NESDIS Data Centers 

National Climatic Data Center 

The National Climatic Data Center is the largest climate data center in the world. See Climate 

Services for additional details. 

National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) 

NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center (www.ngdc.noaa.gov), located in Boulder CO, 

provides long-term scientific data stewardship for the Nation's geophysical data, ensuring 

quality, integrity, and accessibility. NGDC builds and maintains long-term archives of scientific 

data, with a special emphasis on scientific stewardship of data acquired by NOAA observing 

systems. NGDC provides stewardship, products, and services for data from the sun to Earth's sea 

floor, including Earth observations from space. NGDC is one of two operational sites for 

NOAA’s Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System (CLASS), which provides a 

permanent archive for all NOAA satellite observations. 

Key NGDC data sets include: 

 Global bathymetry 

 Long-term solar observations 

 Marine geophysical data sets 

 Geological hazards 

 In situ and remotely-sensed space environment 

 Global Nighttime Lights imagery 

NGDC plays an integral role in the Nation's research enterprise, at the same time providing 

public domain data to a wide group of users. NGDC works with contributors of scientific data to 

prepare documented, reliable data sets and currently maintains more than 850 digital and analog 

data sets. NGDC also continually develops data management programs that reflect the changing 

world of geophysics in an era of electronic data access. 

NGDC’s unique capabilities have attracted other mission-related functions to the Center. NGDC 

is responsible for the development and maintenance of the World Magnetic Model for DOD. 

NGDC is the lead for data management and integration to the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf 

Project under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. NGDC operates the World 

Data Service for Geophysics for the International Council of Science under the auspices of the 

U.S. National Academy of Sciences. NGDC is active in many international programs, offering 

scientists around the world access to global databases through international exchange. 

 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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Natural Hazards Coastal Inundation Modeling and Mapping. NGDC plays an integral role in 

the Nation's research enterprise, at the same time providing public domain data to a wide group 

of users. NGDC works with contributors of scientific data to prepare documented, reliable data 

sets and currently maintains more than 850 digital and analog data sets. NGDC also continually 

develops data management programs that reflect the changing world of geophysics in an era of 

electronic data access. 

NGDC’s unique capabilities have attracted other mission-related functions to the Center. NGDC 

is responsible for the development and maintenance of the World Magnetic Model for DOD. 

NGDC is the lead for data management and integration to the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf 

Project under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. NGDC operates the World 

Data Service for Geophysics for the International Council of Science under the auspices of the 

U.S. National Academy of Sciences. NGDC is active in many international programs, offering 

scientists around the world access to global databases through international exchange. 

Geomagnetic Field Modeling For Improved Navigation. The NGDC geomagnetism group 

develops and produces magnetic field models for navigation and pointing, which are used in a 

multitude of defense and civilian applications. Production of the World Magnetic Model, the 

standard magnetic model for DOD and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is sponsored by 

the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. The geomagnetism group also leads the production 

and distribution of the International Geomagnetic Reference Field. These main magnetic field 

models represent approximately 90 percent of the magnetic field that influences a compass on or 

near the surface of Earth. NGDC continues to develop improved magnetic models, addressing 

additional magnetic influences affecting navigation by land, sea, and air. Making use of its 

extensive holdings of satellite, airborne, and marine magnetic data, NGDC is developing new 

high-resolution magnetic field models. Recent products include animations of the model results 

for the change in the magnetic field from 1590 to 2010, a three-arc-minute World Digital 

Magnetic Anomaly Map, and the extended magnetic reference model to spherical harmonic 

degree 720 (NGDC-720). The NGDC-720 model corresponds to a 15-arc-minute model 

resolution. See http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/EMM/index.html for more information 

National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) 

For over 50 years, NODC (www.nodc.noaa.gov) has served the Nation with unmatched expertise 

in the scientific stewardship of marine data and information. NODC manages the world's largest 

collection of freely available oceanographic data, provides a record of Earth’s changing 

environment, and supports numerous research and operational applications. NODC maintains 

and updates a national ocean information archive with environmental data acquired from national 

and international activities. NODC’s ocean archive is capable of archiving any type of 

oceanographic data in the world, and their mission statement is: "To provide scientific 

stewardship of marine data and information." This information includes physical, biological, and 

chemical measurements derived from in situ oceanographic observations, satellite remote 

sensing of the oceans, and ocean model simulations, including water temperature data dating 

back to the late 1700s and measuring thousands of meters deep. The U.S. NODC is also a regular 

member of the International Council for Science (ICSU) World Data System. 
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 Key NODC data sets include: 

 Global Ocean Heat and Salt Content 

 Jason-2 Ocean Surface Topography 

 Group for High Resolution Sea Surface Temperatures 

 Regional Climatologies for the Gulf of Mexico; and Arctic Ocean and surrounding seas 

 World Ocean Atlas and World Ocean Database 

 Argo Free Drifting Profiling Floats 

 NOAA Marine Environmental Buoy Database 

 Pathfinder Climate Data Records for sea surface temperature 

In addition, NODC has implemented numerous interoperable data technologies to enhance the 

discovery, understanding, and use of the vast quantities of oceanographic data in the NODC 

archives. Combined, these technologies enable NODC to provide access to its data holdings and 

products through some of the commonly-used standardized Web services. 

NODC also manages the NOAA Central Library, in Silver Spring, MD and the National Coastal 

Data Development Center (NCDDC), located in Stennis Space Center, MS. NCDDC provides 

coastal data management expertise including metadata training, while the NOAA Central Library 

provides scientific journals, rare books, historical photo collections, and maps. Working 

cooperatively, the data center divisions provide products and services to scientists, engineers, 

policy makers, and other users in the United States and around the world. 

Library and Information Services Division The NOAA Central Library, under the auspices of 

NODC, is located in Silver Spring, Maryland with satellite libraries in Miami, Florida, Seattle, 

Washington, and College Park, Maryland. They provide information and research support to 

NOAA staff and the public. The library also networks with over 30 NOAA libraries across the 

nation. Disciplines covered include weather and atmospheric sciences, oceanography, ocean 

engineering, nautical charting, marine ecology, marine resources, ecosystems, coastal studies, 

aeronomy, geodesy, cartography, mathematics and statistics. See www.lib.noaa.gov for more 

information. 

National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC) In 2000, NOAA established the National 

Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC) as the coastal division of the NODC at Stennis 

Space Center, Mississippi to provide a national capability for the "archive of, and access to the 

long-term coastal data record." Since its inception, NCDDC has been tasked to work closely with 

coastal data providers to ensure applicable data standards are employed on all data and 

associated metadata delivered through NCDDC as well to maintain a catalog of available coastal 

data and provide access to that data. NCDDC was chartered to broadly work with coastal data 

providers including Federal, State, local agencies, academic institutions, non-profit organizations 

and the private sector to create a "unified", long-term collection of coastal data. Most 

significantly, NCDDC is tasked to have strong science-based capacity and to produce 

retrospective analyses and trend information to help form the basis of environmental predictions 

and public policy. See www.ncddc.noaa.gov for more information. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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Marine Data Stewardship and Ocean Climate Laboratory Divisions The NODC Marine Data 

Stewardship Division (MDSD) and Ocean Climate Laboratory archive and distribute 

oceanographic data and develop products to better understand marine ecosystem dynamics for 

improved near real-time decision support and understanding of the processes affecting climate 

change. Division personnel ingest a wide variety of data from in situ ocean observation programs 

and satellite platforms; these data are managed, preserved, disseminated, and utilized in products 

that improve the understanding of the world oceans. 

The goal of the Marine Data Stewardship Division and the Ocean Climate Laboratory is to 

provide open access to archived oceanographic data and products to better understand oceanic 

processes for improved decision support. The Division focuses on end-to-end data stewardship, 

preserving and archiving oceanographic data and developing value-added data products. This 

includes: (1) Ensuring the data are properly archived and easily accessed by a wide range of 

users; (2) Generating authoritative long-term records; and (3) Using those climate data records to 

characterize and place the current state of the environment in its proper historical perspective. 

The Division improves the quality and utility of NODC's oceanographic data archives by using 

the data to perform scientific analyses, develop improved ocean climatologies for annual, 

seasonal, and monthly compositing periods, investigate interannual-to-decadal ocean climate 

variability using historical oceanographic data, build scientifically, quality-controlled global 

oceanographic databases, and facilitate international exchange of oceanographic data. 

NOAA/Office of Marine and Aviation Operations 

The NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) operates a fleet of survey ships 

and aircraft to support NOAA’s mission goals. NOAA’s ship fleet includes oceanographic and 

atmospheric research vessels. The NOAA aircraft fleet includes aircraft that collect 

environmental and geographic data essential to NOAA hurricane and other severe weather and 

atmospheric research and aircraft that conduct aerial surveys to forecast water supply and 

flooding potential from snow melt. 

NOAA vessels make weather and ocean observations in the marine environment. Over 50,000 

automated observations are submitted per year through the World Meteorological Organization’s 

(WMO) Voluntary Observing Ships scheme. NOAA vessels also support NOAA’s NDBC in 

recovery of buoys that have been disabled or gone adrift. 

NOAA supports a broad range of meteorological activities and projects with its fleet of aircraft, 

based at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. Three of its nine aircraft are dedicated to 

this purpose throughout the year, providing valuable information to NOAA and the Nation. The 

NOAA Gulfstream, G-IV (SP) (N49RF), provides scientists with a platform for the investigation 

of processes in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. With an operating ceiling of 45,000 

ft, the G-IV is a critical tool for obtaining the data necessary to improve hurricane track forecasts 

and for research leading to improvements in hurricane intensity forecasts. 

The NOAA G-IV annually supports hurricane synoptic surveillance missions; the aircraft flies in 

the environment surrounding the storm at a high altitude, releasing Global Positioning System 

(GPS)–equipped dropsondes at preselected locations. The data from these vertical atmospheric 

soundings are received, processed, and transmitted from the aircraft to a NOAA NCEP computer 
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site, where they are incorporated into computer models of hurricanes to improve hurricane track 

forecasts. Each dropsonde directly measure temperature, pressure, and humidity at the rate of 

two samples per second as it falls through the atmosphere to the surface and computes wind 

speed and wind direction at a rate of four samples per second, using a full-up GPS receiver. 

Recent estimates of the improvement in hurricane track predictions utilizing this technology 

show an improvement of between 20 and 30 percent, which represents a savings of $10 million 

or more per hurricane in warning and preparedness costs. 

Two NOAA WP-3D Lockheed Orion aircraft (N42RF and N43RF) support NOAA's 

atmospheric and oceanographic research, as well as its tropical storm and hurricane 

reconnaissance operations. The aircraft’s research and navigation systems provide detailed 

spatial and temporal observations of a wide range of atmospheric and oceanic parameters. 

NOAA’s Aircraft Operations Center (AOC) develops and calibrates specialized instruments, 

installs and integrates user-supplied instrumentation into the aircraft and data network, and 

processes data for immediate satellite transmission or future analysis. The NOAA WP-3D 

aircraft, while executing the complex flight patterns required for hurricane research, also provide 

storm data to the NHC in real time, transmitting flight level data and GPS dropsonde messages, 

as well as radar images transmitted via their multiple aircraft-satellite data links. The stepped 

frequency microwave radiometers (SFMR) on the NOAA WP-3D are used to map the surface 

wind fields in and around hurricanes and tropical storms. Real-time surface wind speed maps are 

critical to providing more accurate forecasts of the extent of hurricane and tropical storm force 

winds. 

During each hurricane season, the two NOAA WP-3Ds support several major research 

experiments in support of NOAA’s Hurricane Research Division (HRD) of NOAA’s Atlantic 

Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories in its Intensity Forecast Experiment (IFEX), an 

ongoing program studying hurricane genesis, rapid intensification, and other related experiments. 

A promising part of this research effort is the collaboration with NOAA’s EMC in a program to 

obtain three-dimensional horizontal wind fields in developing tropical systems and hurricanes, 

utilizing the Tail Doppler Radars of the WP-3D aircraft. The objective of this effort is to obtain 

data that can be assimilated into the Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) 

model for the purpose of improving hurricane intensity forecasts. Extensive descriptions of the 

various hurricane research experiments may be found in the HRD Field Program Plan for 2012. 

The NOAA WP-3D aircraft annually participate in both summer and winter operations 

supporting the NESDIS satellite validation program. Operating in regions of high winds and 

heavy precipitation, one of the WP-3Ds, equipped with microwave scatterometers and 

radiometers, provides under-flight validation of the ocean surface wind vectors sensed by the 

European ASCAT and Indian OceanWind2 satellites. Traditional venues for these satellite 

validation operations are Alaska or Newfoundland in the winter and the Atlantic and Caribbean 

regions during the summer hurricane season. 

These versatile aircraft also support international and interagency projects. Most recently the 

N43RF aircraft supported the FY 2012 Dynamics of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (DYNAMO) 

project from Diego Garcia. This project collected coordinated measurements in the atmosphere 

and ocean to capture process involved with the intra-seasonal variability such as the Madden-
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Julian Oscillation. The aircraft data will be used for evaluation and improvement of coupled 

atmosphere-ocean models. 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Basic Meteorological Services 

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is a long-term partner with the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for building and launching the U.S. 

Polar Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) and Geostationary Operational Environmental 

Satellite (GOES), civilian weather satellites, under reimbursable arrangements. Additionally, 

after the termination of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System 

(NPOESS) Program, NASA took on the role of the acquisition agency for the NOAA-funded 

Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) Program. Several missions, including the Ocean Surface 

Topography Mission (OSTM) and Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP), are 

NASA research missions that were developed in partnership with NOAA and are now being 

operated by NOAA as part of the operational weather system. Jason 3, which is under 

development by NOAA, is a follow-on to the TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1, OSTM series. In the 

President’s FY 2015 budget request, NASA assumes responsibility for the sustained climate 

measurements such as total solar irradiance, vertical ozone profiles and Earth’s radiation budget 

in the JPSS-2 (2021) timeframe. 

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS 

Interagency Collaborative Research Programs and Projects 

The National Earth System Prediction Capability 

The National Earth System Prediction Capability (ESPC) is an ongoing collaborative project 

among the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Navy, U.S. Air 

Force, Dept. of Energy (DOE), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the 

National Science Foundation (NSF). 

The ESPC program will provide a more accurate global ocean and atmospheric forecast system 

with longer skillful forecast times at synoptic, sub-seasonal, seasonal, and inter-annual scales 

through integrating and coupling global atmosphere, ocean, ice, land and near-space forecast 

models into an operational suite of prediction systems that reduce errors relative to current 

modeling approaches. Additionally, it will continue to develop a national common modeling 

architecture to improve cross-agency collaboration, emphasizing more efficient computational 

architectures to allow real-time high-resolution operational prediction at these extended time 

scales. In FY 2015, predictability demonstration plans will be refined, and science workshops 

and early benchmark testing will be conducted. The long range program goal is to advance 

skillful forecasts (relative to averaged climatology) from the operational capability, currently 7-

10 days, to 30 days and longer. Additional information can be found at: www.espc.oar.noaa.gov. 
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The United States Weather Research Program 

The United States Weather Research Program (USWRP) is an interagency program for weather 

research and the transition of research to applications. The member agencies include NOAA 

(lead), NASA, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Navy, and the Air Force. NOAA’s 

Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), through its Office of Weather and Air 

Quality, helps plan NOAA USWRP priorities, implements the program, and monitors progress. 

In FY 2015, the USWRP will include the following projects: 

The Joint Hurricane Testbed (JHT). The NOAA USWRP provides support for the JHT, to 

evaluate and transfer into operations, promising hurricane observational methods, analysis and 

forecast applications developed in the research community. JHT also establishes and maintains 

an infrastructure to facilitate the modification and transfer of research applications into the 

operational computing, communication, and display environment. This testbed is located at 

NCEP’s National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. USWRP will continue to support the JHT 

in FY 2015. 

The Hydrometeorological Testbed (HMT). The NOAA USWRP has invested in research and 

transition of research to applications to improve quantitative precipitation forecasts through 

NOAA’s HMT (http://hmt.noaa.gov/), led by the Physical Sciences Division (PSD) of 

NOAA/OAR/ESRL. The HMT conducts research and analyses to improve the understanding of 

extreme precipitation producing atmospheric phenomena and the development of prototype tools 

for flood and extreme precipitation forecasting. This support will continue as the HMT expands 

from the West Coast to a recently established field program in the southeast United States. This 

project is operated in collaboration with OAR’s ESRL, National Severe Storms Laboratory 

(NSSL), and NWS’s Weather Prediction Center. In 2014, the HMT at the Weather Prediction 

Center (HMT-WPC) conducted its fourth annual Winter Weather Experiment, focused on 

emerging short range microphysics-based snowfall forecasting techniques, as well as extending 

winter weather forecasts as much as a week in advance. 

The Hazardous Weather Testbed (HWT). The NOAA USWRP provides support for the 

development, testing, and evaluation of new severe weather forecast and warning techniques for 

use by forecasters in the National Weather Service (NWS). The HWT also develops new 

decision support tools and allows for direct interaction between researchers and forecasters.

Understanding Air Chemistry. The NOAA USWRP supports projects on air quality modeling 

improvements that benefit operational air quality forecasting. New techniques for using air 

chemistry data in the models are developed and tested in collaboration with NOAA’s Air 

Resources Laboratory (ARL) and the Earth Systems Research Laboratory’s (ESRL) Physical 

Sciences Division and Global Sciences Divisions. This research contributes to improving 

National Weather Service smoke, dust, and volcanic ash predictions so people can act to limit the 

adverse effects on human, surface transportation, and aviation. 

Social Sciences for a Weather Ready Nation. The NOAA USWRP funds social science research 

that enables NOAA to test research results that improve communication during dangerous 

weather situations. Topics addressed range from assessing NWS’s flood forecasting products to 
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understanding how the public understands tornado warning uncertainty to improve how the NWS 

communicates tornado warnings. 

Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation 

The Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation (JCSDA) is a USA partnership between NOAA, 

NASA, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Air Force dedicated to developing and improving our ability 

to exploit satellite data more effectively in environmental analyses and forecast models. The 

JCSDA is a collaborative effort that allows the development and testing of techniques required to 

assimilate the billions of satellite observations available daily to be shared by several agencies. 

This effort would otherwise be duplicated across the agencies. 

The JCSDA has the following goals: (1) Reduce the average time for operational implementation 

of data from new satellite sensors to less than one year, (2) Increase the use and impact of current 

satellite data in numerical weather prediction models, (3) Advance common data assimilation 

infrastructure and methods, and (4) Assess the impacts of data from advanced satellite sensors on 

environmental predictions. By meeting these goals, the JCSDA achieves its objective of 

maximizing the nation’s return on its investment in global observing systems and modeling, and 

providing improvements to the U.S. forecasting system (civilian and military), which in turn 

contributes to protecting citizens lives and property and the nation’s global interests. 

Wind Forecast Improvement Project 

DOE and NOAA have recently completed 

positive efforts to improve wind forecasting for 

wind power and utility system operators through 

the Wind Forecasting Improvement Project 

(WFIP 1.0). The project targeted the Upper 

Midwest and West Texas, increasing the number 

of atmospheric observations in the region as 

input to the mesoscale models improved initial 

conditions and analyzing the resulting 

improvement in wind plant forecasts. The 

primary objective was to improve the shorter 

term forecast – thus lowering the risk to the wind 

industry on 0-6 hour forecasts (mainly ramps) 

and day-ahead forecasts. Wind plant operators 

utilize the foundation forecasts as input for 

individual wind plant operations. The benefits of these efforts not only include better 

optimization of wind plant operations in the short term, but also reduction in spinning reserves in 

the day-ahead period, and valuable information to aid efficient wind plant siting and design for 

yearly and wind plant operations through the lifetime of the turbines. Thus improving the 

foundational model forecasts of wind plant inflow will lower cost to utilities of wind-derived 

electric power for all users, helping to enable wind as a cost-competitive energy alternative and 

leading to a larger penetration into the Nation’s energy portfolio. 

Wind turbines located in the North Site of the 

WFIP 1.0 Project Area. Photo Courtesy of 

WindLogics. 
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WFIP 1.0 demonstrated that, with added observational systems, capturing detailed data on wind 

speed and direction in the lower planetary boundary layer, initial conditions of the models could 

be improved leading to greater accuracy in predicting short-term ramp events with verified and 

consistent improvements within the 0-14 hour time frame. The observations included in the 

WFIP were wind profiling radars, sodars, lidars, and wind measurements from hub height 

anemometers and tall towers. 

WFIP 1.0 was a success for developing public-private partnerships towards a common end goal 

– resolving a scientific challenge. For WFIP 1.0, wind energy companies shared meteorological 

observations collected on tall towers and wind turbines on wind farms with NOAA, who used the 

data for model verification and validation, as well as assimilation into its advanced, rapidly 

refreshed weather models. NOAA and DOE have for several years been encouraging renewable 

energy companies to sign data sharing agreements under which NOAA will maintain the 

proprietary nature of such data, while using them for research and operational weather forecasts 

to reduce risk for the wind industry. 

DOE and NOAA will build on these efforts through a new effort, the Wind Forecasting 

Improvement Project in Complex Terrain (WFIP 2.0), which will develop further improvements 

to foundational atmospheric model physics in predicting wind ramp and day-ahead events for 

areas of complex terrain. WFIP 2.0 will focus on improving the physical understanding of 

atmospheric processes which directly impact the wind industry forecasts and incorporating the 

new understanding into the foundational weather forecasting models. The awardee, in 

partnership with DOE, NOAA, and a Balancing Authority (BA), will conduct a field campaign 

in an area of complex terrain to assess how physical processes alter wind speeds at hub heights. 

From this research, the team will work to develop physical modeling schemes or atmospheric 

theories that can be incorporated in foundational weather models to improve wind forecasting. 

DOE headquarters will contribute funding for WFIP 2.0 and scientific expertise from four of 

national research laboratories, while NOAA will contribute scientific expertise in collecting 

atmospheric data and in executing weather models and forecasts. The FOA winner for WFIP 2 

will be an integral part of the team and work in all these areas where possible. The WFIP 

projects are the first large-scale projects in a growing number of joint agency efforts under a 

Memorandum of Understanding on “Weather-dependent and Oceanic Renewable Energy 

Resources” signed by NOAA and DOE in January 2011. The agreement set up a framework for 

NOAA and DOE to work together on renewable energy modeling and forecasting. 

NOAA/National Weather Service/Environmental Modeling Center 

Continually improving the accuracy, timeliness, and accessibility to prediction services is a result 

of research and development (R&D) within the NWS, at other NOAA offices such as OAR, and 

externally from universities and private corporations. NCEP/EMC uses advanced modeling 

methods developed both internally and cooperatively with universities, the international 

scientific community, NESDIS, OAR, and other government agencies. EMC is a partner in the 

JCSDA, which is designed to accelerate the use of research and operational satellite data in 

NCEP operational models. The EMC conducts applied research and technology transfers and 

publishes results in various media for dissemination to the world meteorological, oceanographic, 

and climate communities. EMC also participates in ongoing interactive research programs such 
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as NOAA’s Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project (HFIP) and the WRF community model. 

Furthermore, EMC efforts in collaborative development resulted in improvements to mesoscale 

and global models, as well as advances in hurricane track forecasts, climate forecasts, and air 

quality forecasts. 

NOAA/Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project (HFIP) 

HFIP contributes significantly to NOAA's forecast services through improved hurricane forecast 

science and technology. HFIP provides the unifying organizational infrastructure and funding 

for NOAA and other agencies to coordinate the hurricane research needed to significantly 

improve guidance for hurricane track, intensity, and storm surge forecasts and accelerate the 

transition from research to operations. HFIP is in the fifth year of its mission to reduce track 

and intensity errors, increase the probability of detection and decrease the false alarm ratio for 

rapid intensification and extend the lead-time for hurricane forecasts out to seven days. HFIP 

approaches meeting those goals by improving existing numerical forecast systems through a 

regimen of revising, testing, refining and implementing promising technologies. HFIP 

developed a high-performance computing system housed at the NOAA Skaggs Building in 

Boulder, Colorado to support the significant computational demands of such an approach. With 

the computational infrastructure, HFIP focuses multi-organizational activities to research, 

develop, demonstrate and implement enhanced operational modeling capabilities, dramatically 

improving the numerical forecast guidance made available to National Hurricane Center (NHC). 

Participants include Federal laboratories and academic partners. Prior to each hurricane season, 

NHC reviews and selects a set of enhanced experimental guidance products they will evaluate 

operationally during the season. HFIP runs an experimental forecast exercise on the highperformance computing system in Boulder to provide the selected products to NHC forecasters. 

HFIP’s structured approach accelerates bringing promising technologies and techniques from the 

research community into operations. In particular, HFIP has successfully 

 aligned focused research efforts within NOAA and with NOAA’s interagency and 

academic partners; 

 established a process to leverage outside research capabilities in support of project 

objectives (Federally funded grantees working within a community code repository); 

 defined and implemented a solution (the seasonal, real-time experimental forecast 

system) to accelerate research into operational products; and 

 established a high performance computing infrastructure and attendant protocols to 

support research-to-operations activities. 

NOAA/National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service 

Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) 

STAR’s mission is to create satellite data products using observations of the land, atmosphere, 

and ocean and transfer those products from research into routine operations. In addition, STAR 

supports the assimilation of the data from new satellite instruments into NOAA’s numerical 

prediction models. STAR calibrates the Earth-observing instruments of all NOAA satellites to 
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provide reliable measurements for assessing the current conditions on Earth in a timely manner, 

predicting changes in conditions, and studying long-term trends in the environment. STAR 

works to create products that monitor atmospheric, oceanic, and environmental hazards; enhance 

NOAA’s infrastructure for remote sensing; reduce the risks associated with launching new, untested, and very expensive satellites and sensors; and expand its support to satellite data users. 

Selected STAR Projects 

Improving the Prediction of the Formation and Evolutioon of Derechos and Associated 

Micreburts. STAR is using a combination of several satellite products (i.e., vertical temperature 

and humidity lapse rates, convective potential, etc.) throughout the atmosphere to help predict 

the formation and evolution of strong convective storm winds that occur in derechos and their 

associated microbursts. A new algorithm, the Microburst Windspeed Potential Index (MWPI), is 

being tested using current Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) 

measurements. The GOES MWPI is being evaluated by NWS to assess its ability to improve 

forecasts of these events and is expected to be in operation by early 2016. Potential applications 

are assisting airports in planning for closures, rerouting of open ocean transit, and providing 

early warning to the general public. 

GOES Microburst Windspeed Potential Index (MWPI) product image at 2200 UTC 12 May 

2014. The color-coded legend at the bottom of the image associates index values with 

microburst wind gust potential (in knots). Note the high concentration of severe wind reports 

(wind > 50 knots) over the upper Midwest in proximity to high index values (> 50, red color). 

Real-time experimental product images are available on STAR MWPI product page: 

http://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/smcd/opdb/kpryor/mburst/mwpi.html 
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Precipitation Estimation Using Satellite Observations. Precipitation estimation data from 

satellites provide a critical supplement to other sources of rainfall information for flood and flash 

flood forecasting, water resources applications, and a myriad of other uses. In many parts of the 

world, satellites represent the only reliable source of rainfall information. Data from GOES 

instruments sensing in the infrared and visible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum provide 

high-resolution, rapidly-updated rainfall information for hazardous-weather applications. More 

accurate estimates of rainfall can be derived from microwave-frequency instruments onboard 

POES and Suomi NPP, but their less frequent updating makes them more suitable for longer 

term water monitoring. In FY 2015, NOAA will continue to develop the algorithms for the next 

generation of NOAA’s GOES. In addition, modifications to the current generation of algorithms 

will be explored in search of better ways to serve the users of these data.

Leading the Suomi NPP/JPSS Sensor Data Record (SDR) teams to ensure high levels of data 

maturity and quality. In FY 2012, STAR scientists successfully led the Suomi/NPP/JPSS Sensor 

Data Record (SDR) teams, ensuring achieving high levels of SDR data maturity and quality for 

global weather, water, climate and other environmental applications. The SDRs are the 

fundamental building blocks for all applications of its satellite data. The maturity and quality of 

the SDRs are critical for the success of the Suomi NPP/JPSS mission and its timely transition to 

operations. A high level of Suomi NPP/JPSS satellite data maturity allows weather forecasters 

to improve their forecast scores, modelers to make better predictions, and users to monitor the 

earth and disastrous events more accurately to benefit society. The Suomi NPP SDR data have 

already been tested globally with very positive feedback for numerous applications including 

weather forecasting, ocean monitoring, fire monitoring, power outage detection, and other 

applications to benefit the public. Future work in this area will continue to allow users and the 

general public to gain access to the Suomi NPP data for numerical weather prediction, ocean and 

environmental monitoring, and climate change detection. 

NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) 

The OAR Research Laboratories and Programs conduct an integrated program of research, 

technology development, and services to improve the understanding of the Earth’s atmosphere 

and to describe and predict changes occurring to it. OAR programs, laboratories and their field 

stations are located across the country. Scientists study, monitor and model atmospheric and 

other processes that affect weather, air quality, water resources, and climate. By researching 

Earth’s atmospheric system, OAR improves the understanding of weather and intense events 

such as hurricanes, tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in addition to seasonal droughts, and the 

next century’s climate. OAR integrates these findings into environmental information products 

for weather support for aviation, hydrometeorology, emergency response, and climate. These 

products improve critical weather and climate tools used by the private sector, government 

agencies, decision-makers, and the public.

OAR Laboratories and Programs 

Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) 

ARL supports basic meteorological products and services through research and development in 

atmospheric dispersion, air quality, and boundary layer science. Primary research activities and 
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programs are 1) using the ARL-developed Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated 

Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model to track the transport, dispersion and fate of harmful chemicals and 

materials; 2) providing the Real-time Environmental Applications and Display sYstem 

(READY) that allows users to access and display meteorological data and run trajectory and 

dispersion model products on ARL's web server; 3) improving air quality forecasting models to 

address health issues associated with ground-level ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) 

for NOAA and other researchers; and 4) designing, developing, and deploying meteorological and 

turbulence instrumentation for use on land and in the air. 

In FY15, ARL will: 

 Continue to apply the HYSPLIT model to track and forecast, as needed, the release of 

radioactive material, volcanic ash, dust, and wildfire smoke, and other hazardous 

materials. ARL will continue to provide HYSPLIT-Mercury assessments for the Great 

Lakes Restoration Initiative. 

 Continue collaborations with NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration which have 

resulted in the incorporation of the CAMEO/Aloha chemical source term model into the 

READY HYSPLIT interface. The end product is a one-stop tool for the emergency 

response community to use to model local to global scale events. 

 Continue the development of a five- year re-analysis dataset, generated using the 

Community Multi-scale Air Quality model, to address O3 and PM2.5 for the benefit of the 

air quality and climate research communities. 

Generate a new forecast product using data from the Joint Polar Satellite System to link ocean 

isoprene emissions to changes in ozone and aerosols that affect air quality and climate Prepare 

and deploy the Best Aircraft Turbulence probe as part of the Fluxes of Carbon from an Airborne 

Laboratory (FOCAL) system) for a study over the permafrost regions of Alaska. 

Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) 

AOML conducts mission oriented scientific research that seeks to understand the physical, 

chemical, and biological characteristics and processes of the ocean and atmosphere, both 

separately and as a coupled system. The Laboratory's research themes (oceans and climate, 

coastal ecosystems, and hurricanes and tropical meteorology) employ a cross-disciplinary 

approach, conducted through collaborative interactions with national and international research 

and environmental forecasting institutions. The work also provides reliable information based 

on oceanic and atmospheric measurements and analysis. 

AOML scientists study atmospheric and oceanic processes that affect tropical cyclones, 

tornadoes, rainfall (drought), and climate impacts on weather. In addition to research, AOML 

serves as the operational data center for several programs that directly improve weather services 

through providing in situ observations from Argo profiling floats, surface drifters and the Pirata 

Northeast Extension. Research includes improved understanding and application development 

surrounding physical processes like the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomena, North 

Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), tropical Atlantic variability, the Meridional Overturning Cell, winddriven gyres in the Atlantic, the global carbon cycle, and other climatically-relevant atmospheric 
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compounds. Of particular note includes AOML research into tropical Cyclones and ocean 

observing technologies. 

Ocean Observing Technologies. In addition to the many weather-related observing systems, 

AOML is dedicated to improving the development, deployment, and monitoring of 

oceanographic-related observing technologies and related data in support of meteorology 

forecasts. As part of this effort, AOML collaborates with the National Weather Service to gather 

and transmit in real-time marine weather observations from ship-based observations. The 

AMVER SEAS 2K, a real-time ship and environmental data acquisition and transmission system 

(developed and support by AOML), reports atmospheric and oceanographic data from Ship of 

Opportunity Program. AOML also manages the Global Drifter Program, the Argo profiling float 

data assembly center, and the XBT data assembly center that provide real-time oceanic 

observations to help improve weather forecast models. 

Tropical Cyclone Research. To improve tropical cyclone track and intensity forecast guidance, 

AOML’s Hurricane Research Division (HRD) uses in situ and remotely sensed data collected by 

aircraft, satellites, and buoys and computer model simulations of the inner core of tropical 

cyclones and their surrounding environment. An aircraft field program is used to gather datasets 

representing all stages of the storm’s lifecycle; these datasets are used to both support operational 

needs and provide the cornerstone of HRD’s research to advance the understanding and 

prediction of tropical cyclones. The observations are primarily collected during the hurricane 

season using two NOAA turboprop aircraft and a Gulfstream-IV jet operated by NOAA’s AOC. 

HRD’s major objectives are the assimilation and evaluation of the new G-IV tail Doppler radar 

observations to improve forecast guidance, evaluation of the Global Hawk unmanned aircraft 

systems (UAS) observations to improve forecast guidance in collaboration with the NASA 

Hurricane Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) program, and collecting observations specifically to 

evaluate the atmospheric and oceanic boundary layer physical parameterizations used in 

NOAA’s operational Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) model. As part of 

the OAR Sandy Supplemental supported research activities, HRD will evaluate and assess the 

benefits of using new and emerging observing technologies consisting of aircraft-deployed low 

altitude UAS and Doppler wind lidar (DWL) profiling systems to improve forecast guidance 

through evaluation of and improvements to the physical parameterization routines used in 

HWRF. 

HRD is also the principal OAR component of NOAA’s Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project 

(HFIP). Begun in 2009, the HFIP is a unified 10-year NOAA plan to improve the 1-day to 5-day 

forecasts for tropical cyclone activity, with a focus on rapid intensity change. Researchers at 

HRD, together with 2-3 researchers at OAR’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), 

5-6 researchers at ESRL, and 5-6 researchers at NCEP/EMC make up the NOAA core capability 

for hurricane R&D and play a major role in the HFIP. The objectives of the HFIP are to 

coordinate hurricane-related R&D within the NOAA entities mentioned above and to broaden 

their interactions with the outside research community in order to address NOAA’s operational 

hurricane forecast needs. 

In support of OAR’s Sandy Supplemental supported High Impact Weather Prediction Project 

(HIWPP), HRD is collaborating with NCEP/EMC to accelerate the development of a fully two-
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way interactive moving nested, multi scale, non-hydrostatic modeling system based on EMCdeveloped Nonhydrostatic Multiscale Model on B-grid (NMM-B) in the NOAA Environmental 

Modeling System (NEMS) framework. Multiple HWRF-like nests will be designed to operate at 

about 3 km resolution within a basin-scale and global version of NMM-B to capture tropical 

cyclone inner core process and interactions with the large-scale environment, critical for 

improving track, intensity, rainfall and size predictions. 

Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) 

At NOAA’s largest research facility, the Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL), scientists 

(from four complementary divisions) study and monitor atmospheric and other processes that 

affect weather, air quality, water resources, and climate. By researching the dynamic Earth 

system, ESRL improves understanding of what causes today’s weather, next month’s hurricanes, 

next season’s drought, and next century’s climate. ESRL integrates these findings into 

environmental information products from weather support for aviation, fire weather, to methods 

that improve critical weather and climate tools used by the private sector, government agencies, 

decision-makers, and the public. ESRL research is so comprehensive that it is impossible to give 

each program or project equal mention. The following highlight a very small portion of products 

and services provided by ESRL. 

ESRL provides long-term, high quality observations of atmospheric composition that are critical 

for understanding changes in the Earth system. These observations are used worldwide by 

scientists studying climate, air quality, and ozone-depletion. They form the core of international 

observing systems and are critical for delivering updates of key products such as CarbonTracker, 

the NOAA Annual Greenhouse Gas Index (a national climate indicator), methane climatologies, 

CO2 trends (daily updates; a national climate indicator), the Ozone-Depleting Gas Index, 

GlobalView, and other long-term atmospheric composition data sets and products. They are 

used to set standards for GCOS, GEOSS, and WMO Global Atmosphere Watch. These 

observations stem from 6 global baseline observatories, ESRL-operated observing networks for 

stratospheric and tropospheric ozone, aerosols, surface radiation, ozone-depleting gases, and 

greenhouse gases, and a system of tall towers and aircraft observations across North America. 

ESRL carries out process studies which improve understanding of the physics and dynamics 

associated with weather and other atmospheric phenomena. In FY15, ESRL will be the lead 

investigator on CalWater2, a broad interagency observing strategy with a major field campaign 

planned for early 2015 to study atmospheric rivers (ARs) and aerosol-cloud-precipitation 

interactions along the U.S. West Coast with the goal of improving the forecasts of extreme 

precipitation events. Facilities consist of the NOAA R/V Ron Brown and 3 research aircraft 

including the NOAA WP-3D and G-IV and the DOE G-1 in addition to the NOAA 

HydroMeteorological Network (HMT). An early start campaign was successfully completed in 

February 2014 with the NOAA G-IV consisting of 12 research flights in AR-related phenomena 

in the Eastern Pacific. ESRL is active in Arctic research. This year ESRL will submit a report 

on the NOAA Science Challenge Workshop on the Arctic (held in Boulder in May 2014) that 

includes a summary of the workshop findings with recommendations for NOAA actions for the 

next 5-10 years. 
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ESRL works with NOAA’s National Weather Service, other federal agencies, and private 

companies to transition technologies into operations. In 2014 the number of NOAA patented 

Science of a Sphere installations surpassed 100 world-wide. One of ESRL’s most notable areas 

of achievement is development and R2A of numerical weather prediction products. Over the 

past several years, ESRL has developed NWP models such as the Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) 

and Rapid Refresh (RAP) and transitioned them to NWS operations. The RUC was NOAA’s 

operational North American forecast model for over a decade until it was replaced by the RAP. 

The RAP is NOAA’s current hourly updating model that forecasts weather for North America on 

a 13km grid. The RAP was made for those who need frequent forecast updates of high-impact 

weather, including those in the aviation, energy, and severe weather forecasting communities. 

Version 2 of the RAP was transitioned to NWS operations in 2014 and continues to be updated. 

The RAP will be replaced by the High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model which will 

represent a significant new level of capability in the numerical weather prediction arena. HRRR 

is a real-time 3-km resolution, hourly updated, cloud-resolving atmospheric model, initialized by 

3-km grids with 3-km radar assimilation. 

Over the next year, ESRL in the process of transitioning the following technologies to 

operations: 

 The High Resolution Rapid Refresh numerical weather model is scheduled to be 

transitioned to NWS operations by September 2014. 

 The Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System (MADIS) is being transitioned is 

scheduled for full operations at NWS in 2015. MADIS collects, integrates, quality 

controls, and distributes high-frequency weather data from both NOAA and non-NOAA 

sources. 

 ESRL signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the private 

sector to conduct collaborative research and development pertaining to deriving and 

improving Global Positioning System/Global Navigation Satellite System neutral 

atmospheric measurements known as GPS_Met. ESRL intends to transfer the existing 

NOAA GPS_Met data acquisition and processing system technology by the end of the 

year. 

ESRL develops, operates and manages high-performance computer systems that enable running 

many of NOAA’s experimental weather models. These enhanced technologies speed up 

computing by 20-30 times and allow massive amounts of data to run at higher spatial resolutions 

providing increased weather forecast accuracy. 

ESRL develops state-of-the-art forecast and decision-support systems to improve collaboration 

and decision-making between forecasters, emergency managers, and the public. These decision 

support systems provide decision-makers with additional tools to help them issue and 

communicate timely and accurate hazard information. Three systems currently in operational 

use include: Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS), The Meteorological 

Assimilation Data Ingest System (MADIS), Hazard Services, and Integrated Support for 

Impacted Air-Traffic Environments (INSITE). 

ESRL research provides a scientific basis for efforts to improve air quality, and will continue to 

monitor long-lived gases in Earth’s changing atmosphere to advance understanding of climate-
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related effects of short-lived pollutants, atmospheric particles, and their interactions with clouds. 

Additionally ESRL will continue collaboration with USDA/USFS to identify and quantify 

emissions of gases and aerosols from burning of different biomass materials for improvement of 

forecast models that provide air quality information to the public and to responders on-scene at 

wildland fires. They will continue participation in the Tropospheric Ozone Lidar Network 

(TOLNet) to further understanding of processes in the atmospheric boundary layer that affect 

ozone and aerosols. 

In FY15, researchers will conduct intensive field studies in regions of oil and gas exploration and 

development to evaluate emissions of volatile organic compounds and greenhouse gases, their 

impact on downwind air quality, and their impact on climate. These studies include SONGNEX 

aboard the NOAA P3 aircraft and Fugitive Emissions aboard the NOAA DHC6 aircraft. 

Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) 

The Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) mission is to advance scientific 

understanding of climate and its natural and anthropogenic variations and impacts, and improve 

NOAA’s predictive capabilities, through the development and use of world-leading computer 

models of the Earth System. GFDL scientists focus on model-building relevant for society, such 

as hurricane research, prediction, and seasonal forecasting, and understanding global and 

regional climate change. GFDL research encompasses the predictability and sensitivity of global 

and regional climate; the structure, variability, dynamics and interaction of the atmosphere and 

the ocean; and the ways that the atmosphere and oceans influence, and are influenced by various 

trace constituents. The scientific work of the Laboratory incorporates a variety of disciplines 

including meteorology, oceanography, hydrology, classical physics, fluid dynamics, chemistry, 

applied mathematics, and numerical analysis. 

Research at GFDL improves our understanding of atmospheric circulations, ranging in scale 

from hurricanes to extratropical storms and the general circulation, with an emphasis on extreme 

weather events and the interplay between weather phenomena and climate variability and change 

at regional scales. High-resolution atmospheric models with comprehensive treatment of 

physical processes are central tools in this work. 

Ongoing research will continue to explore a potential breakthrough in predicting seasonal 

hurricane activity: atmospheric models forced with observed SST can skillfully predict the 

interannual variability of the number of hurricanes in the Atlantic, showing that the random part 

of this annual Atlantic hurricane frequency (the part not predictable given the SSTs) is relatively 

small. Identifying the processes that are key to determining tropical cyclone frequency may 

allow us to extend dynamical forecast lead-time toward one year. GFDL will also continue to 

improve statistical methods for using coupled climate models to develop long-lead-time forecasts 

of seasonal hurricane activity, and experimental forecasts will continue to be updated on GFDL’s 

website. Even longer lead-time predictions are targeted through a vigorous research program on 

decadal variability, predictability, and predictions. At the heart of that program are efforts to 

better understand physical processes that contribute to decadal variations and predictability in the 

climate system, particularly in terms of the role of the ocean as a driver of decadal-scale 

variations. Augmenting this research are decadal hindcast and prediction experiments yielding 

model-produced “predictions” for each year from 1961 to 2011. The ongoing analysis of these 
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simulations seeks to evaluate whether predictive skill for near-term (decadal) climate forecasts is 

increased when starting from the observed state of the climate system, in addition to the 

predictive skill that arises from changing radiative forcing. Preliminary assessments of the 

predictive skill in these simulations reveal that they have skill that is at least comparable to other 

international efforts. 

Complementing this effort is research to improve our understanding of the interactive threedimensional radiative-dynamical-chemical-hydrological structure of the climate system, from the 

surface and troposphere to the upper stratosphere and mesosphere, on various time and space 

scales. Continued research in FY15 will focus on a better understanding of the response of 

global and regional climate to natural and anthropogenic aerosol emissions. GFDL’s worldleading high-resolution models use the very latest numerical techniques to provide extremely 

energetic, realistic simulations of the climate system. Through their use in FY15, GFDL seeks to 

further scientific understanding of the role of the ocean and atmospheric constituents in climate 

variability and change, on regional to global scales. This research continues to exploit NOAA’s 

high performance computing capability housed at DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 

Despite the relatively high computational cost, GFDL scientists believe it is critical to move to 

regional-scale high-resolution climate models to better understand the causes and predictability 

of decadal-scale climate fluctuations, as well as the role of the ocean in critical climate change 

issues, such as oceanic heat uptake. 

Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) 

The Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) develops and operates 

technology for scientific observations in the Great Lakes ecosystem. GLERL scientists acquire 

the data and develop information needed to improve our understanding of the Great Lakes 

ecosystem and support decision-making for improved resource management. Advancements in 

areas such as remote sensing, the miniaturization of sensors, and other data-gathering 

technologies have vastly increased the data gathering capacity of the scientific community. 

Additionally, GLERL tests and applies models for predicting the effects of natural and humangenerated changes on the Great Lakes environment. Modeling of the atmosphere, lakes, seasonal 

changes in ice cover, and the ecosystem dynamics of the lakes adds to our understanding of how 

the Great Lakes basin changes over the course of months and years. GLERL research on regional 

climate projections is based on atmospheric and coupled hydrodynamics-ice-ecosystem models. 

Research tools are designed to examine the effects of climate on regional air temperature, 

precipitation, water levels, lake temperature and thermal structure, ice cover, and ecological 

changes and trends. 

In FY 15, priorities for the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) include 

continuing research, development, and transfer of remote sensing products from the Great Lakes 

CoastWatch Node. GLERL will focus on satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and moderate 

resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) ice classification and mapping. GLERL will 

also focus on continued data collection and analysis for the advancement of ice-ocean ecosystem 

modeling in the Artic. GLERL’s hydrologic modeling program will advance the GLERL 

hydrometeorological database, improve Great Lakes basin runoff and evaporation estimates, and 

continue to enhance the Great Lakes hydroclimate dashboard. GLERL will continue efforts on 

regional climate projection impact assessment and historic trends analysis. GLERL will assess 
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the similarity and differences between model runs from the Coupled Hydrosphere-Atmosphere 

Research Model (CHARM) with model runs from other GCMs. GLERL will continue to develop 

and validate modeling systems that contribute directly to projection of the overall water budget 

and levels of the Great Lakes, as well as enhances understanding of relevant climate change 

processes on a regional scale. 

National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) 

NSSL seeks to improve the accuracy and timeliness of forecasts and warnings of hazardous 

weather events such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, flash floods, lightning, winter storms, and their 

associated impacts. Moving research to operations is a core part of NSSL’s mission. After more 

than a decade of development, testing and experimental evaluation, NSSL, in collaboration with 

the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), is bringing the Multi-Radar/MultiSensor (MRMS) system to NWS operations. MRMS consolidates and “cleans up” data from a 

wide variety of sources including radars, satellites, and surface observations to provide 

forecasters with the best-possible real-time analysis of the atmosphere at any location. This 

system has shown considerable improvement in radar-based rainfall estimates and provides 

forecasters with an ability to “mine” the data set to extract new types of aviation, severe and 

hydrologic weather information. By placing high-quality, remotely-sensed data in a threedimensional framework accessible to NWS forecasters, MRMS will be opening the door to 

exciting new possibilities in improving severe weather warnings and forecasts. 

Weather Radar Research. The NWS has recently completed the dual polarization hardware 

upgrade (developed by NSSL) to the WSR-88D to provide enhanced capability. NSSL is 

working to improve the WSR-88D software algorithms including the polarimetric Hydrometeor 

Classification Algorithm (HCA) by extending the types of precipitation automatically classified 

by the radar to winter weather precipitation types and hail size discrimination. NSSL is also 

actively engaged in a risk reduction activity for the Multifunction Phased Array Radar (MPAR) 

technology with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and industry in designing and 

testing dual-polarized phased array radar panels required to determine the feasibility of using 

MPAR as the replacement technology for weather and aircraft surveillance radars (i.e. multifunction). Two important accomplishments occurred this past year: 1) Dual- polarization phased 

array radar panels were developed through engagement of industry partners (primary risk 

reduction element) and 2) “adaptive” scanning strategies were developed using the National 

Weather Radar Testbed (NWRT), allowing for more frequent updating from the phased array 

radar. In addition, the potential impact of the faster updates has been systematically assessed 

through experimental warning exercises with NWS forecasters in the Hazardous Weather 

Testbed. The major MPAR risk reduction activities for FY14 are to demonstrate multi-function 

capability on the NWRT and to continue evaluating the small dual-polarized phased array radar 

panel. 

NSSL is also actively engaged in a risk reduction activity for the Multifunction Phased Array 

Radar (MPAR) technology. Since 2003, NSSL has improved the capabilities of the National 

Weather Radar Testbed (NWRT) to demonstrate the potential of PAR technology to 

simultaneously perform aircraft tracking and weather surveillance. Emphasis has been placed in 

developing proof-of-concept strategies for focused and tailored observations of weather; more 

recently, the NWRT software was upgraded to enable the demonstration of scheduling 
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algorithms for multifunction operation. Case studies and Phased Array Radar Innovative Sensing 

Experiments held in the HWT are examining the importance of these data to understanding 

severe storm processes and improving the accuracy of severe thunderstorm and tornado 

warnings. With the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and industry, NSSL is involved in 

designing and testing dual-polarized PAR panels required to determine the feasibility of using 

MPAR as the replacement technology for weather and aircraft surveillance radars (see section 3, 

Aviation Services). 

High Impact Hazardous Weather Research. NSSL is taking the lead on a groundbreaking 

project called Warn-on-Forecast (WoF). This research project aims to create computer-model 

projections that accurately predict storm-scale phenomena such as tornadoes, large hail, and 

extreme localized rainfall. The goal of WoF is to provide NWS forecasters with reliable 

guidance for the likelihood of each of these phenomena at any location up to an hour before they 

strike, enabling a new early-warning paradigm for extreme localized weather events. 

NSSL is actively engaged in several lightning research projects, including three different 

approaches to the assimilation of lightning data into forecast models (e.g., nudging water vapor 

mixing ratio to force convection in the WRF-ARW, employing an operator to assimilate 

lightning data into an EnKF model, and investigating relationships between lightning bursts and 

changes in the intensity of inner-wall convection of hurricanes). 

Revitalizig the Warning Decision Process. NSSL is working with the NWS to develop a new 

vision for the warning decision process, which continues to evolve as scientists and engineers 

work toward integrating the next-generation radar technology (e.g., rapid scanning phased array 

radar) and storm-scale numerical models to create a storm-scale ensemble prediction capability 

for the NWS. Within the next decade, NSSL envisions operational units using WoF 

methodology; for example, a forecaster will use thunderstorm-resolving computer models for 

severe weather warnings in the same way as he/she does today with the current Doppler radar 

systems. To make the best use of these technological advances, NSSL is collaborating with the 

NWS in the exploration and development of a new paradigm for hazardous weather forecasting 

known as Forecasting a Continuum of Environmental Threats (FACETs). FACETs is intended 

to move the NWS from a deterministic, binary, product-centric system to one in which a rapidlyupdated, high-resolution stream of (probabilistic) hazardous weather information, fed by current 

and future scientific tools (e.g., WoF, PAR) can be optimized for user-specific decision making. 

As such, FACETs represents a fundamental change in the nation’s hazardous weather forecasting 

system. 

Office of Weather and Air Quality (OWAQ) 

NOAA’s Office of Weather and Air Quality (OWAQ) improves weather and air chemistry 

forecast information and products by funding, facilitating, and coordinating research. By 

working with scientists and academic partners, this research is transitioned into useful weather 

applications, watches and warnings to protect the lives and property of the American public and 

inform weather-sensitive U.S. industry. OWAQ provides outreach, linkages, and coordination 

between NOAA, other Government agencies, academia, the private sector, and non-profit 

research partnerships, particularly NOAA’s Cooperative Institutes and Cooperative Science 
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Centers. OWAQ additionally supports social science studies to test research results that improve 

communication during dangerous weather situations. 

In FY15, OWAQ will continue supporting projects through the U.S. Weather Research Program 

(USWRP) to improve high-impact weather forecasting and also improve NOAA’s global 

modeling system from days to months through the Earth System Prediction Capability (ESPC) 

project. ESPC is a joint federal agency program that will provide a more accurate global ocean 

and atmospheric forecast system with longer skillful forecast times at synoptic, sub-seasonal, 

seasonal, and inter-annual scales through integrating and coupling global atmosphere, ocean, ice, 

land and near-space forecast models into an operational suite of prediction systems that reduce 

errors relative to current modeling approaches. OWAQ will also support testbeds and highresolution numerical model improvements to enable better high-impact weather forecasts, 

including tropical cyclones and extreme precipitation. In addition, studies to simulate 

observations from proposed observing systems and use in weather forecasting models will help 

determine the impact on forecast skill, while projects on air quality modeling will contribute to 

improving National Weather Service smoke, dust, and volcanic ash predictions. OWAQ will also 

fund social science research that helps to understand how society uses and interprets weather 

information and how to improve the communication of weather information to the public. 

Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) 

Meteorological research at PMEL focuses on air-sea interaction research in the Gulf of Alaska 

Bering Sea, and Chukchi Sea, as part of PMEL’s Ecosystem-Fisheries Oceanography 

Coordinated Investigations (EcoFOCI) project, conducted jointly with NOAA’s National Marine 

Fisheries Service/Alaska Fisheries Science Center. Financial support for the research is provided 

by NOAA, NSF, the North Pacific Research Board (NPRB), and the DOI/Bureau of Ocean 

Energy Management (BOEM). 

PMEL’s ocean climate research programs collect surface meteorological data from moored 

buoys and report in near-real time for ingest into global models. Data from PMEL’s PIRATA 

and RAMA tropical observing systems in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and from PMEL’s 

ocean climate stations at Ocean Weather Station Papa (Gulf of Alaska) and the Kuroshio 

Extension Observatory in the Northwest Pacific report surface meteorological data. 

PMEL conducts research on atmospheric aerosols and their impact on air quality and climate. In 

2015, PMEL is leading the Western Atlantic Climate Study - II (WACS-II). The purpose of the 

project is to characterize the chemical and meteorological processes that transform aerosols and 

their precursor gases and lead to perturbations to the region’s radiation budget. Data will be used 

to improve simulations of radiative forcing of climate by ocean- and continentally-derived 

aerosols with a particular emphasis on African dust; characterize the emission, properties, and 

cloud nucleating ability of sea spray aerosol over a range of ocean conditions; and provide 

scientific information to support effective policy decisions. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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NASA Supporting Research for Basic Meteorological Services 

Research in Basic Meteorology and Atmospheric Science 

The FY 2014 Budget will fund research competitively selected in FY 2013 through NASA’s 

Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 2013 (ROSES-13) grant application 

solicitation. Many of the research activities carried out in FY 2014 will be tasks initiated in FY 

2012 and FY 2013 based on the earlier ROSES-11 and ROSES-12 solicitations. Selections based 

on ROSES-11 and ROSES-12 are ongoing and are addressing diverse Earth Science research 

areas. NASA sponsored research continues to gain new insight into weather and extremeweather events by the utilization of data obtained from a variety of NASA- and partner satellite 

platforms and hurricane field experiments. Major numerical weather prediction (NWP) centers 

both outside (European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)) and in the U.S. 

– NOAA/National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), NASA Global Modeling and 

Assimilation Office (GMAO), and the U.S. Navy – have shown notable improvements from the 

assimilation of Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) data into their operational forecast 

systems. 

NASA also has a long history of conducting airborne field campaigns in support of hurricane 

research (http://airbornescience.nsstc.nasa.gov/field/). Most recently, the Hurricane and Severe 

Storm Sentinel (HS3) Mission, a five-year Earth Venture Class Suborbital mission that was 

awarded in 2010, has been obtaining data from its base at the Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) on 

the coastline of Virginia during the hurricane seasons of 2012-2014 

(https://espo.nasa.gov/missions/hs3/). This campaign uses two Global Hawk (GH) unmanned 

aircraft systems (UAS) with distinct payloads to address both over-storm and near-storm 

environmental issues. The HS3 Mission is designed to investigate some basic questions 

regarding changes in hurricane intensity: 

1. What impact does the large-scale environment, particularly the Saharan Air Layer (SAL), 

have on intensity change? 

2. What is the role of storm internal processes such as deep convective towers? 

3. To what extent are these intensification processes predictable? 

Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center 

NASA encourages more rapid use of NASA’s observations in operational weather predictions. 

The Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) center at NASA Marshall Space 

Flight Center is chartered to partially fulfill this research to operation transition activity. The 

SPoRT center has become NASA’s primary research and operation transition interface with the 

National Weather Service for short-term (0 to 48 hours) weather predictions. Many NASA 

research data products are tested in near real time and disseminate to NOAA’s weather forecast 

offices. NASA also funds external research proposals to collaborate with the SPoRT center to 

accelerate the transition of research data to at least one operational environment. 

In FY2014, NASA continued the investment in SPoRT and the external research projects to 

accelerate the transition of research data to operational environments. Several proposals funded 
Basic Services 

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by ROSES-13 program element “NASA Data for Operation and Assessment” will continue the 

efforts in FY14. In FY2015, NASA plans to announce another run of NASA Data for Operation 

and Assessment ROSES element. 

Technology Development 

Technology investments are aligned with NASA's Climate Centric Architecture strategic 

document. A majority of the investments are centered on the National Research Council (NRC) 

Decadal Survey1

 activities, but many support NASA’s foundational and climate continuity 

missions. Such investments focus on maturation of technologies to enable advanced space-based 

observations and modeling to improve understanding of the global integrated Earth system, 

including global and regional climate change. Earth Science Technology Program (ESTP) 

provides funding for instrument, component, and information technologies prior to mission 

formulation. Developing and validating technologies well in advance of a flight project help to 

improve acceptance and reduce costs. Projects are initiated each year through the ROSES 

solicitation, and the duration of each project is typically three years. For FY 2015, ongoing 

investigations will be managed in the Instrument Incubator, Advanced Information Systems 

Technology, Advanced Component Technology, and In-space Validation of Earth Science 

Technology areas. 

NASA Applied Sciences Program 

The Applied Sciences Program leverages NASA satellite measurements and new scientific 

knowledge to enable innovative and practical uses by public and private sector organizations. 

Projects, which are competitively selected through ROSES, are designed to discover and 

demonstrate new applications and facilitate adoption by non-NASA organizations. In FY 2015 

the Applied Sciences Program will continue to initiate projects across a range of application 

areas, including health and air quality, water resources, disasters, and ecological forecasting. The 

Program’s Capacity Building element sponsors programs and projects that improve the skills and 

capabilities of decision makers, community leaders, and resource managers in the United States 

and abroad related to accessing and applying Earth observations. NASA will continue to build 

such capacity through the SERVIR, DEVELOP, Gulf of Mexico Initiative (GOMI), and Applied 

Remote SEnsing Training (ARSET) program elements. The SERVIR program is a joint venture 

between NASA and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which provides 

satellite-based Earth observation data and science applications to help developing nations in 

Central America, East Africa and the Himalayas to improve their environmental decisionmaking. In FY2015, SERVIR plans to extend work into South East Asia. The NASA DEVELOP 

program fosters an interdisciplinary research environment for interns to work on applied science 

research projects with a local government partner under the guidance of NASA and partner 

science advisors. GOMI utilizes NASA Earth science assets to address regional priorities defined 

by the Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA), a partnership of the states of Alabama, Florida, 

Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and 13 federal agencies whose goal is to significantly increase 

regional collaboration to enhance the ecological and economic health of the Gulf of Mexico after 

 

1

 NASA and its partners ask the NRC once each decade to look out ten or more years into the future and prioritize 

research areas, observations, and notional missions to make those observations. The last Decadal Survey was 

completed in 2007, entitled Earth Science and Applications from Space: National Imperatives for the Next Decade 

and Beyond. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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hurricane Katrina hit the region. The ARSET project trains decision-makers and applied science 

professionals in the areas of Water Resources Management and Air Quality Applications to use 

NASA’s Earth Science observations, tools, and models to support their decision-making. 

National Science Foundation 

To improve weather forecasts and public safety, the NSF supports basic research on 

observational systems, analysis techniques, and understanding of phenomena. NSF awards grants 

to single investigators or small collaborative groups working on specific topics, as well as larger 

interdisciplinary groups and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Examples of recent 

award topics related to meteorological services include mesoscale predictability, boundary layer 

processes, and numerical modeling techniques. NSF also continues to support the analysis of 

data collected during recent major field campaigns dealing with tornadoes, hurricanes, winter 

storms, convection and chemistry, and the Madden Julian Oscillation. NSF has initiated funding 

on a large field campaign that will explore nocturnal organized convection in the US Plains 

states. NOAA will be an interagency partner in this effort. The Interdisciplinary Research in 

Hazards and Disasters program, which falls under the Science, Engineering and Education for 

Sustainability (SEES) portfolio in NSF, recently funded awards relevant to basic meteorological 

services, including the mitigation and response to hurricanes, tornadoes and flash flooding. 
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AGRICULTURAL AND LAND MANAGEMENT 

METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES 

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 

Interagency Programs 

Joint Agricultural Weather Facility (JAWF) 

In 1978 the World Board and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration formed the 

Joint Agricultural Weather Facility (JAWF). Housed at USDA, JAWF monitors the weather and 

assesses its likely impact on crops around the world. Regular briefings by Board experts are an 

important information source for USDA commodity forecasters as well as for the Secretary of 

Agriculture and other top officials at the Department. Additional information on the JAWF is 

included in the U.S. Department of Agriculture narrative below and at 

http://www.usda.gov/oce/weather/. 

U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Office of the Chief Economist 

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) 

World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB) serves as the USDA focal point for economic 

intelligence and commodity outlook for U.S. and world agriculture. The WAOB coordinates, 

reviews, and approves the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report. 

The WASDE report provides USDA’s forecasts of supply and demand for major U.S. and global 

crops as well as U.S. livestock. The WAOB maintains the integrity of this report by ensuring all 

information used to prepare the report is consistent, objective, and reliable. Because weather and 

climate have a significant impact on agricultural production, the WAOB employs meteorologists 

who specialize in preparing agricultural weather assessments, the group being collectively 

referred to as OCE/WAOB’s Office of the Chief Meteorologist (OCM). 

The primary mission of OCM staff is to routinely collect global weather data and agricultural 

information to assess the impact of growing season weather conditions on crops and livestock 

production prospects, keeping USDA commodity analysts, the OCE, and the Secretary of 

Agriculture and top staff well informed of weather impacts on crops and livestock worldwide. 

These assessments are integrated into USDA’s monthly analytical process to develop monthly

For purposes of this Federal Plan, Agricultural and Land Management Meteorological Services are 

those services and facilities established to meet the requirements of the agricultural industries and 

Federal, state, and local agencies charged with the protection and maintenance of the Nation's land 

areas. Meteorological services specifically tailored for wildland fire management are reported under 

the Wildland Fire Weather service category. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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foreign crop estimates of area, yield, and production published in the monthly WASDE reports. 

In addition to providing routine agricultural weather assessments, OCM meteorologists prepare 

special assessments when extreme weather (e.g., droughts, heat waves, freezes, floods, and 

hurricanes) has been observed or is imminent. Alerts of anomalous weather conditions 

impacting agriculture around the globe are also routinely included in a daily report of agricultural 

developments that is sent to USDA policy makers each afternoon. When integrated with other 

data, these routine and special crop-weather assessments and analyses provide critical 

information to USDA decision-makers preparing crop production forecasts, formulating trade 

policy, and coordinating disaster relief. 

While many of the group’s core functions are internal, OCM staff routinely disseminates 

information to the public. Each morning, a written summary of current weather affecting 

agriculture in the United States is sent to the Secretary’s office and posted on the OCE Web site: 

http://www.usda.gov/oce/weather/pubs/Daily/TODAYSWX.pdf. The meteorologists also 

routinely give public interviews, available not only through USDA’s Information Office but also 

private sector media outlets. In 2012 and 2013, for example, OCM staff played a key role in 

providing assessments of the historic drought that impacted much of the Nation’s agriculture by 

conducting interviews with national and international news outlets and disseminating unique 

products and assessments via the USDA homepage and blog. 

In support of its mission, the OCM receives a full suite of meteorological data and products from 

the NWS for use in their assessments, including surface weather observations, radar data, 

satellite imagery, and model output. This activity is made possible through an agreement signed 

between the Departments of Agriculture and Commerce, outlining the creation of a Joint 

Agricultural Weather Facility (JAWF). JAWF was created in 1978 as an operational unit and is 

a cooperative effort between the WAOB and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)/National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Weather Service (NWS)/National 

Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)/Climate Prediction Center (CPC). As part of the 

agreement, the OCM serves as the focal point for dissemination of meteorological data and 

products to other USDA agencies, including weather data received from the Global Observing 

System, a worldwide network of nearly 8,000 meteorological reporting stations managed by the 

World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Additionally, the OCM obtains data from the 

NWS Cooperative Observer Program (COOP) to support domestic agricultural weather 

applications. In recent years, the NWS, National Hurricane Center (NHC), CPC, and the 

Hydrometeorological Prediction Center have supported USDA by providing an increasing 

number of their operational products in GIS-compatible formats. These NOAA GIS efforts have 

benefited the OCM significantly by increasing the speed and efficiency with which agricultural 

weather assessments can be prepared and enabling analysts to more accurately assess weather 

impacts on agriculture. 

JAWF’s flagship publication, the Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin (WWCB), is jointly 

produced by the OCM, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), and NOAA/CPC. 

First published in 1872 as the Weekly Weather Chronicle, the publication provides a vital source 

of information on weather, climate, and agricultural developments worldwide. The WWCB

highlights weekly meteorological and agricultural developments on national and international 

scales, via numerous maps, charts, tables, and text products. In total, these products provide a 

comprehensive illustration of the weather and climate conditions affecting agriculture, benefiting 
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USDA decision makers and the agricultural community. Crop and weather information provided 

in the WWCB keeps crop and livestock producers, farm organizations, agribusinesses, state and 

national farm policy-makers, government agencies, and foreign buyers of agricultural products 

apprised of worldwide weather-related developments and their effects on crops and livestock. 

The extensive history provides a reference source that is rich in climate and agricultural 

information, which is essential for episodic-events monitoring and analog-year comparisons. 

Although the main emphasis of the WWCB is on current growing-season weather conditions and 

agricultural developments in the United States, real-time agricultural weather assessments are 

also provided for foreign countries that are either major exporters or importers of agricultural 

commodities. While providing timely weather and crop information relevant to the monthly 

Crop Production and WASDE reports (issued by USDA/NASS and USDA/OCE/WAOB, 

respectively), the WWCB keeps the U.S. agricultural sector apprised of weather conditions 

impacting agriculture in foreign markets, which could possibly influence production decisions at 

the farm level. 

In September 1994, the OCM published Major World Crop Areas and Climatic Profiles

(Agricultural Handbook No. 664). Knowledge of historical weather and climate patterns and 

past agricultural production in major agricultural regions worldwide is critical to the success of 

JAWF’s agrometeorological assessments, and this reference handbook provides the framework 

for assessing the weather’s impact on world crop production by providing information on climate 

and crop data for key producing regions and countries. Coverage includes major agricultural 

regions and crops, including coarse grains, winter and spring wheat, rice, major oilseeds, sugar, 

and cotton. World maps show the normal developmental stage of regional crops by month. No 

longer issued in a paper format, an electronic version of the handbook was developed to provide 

periodic updates to the printed version as additional data become available. The Major World 

Crop Areas and Climatic Profiles book and other publications are available online at 

http://www.usda.gov/oce/weather/pubs/index.htm. 

In the summer of 1999, the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) was developed to help improve 

drought assessments in the United States. The USDM is a collaborative effort between federal 

and academic partners, including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln National Drought 

Mitigation Center (NDMC), USDA, CPC, the NOAA/NESDIS/National Climatic Data Center, 

and the Desert Research Institute. Approximately 11 lead authors, two of whom work for the 

OCM, rotate the responsibility of preparing the USDM. Produced weekly, the USDM is a 

synthesis of multiple indices and impacts depicted on a map and in narrative form. The NDMC 

hosts the USDM on its Web site at http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu. The USDM, released each 

Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time, is a key source of information for briefing USDA top staff 

on U.S. drought developments. In recent years, the USDM has served as a trigger mechanism 

for several USDA programs and, because the USDM is prepared in a GIS, it is often overlaid on 

agricultural data to illustrate and quantify the spatial extent of drought affecting various 

agricultural commodities (Figure 1). In 2013, OCE entered into a cooperative agreement with 

the NDMC to improve U.S. agricultural drought monitoring capabilities and assessments by 

integrating USDA agricultural statistics and other relevant data sets into a GIS format to improve 

author’s ability to incorporate various information types into their analytical process. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

2-54 

Similarly, the North American Drought Monitor (NADM) is a cooperative drought monitoring 

effort among drought experts in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The NADM was 

initiated at a workshop in April 2002 and is part of a larger effort to improve the monitoring of 

North American climate extremes. Issued monthly since January 2003, the NADM is based on 

the end-of-month USDM analysis and input from scientists in Canada and Mexico. Major 

participants in the NADM program include the USDM collaborators – two of whom are OCM 

staff – as well as Agriculture and Agrifood Canada and the National Meteorological Service of 

Mexico. The NADM Web site is: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/temp-andprecip/drought/nadm/index.html. 

A U.S. Drought Monitor Forum and a North American Drought Monitor Forum are held in 

alternating years. These meetings provide an opportunity for Drought Monitor authors, 

stakeholders, and members of the drought community to discuss the latest drought monitoring 

tools, drought analyses, and requirements. The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor Forum was 

held on April 15-19, 2013, in West Palm Beach, Florida, while a North American Drought 

Monitor Forum was recently held on June 17-19, 2014, in Toronto, Canada. 

 

Figure 1. Percent of U.S. corn area in drought, according to the June 3, 2014, U.S. Drought Monitor. 
 Agricultural and Land Management Services 

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OCE is one of several USDA agencies that have taken a lead role in the development of National 

Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), working closely with lead Federal agency 

NOAA and the Western Governors Association (WGA) over the years to address the specific 

needs of the agricultural community. The NIDIS builds upon existing drought monitoring tools 

and experiences, such as the USDM, to develop an early warning system that aids in drought 

preparation and mitigation. Recommendations for such an early warning system were outlined 

in a 2004 report from the WGA entitled “Creating a Drought Early Warning System for the 21st

Century: The National Integrated Drought Information System.” One of the early deliverables 

of NIDIS was the Drought Portal (http://www.drought.gov), which serves as the Government’s 

multi-agency drought interface. The OCM is working with other USDA agencies to provide 

relevant drought information to the public via the Drought Portal. 

As a result of the aforementioned activities with the NDMC, NOAA, and other agencies and 

organizations, OCE is a recognized leader within the USDA in the area of drought. In 

December, 2012, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between USDA and NOAA to 

collaborate on projects of mutual interest, with particular emphasis on establishing new 

partnerships in the area of drought monitoring and mitigation. OCE enjoyed a lead role in 

developing the agreement and is currently working with NOAA to develop a work plan to 

identify near- and long-term deliverables and opportunities for collaboration. In 2014, USDA 

announced creation seven Climate Hub and three Sub-Hub locations. Under the direction of 

OCE’s Climate Change Program Office, the Climate Hubs will deliver science-based knowledge, 

practical information and program support to farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, and resource 

managers to support decision-making related to climate change. Key partners in the networks 

include the public and land grant universities, Cooperative Extension, USDA researchers, the 

private sector, state, local and regional governments, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA), Department of Interior (DOI) regional climate change experts, and 

non-profits engaged in providing assistance to landowners. 

Throughout its history, WAOB has successfully worked with international groups, including 

representatives of foreign governments and of multinational organizations. WAOB remains 

active in the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Commission for Agricultural 

Meteorology (CAgM), and a WAOB meteorologist is currently serving on the Management 

Group of the WMO CAgM, helping guide Commission efforts to improve support systems for 

agrometeorological services. This position helps coordinate Expert Teams responsible for 

reviewing the operational applications of current agrometeorological data, analytical tools, and 

information delivery systems and making recommendations on the procedures, methodologies, 

and resources necessary to improve the capability for operational applications. Additionally, 

WAOB continues to support the World AgroMeteorological Information Service (WAMIS), a 

dedicated web server that hosts agrometeorological bulletins and advisories issued by WMO 

Members for the global agricultural community (http://www.wamis.org/). WAOB is 

collaborating with other WMO Members to expand WAMIS capabilities, including the 

development on a web-based GIS capability that will dynamically integrate weather and climate 

information. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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 Risk Management Agency 

The Risk Management Agency (RMA) provides administration and oversight of programs 

authorized under the Federal Crop Insurance Act. RMA’s Strategic Data Acquisition and 

Analyses (SDAA) unit works with Oregon State University’s Parameter-Elevation Regressions 

on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) Climate Group to develop and utilize spatial climate data 

sets to detect potential waste, fraud and abuse in the Federal crop insurance program and to assist 

underwriting in developing crop suitability mapping. 

Department of Interior 

Bureau of Land Management, Land Management Services 

The Department of Interior’s (DOI) Bureau of 

Land Management (BLM) utilizes airresource-related (air quality, weather, and 

climate) information in order to manage 

public lands in a manner consistent with 

Congressional direction as expressed in the 

Federal Land Policy Management Act 

(FLPMA). FLPMA directs the BLM to 

periodically and systematically inventory 

resources through a land-use planning process 

and to manage public lands in a manner that 

protects the quality of scientific, scenic, 

historical, ecological, environmental, air and 

atmospheric, as well as other natural 

resources. The BLM also requires airresource-related information to conduct environmental analyses under the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for agency-initiated activities and land-use authorizations and 

to ensure compliance with pollution laws such as 

the Clean Air Act. 

The BLM must therefore obtain, collect, and 

analyze air-resource-related information to (1) 

determine baseline conditions of air and 

atmospheric values on the public lands; (2) 

evaluate changes in baseline conditions (trends); 

(3) understand the extent to which other natural 

resources (vegetation, hydrology, wildlife, range, 

minerals, etc.) are influenced by atmospheric 

conditions so that informed management decisions 

can be made; and (4) to assist in developing models 

to predict future conditions; such as, atmospheric 

dispersion models to assess air quality impacts. The 

BLM obtains information of acceptable quality 

collected from existing monitoring networks 

Meteorological System Components being 

tested before installation at a new monitoring 

site in Inigok Station, AK. 

Meteorological Station at Pinedale, WY 
 Agricultural and Land Management Services 

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operated by other agencies and programs whenever possible to promote efficiency and avoid 

duplication of efforts. Examples of these networks include the National Weather Service 

Cooperative Observer Network, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) SNOw pack 

TELemetry (SNOTEL) and Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN) networks, the National 

Interagency Fire Center Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS) network, the Bureau of 

Reclamation Agricultural Weather (AgriMet) networks, the Community Collaborative Rain, 

Hail, and Snow (CoCoRaHS) network, the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP), 

the U.S. Geological Survey National Streamflow Information Program (NSIP), and individual 

state climate offices. 

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS 

U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Agricultural Research Service 

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the principal in-house research agency for USDA 

and conducts research on all aspects of agriculture including crop and livestock production, 

natural resources and sustainable agriculture systems, and human nutrition and food safety. 

Weather-related research by ARS develops technologies to enable agriculture to cope with, and 

when possible benefit from, the effects of weather on crop and livestock production and natural 

resources and ecosystem services. Weather and climate data inputs and an understanding of 

weather-driven processes are critical to the development of crop growth and yield models, 

erosion models, nutrient cycling models, soil-plant-atmosphere process models, and many other 

simulation tools needed to provide continual advancements for agriculture. Such simulation 

tools are the foundations for the development of decision-support systems used for day-to-day 

decision making by producers and land managers, and policy-related decisions by strategic 

decision-makers. The Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP) is 

a collaborative global effort to develop an ensemble crop yield estimation effort driven by the 

availability and use of weather data. 

The interactions between genetics, environment (heavily focused on weather) and management 

practices (G x E x M) are under investigation as an approach to meeting the goals of sustainable 

agriculture as weather affects 1) the quantity and quality of desired yields, 2) the environment 

needed for agriculture and ecosystem services, 3) the economic viability of agriculture, and 4) 

the quality of life for rural populations and society as a whole. These goals are approached 

through a research strategy of: measure and understand, develop process-model prediction 

capacity, and then develop management technologies. Weather data and forecasting are integral 

to the research and applications of the research. 

It is essential that crops and livestock be able to withstand weather stresses and losses from 

insect and disease exacerbated by the impacts of weather variations. Thus, the development of 

new crop and livestock varieties is a foundation of ARS weather and climate research. The 

interaction of water and high temperatures are of special interest. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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The interactions of management systems and genetics are tempered weather. ARS weather 

research is pursuing the hypothesis that the development of basic understandings and process 

models of the interacting effects of crop varieties with specific management practices adapted to 

weather means and extremes offers promise towards meeting the challenges of expanded food 

production for a growing world population. 

The ARS Long Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network is distributed geographically to 

provide a coordinated outdoor laboratory environment encompassing regional and local weather 

differences. The geographic diversity and the ability to obtain weather data and data on weatherdriven processes that can be compared over time and space are critically important strengths of 

the LTAR. Weather data is a foundation of LTAR measurements. ARS collaborates with 

domestic and international colleagues, including universities, NASA, NOAA, USGS, state and 

tribal organizations, and industry. 
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AVIATION SERVICES 

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 

U.S. Code Title 49 Section 44720 (49 U.S.C. 44720) provides the basis for the Department of 

Commerce, through NOAA/National Weather Service (NWS), to provide “meteorological 

services necessary for the safe and efficient movement of aircraft in air commerce.” Services are 

developed and provided at the request of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is 

designated as the Meteorological Authority for aviation weather services for the United States by 

the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). In this capacity, FAA provides 

requirements for the provision of aviation weather services to NWS, which is designated as the 

National Meteorological and Hydrological Service Provider. The FAA is responsible for 

ensuring compliance with the services as defined and with maintaining ICAO Standards and 

Recommended Practices as specified in Annex 3, Meteorological Service for International Air 

Navigation. 

The Department of Defense (DOD) service branches (U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine 

Corps), and the Department of Homeland Security service branch (Coast Guard) provide their 

own aviation weather support. Each military service has its own meteorological support 

personnel except the Army, which is supported by the Air Force. Please refer to the Military 

Services section for details of military-unique aviation weather services. 

Interagency Collaborative Operational Products and Services 

National Volcanic Ash Operations Plan for Aviation 

Under the auspices of the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and 

Supporting Research (OFCM), the following agencies participate in the interagency Working 

Group for Volcanic Ash (WG/VA) and Committee for Aviation Services and Research (CASR): 

FAA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), NOAA, U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS), the U.S. Air Force, and the Smithsonian Institution. The WG/VA has prepared a 

National Volcanic Ash Operations Plan for Aviation. The purpose of the plan is to provide 

operational guidance by documenting the required procedures and information products of the 

For purposes of this Federal Plan, Aviation Services are those specialized meteorological services and 

facilities established to meet the requirements of general, commercial, and military aviation. Civil 

programs that are directly related to services solely for aviation and military programs in support of 

land-based aviation and medium- or long-range missile operations are included. Detailed aviation 

services/products for specific areas include, but are not limited to, ceiling and visibility, convective 

hazards, en route winds and temperatures, ground de-icing, in-flight icing, terminal winds and 

temperatures, turbulence, volcanic ash, and other airborne hazardous materials. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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government agencies responsible for ensuring 

safety of flight operations when volcanic ash has 

erupted into the atmosphere. This document also 

provides information on how the FAA, as the U.S. 

meteorological authority with regard to the ICAO, 

meets its obligations to the International Airways 

Volcano Watch, which is sponsored by the ICAO. 

There are several regional plans in addition to the 

national plan. Regional plans are currently in place 

for Alaska, the Pacific Northwest (Washington, 

Oregon), and the Northern Marianas Islands (draft 

framework). Future plans are being developed for 

Hawaii, California, and Puerto Rico/Eastern 

Caribbean. These plans are available on the 

OFCM web site at www.ofcm.gov. Regional plans 

typically also involve State and local agencies. 

USGS. Through its five Volcano Observatories, 

the USGS is responsible for monitoring volcanoes 

in the United States and issuing notifications about 

volcanic activity as it waxes and wanes at 

individual volcanoes. USGS Volcano 

Observatories use a combination of ground-based, 

airborne, and space-based techniques to interpret 

precursory unrest and forecast expected volcanic activity (including when eruptions are not 

expected). Data and notifications of eruptive activity from USGS monitoring activities are 

supplied to FAA and DOD to provide warnings for pilots and aircraft operators and to 

NOAA/NWS to aid in its forecasting and tracking of ash clouds. Because of the proximity of 

Aleutian volcanoes to busy North Pacific air routes, the USGS’s Alaska Volcano Observatory 

(AVO) has been and continues to be a world leader in the integration of volcano observatory 

operations with efforts to mitigate the risk from airborne volcanic ash to en route. USGS 

notifications and warnings about current volcanic activity throughout the United States are 

available to the public at http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/. 

The eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland in the spring of 2010 and ensuing shutdown of 

European airspace focused attention on the global economic disruption that a volcanic ash cloud 

can have on the transportation of people and goods. USGS experts on the issue of airborne 

volcanic ash have been working with FAA, NOAA, and DOD colleagues, as well as with ICAO, 

to improve capabilities in mitigating the impact of the presence of volcanic ash in busy flight 

routes, both domestic and international. USGS also has established a new project that focuses 

exclusively on volcanic ash and brings together USGS efforts in research and development of 

new operational tools. One element of the new project is to collaborate with the NWS in Alaska 

on improving ash fall warnings for the public. The USGS has posted pages on its website 

devoted to practical guidance for dealing with ash hazards to transportation, communications, 

agriculture, water supplies, etc.; see http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/ash. 

Volcanic ash hazards can be 

catastrophic to aviation operations. 
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Recognizing that many potentially dangerous volcanoes have inadequate or no ground-based 

monitoring, the USGS recently evaluated volcano-monitoring capabilities and published “An 

Assessment of Volcanic Threat and Monitoring Capabilities in the United States: Framework for 

a National Volcano Early Warning System (NVEWS)” (available online at 

http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1164/). Results of the NVEWS volcanic threat and monitoring 

assessment are being used to guide long-term improvements to the national volcano-monitoring 

infrastructure operated by the USGS and affiliated groups. The most threatening volcanoes—

those near communities and transportation infrastructure (ground and air) and with a history of 

frequent and violent eruptions—need to be well monitored in real time with an extensive suite of 

instrument types to detect the earliest symptoms of unrest and to reliably forecast behavior of the 

volcano. Waiting until unrest escalates to augment monitoring capabilities at these high-threat 

volcanoes puts people (including scientists in the field) and property at undue risk. Remote, 

isolated, or less frequently erupting volcanoes that nevertheless can pose hazards to air-traffic 

corridors require sufficient monitoring capability with ground-based instruments to detect and 

track unrest in real time so that other agencies responsible for en route flight safety can be kept 

apprised of the potential for explosive, ash-cloud-forming eruptions. 

NASA. Through its fleet of satellite assets, NASA is able to rapidly generate and broadly 

disseminate imagery and data products on the location, heights, and characteristics of ash plumes 

and related hazards. These data products fuel a range of research and applications investigations 

that enhance our knowledge of solid Earth processes, atmospheric transport and composition, 

and the impacts that volcanic eruptions have on the Earth system. Although NASA does not have 

Sequence of CALIPSO 532 nm total attenuated backscatter curtains for 20 - 24 June 

2011, depicting the passage of the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcanic ash cloud 

(yellow) near 8-12 km (20,000-40,000ft) across a large area from north Antarctica to 

Southeast Australia, Tasmania, and New-Zealand. The blue lines between the 

curtains illustrate forward model trajectories produced from the CALIPSO 

observations of the volcanic ash cloud. (Kurt Severance, NASA Langley Research 

Center) 
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operational responsibility for observation and analysis of volcanic gas and aerosol emissions, its 

fleet of research spacecraft provides data that are directly applicable to the societal hazards 

presented by these phenomena. 

NASA's Earth Science Division primarily operates five on-orbit sensors that monitor volcanic 

ash, gases, aerosols, and eruptions. The five sensors currently on orbit are the Cloud-Aerosol 

Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation satellite (CALIPSO), a joint mission between 

NASA and the French space agency CNES; the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI)—a 

contribution of the Netherlands's Agency for Aerospace Programs (NIVR) in collaboration with 

the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI)—onboard the Aura satellite; the Moderate Resolution 

Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard the Terra and Aqua satellites; and the Suomi 

National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) satellite with the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer 

Suite (VIIRS), Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) and the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite 

(OMPS) onboard. Suomi NPP is in partnership with NOAA. OMI and OMPS data, in which 

sulfate aerosol is used as a proxy for detecting volcanic ash, provide very accurate maps of the 

horizontal distribution of volcanic ash clouds, especially during the first several days following 

an eruption. The next generation of NOAA Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES), 

the Joint Polar-orbiting Satellite System (JPSS), will also deploy an OMPS. In FY 2013, NASA 

began making CALIPSO Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) data and 

products available in near-real time for operational use. These data have been demonstrated to be 

of particular utility for improving trajectory model forecasts of volcanic ash, validating the 

location of volcanic ash determined by forecast models, and resolving the vertical structure and 

layering of ash clouds. The 30-meter High-resolution imagers on the Advanced Spaceborne 

Thermal Emission and Reflection (ASTER) instrument from the NASA Terra spacecraft can also 

be scheduled on a limited basis, and NASA-built sensors on NOAA Geostationary Operational 

Environmental Satellites (GOES) and POES also support volcanic ash monitoring. The NASA 

Science Mission Directorate, Earth Science Division, Applied Sciences Program, Disaster Area 

is currently responsible for developing satellite data applications for volcanic ash and is focused 

on extending research in which the Agency has employed these satellite measurements to 

improve the accuracy of trajectory model forecasts to improve aerosol dispersion (ash 

concentration) model forecasts for the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers (VAACS). In addition, 

the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) developed and tested small, dedicated Dragon Eye 

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in 2013 which penetrates volcanic plumes and coordinated 

these measurements with ASTER observations allowing scientists to compare sulfur dioxide 

concentration derived from the satellite with UAS measurements taken from within the plume. 

The NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) also conducts volcanic ash 

research. Its efforts primarily concern the NASA ARMD Fundamental Aeronautics Program’s 

Vehicle-Integrated Propulsion Research (VIPR) Project, which is a joint research project 

between NASA, USAF, USGS, FAA and the three largest engine manufacturers to determine 

propulsion system tolerances and thresholds for ingesting various concentrations of diffuse, 

persistent volcanic ash for increasing exposure periods. This purpose of this research is to 

improve the understanding of volcanic ash behavior and impacts in modern aircraft propulsion 

systems, to inform the development of operating procedures for operating in or near volcanic ash 

environments, and to develop improved aircraft engines and systems. 

NOAA. NOAA/NWS is responsible for volcanic ash services in the United States. The program 

is currently managed under the Aviation Services Branch at NWS Headquarters in Silver Spring, 
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Maryland. Although the main focus has been and continues to be on the airborne ash hazards 

(mainly impacting aviation), there has been a move in the past several years to expand into an 

“all hazards” approach that incorporates both the NWS Public and Marine Services programs. 

The NWS is a co-lead in the development of regional volcanic ash response plans in the United 

States. Plans are currently in place for Alaska, the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon), and 

the Northern Marianas Islands. Future plans are being developed for Hawaii, California, and 

Puerto Rico/Eastern Caribbean. These plans are available on the OFCM web site at 

www.ofcm.gov. As noted earlier, NOAA/NWS also operates the Anchorage VAAC and partners 

with NESDIS to operate the Washington VAAC—two of the nine such international centers. 

NOAA/NESDIS is responsible for providing satellite data used in detecting and tracking 

volcanic ash in the atmosphere and is dedicated to providing timely access to global 

environmental data from satellites and other sources to promote, protect, and enhance the 

Nation's economy, security, environment, and quality of life. Many of the operational 

environmental satellites operated by NESDIS (see NOAA/NESDIS in Basic Services section) 

have channels available to help forecasters detect and track volcanic ash. The GOES-R and JPSS 

programs are joint NOAA-NASA programs that will provide more frequent, higher resolution 

imagery for the detection and tracking of volcanic ash beginning in 2015. 

NOAA/OAR (Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research) Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) 

also participates to support NOAA’s volcanic ash services. ARL will be conducting research 

and development to improve the volcanic ash application of the ARL-developed HYSPLIT 

transport and dispersion model that is used by the NWS/NCEP to support the U.S. VAACs. In 

particular, ARL will work to (1) improve the quantification of the initial ash mass and its vertical 

distribution, (2) develop a model evaluation database, and (3) work with other VAACs to 

promote standardization of volcanic ash dispersion products. ARL will collaborate with 

scientists at the NESDIS Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) and the U.S. 

Geological Survey (USGS) Volcano Hazards Program. This work should lead to more globally 

harmonized dispersion guidance products and a better understanding of the dispersion model 

capabilities. 

U.S. Air Force. Through its 2nd Weather Group at Offutt AFB, NE, the AF provides volcanic 

ash surveillance and analysis for DoD aviation operations worldwide. Analysts continuously 

monitor all active volcanoes, generating more than 3,500 bulletins per year. In addition to alert 

text bulletins, AF products include tailored satellite imagery, and graphical ash plume forecasts 

detailing coverage and concentration. The AF products ensure availability of information critical 

to DoD aviation, particularly outside the area covered by the Washington and Anchorage 

VAACs and when products from other international centers are not available. 

Smithsonian Institution, Natural History Museum, Global Volcanism Program (GVP). GVP 

collects, catalogs, and disseminates information on ~1,600 volcanoes active in the last 10,000 

years with a small staff working museum hours Monday to Friday in the Natural History 

Museum in Washington, D.C. The aviation community most depends on GVP for volcano 

names, locations, summit elevations, and a set of unique volcano numbers (VNUM’s) for precise 

international communication about the source of eruptive plumes and related hazards. For 

example, Pacaya volcano in Guatemala (along the main approach to the Capital’s airport) is 

designated on VAAC reports as “Volcano: Pacaya 1402-11.” The numbers, or unique portions 
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thereof, also provide a short-hand for labeling closely spaced volcanoes on maps. Each month 

GVP compiles the Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network synthesizing information about 

volcano behavior, monitoring, and eruptions at variable time scales (months to years). The 

USGS and GVP jointly release the Weekly Volcano Activity Report summarizing eruptions and 

hazards during the passing one-week interval. Both reports appear on the GVP website 

(http://www.volcano.si.edu), which also features photos, eruptive histories, and other 

information, including the current list of data needed by the aviation community.

NOAA/National Weather Service 

NOAA/NWS aviation weather projects support increasing and improving observation 

capabilities, forecast products and techniques, outreach and training, operational adaptation of 

applied research, and verification of forecast products. These projects have the goal of 

supporting the FAA in the safe and efficient flow of air traffic in the National Airspace System 

(NAS). In response to requirements from the FAA and the international community, aviation 

weather products issued by NWS span the globe. 

Under an international 

agreement through the ICAO, 

the United States meets its 

weather forecasting 

obligations to the aviation 

community through products 

and services of the World 

Area Forecast Center 

(WAFC) Washington, one of 

two global services, 

composed of three 

components of the National 

Centers for Environmental 

Prediction (NCEP): Aviation 

Weather Center, located in 

Kansas City, Missouri; 

NCEP Central Operations in 

College Park, Maryland, and 

the Telecommunications 

Operations Center (TOC) at 

NWS Headquarters in Silver 

Spring, Maryland. The 

Aviation Weather Center 

(AWC) prepares forecasts 

four times a day of globally 

significant thunderstorms, tropical cyclones, severe squall lines, moderate or severe turbulence 

and icing, and cumulonimbus clouds associated with these conditions. The forecast charts also 

include information on volcanic activity, radiological releases, jet streams, and tropopause 

heights. This information is made available by the WAFC Internet File Service (WIFS) to 

The Aviation Weather Center (AWC) has the responsibility, as part 

of the World Area Forecast Center, Washington, to provide global 

weather forecasts of significant weather phenomena. Presently, the 

AWC produces these High Level Significant Weather charts 

covering two thirds of the globe, both northern and southern 

hemispheres that are issued four times per day. 
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provide World Area Forecast System (WAFS) products and services, as defined by ICAO Annex 

3, in an Internet web-based medium. 

The AWC, along with the NWS Alaska Region’s Alaska Aviation Weather Unit (AAWU) and 

the NWS Weather Forecast Office (WFO) in Honolulu, Hawaii, provides wind, temperature, and 

flight hazard (e.g., icing and turbulence) forecasts for flight planning and en route aircraft

operations for the United States, the north Atlantic and north Pacific routes, and some routes in 

the southern hemisphere. This information is disseminated by AWC via WIFS in support of the 

World Area Forecast System (WAFS) for ICAO aviation data needs and in support of World 

Meteorological Organization (WMO) Region IV (North America) data exchange requirements. 

Under an agreement with the FAA, NWS meteorologists are assigned to Center Weather Service 

Units (CWSUs) located in each of the 21 FAA Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs). 

The CWSUs are currently staffed by 84 NWS meteorologists (4 at each of the 21 ARTCCs) to 

provide real-time support and decision assistance concerning weather impacts on air traffic. In 

addition to supporting the ARTCCs, the CWSUs provide meteorological support to en route 

centers, Terminal Radar Approach Control facilities, and airport towers. Because CWSU forecast 

support is embedded within the aviation mission, forecasters can focus on specific customer 

needs. In one example, a specialized marine stratus display system was developed to address the 

difficult issue of fog formation and dissipation in the San Francisco Bay Area. The San Francisco 

stratus system is used operationally by the CWSU forecaster, WFO aviation forecaster, FAA 

traffic managers, and airline meteorologists. 

To operationally support the needs of aviation users today, the NWS WFOs prepare Terminal 

Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs) up to eight times daily, with amendments as needed, for more than 

660 public-use airports in the United States and its territories in the Caribbean and Pacific. 

Thus, the NWS, through three Meteorological Watch Offices (MWO) and the two VAACs, 

provides large-scale, global aviation functions that can be sensibly centralized, while the NWS 

WFOs and CWSUs discharge local aviation functions. Additionally, NCEP’s Environmental 

Modeling Center (EMC) supplies global gridded model data of temperature, winds, and humidity 

twice daily for flight levels from 5,000 to 45,000 feet. 

NWS’s Aviation Weather Services Program funds a broad range of initiatives designed to 

improve the delivery of aviation weather information to NAS users. These initiatives include the 

acquisition of aircraft-mounted water vapor sensors; development of software, tools, and training 

programs to enhance forecaster effectiveness; and development of products to improve weather 

information availability to the aviation community. NWS’s NextGen Weather Program provides 

funds for the development and implementation of improvements to accuracy and accessibility of 

aviation weather information, aimed at meeting the goals of the Next-Generation Air 

Transportation System (NextGen). 

Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS) 

In addition to satisfying global requirements for aviation weather, AWC hosts the Aviation 

Digital Data Service (ADDS), which makes available to the aviation community text, digital, and 

graphical forecasts, analyses, and observations of aviation-related weather variables. The ADDS 
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serves as a platform for aviation weather products emerging from the FAA Aviation Weather 

Research Program and transitioning to operations. It has become an invaluable resource to users, 

especially in the U.S. general aviation community. The AWC’s upgraded website infrastructure 

capitalizes on its FAA certification as a Qualified Internet Communications Provider, and the 

enhanced web presence provides increased levels of data reliability for users. 

ADDS is a joint effort of NCAR Research Applications Program (RAP), Global Systems 

Division (GSD) of NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL), the NCEP AWC and 

the FAA. It is run operationally by NWS at the AWC and can be viewed on the internet 

athttp://aviationweather.gov/adds. 

Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers (VAAC) 

The United States, in agreement with ICAO, operates two VAACs as entities within NOAA. One 

of these, the Anchorage VAAC, is part of the AAWU located in Anchorage, Alaska, and works 

closely with the Alaska Volcano Observatory. The second VAAC, which is part of NOAA’s 

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) and NCEP, is located 

in College Park, Maryland. The VAACs monitor volcanic activity through satellite remote 

sensing, provide initial notification of a volcanic eruption upon detection, and forecast volcanic 

ash plume movement and evolution. 

A recent change is the assignment of a small cadre of meteorologists to the FAA Air Traffic 

Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) to provide decision support to strategic planning 

and flow control for the NAS. These meteorologists work with a NWS Headquarters liaison to 

the ATCSCC to ensure continuity of support to the planners and to expedite analysis should 

questions or problems arise. 

NWS International Obligations 

National Weather Service meets international commitments through participation as consultants 

to FAA in ICAO groups, ad hoc task forces, and project teams. In addition, NWS leads or 

participates in a number of World Meteorological Organization (WMO) teams chartered by the 

WMO Commission on Aeronautical Meteorology. These teams include the Expert Team (ET) 

on Governance and Partnership (lead); the ET on Meteorological Services for Air Traffic 

Management (ATM) and Meteorological Information Exchange, which partners with ICAO’s 

MARIE-PT; and the ET for Education, Training, and Competencies. 

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

Timely and accurate weather observations and forecasts are essential to aviation safety and 

making the best use of aviation capacity. Pilots need to know the direction and speed of winds 

aloft in order to take advantage of tailwinds and minimize the effect of headwinds. They also 

need to know if there will be obstructions to visibility that restrict landings at their destination 

airport, and whether the runway is wet or dry and how that will affect braking action. Traffic 

flow managers and pilots use weather observations and forecasts to determine when they need to 

plan alternative routes to avoid severe weather. The FAA has the responsibility to collect and 
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distribute aviation weather data – particularly hazardous weather to operators, pilots, and air 

traffic control and management. 

Weather Systems 

The FAA employs two categories of weather systems: weather sensors and weather 

processing/dissemination systems. FAA weather sensors include weather radars and automated 

surface observation systems that measure atmospheric parameters, such as surface temperature, 

prevailing wind speed and direction, relative humidity, cloud bases and tops, as well as wind 

shear and microbursts. These weather sensors provide real-time information to FAA weather 

processing/dissemination systems and to NWS centralized weather forecasting models. Weather 

processing systems organize, process, and distribute the sensor’s observed data, matched with 

forecasts, and blends National Airspace System (NAS) operations with weather information. 

Data from multiple sensors feed numerical forecast model ensembles whose output can be 

disseminated and integrated in national and local processing systems to interpret broad weather 

trends affecting aviation operations. This information is then sent to air traffic controllers, traffic 

flow managers, dispatchers, and pilots in a seamless suite of weather tools that look backwards 

and forwards in time and along terminals, intended flight paths, flow corridors, sectors, and 

regions. 

Weather Sensors

Weather sensors are divided in two portfolios: Wind-Shear Detection Services (WSDS), and the 

Automated Surface Weather Observation Network (ASWON). 

Wind Shear Detection Services (WSDS) 

The WSDS portfolio includes the Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR), the Weather 

System Processor (WSP), the Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD), and Low-level 

Windshear Alert System (LLWAS). These systems automatically detect wind shear conditions 

near runways and approach/departure corridors and provide data to FAA weather processing 

systems to alert controllers, who can then warn pilots of gust fronts and wind shear in the vicinity 

of the airport. WSDS Work Package 1 (WP1) will address obsolescence of the legacy WSP) 

and LLWAS to ensure that Air Traffic Controllers will continue to receive the wind shear alerts 

necessary to maintain the safety of the NAS. Since these systems have been deployed, no major 

windshear-related incidents have occurred in the NAS. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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Terminal Doppler Weather Radar 

The most sophisticated windshear detection system is 

the TDWR. The primary mission of the TDWR is to 

enhance the safety of air travel through timely 

detection and reporting of hazardous weather 

conditions including windshear events, microburst, 

gust fronts, and thunderstorms in and near an airport's 

terminal approach and departure zones. There are 45 

operational TDWRs serving 46 high-density airports 

with the most risk of windshear exposure. Using a 

three-dimensional pencil beam and fast update rate, 

TDWR produce detailed weather information across 

the entire terminal area at the surface and aloft 

throughout terminal airspace to controllers so they 

can issue warnings to pilots. TDWR weather data is 

transmitted to FAA automation systems. TDWR’s 

unique products include high-resolution, rapid update 

of storm cells with height, precipitation, surface 

winds, windshear, etc. Activities are underway to 

address sustainment of the TDWR and the FAA is 

investigating whether to incorporate the TDWR 

functions into the NextGen Surveillance and Weather 

Radar Capability (NSWRC). 

Weather System Processor (WSP) 

WSP is an add-on weather processor enhancement to the Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) 

Model 9 (ASR-9). The WSP was implemented as a low-cost, high-quality, wind shear detection 

system at medium and higher air traffic density airports not equipped with the TDWR. The WSP 

provides advanced Doppler weather radar performance with all the functions of the TDWR. The 

WSP is partitioned to the front-end radar (ASR) modification, and the back-end (WSP) 

development. The WSP coverage volume is considerably less that the TDWR but the ASR is 

better situated to detect the low-level shear events close to the airport. WSP detects and alerts 

on microbursts and wind shear, predicts arrival of gust fronts, and shows precipitation intensity 

on a graphical situation display for use by ATC without further meteorological interpretation. 

Activities are underway to address sustainment of these radars and the FAA is investigating 

whether to incorporate the WSP into the NSWRC. 

Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) 

NEXRAD is long-range weather radar that detects, analyzes, and transmits weather information 

for use by the ATC System Command Center, en route, terminal and flight service facilities. 

NEXRAD was developed under a joint program of the Department of Commerce (DOC)/NWS, 

Department of Defense (DoD), and the Department of Transportation (DOT)/FAA. NEXRAD 

radars are national critical assets that indirectly support most weather information users in the 

United States. These 160 systems are long-range, Doppler weather radars that detect and 

A Terminal Doppler Weather Radar 
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produce over 120 different long-range and high-altitude weather observation products and 

special products, including three-dimensional areas of precipitation by type, cloud cover by 

height, storm cells, winds aloft, turbulence, and icing. NEXRAD products and services are 

processed by FAA weather processing systems (discussed in next section). NEXRAD mosaics 

are used by en route and oceanic controllers to aid pilots in avoiding hazardous weather. The 

NEXRAD Dual Polarization (Pol) modification project has been deployed at all sites, and 

software improvements to further exploit this extensive weather capability are under 

development. 

Dual Pol is an important upgrade to NEXRAD that improves detection of rain/snow mix, inflight icing, hail, non-weather biological targets (bird strike concerns), and special DoD uses. It 

is expected to improve the forecasting of areas where in-flight icing will occur. Working with 

partner agencies, the NWS is investigating whether to incorporate planned long-range NEXRAD 

capabilities into the NSWRC. 

Low Level Wind Shear Alert System (LLWAS) 

 LLWAS uses an array of wind 

sensors located around the runway 

thresholds and along 

approach/departure corridors to 

measure surface wind direction and 

velocity. LLWAS compares wind 

velocity and direction, detected 

across the airport operations area, to 

determine whether hazardous wind 

shear events are occurring at, or near, 

the runways. LLWAS interfaces with 

TDWR and WSP at higher density airports where the systems are co-located, or operates as a 

stand- alone system at other airports that do not have a TDWR or WSP. LLWAS is undergoing 

service life extension and the FAA is investigating whether to incorporate the functionality of 

these sensors into the NSWRC. 

Automated Surface Weather Observation Network (ASWON) 

The ASWON portfolio includes a numbeer of surface sensors: Automated Weather Observing 

System (AWOS), Automated Surface Observing Systems (ASOS), Automated Weather Sensor 

Systems (AWSS), Stand Alone Weather Sensing (SAWS), Digital Altimeter Setting Indicator 

(DASI), Wind Equipment F-Series (WEF) Wind System, and AWOS Data Acquisition System 

(ADAS). These sensors measure weather parameters on the surface and report conditions to air 

traffic facilities and pilots. The terminal data they collect is important to pilots and dispatchers as 

they prepare and file flight plans. The overall surface data they collectively provide is vital for 

weather forecasting. Some elements of the ASWON portfolio are undergoing a technical refresh 

to keep these systems operating reliably. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) 

The ASOS, and other variants, such as the AWOS, AWSS and the SAWS system, have up to 14 

individual sensors that measure surface weather data, including temperature, barometric 

pressure, humidity, type and amount of precipitation, cloud bases and amount of sky cover. 

These systems feed data directly to local air traffic control facilities and support automated 

broadcast of weather information to pilots and flight planning. They also provide regular, rapid 

updates for the NWS forecast models that predict future weather conditions including adverse 

weather. A technical refresh is underway to keep these systems operating reliably. 

Digital Altimeter Setting Indicator (DASI) 

The Digital Altimeter Setting Indicator (DASI) is a system that measures the atmospheric 

pressure and converts the measured pressure value into the actual sea level pressure based on the 

United States (U.S.) Standard Atmosphere. The value computed is known as the Altimeter 

Setting Indicator (ASI) value and is presented to the Air Traffic personnel in a digital format, e.g. 

29.98, so they can inform pilots of the proper setting so the aircraft’s altimeter will read the 

correct runway elevation at touchdown. The local DASI display panels provide a five-digit 

display of altimeter setting that is viewed on the Light Emitting Diode (LED) readout on the 

front. A keypad (or other means) on the unit enables the station altitude and a correction factor 

(if needed) to be entered into the system manually. Up to 10 remote displays may be 

accommodated. 

AWOS Data Acquisition System (ADAS) 

A software routine in ADAS receives lightning stroke information (latitude and longitude) 

system provides thunderstorm information (cloud-to-ground lightning reports) from the 

Automated Lightning Detection and Reporting System (ALDARS) out to 10 miles from the 

airport, and lightning information from 10 to 30 miles from the airport. It relays the stroke 

position to the ASOS and AWSS, which append the surface observation with the appropriate 

thunderstorm proximity indication. ALDARS appends the lightning information to the AWOS 

observation and sends the appended observation back to the AWOS for broadcast. Once the 

lightning data had been added to the observations, ADAS forwards them to NWS and WARP via 

WMSCR. The ADAS also disseminates weather it to area control facilities and FAA systems. 

A Regional ADAS Service Processor (RASP), at each Continental United States (CONUS) Air 

Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), collects and bundles the automated surface observations 

from the Federal AWOS, ASOS, and AWSS within the ARTCC boundaries and distributes them 

to the local Weather Message Switching Center Replacement (WMSCR). 

Some non-Federal AWOS are connected to WMSCR through FAA approved service providers. 

Only AWOS-III and IV are eligible for connection. They do not use ADAS. 

Weather Processing Systems 

Integrated Terminal Weather System (ITWS) 
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ITWS generates automated 

weather products such as 

windshear alerts, gust front 

predictions (up to 20 

minutes into future), storm 

cell intensity and direction 

of motion, terminal 

lightning information, 

detailed winds in the 

terminal area, and a onehour storm forecast. ITWS 

receives weather data from 

automated surface 

observing sensors (ASOS 

and ADAS) and 

surrounding radars, (TDWR, ASR-9, ASR-11, and NEXRAD) and bundles it with NWS 

forecasts and value-added algorithms such as windshear prediction to provide real-time aviation 

weather information for terminal control facilities and pilots. Tower and Terminal Radar 

Approach Control (TRACON) controllers use the information to make more precise estimates of 

when runways should be closed and subsequently reopened. They also use the information to 

plan for efficient switches in terminal arrival patterns, which avoids inefficient maneuvering on 

taxi ways and on approach and departure, to accommodate a runway direction change as aircraft 

approach an airport. There are 34 ITWS Product Generators in-service at over one hundred sites 

(Air Traffic Control (ATC) Towers, TRACONs, Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs) 

and the Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) providing common aviation 

weather information to 75 major airports. The FAA is targeting to implement the ITWS 

functionality in a NextGen Weather Processor (NWP) work package. 

Corridor Integrated Weather System (CIWS) 

CIWS gathers weather information along the busiest air traffic corridors to help air traffic 

specialists select the most efficient routes when they must divert traffic to avoid severe weather 

conditions. CIWS gathers convective weather information from radar and satellite images, 

blending it with NWS model data to provide an extrapolation of storm position and intensity 2 

hours into the future. This process widens the common weather picture in between major 

metropolitan areas and expands en route weather situational awareness along busy jet-ways and 

air traffic corridors to help air traffic specialists select the most efficient routes when they must 

divert traffic flows to avoid severe weather conditions. CIWS has added a winter weather mode, 

convective initiation, and two-hour look-ahead aviation product to help pilots and flow managers 

better decide whether to fly over or around storms. The FAA is targeting to implement the 

CIWS functionality into the NWP.

Weather and Radar Processor (WARP) 

WARP provides NEXRAD precipitation intensity data to controllers’ displays. WARP compiles 

information from many FAA, NWS, and commercial weather sources for integrated display to 

ARTCC Traffic Management Unit (TMU) supervisors, sector controller’s briefing terminals, 

Example of ITWS Weather Products 
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NAS operators of En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM), User Request and Evaluation 

Tool (URET), Advanced Technologies & Oceanic Procedures (ATOP), Dynamic Ocean 

Tracking System (DOTS), Alaska Flight Data Processor 2000 (FDP2K), and other 

automation/display systems and web users. WARP serves as a one-stop source for weather 

interpretation by the CWSU forecasting stations. WARP sustainment activities are underway and 

the WARP mosaic change is targeted to complete in 2015. The FAA is targeting to incorporate 

WARP functionality into the Common Support Services – Weather (CSS-Wx) and the NWP. 

Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS) 

The Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS) makes available to the aviation community text, 

digital and graphical forecasts, analyses, and observations of aviation-related weather variables. 

ADDS is a joint effort of the Federal Aviation Administration and the NOAA NCEPAviation 

Weather Center (AWC). 

The success of ADDS (averages over 15 million hits a day in 2013) has allowed the FAA to 

showcase several important research initiatives, including the Current and Forecast Icing 

Products, the Graphical Turbulence Guidance, and the National Ceiling and Visibility Analysis. 

It is important to note that these products have been through thorough technical reviews and 

safety risk assessments before release on ADDS as operational products. Operational ADDS 

runs at the AWC in Kansas City, MO. 

The FAAs Aviation Weather Research Program (AWRP) funds and directs the continuing 

development of ADDS as well as other experimental products being developed by the AWRP, 

while NOAA funds ADDS maintenance and operations. The results of the latest ADDS 

development efforts along with new experimental AWRP algorithm results can be viewed on 

http://weather.aero/, the Experimental ADDS website. 

The Operational ADDS Web Site, currently running at AWC will be rehosted on the Weather 

and Climate Operational Supercomputer System (WCOSS) at NCEP Central Operations. This 

change will enable open source compatibility and easier access to data sources. The latest 

enhancements to AWRP capabilities in in-flight icing analyses and forecasts, turbulence 

nowcasts and forecasts, and national ceiling and visibility analyses, etc. will continue to be 

implemented onto ADDS. Additionally, mobile device compatibility, user portals for GA/135, 

121 pilots, dispatch, Alaska, and passengers, and customized weather briefing capability are 

some of the main upcoming and long-term activities.http://aviationweather.gov/adds. 

Weather Message Switching Center Replacement (WMSCR) 

This system, with nodes in Salt Lake City and Atlanta, collects, validates, packages, and 

distributes alpha-numeric weather and Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) information nationwide. It 

is also a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) publisher of Pilot Report (PIREP) and altimeter 

data. In addition, WMSCR receives OMO data from ADAS for distribution to WARP and 

ITWS, as well as distributing Lightning Detection Data from ADAS to ITWS in the FAA 

Common Laser Dispatch Data file format. Initiatives in 2014/2015 include migration to a 

common platform at the Network Enterprise Management Center (NEMC) and continuing 
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support of National Airspace Data Interchange Network (NADIN) II decommissioning. This 

functionality is targeted to be subsumed under a future CSS-Wx Work Package 2. 

Weather Camera Program 

The primary goal of the FAA Aviation Weather Camera (AWC) Program is to improve aviation 

safety and efficiencies by providing current visual weather information in the form of near realtime video camera images to aviation users in Alaska. The camera images are designated as an 

FAA supplementary weather product used for enhanced situational awareness and the images are 

made available free on the public website at http://avcams.faa.gov. The camera images provide 

pilots, dispatchers and Flight Service Station Specialists with up-to-date weather conditions at 

airports, mountain passes, and other strategic Visual Flight Rules (VFR) locations and enables 

them to make better informed decisions about whether or not it is safe to fly before becoming 

airborne. It provides pilots with the ability to “look before you fly” as opposed to the age-old 

procedure “fly out to take a look”. New capability increases pilot situational awareness, enhances 

pilot flight decisions and when combined with other available weather information products, 

such as METARs, weather camera images become a powerful "go or no-go" aeronautical flight 

decision tool. 

With the known benefits of the camera systems and the low costs of its operation there is a high 

level of interest to expand the service to the remainder of the NAS where shortfalls in weather 

related aviation safety and efficiencies are known or suspected. Past and ongoing aviation studies 

have identified additional safety and efficiency shortfalls in areas of the contiguous United States 

and Hawaii where safety and efficiency shortfalls are identified. Studies conducted by the FAA 

office of Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS), and other FAA offices 

support the fact that weather cameras may be beneficial to aviation safety. In August 2013, the 

NTSB publically recognized the safety benefits of the weather camera system in Alaska and has 

forwarded a request to the FAA to install and maintain camera systems in Hawaii and the 

contiguous United States where cameras can address identified weather-related aviation 

accidents and safety shortfalls. 

Flight Services 

Flight Services collects and disseminates aeronautical and meteorological information, providing 

customized pre-flight and in-flight briefings to domestic and international general aviation 

communities, as well as to the military and commercial air carriers throughout the contiguous 

United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Alaska. These services are provided by flight service 

specialists to pilots via phone or radio, or pilots can access the information directly through 

online (internet-based) web portals. Flight service specialists interpret weather and aeronautical 

data to provide pilot weather briefings and flight planning services tailored for a particular flight. 

Alternatively, pilots accessing preflight information directly through a web portal are responsible 

for interpreting the weather and aeronautical information for their flight. 

The FAA delivers these services through the following combination of contract vehicles and 

automation systems: Operational and Supportability Implementation System (OASIS), Flight 

Services for the 21st Century (FS21), and Direct User Access Terminal Service (DUATS). 
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Operational and Supportability Implementation System (OASIS) 

OASIS is a flight service automation system operational at the 17 Flight Service Stations in 

Alaska since 2007 and is owned and supported by Harris Corporation. FAA Air Traffic Control 

Specialists operate OASIS and site level maintenance is performed by FAA Technical 

Operations personnel. OASIS provides integrated textual and weather graphics products, flight 

plan processing, emergency services, law enforcement, flight planning and regulatory 

information and other services as defined in FAA Joint Order (JO) 7110.10. 

Flight Services for the 21st Century (FS21) 

FS21 is the automation system operational at five Flight Service Stations located in CONUS 

operated by Lockheed Martin Corporation under the FAA’s Automated Flight Service Station 

(AFSS) contract. The contract provides flight services to pilots throughout CONUS, Hawaii, and 

Puerto Rico. Lockheed Martin flight service specialists operate FS21 and are FAA-certified pilot 

weather briefers. FS21 provides integrated text and graphical weather products, flight planning 

and flight plan processing, emergency services, law enforcement, flight planning and regulatory 

information, and other services as defined in FAA JO 7110.10. The vendor also provides FAAcertified pilot weather briefers to operate the system. 

Direct User Access Terminal Service (DUATS) 

DUATS is an internet-based weather/aeronautical information and flight plan filing service that 

allows pilots to access information on-line to plan a flight, file a flight plan, and perform a selfbrief without the aid of a Flight Service Specialist. The FAA contracts for this service with two 

separate vendors: Data Transformation Corporation (DTC) and Computer Sciences Corporation 

(CSC). DUATS provides aviation weather in both text (alphanumeric) and graphical formats 

according to standards defined in FAA JO 7110.10. 

Contract Weather Observer (CWO) Program 

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) created the Contract Weather Observer program 

in 1995, for the FAA and NWS to provide oversight and program management activities. As of 

October 1, 2013, NWS transferred responsibility for training oversight, certification, and facility 

inspection of Limited Aviation Weather Reporting Stations (LAWRS), CWOs, and non-Federal 

Weather Observers (NF-OBS), to the FAA. The FAA continues to provide backup and 

augmentation to the ASOS and the NWS provide maintenance of the ASOS program. 

In February 1996, a Service Standards Policy was developed and implemented by the FAA, 

NWS, and industry representatives for airports having an operational ASOS. The FAA then 

assumed sole responsibility for providing program management and supplying operational 

certified CWOs to provide backup and augmentation of the ASOS at Service Level A and B 

airports. At Service Level C airports, the FAA uses Air Traffic Control personnel to perform 

LAWRS duties, which provide backup for the ASOS. 
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Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) 

NextGen is an umbrella term for the ongoing, wide-ranging transformation of the United States' 

NAS to ensure that future safety, capacity and environmental needs are met. NextGen will 

fundamentally change the way air traffic is managed by combining new technologies for 

surveillance, navigation, and communications with workforce training, procedural changes, and 

airfield development. 

NextGen requires efficient consolidation of large volumes of weather observations and forecast 

information for processing, dissemination, and integration into decision support system 

algorithms to produce the more sophisticated aviation weather products of how weather will 

impact NAS operations. NextGen core technologies will allow introduction of new NextGen 

operational improvements. Efforts under NextGen include: CSS-Wx, NextGen Weather 

Processor (NWP), ATM-Weather Integration Concepts, and NextGen Surface Observing 

Capability. 

Common Support Services – Weather (CSS-Wx) 

In conjunction with the deployment of the System Wide Information Management (SWIM) 

Enterprise Service, a common information publishing capability will be deployed that will 

include a first offering of aviation weather information. This subsumes the major functions 

ascribed to NextGen Networked Enabled Weather (NNEW) and will, over time, include 

additional information types – aeronautical information, flight information – as these move to 

new information protocols and formats. CSS-Wx extends the SWIM core services, and is being 

developed to enhance the collection and dissemination of aviation weather information and 

provide access to all users throughout the NAS. The FAA is currently performing investment 

analysis activities and in 2014 will make a decision on whether to implement CSS-Wx. 

NextGen Weather Processor (NWP) 

The NWP establishes a common weather processing platform that will enable the consolidation 

of the legacy FAA aviation weather processor systems and host new capabilities. As input, NWP 

uses information such as FAA and NOAA radar and sensors and NOAA forecast models. NWP 

will use sophisticated algorithms to create aviation-specific current and predicted weather, 

requiring no meteorological interpretation, for publishing via CSS-Wx. It will perform Weather 

Translation, which will enable the use of automated objective weather constraint information by 

decision-makers and Decision-Support Tools (DST). The FAA is currently performing 

investment analysis activities and in 2014 will make a decision on whether to implement the 

NWP. 

ATM-Weather Integration Concepts 

Currently NAS weather data is not well integrated into either manual procedures or automated 

decision-support systems. To support the predicted volume of future air traffic operations, 

improvements are needed. Unpredicted changes in weather are prime concerns because of the 

significant impact and disruption they create throughout the entire NAS. The current system does 

not respond well to unpredicted weather situations or to weather conditions that evolve 
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differently than expected. This effort will address required improvements to support proactive 

planning operations rather than adjusting for impacts after the weather has changed. Activities in 

2015 include technical studies for improvements to aviation weather information integration, 

transitioning an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)-compliant Quality 

Management System (QMS) to operations, and harmonization of aviation weather requirements 

with the international community. 

NextGen Surface Observing Capability (NSOC) 

The existing surface weather observation sensor network is comprised of aging, stand-alone 

capabilities. Ongoing technical refreshes and Service Life Extension Programs (SLEP) can keep 

these sensors operating in the near to mid-term. While the current sensor network performs 

adequately, it is becoming increasingly costly to maintain. The NSOC will develop and evaluate 

methods to consolidate existing surface weather sensor networks, provide improved capability, 

and allow sensor outputs to be more universally available. In the near term, NSOC will explore 

existing automated winter weather sensing shortfalls in the ground-based weather sensor 

network. These shortfalls will be documented, socialized, and prioritized with key stakeholders 

including operators and project sponsors before being packaged into a weather work package. 

The work package will then be engineered and demonstrated, with an emphasis on the 

identification of potential operational and technical risks to successful integration into the NAS. 

System engineering activities will then commence to mitigate the risks, with the progress of the 

concept maturity documented via increasingly detailed design documents, evaluation matrices 

and reports and demonstrated through a series of increasingly challenging concept maturity 

technology demonstrations (CMTD). 

FAA International Obligations 

The FAA is the Meteorological Authority for the U.S. and establishes the requirements for 

meteorological services provided by the NWS to support international air navigation, as required 

by ICAO’s Annex 3, Meteorological Services for International Air Navigation. As part of the 

requirements process the FAA, as a member of several ICAO meteorological groups, represents 

U.S. interests and strives for global harmonization of meteorological products and services. The 

FAA represents the Unites States on ICAO’s World Area Forecast System Operations Group, 

ICAO’s International Airways Volcano Watch Operations Group, ICAO’s Aerodrome 

Meteorological Observation and Forecast Study Group, ICAO’s Meteorological Warnings Study 

Group, and ICAO’s Meteorological Aeronautical Requirements and Information Exchange 

Project Team. 

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS 

The National Airspace System of the Future 

To address the growing demands on the NAS for the future, the 108th Congress and the George 

W. Bush Administration promulgated and signed into law VISION 100 Century of Aviation 

Reauthorization Act (P.L. 108-176). The Vision 100 Act calls for an integrated, multi-agency 
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plan to transform the nation’s air transportation system to meet the needs of the year 2025 and 

beyond, while providing substantial near-term benefits. The resulting Next Generation Air 

Transportation System (NextGen) initiative addresses critical safety and economic needs in civil 

aviation, while fully integrating national defense and homeland security improvements into the 

future NAS. 

NextGen weather development activities will contribute to: (1) Expanded Capacity by providing 

air traffic managers the ability to better plan for predicted weather impacts on air travel, thus 

maximizing air space usage and optimizing flight routes; (2) Improved Safety by providing pilots 

and air traffic managers the ability to better assess and avoid hazards to air travel, such as severe 

turbulence, and (3) Protection of the Environment by enabling flight route optimization on the 

ground and in the air, thereby avoiding ground delays or holding patterns that require 

unnecessary jet fuel expenditure. 

FAA Interagency Planning Office (IPO) 

The FAA, NASA, and the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, and 

Transportation, along with the private sector and academic community, are working together 

with the Office of Science and Technology Policy to design and build the Next Generation Air 

Transportation System (NextGen). Under the direction from H.R. 3547 Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2014 to transition Joint Planning and Development Office activities to the 

FAA NextGen office, the FAA established the IPO in May 2014 to facilitate interagency 

collaboration, harmonize aviation-related research activities, and help effect technology transfer 

between the NextGen partners. The IPO worked with the agencies during FY14 to identify 

several potential technology development efforts that could enhance weather integration into 

national airspace operations and support emerging weather and air surveillance requirements. 

FAA NextGen Office 

Two principal FAA entities that report to the Assistant Administrator for NextGen are focused 

upon implementation of NextGen: the Office of NAS Lifecycle Integration and the Aviation 

Weather Division (AWD) under the Office of Advanced Concepts and Technology 

Development. The role of the Lifecycle Integration Office is to ensure that the plans for the 

several NextGen strategic thrusts, called NextGen Portfolios, are coordinated and integrated for 

efficient near- and medium-term implementation across the FAA. This includes the NextGen 

Weather research and development as pre-implementation activities in the NAS Infrastructure 

Portfolio. Common Support Services-Weather (CSS-Wx), discussed earlier, is a transformational 

program that will address weather dissemination within the Air Navigation Service Provider 

infrastructure. NextGen Weather pre-implementation is focused on improving weather 

observations, weather forecasts, and operational decisions based upon that improved weather 

information by integrating it into manual and automated decision support tools in the NAS. In 

addition to working with the AWD, this portfolio coordinates the investment analysis and 

acquisition of new weather systems and services within the FAA’s Aviation Weather Services 

Directorate (AWSD), NOAA/NWS, and other agencies. 
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FAA AWG and AWSD Roles in NextGen Transition 

The AWD and AWSD have important roles in the transition from today’s aviation weather 

services to future CSS-Wx and NextGen weather forecast improvements, and other NextGen 

Weather Processing capabilities, as the FAA moves from air traffic control to air traffic 

management (ATM). In the NextGen system, most communications will occur as digital data, 

much of it transferred directly from computer to computer. Relevant information will be shared 

easily among system users through network-enabled information access. 

The AWSD develops mission need and investment analysis for initial investment decisions for 

FAA aviation weather sensors, forecasting capability, dissemination systems, and integration of 

improved weather capability into the NAS. The focus is on NextGen, including collaboration 

with Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR), with ICAO for advanced aviation weather 

standards, and with all the U.S. agencies involved in NextGen. This work addresses the high cost 

of weather to today’s NAS, where weather is responsible for 70 percent of delays over 15 

minutes and contributes to 24 percent of accidents and 34 percent of fatalities. Up to two-thirds 

of weather delays are avoidable, but despite a continuous flow of improvements available 

through aviation weather science and implementation solutions aimed at providing better 

weather information, weather continues to have significant impacts on aviation costs and safety. 

The purposes of this program are to reduce the number of weather-related aviation accidents; 

reduce aviation flight delays, diversions, and cancellations; improve the operational efficiency of 

the NAS; and harmonize ICAO standard with U.S. practices in aviation weather. 

The NextGen program in AWSD is composed of three elements: 

1. The Concept Identification and Development component generates, analyzes, manages, 

allocates, and validates requirements in the NextGen aviation weather portfolio. It focuses 

on the early stages of requirements from their inception/generation to the investment 

analysis and subsequent requirements decision. It develops transformational (NextGen midterm and far-term capabilities), as well as evolutionary requirements (NextGen near-term 

capabilities). It formulates agreements between government and industry stakeholders on 

policies needed to meet requirements for airborne weather observations, including cost 

sharing, data access and distribution, data reporting frequency, aircraft equipage, and other 

technical issues. Finally, this program develops policies necessary for the allocation of 

roles and responsibilities in the provision of weather state information to meet requirements 

and U.S. commitments to ICAO. 

2. The Global Harmonization component carries out FAA’s role as the U.S. Meteorological 

Authority to ICAO. It promotes global harmonization through the development of ICAO 

Standards and Recommended Practices and manuals/guideline documents for surface and 

airborne observations/forecasts and global dissemination of aviation weather information 

that are supportive of NextGen. This work is accomplished through developing and 

presenting, to 12 ICAO planning, study, and operations groups, U.S. positions on issues 

arising from the ICAO Volcanic Ash program, the World Area Forecast System, the 

international Space Weather program, and amendments to ICAO Annex 3 and other 

guidance material to incorporate the NextGen concept of the 4-D Weather Data Cube. 
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3. The System Performance component develops metrics that provide a framework for 

enabling the FAA to measure the benefits of weather information for air traffic operations. 

It maintains standards for surface observations for the backup and augmentation of ASOS. 

The development of NAS weather requirements under this program is an essential artifact of the 

following NextGen documents: the Weather Concept of Operations, the Mission Needs 

Statement for Weather (MNS-339), the Preliminary Portfolio Requirements, and the Final 

Portfolio Requirements. The requirements work in this program feeds later-stage activities, as 

defined by the FAA Acquisition Management System (AMS) lifecycle, of the RWI solution set. 

The NAS Infrastructure Portfolio 

The NAS Infrastructure Portfolio is a planning and development portfolio that includes elements 

to ensure NextGen operational weather capabilities utilize a broad range of weather 

improvements and technologies to mitigate the effects of weather in future NAS operations. This 

portfolio has two major NextGen weather elements: NextGen weather observation improvements 

and NextGen weather forecast improvements. The NextGen weather elements will address many 

weather problems including, but not limited to, rightsizing the observations network, transition 

of weather research to operations, development of weather impact metrics, development of 

weather decision support tools, integration of weather information into operations, weather 

processor architecture redesign and restructuring, and transition planning for legacy systems. The 

NextGen weather elements will conduct planning, prototyping, demonstrations, engineering 

evaluation, and investment readiness activities leading to an implementation of operational 

capabilities throughout the NextGen near, mid, and far terms. 

A consistent and effective weather observation sensor network will be a cornerstone to improved 

NextGen weather capabilities. Currently the United States has fielded multiple weather surface 

sensor networks that vary in age up to 30 years. Ongoing technical refreshes and SLEPs can keep 

these sensors operating in the near to mid-term. However, as the demands of the NAS increase in 

the future, the present array of surface sensor systems will not be capable of delivering the 

required functionality. In addition, potential NextGen weather observation requirements might 

exceed current surface sensing capabilities (e.g., improved weather model initialization for 

increased weather forecast accuracy). Current surface observation systems also contain 

considerable overlap and waste that should be engineered out of the NAS. NextGen weather 

observation improvements will explore concepts for a next-generation surface sensing capability 

that can satisfy all current surface sensing requirements in a single system and be easily 

expandable to meet any future NextGen requirements. 

The second NextGen weather element, NextGen weather forecast improvements, addresses the 

need to enable better weather decision-making and use of weather information in the transformed 

NAS. This need includes: (1) integrating weather information tailored for decision support tools 

and systems into NextGen operations, (2) implementing improved forecasts by transitioning 

advanced forecast capabilities from aviation weather research, (3) developing and using metrics 

to evaluate the effectiveness of weather improvements in the NAS, (4) developing probabilistic 

forecasts that can be effectively used in air traffic and traffic flow management, and (5) 

determining the most effective solution for a processor architecture to support these capabilities. 
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RWI will propose recommendations for near, mid, and far time frames, including a 

recommendation for transition of legacy systems. 

Collectively the effect of the NextGen NAS Infrastructure Portfolio weather elements will result 

in aviation weather information no longer being just a stand-alone display, requiring cognitive 

interpretation and impact assessment, with limited ability to significantly mitigate delays. 

Instead, weather information is being designed to integrate with and support NextGen decisionoriented automation capabilities and human decision-making processes. 

NOAA/National Weather Service 

NOAA’s commitment to the NextGen initiative has two core components: NextGen IT Services 

which will provide improved access to NOAA weather information in the formats required by 

NextGen users and NextGen Weather Science and Applications which will improve the 

accuracy, resolution and timeliness of weather information relevant to aviation users. 

Specifically, NextGen IT Services will provide an information technology infrastructure 

comparable to those already employed by other government agencies and by industry which is 

flexible and extensible to keep pace with user’s weather information needs in a rapidly changing 

technological environment. The greater and easier access to NOAA weather information for 

aviation decision-makers will facilitate better integration of this information into aviation users’ 

decision-making processes and systems. 

NextGen Weather Science and Applications will develop aviation weather information data sets, 

consistent in time, space and among weather elements, providing a complete picture of how 

weather will impact aviation across the NAS. This more accurate aviation weather information, 

achieved through higher resolution weather models, will improve air traffic managers’ ability to 

fine-tune their assessment of the impact of the weather on airports and air routes to safely 

maximize available air space. The Program will also develop advanced aviation forecast 

generation techniques and tools to allow NWS meteorologists to generate aviation weather 

information faster and more accurately. 

NOAA aviation weather information will be available to users of the NAS and to the FAA Air 

Traffic Management community through the FAA’s Common Support Services – Weather 

Program (CSS-Wx). While NextGen IT Services implements common weather data services, 

CSS-Wx will also implement these common data services within the FAA enterprise, and will 

utilize the weather data and information from NOAA for use in weather impact decisions for 

aviation. 

NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research 

Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) 

Within NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), the Global Systems 

Division of the Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL/GSD) evaluates aviation weather 

impact variables such as icing, turbulence, ceiling and visibility, and convective weather and 

develops decision tools for NWS forecast offices, FAA traffic managers, and commercial and 
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civil aviation. Specifically, GSD has and will continue to develop capabilities to allow the 

forecaster to integrate, view, and manipulate observations from current and planned 

meteorological sensing systems using computer-assisted data display and synthesis techniques. 

Improvements in weather and climate prediction are tied to developing and running finer scale 

weather forecast models and model ensembles on increasingly powerful High-Performance 

Computing Systems (HPCS). Central Processing Unit-based (CPU-based) HPCS computing is 

growing more expensive as hundreds of thousands of CPU cores are being combined to provide 

increased compute capacity. These large CPU-based systems require large and expensive 

facilities and infrastructure to provide sufficient power and cooling ($5M for construction and 

$1M annually to run). Given tight federal budgets, CPU-based systems are, therefore, 

increasingly unaffordable. GSD is exploring the use of Massively Parallel Fine-Grain computing 

(MPFG) systems, which can be 5-10 times faster than CPU-based systems, to run NWP models. 

By using MPFG systems, savings to NOAA for facilities space, infrastructure, and electrical 

costs can be substantial. 

Plans for FY 15: 

 Development of decision-support tools for use at FAA Center Weather Service Units 

 Evaluate upgraded algorithms for detecting and forecasting aviation impact variables 

 Run several Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models on (MPFG) systems to 

determine performance improvements over CPU-based systems 

 Create product description documents and product schemas for the Request For Proposal, 

and subsequent documents, associated with the FAA's CSS-Wx implementation contract 

competition 

National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) 

NSSL is participating in the effort to help NOAA’s support for the NextGen initiative. Planning 

with the FAA and the NWS began in FY 2009 and is anticipated to continue for the next several 

years. NSSL is also working with the FAA’s AWRP to develop weather radar applications that 

enhance the safety and efficiency of the aviation community and the NAS. Work is focused on 

both convective weather and winter weather, with special attention to treating all WSR-88D 

radars within the continental United States as a single network. As part of this effort, the MultiRadar, Multi-Sensor (MRMS) system is being used to support intensive research directed toward 

polarimetric radar applications unique to aviation needs. Examples using WSR-88D dual-pol 

radar data include wintertime quantitative precipitation estimation, detection of icing 

(supercooled liquid water) conditions and winter precipitation type (snow, sleet, freezing rain, 

etc.) and data quality issues unique to FAA users. Work has also begun on a proposed prediction 

system will involve building an algorithm to predict the porosity of thunderstorms and 

thunderstorm complexes/systems by applying pattern recognition and geospatial data mining to 

forecast fields from convection-allowing numerical weather prediction models. The algorithm 

will first be applied to members of a convection allowing model ensemble to diagnose whether 

the modeling system has any skill at predicting porosity. Then, assuming the ensemble has 

sufficient skill for relevant forecast lengths, NSSL will explore methods for using the ensemble 

for predicting the likelihood that a region or specific flight corridor will be porous for airplane 

traffic. 
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NSSL is actively engaged in a risk reduction activity for the Multifunction Phased Array Radar 

(MPAR) technology with the FAA and industry in designing and testing dual-polarized phased 

array radar panels required to determine the feasibility of using MPAR as the replacement 

technology for weather and aircraft surveillance radars (i.e. multi-function). The NSSL continues 

to fund the development of 2 small-scale demonstrator phased array radar systems with research 

interests at the University of Oklahoma and MIT Lincoln Laboratory. These demonstrators will 

provide an evaluation of dual polarization phased array radar technologies on a planar and 

cylindrical platform. NSSL has also begun a multi-year collaboration with the FAA to upgrade 

the National Weather Radar Testbed (NWRT) to an active array dual polarization antenna and 

should be completed by FY17. 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Aviation Weather Research Program (AWRP) 

The AWRP program will continue research into geophysical phenomena in the atmosphere and 

around airports that present hazardous conditions for aircraft operations. Among these hazards 

are in-flight icing, convective weather, turbulence, restricted ceilings and visibility, volcanic ash, 

liquid, freezing and frozen precipitation, etc. Additional work is being done to improve models 

and in developing advanced weather radar techniques. 

Service Analysis 

Weather Research for Service Analysis is a critical analysis of the various technologies for 

translating weather information into aviation constraints, and the application of the constraints to 

quantify operational impacts. This work is conducted as part of the New Service Needs as initial 

input into the Mission Analysis phase of the Acquisition Management System (AMS) lifecycle. 

Major areas of work include: Conducting research associated with the Air Traffic Management 

(ATM) Weather Integration Plan for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen); 

Providing critical analyses of the various technologies for translating weather information into 

aviation constraints, and the application of the constraints to quantify operational impacts; 

Determining which technologies address constraints and which address impacts; Proposing 

weather translation technologies adequate for use with such programs as Wake Turbulence 

Mitigation for Departure (WTMD), Tower Flight Data Manager (TFDM), En Route Automation 

Modernization (ERAM), Traffic Flow Management System (TFMS), Closely-Spaced Parallel 

Operations (CSPO), and Time Based Flow Management (TBFM). 

Observations 

Liquid Water Equivalence (LWE) Rate Measurement & Reporting‐Surface Snow/ Ice

At airports in cold climates, a ground anti-icing/de-icing program is an essential pre-takeoff 

service. Decision making in a ground anti-icing/deicing program is the responsibility of the pilot. 

Pilots need to have the most accurate airport weather observation information available to 

support their ground anti-icing/deicing program decisions. Recent weather research has provided 

compelling evidence that snow precipitation intensity, which is currently determined by a 

visibility-based method, can be more accurately determined by measuring the LWE rate and 

providing this information as part of the airport weather observation. Pilots can use this enhanced 
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information to more accurately determine their hold-over times. To capitalize on the federal 

government’s investment in ASOS, a cost effective way to provide this LWE rate capability is to 

implement it in ASOS. The FAA is currently pursuing ways to provide this capability in ASOS. 

This improvement will enhance aircraft and passenger safety and support traffic flow 

management. The FAA is also pursuing development of a commercial LWE Rate System (see 

In-flight Icing for details). 

Advanced Weather Radar Techniques (AWRT)

The AWRT research focuses on monitoring and improving the quality of information derived 

from the Weather Surveillance Radar 88D (WSR-88D), TDWR, and Canadian and Mexican 

weather radar networks. To properly initialize convective weather, turbulence, icing and 

numerical weather prediction products, it is critical that ingested weather radar data be of high 

quality. The AWRT research is focused on developing quality control techniques that ensure 

weather radar information is free from false weather returns caused by biological, clutter, or out 

of tolerance radars. Further research involves monitoring the benefits from the recently fielded 

WSR-88D dual polarization capability. Ongoing efforts towards improving the quality of 

Canadian weather radar data, which is being incorporated into various air traffic management 

tools, will continue. 

The AWRT research also involves techniques for mitigating gaps in individual weather radar 

networks via seamlessly integrating all weather radar networks together to form high resolution, 

three dimensional mosaics. This work has produced the Multi Radar Multi Sensor (MRMS) 

capability. Operating at a thirty second update rate and 1 Kilometer (KM) resolution, MRMS 

provides high resolution mosaic input to several FAA AWRP efforts, as well as Automatic 

Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), Traffic Flow 

Management System (TFMS), and air traffic modeling and simulation research efforts at the 

William J. Hughes Technical Center (WJHTC). 

Forecasts and Modeling 

In-Flight Icing 

This research is aimed at developing improvements to in-flight icing diagnosis and forecasting 

with a goal of reducing the rate of aircraft icing related accidents and fatalities for aircraft 

operations in the NAS. Over the continental United States, the Current Icing Product (CIP) and 

Forecast Icing Product (FIP) have been developed to provide hourly updates of current and 

forecast in-flight icing conditions out to 12 hours. These products include probability and 

severity of icing conditions, as well as super-cooled large drop potential. CIP and FIP products 

are available to all NAS users of the ADDS website, which provides comprehensive userfriendly aviation weather graphics including icing, turbulence, and convection. Current research 

efforts include development of a current and forecast icing product for Alaska, and development 

of enhanced icing weather diagnosis and forecast algorithms using weather parameters including 

liquid water content, drop size, and temperature. The latter research effort called Model of Icing 

Conditions for Real-Time Operations (MICRO) will be used to produce future ice accretion 

products that will likely apply to a particular class of aircraft (prop, turboprop, jet, etc.) for use in 

the NAS by pilots and flight crews in avoiding hazardous icing areas. Planned future efforts also 

include development of a global (oceanic routes) forecast icing product. Research was completed 
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in FY2011 to enhance efficiency and safety during winter terminal operations through the 

development of a prototype for Liquid Water Equivalent Rate System (LWES) specification for 

determining holdover times more accurate than those from currently used visibility tables. 

Results from this research are being incorporated into the Terminal Area Icing Weather 

Information NextGen (TAIWIN). The goal of the TAIWIN effort is to develop a comprehensive 

terminal area ground and in-flight icing weather product capability (for use by air traffic, flight 

crews, and ground de-icing operations) to provide terminal area icing weather information for 

operational decision-making. 

Convective Weather 

Convective weather is a critical area of research due to the considerable impact convective 

storms have on NAS operations. These storms contribute to delays, diversions and cancellations, 

along with well-documented effects on safety and capacity. The FAA’s AWRP Convective 

Weather Research Program seeks to address this problem by: (1) exploring how thunderstorm 

information is used to make decisions and assessing the need for improved dissemination and 

communication of this information; (2) increasing the fundamental understanding of how 

thunderstorms form, behave, and impact the NAS; and (3) developing advanced thunderstorm 

analysis and predictive capabilities. 

The following research projects are underway: (1) determine the accuracy of high-resolution 

models to forecast convective weather in the 2-8 hour time frame; (2) Improve the blending of 

different weather model types for prediction of convective storms in the 1-4 hour time frame; (3) 

develop an initial technology to estimate radar-like precipitation intensity and echo top height of 

storms beyond radar range by combining global lightning data, satellite data, and output from 

numerical weather prediction models with existing radar mosaics; (4) Develop and advance 

probabilistic convective weather hazard guidance for oceanic regions from 0 – 36 hours; and (5) 

identify and quantify the impacts of ramp closures due to lightning threats on NAS efficiency 

and safety of ground personnel, and determine if inefficiencies in lightning procedures (or the 

lack of procedures) can be mitigated with streamlined and consistent decision support guidance. 

In addition to the specific areas of research identified above, convective weather research will 

also support the initiatives of the Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) community and work to 

improve the prediction of other convective weather hazards such as hail, windshear, and 

turbulence. 

Turbulence 

This research has focused on producing real-time turbulence nowcasts and probabilistic forecasts 

of turbulence. The method utilized in meeting these objectives is a turbulence-forecasting 

capability in conjunction with two supporting sensor capabilities: one for in-situ detection of 

turbulence and the second for remote sensing of turbulence. The in-situ work has resulted in the 

deployment of an aircraft-based Eddy Dissipation Rate (EDR) turbulence detection algorithm on 

aircraft at United Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Current efforts include deployment at Southwest 

Airlines. The remote sensing work has targeted the use of data from the NEXRAD radar 

network. Data from the NEXRAD Turbulence Detection Algorithm, currently operational on 

NEXRAD, will be used as input for the production of a turbulence analysis (nowcast) product. 
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A separate effort, the Weather Technology in the Cockpit (WTIC) Turbulence/EDR Uplink 

Demonstration, is assessing the feasibility of using a low-cost device for the displaying of 

turbulence forecasts and EDR information in the cockpit for direct use by the flight crew. This 

work will provide a more complete Cost Benefits Analysis of the use of the turbulence data in 

the flight deck. 

Ceiling and Visibility (C&V) 

This research has focused on developing automated ceiling and visibility products to support 

current needs and future NextGen requirements for improvements in safety and terminal area 

traffic flow efficiency. C&V research will provide NAS users with improved detection and 

analysis of ceiling and visibility conditions in terms of the geographical extent, timing and 

duration of events and improved accuracy of forecasts. C&V can significantly disrupt terminal 

operations by degrading an airport’s arrival rate and, in more severe cases, closing the airport 

entirely. The FAA is working with the NWS to more effectively and efficiently integrate 

numerical model output and C&V algorithms into the production of NWS terminal aerodrome 

forecasts (TAFs) and area forecasts (FAs). Similarly, some of these advanced, automated 

capabilities will eventually be provided directly to Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) 

and NAS operational decision makers. Currently, a gridded national C&V analysis (CVA) uses 

frequently updated C&V data from airfield observations to display C&V conditions as an 

automated national gridded display available via ADDS. C&V forecast information will 

eventually be provided hourly in both probabilistic and deterministic form to support both human 

users and future automated decision support systems. Also developed under AWRP, is the 

Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) display tool used by emergency helicopter 

crews to facilitate their No-Go decisions. New HEMS capabilities will include base map 

upgrades, C&V trending, user-supplied map datasets, storage, and retrieval of user preferences. 

Volcanic Ash 

The FAA continues to lead the U.S.’s efforts to ensure the nation’s air transportation system 

maintains an excellent safety record for operations in air space contaminated with volcanic ash. 

Following the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull in April 2010, the FAA 

participated in the ICAO Volcanic Ash Task Force. This task force primary mission was to 

develop a global safety risk management framework to determine safe levels of operation in 

airspace contaminated by volcanic ash and deal with the issues from large volcanic eruptions that 

disrupt global air transportation. That volcanic event, which centered in Europe, caused global 

disruption in the aviation community, resulting in cancelations and delays of flights. 

The FAA is taking the lead, in cooperation with other U.S. agencies and international partners, in 

the following areas and initiatives: 

 Development of a Concept of Operations for volcanic ash information in support of air 

traffic operations and management 

 Development of a collaborative forecasting model to support the information exchange 

and collaboration between various Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers as well as 
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Meteorological Watch Office, Air Navigation Service Providers, and Airline Operations 

Centers in volcanic ash cloud analysis and forecasts 

 Support an engine testing initiative for volcanic ash 

 Other efforts supported by various U.S. agencies and international partners include: 

 Continued research efforts to improve volcanic ash dispersion and transport models, 

which are key to providing improved forecasts of the location of ash clouds 

 Improvements in volcano monitoring and the detection and reporting of volcano 

eruptions 

 Initial documentation of best practices for the VAACs 

The successful completion of these programs will result in improvements to the air transportation 

system, which will reduce the economic impacts from large volcanic eruptions and ensure no 

decline in safety. 

Model Development and Enhancement (MD&E) 

This AWRP research is targeted at developing and improving weather prediction models and 

data assimilation systems to better characterize the state of the atmosphere with the goal of 

providing superior aviation weather information to enhance NAS safety and capacity. These 

assimilation and prediction systems utilize all the latest weather observations and advanced 

supercomputers to create the most accurate and timely depiction of the future state of the 

weather. The future weather information output from these computer models serves as the 

underpinning for virtually all weather guidance beyond the first hour. 

This research has been a collaborative partnership of the FAA, NOAA, NCAR, the Center for the 

Analysis and Prediction of Storms, the Air Force Weather Agency, and the Naval Research 

Laboratory to build the state-of-the-art Grid-point Statistical Interpolation (GSI) data 

assimilation system and Weather research and Forecast (WRF) modeling framework. A key 

result has been the 2012 implementation into NWS operations of the hourly-updated Rapid 

Refresh (RAP) weather prediction system. This system has yielded better wind forecasts and 

improved diagnoses and forecasts of weather hazardous to aviation, including en-route 

turbulence, convective weather, in-flight icing, and restricted visibility, over an expanded 

domain including Alaska. 

Current efforts are focused on improvements to the RAP to enhance convective weather, 

turbulence, ceiling and visibility, and icing forecasts as well as continued development of the 

High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR), which provides storm-scale resolution to capture 

convective activity at the cell level. The HRRR is expected to be operational at NOAA NCEP in 

FY 2016. 

Weather Technology in the Cockpit (WTIC) 

The purpose of this research program is to reduce the negative impacts of adverse weather 

conditions on the National Airspace System (NAS) and aircraft by developing, verifying, and 
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validating recommendations to support airworthiness standards for enabling availability and 

improving the quality and quantity of meteorological (MET) information available to the aircraft. 

There are numerous research projects within the WTIC portfolio to achieve this overall project 

goal of recommending a 1

Minimum Weather Service that aid pilots in decision-making when 

faced with adverse weather conditions. The 

portfolio of projects will perform the research 

necessary to address the overarching WTIC 

research questions (the specific FAR Part 91 and 

FAR Part 121/135 research questions will be 

delineated below). Instrumental in gaining 

answers to these research questions is research to 

resolve any shortfalls, gaps, and issues that were 

identified as gaps in MET information in the 

cockpit. A brief summary of several WTIC 

research projects are detailed in the following 

subsections. 

General Aviation(GA) Minimum Weather Service 

The GA minimum weather service research effort is focused on the identification of Causal 

Factors for GA weather-related accidents and the gaps associated with weather information and 

presentation in the cockpit. The specific FAR Part 91 WTIC research will attempt to ascertain: 

 Why has the weather-related accident rate for GA aircraft not decreased more with the 

commercial advances in MET cockpit technology and information? (i.e., obtain more 

insight into causes and locations of GA accidents and incidents) 

 What is the minimum weather service for GA? 

 What is the minimum MET information needed in the cockpit? 

 What is the minimum quality of the MET information for the cockpit? 

 What are the minimum rendering standards needed to enable correct interpretation of the 

minimum MET information in the cockpit and to enable consistent, safe, and effective 

decision-making? 

 What are the shortfalls in pilot understanding and proper use of the information, and what 

are the pilot training needs to meet these shortfalls? 

 

1 The term “minimum weather service” as used in this document is defined as the minimum weather information content 

required in cockpits along with the associated parameters of that information, such as reliability, accuracy, update rates, and

spatial resolution. The minimum weather service will also include rendering recommendations to reduce the likelihood of 

interpretation errors.
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Research projects as part of the GA minimum weather service include defining information 

required to aid GA pilots in decision-making regarding adverse weather, reviewing the Aviation

Safety Reporting System (ASRS) to identify and assess casual factors and trends of weatherrelated incidents, and conducting a causality analysis to identify, quantify, and assess gaps or 

issues with cockpit MET information. Additional research will include assessing the feasibility to 

develop agile, low latency, adverse weather cockpit alerts that require minimal cognitive 

processing by the pilot. The GA minimum weather service effort will also evaluate the utility of 

selected current MET products as decision support tools in high stress flight scenarios, and 

review issues associated with transition from Visual Flight Rules (VFR) into Instrument 

Meteorological Conditions (IMC) to determine decision making trends. 

The Mobile Application project is researching MET information that provides benefits to the 

cockpit when presented on a mobile application. This project is also researching limitations of 

existing technology to support the concept of operation for this mobile application. 

Results from Phase II of the WTIC Standardization Assessment project indicated statistically 

significant variations in pilot awareness of adverse weather events. Specifically, the recognition 

by pilots of METARs (surface observations) changing from indicating Visual Flight Rules 

(VFR) conditions to Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) conditions at their destination and potential 

alternate airports was far below expectations. Therefore, a third phase was deemed necessary. 

The third phase of the WTIC Standardization Assessment project will attempt to identify the 

elements in the presentations (such as colors, shapes, or a combination) that contribute to the 

performance variations and the design of those elements that provide most consistent safe 

performance and adverse weather event recognition. 

The WTIC program is also performing research to develop and test scenario-based GA pilot 

web-based MET training courseware that are compatible with independent and instructor led 

training. This includes an associated set of comprehensive MET questions for the pilot written 

exam. 

The WTIC program works closely with multiple RTCA Special Committees to collaboratively 

develop standards and guidance material associated with the delivery and presentation of weather 

information in the cockpit. The most extensive support is provided to RTCA SC-206, 

Aeronautical Information Services Data Link, and their efforts to develop recommendations for 

data link architecture and the dissemination of MET information between aircraft and ground 

users. The WTIC program also supports standards development by participating in the SAE G10 effort to develop a standard symbology for the presentation of MET information in the 

cockpit. 
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Part 121 / 135 Minimum Weather Service 

The Flight Deck Information research of the WTIC Minimum Weather Service for aircraft 

operating under FAR Part 121/135 research will attempt to ascertain: 

 What are the current operational inefficiencies, by phase of flight, attributable to 

shortfalls of MET information in the cockpit? 

 What are the potential NextGen operational inefficiencies attributable to shortfalls of 

MET information in the cockpit? 

 What is the minimum weather service* for major aircraft categories in Part 121 and 135? 

This WTIC Flight Deck Information research project includes research to provide accurate and 

timely wind information to flight management systems (FMSs), and quantify any predicted 

benefits of associated NextGen application programs (e.g., TBO, CLEEN, Interval 

Management). In addition, this minimum weather service effort will examine methods designed 

to improve characteristics of MET information such as format, latency, accuracy, etc., so that the 

information is ready for direct integration into select decision support tools (DSTs). 

The WTIC program In Situ Turbulence project goal is the successful integration of objective 

turbulence information into NAS operations, both during the strategic flight planning process as 

well as the tactical process of re-routing aircraft during flight. The intent here is to provide the 

cockpit with current and forecast turbulence information in order to permit the pilot to be a more 

informed decision maker in terms of flight planning and cabin management. In order to achieve 

this goal the WTIC program will support the expanded deployment of the EDR algorithm 

throughout the airline industry (through government funded efforts and advocacy) in order to 

support meeting the required density of turbulence observations to support NextGen. 

The WTIC program MET Information in Oceanic and Remote Regions Shortfall Analyses 

project will identify current operational inefficiencies, potential NextGen operational 

inefficiencies, and potential safety risks (current and NextGen) attributable to gaps of MET 

information in the cockpit in oceanic and other remote regions. The results of the research will 

partly address the WTIC research question of identifying current operational and NextGen 

inefficiencies attributable to gaps of MET information or technology in the cockpit. Previously 

accomplished WTIC research indicated benefits to providing cloud top information in oceanic 

and remote regions. This research is intended to identify gaps that are not fully resolved by 

providing cloud top information in the cockpit. 

The WTIC program Adverse Weather Alerting Functions Use Case Analysis will identify Use 

Cases where a weather alerting function may address a weather information gap or assist in pilot 

decision-making relative to an adverse weather condition along their intended route of flight. The 

research will also include analyses to determine the concepts of an alerting function with 

performance characteristics that could provide benefit to pilots. The deliverables from this 

research will be used by the WTIC program to select the weather alerting functions to be 

prototyped and evaluated in a flight simulation demonstration. 
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Standards Support 

The WTIC program works closely with multiple RTCA committees. The most extensive support 

is provided to RTCA SC206 and their efforts to develop recommendations for data link 

architecture and the dissemination of MET information between aircraft and ground users. 

WTIC program standards support also includes participating in the SAE G-10 effort to develop a 

standard symbology for the presentation of MET information in the cockpit. 

Flight Deck Information 

The WTIC Wind Diagnosis project is focused on defining elements of wind quality that impact 

NextGen application programs and performing simulations to assess those impacts based on 

varying wind quality. 

The Cloud Top Heights - Human over the Loop Demonstration (HOTL) will assess the impacts 

to decision making in a collaborative environment of providing cloud top data in oceanic and 

data sparse areas. 

The Mobile Application project is researching MET information that provides benefits to the 

cockpit when presented on a mobile application. This project is also researching limitations of 

existing technology to support the concept of operation for this mobile application. 

Human Factors 

The Standardization Assessment project is performing a quantitative assessment of the impacts 

of non-standardized MET presentations for General Aviation (GA) displays. This research 

consists of three groups of pilots flying a GA simulator with one of three common MET 

presentations. Researchers then measure variations in performance and multiple human factors 

parameters such as eye fixations. 

A second human factors project is working with the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration (NASA) to perform detailed callbacks on Aviation Safety Reporting System 

(ASRS) incident reports that identify weather or data linked MET information as a contributing 

factor. 

The WTIC program is also performing research to develop inputs for improving pilot training 

relative to MET information and new MET technology. 

Air/Ground Integration 

Research in this structural element includes modeling generic versions of common data links 

(e.g. Immarsat) to assess their bandwidth, latency, and other quality factors related to their 

capability to disseminate MET information. 

The Uplink of Advanced Weather Radar Mosaic project is assessing the potential benefits and 

the feasibility of up linking weather mosaics to the cockpit and to downlink sensor data from 

aircraft to enhance the quality of the mosaics. 
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CLIMATE SERVICES 

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 

NOAA/National Weather Service 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) 

provides climate services through the National Centers for Environmental Prediction’s (NCEP) 

Climate Prediction Center (CPC), the NWS Climate Services Division (CSD), and more than 

150 NWS regional and local offices nationwide. The NWS Climate Services Division (CSD) 

provides programmatic support to CPC and NWS local offices. In collaboration with other 

NOAA offices, CSD develops training, education, and outreach materials. CSD designs climate 

data mining and analysis tools, as well as local climate products for users of climate information. 

CSD fosters climate services ties with other NOAA offices, federal government agencies, 

academia, and external climate communities. 

CPC delivers a broad range of products and services including climate monitoring and forecasts, 

as well as regional climate impacts information. The product suite spans time scales from a week 

to seasons, extending into the future as far as technically feasible, and covers the land, the ocean, 

and the atmosphere. CPC also identifies the important physical factors responsible for 

variability, anomalies, and trends in global and regional climate in order to improve these 

products. The NWS Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) use these products to deliver climate 

services to local users., Together with NWS regional offices WFOs are responsible for 

collecting climate data, developing locally-relevant products, and conducting local climate 

studies in response to user needs. Applications include the mitigation of weather-related natural 

disasters and uses in agriculture, energy, transportation, water resources, and health. 

Additionally, WFOs issue daily and monthly climate reports for their areas of responsibility, 

providing localized information about temperature and precipitation records and extreme events 

such as droughts. WFOs serve as the local NOAA user interface for climate services, including 

outreach and education. They are also responsible for the integrity and continuity of the 

historical climate record for their area of responsibility. 

NOAA/NESDIS/National Climatic Data Center 

The National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) is the largest weather and climate data center in the 

world. NCDC receives, processes, archives, and disseminates surface, marine, upper-air, radar, 

satellite, and model output data. NCDC serves a large and diverse community, responding to 

For the purposes of this Federal Plan, Climate Services are specialized meteorological and 

hydrological services established to meet the requirements of Federal, state, and local 

agencies for information on the historical, current, and future state of the earth system. 

Climate services include observations, monitoring, assessments, predictions, and projections 

of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and land surface systems. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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more than one million information requests per year. Environmental data and information is 

made available through both the Internet and physical delivery of products and services. NCDC’s 

climate data products support decision making in many sectors of the economy, including 

energy, transportation, agriculture, insurance, engineering, health care, and manufacturing. 

NCDC’s data holdings and expertise also enable the private sector to make better business 

decisions, save money, improve their products, expand their businesses, and reduce their impact 

on the environment. 

The State of the Climate in 2012 Report. The “State of the Climate” series has provided a 

detailed update on global climate indicators, notable weather events, and data collected by 

environmental monitoring stations and instruments since the report’s inception in 1990. For the 

13th consecutive year, NCDC scientists served as lead editors of the report, which was compiled 

by 384 scientists from 52 countries across the globe and published as a supplement to the 

Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. For the second year, the report was 

accompanied by an online rollout at Climate.gov, providing easy access to key themes of the 

report for the public. 

The report used dozens of internationally recognized climate indicators to track and identify 

changes and trends in the global climate system. Each indicator includes thousands of 

measurements from multiple independent datasets. The diverse array of international authors 

helped consolidate this wide range of data, using their expertise to more fully understand and 

communicate the state of the complex climate system. The report provides a valuable reference 

for the increasing number of professionals and consultants who use climate conditions and trends 

in their work. 

NCDC Website and Home Page. NCDC enhanced its website and redesigned its home page by 

simplifying access to systems, data, and services. In addition, more efficient maintenance was 

implemented and Google Analytics was introduced to better analyze website traffic and 

anticipate customer needs. This enhanced redesign allows better navigation for major topical 

areas, including data access and climate information, as well as streamlines content and data 

access systems into logical groupings. Customers are now able to easily gather pertinent data and 

information for their needs and operations. Additional benefits from this redesign include 

simplified hardware and software support, enhanced security, and better use of personnel 

resources by streamlining maintenance. 

Climate Data Records. In 2013, NCDC expanded its national inventory of operational Climate 

Data Records (CDRs) to 16 by transitioning five new CDRs from Research to Operations. The 

new CDRs include the atmosphere mean layer temperatures record, microwave imager and 

sounder records, and a global precipitation record. The CDR Program is responsible for 

generating and archiving operational climate data records for the atmosphere, oceans, and land. 

These CDRs provide authoritative, observation-based information on changes to the land, 

oceans, atmosphere, and ice sheets. 

The 16 operational CDRs provide input to emerging climate prediction modeling as well as 

maintain the Nation’s record of climate history. This includes the severity and frequency of 

drought, floods, and hurricanes. The CDRs are produced from decades of satellite data and used 

by industry, government, and research communities to detect, assess, model, and predict climate 
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change. Decision makers value these long-term records for building effective strategies to 

respond to, adapt to, and mitigate the impacts of climate variability and change. 

NCDC developed long-term, seamless, homogeneous records characterizing climate change and 

variation in order to produce CDRs. As new climate algorithms and sensors are developed, 

NCDC reprocesses the entire period of record to update the data. Further, NCDC is establishing 

practical approaches to information preservation, long-duration software, and algorithm 

maintenance. These approaches leverage the application of software engineering expertise and 

tailoring of existing standards and best practices. NCDC also devised new requirements to ensure 

that CDR software design and documentation can accommodate migration to future computing 

platforms and software languages. 

Record-Setting Volumes of Data. NCDC archives data to preserve them for posterity from every 

corner of the globe, including land-based, marine, model, radar, weather balloon, satellite, and 

paleoclimate data. NCDC routinely incorporates, stewards, and provides access to these data to 

meet the needs of a wide variety of customers. In 2013, NCDC planned for vast increases in data 

requests and implemented information technology infrastructure to proficiently handle increases 

in data delivery. NCDC also upgraded its system, which retrieves data from the digital archives, 

to improve efficiency and reduce data delivery times for radar and satellite orders. 

Throughout the 2013 fiscal year, users from all over the world downloaded NCDC’s model, 

satellite, and radar data from both the Asheville, NC, and Boulder, CO, sites—totaling a record 

volume of 5.04 petabytes. For perspective, one petabyte of data is equivalent to the digital space 

needed for over 13 years of high-definition television. Satellite data access had the highest 

volume of data downloaded with 3,600 terabytes, followed by model (802 terabytes) and radar 

(317 terabytes) data. 

NOAA/Office of Marine and Aviation Operations 

NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown, an oceanographic and atmospheric research platform, is the 

largest vessel in the NOAA fleet (274 feet). With its instruments and sensors, Ronald H. Brown

sails worldwide, supporting scientific studies to increase our understanding of the world's oceans 

and climate. 

The Ronald H. Brown typically supports research programs of NOAA's Tropical AtmosphereOcean (TAO) Project (real-time data from moored ocean buoys for improved detection, 

understanding and prediction of El Niño and La Niña). The primary objective for the ship is 

servicing some of the approximately 60 Autonomous Temperature Line Acquisition Systems 

(ATLAS) and current meter moorings in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. The Ronald 

H. Brown works in cooperation with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute to conduct 

mooring recovery and deployment operations of the Stratus Ocean Reference Station, located 

under the stratocumulus clouds off Chile and Peru. The ship conducts meteorological and air-sea 

flux observations to document and establish the accuracy of the moored metrological 

observations and to observe oceanic and atmospheric variability. This region is of critical 

importance to climate predictability. 
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Ronald H. Brown conducts the PIRATA Northeast Extension (PNE) project, a joint project of 

Brazil, France, and the United States. The overarching goal is to improve knowledge and 

understanding of ocean-atmosphere variability in the tropical Atlantic. The ship will also be 

conducting the CalWater 2 project in the Pacific. The goal of this work is to develop and test 

methods to improve U. S. West Coast forecasts of damaging landfalling winter storms emerging 

from the data sparse Pacific Ocean. The project will involve multiple air and sea research 

platforms. 

The WP-3D and the G-IV aircraft will take part in several projects for the Office of Oceanic and 

Atmospheric research. In October, the WP-3D will conduct the Arctic Flux project, which will 

look at the effects of newly ice-free regions of the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas on the Arctic 

weather. During the winter, the WP-3D and the G-IV will conduct the CalWater 2 project, along 

with the Ron Brown. The WP-3D will also conduct the Shale Oil and Natural Gas Nexus 

(SONG-NEX) project, a study of the emission of compounds that contribute both to climate 

change and air quality degradation. The aircraft will then conduct the Plains Elevated 

Convection At Night (PECAN) project, which involves a multiscale investigation of the factors 

that control the initiation and evolution of convective clusters and mesoscale convective systems 

over the U.S. Great Plains region. 

United States Air Force 

Air Force Weather Agency, 14th Weather Squadron

The AF, through the 14th Weather Squadron (14 WS), provides centralized climatology services 

and produces specialized weather-impact information for the DoD, Intelligence Community, and 

allied nations. The 14 WS provides decision-enabling products, allowing DoD command 

authorities to anticipate environmental impacts on all aspects of military operations worldwide. 

The 14 WS enhances the combat capability of the United States by delivering timely, accurate, 

and reliable environmental situational awareness to the AF, the Army, Unified Combatant 

Commands, the Intelligence Community, and the Department of Defense. The squadron 

produces a suite of standard and tailored products such as Operational Climatic Data Summaries, 

Engineering Weather Data, Wind Roses, and Wind Stratified Conditional Climatologies, among 

others, and provides frequency of occurrence and duration for mission limiting factors. In 

addition to climatology products, the 14 WS provides forensic weather research, climate 

analysis, and climate monitoring and prediction. The squadron continues to modernize the 

Warfighter climatology toolkit by integrating GIS visualizations on its Web site and developing 

GIS-based spatial and cloud climatologies. These technologies provide Warfighters the data 

needed to optimally plan and execute operations. 

Long-range outlook products cover time periods from one to six months into the future, and 

include seasonal forecasts and hazard assessments. The AF produces 6-month graphical 

outlooks derived by using statistical methods, with an ensemble of Global Climate Model 

forecasts, considering the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), North Atlantic Oscillation, 

Southern Annular Mode, etc. The AF is enhancing its 6-month outlook production capability by 

leveraging research conducted by the Air Force along with other national and international 

resources (including climatology work by NATO allies), as well as advances in understanding 
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teleconnections (i.e., ENSO, North Atlantic Oscillation, Southern Annular Mode) in order to 

provide planners with a risk management tool to positively impact operations. 

United States Navy 

Rear Admiral Jonathan White is also the Director of Task Force Climate Change. In order to 

establish capabilities in accordance with the Arctic Roadmap, special equipment and possibly 

new Polar Icebreaker (PIB) ships will be needed. In 1965 the Navy turned over all ice breaking 

responsibilities to the Coast Guard. The Navy supports the Coast Guard in their requirements, 

and it makes good sense to have a modern, dedicated Arctic icebreaker to assist with disaster 

response and search and rescue. But at this point, we don't expect Navy ships to be operating in 

the ice zone. Our interest in the Arctic has been spurred by the fact that there is increasingly 

open water there, and that is where we will most likely be operating. The breaking up of the 

Arctic sea ice means that the ice is more subject to winds and currents, so it is certainly 

conceivable that a ship operating in open waters could quickly find itself surrounded by sea ice. 

Having a reliable sea ice forecast and a rescue icebreaker would make it much safer for surface 

ships to operate there. 

The U.S. Navy is currently engaged in strategic planning to increase operational capabilities and 

infrastructure in the Arctic in future years. Within the next decade, it will be operating routinely 

in the Arctic with an appropriate presence that includes more than just submarines. Navy’s 

global area of responsibility is growing as it adds new coastlines and a new ocean. With the 

fiscal challenges confronting the Navy, it must use cooperative multilateral partnerships to 

successfully build an Arctic-capable force. 

Navy is investing in significant Arctic research. It is important that it improve its understanding 

of the environment for safety of operations, because the Arctic will remain a harsh and 

challenging environment even as it becomes more accessible and active. This line of effort 

includes an emphasis on research to better understand the changing climate and improve Arctic 

weather forecast capabilities, and on high resolution surveying of the seabed. 

The U.S. federal fleet currently has two icebreakers, USCGC Polar Star, has been refitted, 

extending its operational life by perhaps another decade. The U.S. also has one medium 

icebreaker, the USCGC Healy, which is around 15 years old and is currently dedicated to 

scientific missions. Ice-hardening ships is expensive and impacts ship capabilities, like speed 

and turn-radius. We are still trying to determine the need for ice-hardened hulls. 

The White House released a new National Strategy for the Arctic Region on 10 May 2013 

reflecting a growing recognition that the Arctic is opening up for human enterprise and will 

increasingly become a strategic priority for the United States. The Office of Science and 

Technology Policy (OSTP) is leading the effort considering the larger policy issues associated 

with national requirements for icebreaking services in both poles. The Science and Technology 

Policy Institute is summarizing past reports and seeking updates from key Federal agencies 

including the USCG, NSF, NOAA, NASA, and DOT. 

The Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command has assets that can assist in this national 

effort. The command manages a fleet of six world-class ocean survey vessels and operates some 
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of the world's finest oceanographic analysis and prediction computer models. Navy also partners 

with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard to monitor 

polar ice movement at the National Naval Ice Center in Suitland, MD. This is in line with the 

National Arctic Strategy's third line of effort—building and maintaining cooperative relations 

with other Federal Agencies, as well as with Arctic nations and allies. The Navy will work 

closely with the U.S. Coast Guard and other Arctic nation sea services to ensure they can meet 

the same mission requirements in the Arctic as they do in, on, and above every other ocean in the 

world. 

RADM White believes the presence of well-meaning naval forces acts as a stabilizing influence 

toward mutual prosperity and safe maritime activity. Climate change and energy are two key 

issues that will play a significant role in shaping the futures security environment. Working 

closely with U.S. departments and agencies, the Department of Defense has undertaken 

environmental security cooperative initiatives with foreign militaries that represent a way of 

building trust through sharing best practices on installations management and operations. 

United States Geological Survey 

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is both a provider of and user of climate-related 

services, but the balance between these two activities is quite different from that of NOAA. The 

USGS provides climate data and models, like NOAA, that can be used by resource managers and 

policy makers to anticipate and adapt to climate change. The USGS climate and land use change 

science program, however, also has a strong emphasis on understanding relationships between 

climate change and hydrological, geologic, and biological processes. 

USGS has expertise and numerous research projects and products that describe long-term 

changes in the Earth’s climate. The climatic datasets developed by the USGS are based primarily 

on Earth surface and subsurface records, in contrast to the atmospheric records developed by 

NOAA. USGS climatic datasets are derived from ice sheets, glaciers, and permafrost; tree rings, 

landscape-scale phenology, and other biological data; and rock, sediments, and other 

paleodeposits, in addition to modern meteorologic, hydrologic, and remote sensing 

instrumentation. The USGS manages an international ice core facility in Denver, Colorado, and 

has numerous studies devoted to understanding the natural variability of climate and its attendant 

changes and to providing context for the development of mitigation and adaptation strategies. 

The Ice Core Laboratory is just one example of the services provided by the USGS to the 

scientific community engaged in understanding the Earth’s climate history. Another good 

example of the climate services provided by the USGS is the Department of the Interior’s 

network of regional Climate Science Centers. These centers are staffed by the USGS and have 

research and information delivery capabilities designed to respond to the needs of natural 

resource managers. 

Department of State (DOS) 

Stratospheric ozone depletion has been recognized as a critical health and environmental 

problem for almost three decades. Under Department of State (DOS) leadership, the United 

States worked to negotiate international agreements to phase out ozone-depleting substances, 

which are expected to lead to a recovery of the ozone layer by the middle of this century. In 2009 
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these treaties became the first to achieve universal ratification; 197 countries, including the 

United States, have ratified both the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol. The State 

Department makes annual contributions to the Vienna Convention’s efforts on scientific 

monitoring of the ozone layer. 

The IPCC, which was established by the WMO and the United Nations Environment Program 

(UNEP), held its first session in 1988. This organization serves as an intergovernmental forum to 

assess scientific, technical, and socioeconomic information relevant for the understanding of 

climate change, its potential impacts, and options for adaptation and mitigation. In doing so, the 

Panel draws on the expertise of thousands of scientists and technical experts. The IPCC is 

currently organized into three working groups, which examine (1) the state of the science, (2) 

impacts, adaptation and vulnerability, and (3) mitigation. In 2013-14, the IPCC completed its 

Fifth Assessment Report, which is comprised of the three working group contributions listed 

above, as well as a Synthesis Report [see image]. In addition to preparing assessment reports, 

the IPCC also contributes to international negotiations through preparation and review of special 

reports and development of methodologies requested by the United Nations Framework 

Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 

DOS also plays a central role in the USG’s work within the intergovernmental Group on Earth 

Observations (GEO), which is charged with the implementation of the Global Earth Observation 

System of Systems (GEOSS). Additionally, DOS also serves as the primary USG – and 

http://climatechange2013.org/ http://ipcc‐wg2.gov/AR5/report/ http://mitigation2014.org

The IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report is comprised of the contributions from the three working groups: (1) The 

Physical Science Basis [Sept 2013]; (2) Impacts, Adaptation & Vulnerability [Mar 2014]; and (3) Mitigation [Apr 

2014], as well as a Synthesis Report that will be released in Oct 2014.
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international – donor to the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), which is intended to be a 

long-term, user-driven operational system capable of providing the comprehensive observations 

required for understanding Earth’s climate system, how it is changing and what the impacts of 

that change will be. 

In addition to its primary role in the organizations listed above, DOS is active in several relevant 

Federal interagency processes, including the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources 

and Sustainability (CENRS) of the National Science and Technology Council, the Subcommittee 

on Global Change Research (SGCR) and the broader U.S. Global Change Research Program 

(USGCRP), as well as US Group on Earth Observations (USGEO) subcommittee and its 

interagency International Working Group. . The CENRS was established in 1993 to coordinate 

domestic scientific programs. USGCRP was created in 2001 to “integrate Federal research on 

global change and climate change” across 13 Federal agencies (from 2001-2008, USGCRP was 

known as the Climate Change Science Program, or CCSP). In addition to the above, DOS 

responsibilities include, but are not limited to, international aspects of food security, disaster 

warnings and assistance, WMO (including the recently launched Global Framework for Climate 

Services) and UNEP activities (including the Climate and Clean Air Coalition), and international 

meteorological and Earth observing programs. 

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS 

Interagency Collaborative Research Programs and Projects 

U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) 

The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP)—known as the Climate Change Science 

Program (CCSP) from 2002–2009—is a Federal program mandated by Congress that coordinates 

and integrates global change research across 13 Federal agencies to most effectively and 

efficiently serve the Nation and the world. Through interagency partnerships and collaborations 

with leading experts, USGCRP works to advance climate science and improve the understanding 

of how global change is impacting society, both today and into the future. 

 

The vision laid out in USGCRP’s National Global Change Research Plan 2012–2021: A 

Strategic Plan for the U.S. Global Change Research Program ("the 2012–2021 Strategic Plan") 

maintains a clear emphasis on advancing global change science, but it also calls for a 

strengthened focus on ensuring USGCRP science informs real-world decisions and actions. 

USGCRP’s four strategic goals are to: 

1. Advance Science - Advance scientific knowledge of the integrated natural and human 

components of the Earth system to understand climate and global change. 

2. Inform Decisions - Provide the scientific basis to inform and enable timely decisions on 

adaptation and mitigation. 

3. Conduct Sustained Assessments - Build sustained assessment capacity that improves 

the Nation’s ability to understand, anticipate, and respond to global change impacts and 

vulnerabilities. 
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4. Communicate and Educate - Advance communication and education to broaden public 

understanding of global change and develop the scientific workforce of the future. 

For more information, please refer to http://www.globalchange.gov/ 

NOAA/NESDIS/National Climatic Data Center 

Explaining Extreme Events of 2012 from a Climate Perspective. For the second year, NCDC 

scientists collaborated with their colleagues across the globe to examine the causes of certain 

extreme weather and climate events. Scientists from NCDC served as part of the team of lead 

editors for the report, entitled “Explaining Extreme Events of 2012 from a Climate Perspective” 

and published as a supplement to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Overall, 

18 different research teams from around the world contributed to the peer-reviewed report that 

examined the causes of 12 extreme events that occurred on five continents and in the Arctic 

during 2012. In addition to investigating the causes of these extreme events, the multiple 

analyses of four of the events allowed the scientists to compare and contrast the strengths and 

weaknesses of their various analytic methods. Despite the different strategies, there was 

considerable agreement between the assessments of the same events. By further developing the 

ability to put extreme weather and climate events into the longer-term context of climate change, 

NCDC is helping provide the public with the information needed to make decisions about 

effectively minimizing and preparing for the impacts of these events. 

An Independent Record of Global Warming. In collaboration with researchers from the 

University of South Carolina, the University of Colorado, and the University of Bern in 

Switzerland, NCDC developed a compilation of temperature records based on data from ice 

cores, corals, and lake sediment layers that revealed a pattern of global warming from 1880 to 

1995 comparable to the global warming trend recorded by thermometers. While the 

thermometer-based global surface temperature record provides meaningful evidence of global 

warming over the past century, it is critical to have independent analyses to verify that record, 

because it can be affected by such things as land-use changes, shifts in station locations, and 

variations in instrumentation. For this analysis, the team used environmentally sensitive proxies 

to compile a temperature record spanning 130 years that is independent from thermometer-based 

records. The research, which was detailed in “Global Warming in an Independent Record of the 

Past 130 Years,” published in Geophysical Research Letters, resolved some of the uncertainty 

associated with thermometer records. 

User Workshops and Forums. In 2013, NCDC collaborated with the Cooperative Institute for 

Climate and Satellites-North Carolina (CICS-NC) to host two workshops and two forums to 

engage climate data users and business leaders. One of these was the “Frost and Freeze Data and 

Impacts to the Agriculture, Construction, and Transportation Industry” workshop held in March. 

Interaction during the two-day workshop focused on informing users of NCDC data offerings for 

sector-specific climate information needs and providing relevant information to the industries 

that are the most vulnerable and susceptible to changes in freezing conditions. Another similar 

workshop entitled “Climate Data and Applications Workshop: A Focus on Precipitation” was 

held at NCDC in December 2013. This two-day workshop focused on the different types of 

precipitation data, from land-based to remotely-sensed observations, available from CICS-NC 

and NCDC, as well as examples of how the data are useful in various applications. 
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Additionally, NCDC and CICS-NC hosted the inaugural “Executive Forum on Business and 

Climate” in June in Asheville, NC. This forum brought together business and industry leaders, 

academic researchers, and climate science experts to collectively examine weather and climate 

science trends, observations and predictions, related business risks, impacts and opportunities, 

and current market trends. The forum engaged participants through a combination of interactive 

discussions, case studies, and scenario-planning activities. CICS-NC also partnered with the 

Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) to host a follow-up forum, “Identifying 

Business / Industry Needs for Resilience Planning,” in Washington, DC, in November. This 

second Executive Forum on Business and Climate served as a knowledge exchange seminar and 

networking activity built around discussions on climate-related risks and opportunities for 

private sector businesses. 

Regional Surface Temperatures for Six Continents and the Arctic. NCDC scientists helped 

construct a one-of-a-kind synthesis and analysis of temperatures over the last 2,000 years for six 

different continents and the Arctic. This effort is part of a large international effort under the 

auspices of the Past Global Changes Programme of the International Geosphere-Biosphere 

Programme. These reconstructions cover the last millennium on annual-to-decadal timescales 

and extend into the first millennium of the Common Era, which began in 1 A.D., on annual-tomultidecadal timescales. To date, scientists have produced 2,000 year-long annual-to-decadal 

temperature time series for the hemispheres and the globe, but not at the continental scale. 

For this project, NCDC scientists served as group leaders for the North American regional 

reconstruction and as part of the core writing team for the highly cited paper, “Continental-scale 

temperature variability during the last two millennia” in Nature Geoscience. The Center also 

served as the data hub for the entire effort, producing state-of-the-art proxy and reconstruction 

datasets for the Common Era. Overall, this effort greatly extended the record of past climate and 

explicitly characterized uncertainties in the reconstructions. With these data, scientists will be 

able to better understand extremes in annual to decadal temperature fluctuations over the past 

2,000 years in a way that is not possible using the instrumental record alone. 

Sea Surface Temperature Datasets. The Niño 3.4 index is an important measure of El Niño 

Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions, which NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center uses to 

support ENSO monitoring and forecasting. The Niño 3.4 index is calculated based on two NCDC 

datasets: the Optimum Interpolation Sea Surface Temperature (OISST) dataset and the Extended 

Reconstructed Sea Surface Temperature (ERSST) dataset. In 2013, scientists found that monthly 

Niño 3.4 indices calculated from the two datasets differed by as much as 0.5°C in some ENSO 

events. Such large differences complicate the monitoring and prediction of current and future 

ENSO conditions, so NCDC scientists analyzed the datasets and computational methods of the 

index to identify the causes of the differences. 

NCDC completed several experiments on the data involving the integration of satellite 

observations into ERSST and the analysis of bias adjustment methodologies in both OISST and 

ERSST. These analyses found that the major cause of the difference was the bias adjustment 

applied to the satellite sea surface temperature measurements used to produce the OISST dataset. 

By accounting for these differences, NCDC not only verified the quality of the Center’s data 

analyses, but also provided an objective basis for users to select the appropriate sea surface 

temperature product. 
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NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) 

The mission of climate research activities within NOAA/OAR is to monitor and understand 

Earth's climate system in order to predict the potential long-term changes in global climate as 

well as shorter-term climate variations that are of societal and economic importance. More 

information on OAR’s climate research is available at: http://www.oar.noaa.gov/climate/. 

To achieve this mission, climate research across OAR is structured to support the long-term goal 

of Climate Adaptation and Mitigation described in NOAA’s Next-Generation Strategic Plan 

(NGSP). The NGSP identifies four Objectives under the Goal: (1) Improved scientific 

understanding of the changing climate system and its impacts; (2) Assessments of current and 

future states of the climate system that identify potential impacts and inform science, service, and 

stewardship decisions; (3) Mitigation and adaptation efforts supported by sustained, reliable, and 

timely climate services; and (4) A climate-literate public that understands its vulnerabilities to a 

changing climate and makes informed decisions. 

To meet these Objectives, OAR’s research is executed and delivered through a network of 

NOAA line offices, laboratories and cooperative institutes, programs, and university-based 

partnership activities. Broadly, OAR’s laboratories and cooperative institutes contribute, both 

directly and indirectly, to all four Objectives. OAR’s Climate Program Office (CPO) is the 

strategy lead for the NGSP Climate Goal, and it provides resources, programmatic oversight, and 

coordination to ensure NOAA’s climate research activities proceed in an integrated and costeffective manner. In these roles, CPO brings together and maintains relationships across NOAA 

laboratories, cooperative institutes, and university-based partners. OAR’s laboratories and 

cooperative institutes work in tandem with CPO to ensure NOAA meets its aim of an informed 

society anticipating and responding to climate and its impacts. 

Specific aims of research conducted under the Goal’s Objective of improved scientific 

understanding include: 

 Describe and understand the state of the climate through sustained atmospheric and 

oceanic observations and research related to global distributions, trends, sources and 

sinks of atmospheric constituents that are capable of forcing change in the climate of the 

Earth 

 Understand and predict climate variability and change from weeks to decades to 

centennial timescales 

 Conduct advanced mathematical modeling of the climate and Earth systems, including 

natural climate variability, anthropogenic climate change, weather and hurricane 

forecasts, El Niño prediction, and stratospheric ozone depletion to improve the prediction 

of climate phenomena 

 Sustain the observing systems essential for climate, oceanographic monitoring, and data 

management 

 Conduct physical process research to advance a seamless suite of information and 

forecast products 

 Understand how decision makers use climate information to improve the ability of 

society to plan for and respond to climate variability and change. 
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NOAA/OAR Laboratories and Programs

Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) 

AOML conducts mission oriented scientific research that seeks to understand the physical, 

chemical, and biological characteristics and processes of the ocean and atmosphere, both 

separately and as a coupled system. The Laboratory's research theme related to oceans and 

climate includes interdisciplinary scientific investigations of the physics of ocean currents and 

water properties, and on the role of the ocean in climate, extreme weather events, and 

ecosystems. The tools used to carry out these studies range from sensors on deep ocean moorings 

to satellite-based instruments to measurements made on research and commercial shipping 

vessels and autonomous vehicles, and include data analysis and numerical modeling as well as 

theoretical approaches. This includes stewardship of oceanic measurements relevant for climate, 

including custodianship of major data sets, development and deployment of new sampling 

methods, new analysis tools, and carrying out long-term consistent environmental measuring 

programs. 

In an effort to better understand and forecast climate, the Atlantic Oceanographic and 

Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) contributes to the maintenance of the global Argo program 

(a global array of 3,000 vertically profiling floats), the global drifter program (which maintains a 

global array of more than 1500 surface drifters), the expendable bathythermograph program (the 

deploys more than 8000 XBTs each year and processes more than 14,000 XBTs each year). 

AOML collaborates with the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) to monitor 

decadal-scale changes in a suite of physical, chemical, and biological parameters over the full 

water column, such as carbon dioxide uptake, ocean temperature, and circulation (e.g. Global 

Repeat Hydrographic/CO2/Tracer (GO-SHIP) surveys in Support of CLIVAR and Global 

Carbon Cycle objectives: Carbon Inventories and Fluxes program). In addition AOML maintains 

time series observations of the Florida Current and Deep Western Boundary Current (Western 

Boundary Time Series program) and the Deep Western Boundary Current in the South Atlantic 

(the Southwest Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Array); these programs contribute to 

the national and international programs designed to measure the meridional overturning 

circulation in the Atlantic Ocean which is the large scale ocean circulation that redistributes heat, 

fresh water and carbon north and south in the ocean. AOML manages these observational 

programs and conducts ocean circulation research on data collected through them. All of these 

programs are major contributors to the World Climate Research Programme’s Climate 

Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) Experiment and the Global Ocean Data Assimilation 

Experiment. Combined with satellites, these data provide a quantitative description of the 

changing state of the ocean and the patterns of ocean climate variability from months to decades, 

including heat, freshwater and carbon storage and transport. 

In FY15, AOML plans to increase understanding of the ocean's role in climate through the 

stewardship of long term ocean observations, analysis of observations and models and numerical 

simulation of ocean circulation induced changes to climate. For example, the Physical 

Oceanography Division (PHOD) of AOML will continue to show that the variation of surface 

and subsurface ocean temperature and salinity is important to and linked with the Atlantic 

meridional overturning circulation (AMOC), hurricane intensification and fisheries productivity 

on climate time scales. 
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Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) 

To provide a sound scientific basis for understanding climate variability and change, the Air 

Resources Laboratory (ARL) contributes to several land-based reference observing networks: the 

U.S. Climate Reference Network (measuring surface climate variables),the Surface Energy 

Budget Network, as well as the Global Climate Observing System Reference Upper-Air 

Network (GRUAN). 

ARL also provides analyses of variability and change in the boundary layer, free troposphere and 

stratosphere, with an emphasis on atmospheric temperature, stability, and circulation and on 

clouds. ARL has long-standing and internationally-recognized expertise using radiosonde 

observations, often combined with satellite observations or climate model results, to understand 

global upper-air changes on diurnal to multi-decadal time scales. In addition, ARL has 

developed long-term datasets using model analysis and observed rainfall for air stagnation, and 

merged in-situ data and satellite observations for dust storm climatology. 

In FY15, ARL will: 

 Continue to provide maintenance and testing of existing technologies at the climate 

reference networks and evaluate new technologies; 

 Continue to provide leadership for guiding the full implementation of the GRUAN; 

 Continue using radiosonde observations to evaluate models of the global carbon cycle 

and to evaluate other observational approaches to identify boundary layer structures and 

variations; 

 Continue analysis of the variability and trends in the climate system, interactions between 

climate and air chemistry, and the performance of operational and research models. 

 Seek to remove or transfer stations associated with the US Regional Climate Reference 

Network, scheduled to be terminated in FY14. 

Climate Program Office (CPO) 

CPO was established to advance the agency’s climate portfolio and to manage the competitive 

research program that funds high-priority science to advance understanding of atmospheric, 

oceanic, land-based, and snow and ice processes, and how they affect climate. CPO also supports 

multi-disciplinary research and assessments that help people better plan and respond to climate 

change and variability. CPO-supported research is conducted in regions across the United States, 

at national and international scales, and globally. 

One of CPO’s core missions is to develop and sustain a global in situ climate observing system. 

NOAA’s instruments are a vital part of an international system to monitor Earth’s climate and 

provide data for NOAA research, modeling, predictions, and forecasts. We leverage climate 

science capacity and capabilities to provide the nation with critically needed early warning 

systems that are timely and relevant for stakeholders at a range of scales spatially (local to 

global) and over time (weeks to decades). 

CPO will continue to support modeling, research, analysis, and data collection aimed at gaining a 

better understanding of climate processes. These activities are essential steps toward delivering 
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climate prediction and assessment products for risk management and decision-making. CPO will 

also sustain grant programs that advance the knowledge and capacity of decision makers to 

assess risk, prepare for, and respond to the impacts of climate variability and change. 

Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) 

The Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) continues to make unparalleled contributions to 

the scientific understanding of climate change through its global atmospheric monitoring 

program, field missions to study atmospheric processes, laboratory studies, modeling work. 

ESRL’s Chemical Sciences Division (CSD) climate research provides an improved predictive 

capability through a better understanding of the connections between emissions, atmospheric 

composition, and Earth’s climate system. Research is focused on addressing two of the greatest 

uncertainties in current climate models: water vapor and aerosols (airborne fine particles), in 

addition to ongoing work on non-CO2 greenhouse gases. 

The ESRL Global Monitoring Division (GMD) conducts sustained observations and research 

related to global distributions, trends, sources and sinks of atmospheric constituents such as 

greenhouse and other trace gases, aerosols, ozone, a that are capable of forcing change in Earth’s 

climate. This research and long-term observations are used worldwide to advance climate 

projections and provide scientific, policy-relevant, decision-support information to enhance 

society's ability to plan and respond to change. 

Physical Sciences Division (PSD) strives to interpret the causes of observed climate variation, 

and advance the understanding, parameterization, and measurement of climate-relevant physical 

processes. This knowledge is used to improve climate models and forecasts and develop new 

climate products that better serve the needs of the public and decision-makers. 

All ESRL Divisions place a high priority on communicating the results of their research in 

decision-support information products to underpin national and international decision-making. 

Their contributions include leadership and extensive participation in state-of-understanding 

national and international assessments on climate. 

FY 15 Plans: 

 Generate data archive of ship and aircraft observations from participation in the 

NOAA/DOE CALWATER2 field program in the Indian Ocean. 

 Carry out the Shale Oil and Natural Gas Nexus (SONGNEX) investigation using 

NOAA’s “flying chemical laboratory” aboard the NOAA P-3 aircraft 

 Execute a complementary airborne study of Fugitive Emissions concentrating on 

methane and other GHGs aboard the NOAA DHC6 aircraft. 

 Analyze data from the SENEX and SEAC4RS field missions to understand climate 

effects of emissions, atmospheric chemistry, and transport in the southeastern U.S. 

 Develop new prototype systems for regional drought diagnosis and prediction. 

 Develop large ensemble, multi-model, high resolution global modeling ability to 

resolve high impact extreme events: heat waves, droughts, heavy precipitation. 
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 Develop climate and weather guidance to reduce and manage drought and floods 

impacts on watershed restoration. 

 Provide an integrated database for the International Arctic System for Observing the 

Atmosphere (IASOA). IASOA is a consortium of 10 sentinel Arctic Observatories 

that collect a wide range of detailed measurements relevant to weather and climate. 

This activity will support the Polar Prediction Project. 

 Lead development of International Arctic science focus groups integrating 

information on the environmental state of clouds, radiation, surface-atmosphere 

exchanges, trace gases, black carbon and regional predictions in the Arctic region. 

 Continue development of Arctic atmospheric observatories to obtain high-latitude 

climate data. 

 Continue long-term observations of atmospheric composition, providing annual 

updates of CarbonTracker, the NOAA Annual Greenhouse Gas Index (a national 

climate indicator), methane climatologies, CO2 trends (daily updates; a national 

climate indicator), the Ozone-Depleting Gas Index, GlobalView, and other long-term 

atmospheric composition data sets and products. 

Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) 

Over the last half century in general, and the last few years in particular, GFDL has demonstrated 

world leadership in pushing the boundaries of climate prediction and projections of climate 

change. Through direct participation in producing the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate 

Change (IPCC) 2007 Assessment and the Administration’s Climate Change Science Program 

Synthesis and Assessment Reports, GFDL’s premier climate science capacity and recent 

investment in computer model infrastructure allow NOAA to deliver essential climate prediction 

information at the regional and local level and provide an invaluable and unique opportunity for 

the Nation to make critical progress in global change science. GFDL has delivered model output 

to the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5). Four model streams have been specifically 

designed for the climate integrations needed to address the major climate science challenges. All 

four streams are based on CM2.1, a GFDL coupled climate model with an atmospheric model 

resolution of 200km and an ocean model resolution of 100km. CM2.1 was considered among the 

highest quality models used in the previous IPCC Assessment Report, AR4, and was used again 

in AR5. Nearly 200 terabytes of model output was submitted to the 5th Coupled Model 

Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) for use in AR5. The four modeling streams are: 

1. Decadal prediction experiments to better understand physical processes. 

2. Earth System Models (ESMs), emphasizing biogeochemical carbon-climate feedbacks 

through the use of a closed-carbon cycle. 

3. Coupled climate models (CM3) with more realistic, self-consistent but complex 

atmospheric physics and chemistry than in CM2.1. 

4. High-resolution atmospheric models at 50km and 25km resolution forced by future ocean 

states. 

GFDL scientists continue to play an active role in AR5, and in some instances lead, in: model 

intercomparison and model simulation analysis activities; submission of model data, quality 

control and archiving; analyses of the data outputs and inferences about the climate system. 
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These activities will lead to a number of peer-reviewed publications based on the CMIP5 

database of model output. GFDL has also made significant contributions, through highresolution model experiments, to the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment 

Program (NARCCAP), and GFDL model experiments and science results were also used in the 

recently released USGCRP National Climate Assessment. Significant progress in model 

development is expected in FY15 as the four modeling streams outlined above are unified into a 

new coupled model called CM4. New very high-resolution climate and Earth System models are 

being developed and applied to address scientific questions regarding the impact of atmospheric 

composition and ocean eddies on the climate system as well as regional-to-local impacts of 

climate variability and change on marine ecosystems. 

Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) 

The Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) conducts climate research and 

modeling focused on the region of the Laurentian Great Lakes, which is shared by the USA and 

Canada. Investigation of impacts of climate change on hydrologic resources in the Great Lakes 

began during the late 1980s, and has been considerably overhauled in recent years. Hydrologic 

models with one-way driving of the surface by the atmosphere have been replaced by regional 

climate models with two-way coupling of the atmosphere to both land and water surfaces. The 

older generation of this type of model, the Coupled Hydrosphere-Atmosphere Research Model 

(CHARM) is being replaced by a newer version based on the Weather Research and Forecasting 

(WRF) model. 

Of particular interest is the influence of climate and climate change on water quantity in the 

Great Lakes basin, and atmospheric and climatic research at GLERL are coordinated with 

hydrologic study, as well as research on the dynamics of motion and thermodynamics of the 

lakes and their ice. In addition, GLERL has expertise in the dynamics of nutrient loading in 

rivers, and on the interaction among these nutrients, water temperature and dynamics, and the 

biota of the lower and upper food web, leading to end-to-end capability in the physical, chemical, 

and biological aspects of this regional Earth system. 

Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory 

The Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) contributes to the advancement our 

understanding of the impacts of climate variability and change through a long-term observations 

program that supports robust climate research. Key observational components include: 

 The Global Tropical Moored Buoy Array (GTMBA) was developed by PMEL in 

partnership with NOAA’s Climate Program Office and multiple international partners. 

PMEL now maintains both the PIRATA and RAMA Arrays in the Tropical Atlantic and 

Indian Oceans, respectively. The TAO/TRITON Array, the original component of the 

GTMBA, has been transitioned from PMEL to NWS/National Data Buoy Center. 

Moored buoys in the GTMBA report daily values of surface meteorological parameters 

and subsurface temperatures and salinity values via satellite for use by the NWS Climate 

Prediction Center and climate researchers world-wide. 
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 PMEL contributes to the maintenance of the global Argo Float Array, through an 

international partnership under the direction of NOAA’s Climate Program Office and in 

conjunction with U.S. Argo partners Scripps Institute of Oceanography, Woods Hole 

Oceanographic Institution, the University of Washington, and AOML. PMEL scientists 

deploy floats, support the addition of new measurement and increased depth capabilities 

of Argo floats, conduct research on improving quality control of the Argo data. PMEL 

and CPO are co-managing the development of Deep Argo floats, extending the depth 

range of Argo floats from 2,000 meters to 6,000 meters. 

 PMEL scientists support the OceanSITES program of global moored ocean reference 

stations for climate, maintaining two moored platforms in the North Pacific, at the 

Kuroshio Extension Observatory (32.3o

N 144.5oE) in the NW Pacific Ocean and at 

Ocean Station Papa (50oN 145oW) in the NE Pacific Ocean. 

 In conjunction with the International CLIVAR program, PMEL conducts ocean research 

on a global scale to monitor decadal-scale changes in a suite of physical, chemical, and 

biological parameters over the full water column, such as carbon dioxide uptake, ocean 

temperature, and circulation. 

 PMEL climate researchers are active in the Arctic region, using atmospheric models to 

predict long-term sea-ice extent and providing information on potential impacts to 

ecosystem managers and local communities on Arctic change. PMEL scientists, working 

with the National Marine Fisheries Service, also conduct research on the impacts of 

ocean climate change on marine resources, conducting research on ocean acidification 

and on the impact of ocean and climate change on North Pacific fishery and marine 

mammal populations. 

U.S Department of Agriculture 

 National Institute of Food and Agriculture 

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) funding supports research projects that 

collect, analyze and utilize short and long-term weather and climate data as a base of information 

for the projection and prediction of climatic trends related to environmental impacts on agroecosystems, forests, and rangelands and the development of adaptation and mitigation strategies 

for natural resources and production management. Research, education and extension projects 

address the contribution of human activities, soil management, and crop and animal production 

to atmospheric greenhouse gases. Broader areas of study involve climate variability, carbon, 

nitrogen and water cycling, and their role in global change. The impact of changes in UV 

radiation and ozone level studies also fit into this broad global category. 

Historical climate changes are derived from data gathering and modeling studies, enabling 

prediction of future crop production and irrigation needs. NIFA funding supports studies on the 

impact of climate and weather on food, feed, and fiber production and on natural resource 

protection and utilization. These studies relate to forest and agricultural plant growth, rangeland 

productivity, cropping system selection, livestock production practices and natural resource 

management. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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Climate impacts on human, environmental and plant and animal health is also well represented in 

studies of both micro-and macro-climatic change. These involve studies dealing with the 

climatic impact on air quality, water quality and quantity and agriculture waste management 

related to agricultural practices and forest and urban development. Studies on climatic impact on 

nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration and emission are supported with NIFA 

funds. Research is also being supported to quantify the impact of climate change on the 

incidence and severity of drought, extreme heat and cold, emerging plant and animal diseases 

and pests, new invasive species, shifting biodiversity and ecosystem services, and adaptation to 

these events. 

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) has funded projects on a wide variety of 

weather and climate related research in collaboration with other U.S. federal agencies. AFRI’s 

Climate Change Challenge Area currently focused research areas are, regional climate studies in 

agriculture and forestry, plant breeding, animal health impacts, and mitigation and adaptation in 

agriculture and forestry. Other AFRI areas of research related to weather and climate change 

include organic agriculture, carbon cycling, agro-ecosystem modeling, biofuel feedstock 

production and economic consequences of adaptation and mitigation strategies. Emerging areas 

of research include the impact of climate on environmental markets, food safety, and soil health. 

United States Geological Survey 

Water Resources Monitoring. The effects of warming temperatures on water resources are 

among the most certain and costly consequences of climate change in some regions of the United 

States, and water resources information should be an important component of (or closely linked 

with) a new national climate services program. The USGS is the nation’s water resource 

monitoring agency, with one or more offices in every State and a National stream and 

groundwater monitoring network that supports water management efforts at State and local 

levels, as well as vast western water resources managed by two other Department of the Interior 

bureaus: the Bureau of Reclamation and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The USGS 

has a long-established hydroclimatology research program and is the primary Federal science 

agency for water resource information. The USGS monitors the quantity and quality of water in 

the Nation's rivers and aquifers and develops tools to improve the application of hydrologic 

information, including the effects of a changing climate. This broad, diverse mission cannot be 

accomplished effectively without the contributions of the Cooperative Water Program with the 

50 states. For more than 100 years, the Cooperative Program has been a highly successful costsharing partnership between the USGS and water-resource agencies at the State, local, and Tribal 

Nation levels. 

The USGS carries out research in climate change, regional hydrology, the carbon cycle, coastal 

erosion, and glaciology. The Water, Energy, and Biogeochemical Budgets (WEBB) program is 

studying processes controlling water, energy, and biogeochemical fluxes at five small research 

watersheds in the United States. This program includes research on the effects of atmospheric 

and climatic variables on watershed processes. There are also a number of ongoing studies to 

characterize trends in hydrologic data and to relate these trends to climatic variables. Researchers 

are also using global and regional climate models to enhance understanding of the potential 

effects of climate change and climate variability on U.S. land and water resources. 
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Glacier Monitoring. As part of its glaciology program, the USGS maintains an observation 

program on three benchmark glaciers representative of different climatic zones of the western 

United States, one in Washington, one on the south coast of Alaska, and one in the interior of 

Alaska. At each glacier, the program measures the winter snow accumulation, summer snow and 

ice ablation, air temperature, and runoff in the glacier basin. Beginning in 1959, this is the 

longest such record in North America. Analysis of this record is providing a greater 

understanding of climate variability and its effects on water resources of the western United 

States. The record clearly shows the effects of changing winter precipitation patterns associated 

with atmospheric conditions in the northeast Pacific Ocean, including El Niño-La Niña events 

and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. 

To augment its glacier monitoring efforts, the USGS is using National Systems data to measure 

fluctuations of glaciers in Alaska, Washington, and Montana. Mountain glaciers are ideal 

subjects for these systems because they are remote, have an appropriate space scale, and require 

infrequent but repetitive observations. The observations have established a baseline of regional 

glacial conditions. The resulting archive of ongoing observations is being used to determine 

recent trends in glacier size and terminus location. In addition, techniques have been developed 

to generate derived products that provide critical glacial parameters, including DEMs, 

equilibrium line altitudes, and ablation rates. These products are being incorporated into a glacial 

runoff model of the South Cascade Glacier, Washington, where they are proving to be a valuable 

source of otherwise unavailable data. 

Snow and Ice Studies. The USGS, in cooperation with BLM, is using a variety of remote 

sensing data to monitor the rapid wastage of the piedmont lobe of Bering Glacier, Alaska. 

Landsat, Radarsat, ICESat, and Ikonos observations show that Bering Glacier is retreating 

rapidly and thinning in an accelerating retreat from an advanced position that resulted from a 

major glacial surge in 1993-95. The satellite data and ground-based observations have been 

combined to determine the surface flow velocities and calving rates of the glacier and to monitor 

the expansion of Vitus Lake and Berg Lake—two large lakes whose boundaries include the 

glacier terminus. The rapid change in glaciation is having a large impact on nearby terrestrial and 

aquatic ecosystems. 

Geological Investigations. The USGS has traditionally led the USGCRP projects devoted to 

understanding cycles in the Earth’s climate, abrupt climate change, ecological thresholds, and 

climate change in polar regions. These cycles are generally underrepresented in the available 

data from meteorological records. By combining paleoclimatic and instrumental data, USGS 

scientists have contributed substantially to understanding how past and current changes in the 

Earth’s climate affect water, land, and biological resources. 

Biological Indicators of Climatic Trends. The National Phenology Network, Breeding Bird 

Surveys, and Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative are examples of USGS biological 

science programs that provide national coverage and uniform protocols for reporting the 

occurrence of biological events that can augment analyses of changes in the physical climate 

system. 
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process knowledge; incorporation of observations and research results into complex 

computational models that can be used to more fully characterize the present state of the 

environment and predict the future evolution of the Earth system; and development of 

partnerships with other national and international organizations that can use the generated 

information in environmental forecasting and in policy, business, and management decisions. 

NASA is the largest funding contributor to the 13-agency United States Global Change Research 

Program (USGCRP) and provides the bulk of the global observations and research by the 

USGCRP. NASA delivers a substantial portion of the observations and research that forms the 

basis for international scientific assessments of climate change and other subjects such as ozone. 

Satellite Missions. Satellites provide critical climate change measurements via global coverage,

frequent sampling in both space and time, and near-uniform accuracy and stability. NASA 

initiated, and in selected cases has sustained for more than a decade, many global, high accuracy, 

well-calibrated data records, such as total solar irradiance at the top of the atmosphere; Arctic 

Ocean sea ice extent and thickness; Antarctic and Greenland mass change and other 

characteristics; global sea level and global ocean surface vector wind; global ocean near-surface 

chlorophyll-a concentration; global land use and land cover; ozone in the stratosphere; and, 

global precipitation, including water vapor, rainfall and snow. These critical climate data records 

are a foundation for national and international studies of global and regional climate change, sea 

level rise, and study of the earth as a system. 

NASA has 10 on-orbit satellite missions related to climate services, as defined by this Federal 

Plan: Aqua, Aquarius/Satélite de Aplicaciones Científicas (SAC)-D, Aura, Cloud-Aerosol Lidar 

and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO), CloudSat, Global Precipitation 

Measurement (GPM), Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM), Quick Scatterometer 

(QuikSCAT), Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP), and Tropical Rainfall 

Measuring Mission (TRMM). Table 1 lists the climate services themes supported by these 

missions. On February 27, 2014, GPM was launched successfully from Tanegashima Space 

Center, Japan, and recently completed on-orbit checkout, transitioning to nominal mission 

operations on May 29, 2014. GPM is the last of the foundational missions that the Decadal 

Survey by the National Research Council1

 assumed would be a precursor to Decadal Survey 

missions. 

Table 1. Correlation of NASA Earth Science Division operating satellite missions with OFCM 

themes of climate services. 

 Satellite Launch Date Climate Services Theme 

TRMM Nov 1997 Climate variability and change; water cycle 

QuikSCAT Jun 1999 Climate variability and change 

Aqua May 2002 Atmospheric composition; carbon cycle; climate variability and 

change; water cycle 

Aura Jul 2004 Atmospheric composition 

CALIPSO Apr 2006 Atmospheric composition; water cycle 

 

1

 National Research Council (2007) Earth Science and Applications From Space: National Imperatives for the Next 

Decade and Beyond, 428 pp. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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CloudSat Apr 2006 Climate variability and change; water cycle 

Aquarius Jun 2011 Climate variability and change; water cycle 

OSTM Jun 2008 Climate variability and change; water cycle 

Suomi NPP Oct 2011 Atmospheric composition; carbon cycle; climate variability and 

change; water cycle 

GPM Feb 2014 Climate variability and change; water cycle 

A daunting challenge in supporting the complexity of global and regional climate change science 

is the huge number of biological, chemical and physical variables that must be measured nearly 

simultaneously globally. To address this challenge, NASA has engineered constellations of 

satellites flying in close formation. For example, NASA’s Aura, CALIPSO, CloudSat, and Aqua 

satellites, together with the Japanese Global Change Observation Mission 1–Water “Shizuku” 

(GCOM-W1), are called the “A-Train” constellation and produce an unprecedented quantity of 

data for atmospheric chemistry and composition. The time separation between the front and rear 

of the A-Train is 11 minutes, less than the lifetime of most clouds; this important feature allows 

researchers to utilize multi-satellite observations to examine processes related to cirrus cloud 

formation in large-scale models. 

NASA has 4 satellite missions in development (Table 2) related to climate services, as defined 

by this Federal Plan, for launch from 2015 to 2020. Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) is a 

Tier-1 Decadal Survey mission. Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) is the 

first in the Earth Venture-class series of rapidly developed, cost-constrained small space 

missions, and is referred to as EVM-1 (Earth Venture Mission-1). Tropospheric Emissions: 

Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) is the first in the Earth Venture-class series of instrument 

missions of opportunity that will fly as hosted payloads on commercial or government satellites. 

Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) is a Tier 2 Decadal Survey mission that was 

accelerated by the Climate Initiative to provide insight into the movement and distribution of 

Earth surface waters including both freshwater and oceans. 

Table 2. Correlation of NASA Earth Science Division missions in development with OFCM 

themes of climate services. 

Satellite Planned Launch Theme 

SMAP 2015 Climate variability and change; water cycle 

CYGNSS 2016 Water Cycle 

TEMPO 2019 Atmospheric composition; climate variability and 

change 

SWOT 2020 Climate variability and change; water cycle 

NASA continues with the pre-formulation studies of Decadal Survey and other mission concepts 

such as Pre-Aerosol, Cloud, and ocean Ecosystem Mission (PACE), Climate Absolute Radiance 

and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO), Active Sensing of CO2 Emissions over Nights, Days, 

and Seasons (ASCENDS), Aerosol-Cloud-Ecosystem (ACE), GEOstationary Coastal and Air 

Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE), Hyperspectral Infrared Imager (HyspIRI), Lidar Surface 

Topography (LIST), Precision and All-Weather Temperature and Humidity (PATH), Gravity 

Recovery and Climate Experiment II (GRACE-II), Snow and Cold Land Processes (SCLP), 
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Global Atmospheric Composition Mission (GACM) and Three-Dimensional Tropospheric Winds 

from Space-based Lidar (3-D Winds). Additionally, the Earth Science Technology Office 

(ESTO) makes significant investments in technology development activities directly addressing 

the priorities outlined in the Decadal Survey including the tiered missions as wells as Earth 

Venture through development of observation systems and information systems technologies. 

The following activities will be undertaken or accomplished in FY 2015. 

 SMAP will launch in early FY2015, complete its initial on-orbit checkout, and transition 

to operations. 

 CYGNSS will complete its Critical Design Review (CDR) and enter system test phase 

(Phase D). 

 TEMPO will complete its Key Decision Point – C (KDP-C) review and enter 

development. 

SWOT will conduct its Phase B. 

NASA Science Research 

NASA’s Earth Science Research Program addresses complex, interdisciplinary Earth science 

problems in pursuit of a comprehensive understanding of the Earth system. The Research 

Program pioneers the use of both space-borne and aircraft measurements through its 

implementation of several elements: multi-disciplinary research and analysis, interdisciplinary 

research, airborne science, modeling and data assimilation, and enabling capabilities. Research 

and analysis (R&A) emphasizes the development of new scientific knowledge, including the 

analysis of data from NASA satellite missions and the development and application of complex 

models that assimilate these science data products and/or use them for improving predictive 

capabilities. 

The following research activities will be undertaken or accomplished in FY 2015: 

 Continue expanding the supercomputing capacity to more than 2 quadrillion floating 

point operations per second (petaflops) for weather and climate modeling using the 

combination of CPUs and multi-core accelerator technologies such as Intel Phi and 

NVIDIA GPU processors. 

 Increase the number of science data products delivered to Earth Observing System Data 

and Information System (EOSDIS). 

 Continue operation of ground networks for measuring time evolution of atmospheric 

trace constituents, including gases and aerosols. 

 The Earth Venture Suborbital-1 (EVS-1) missions are conducting the following research 

(observation investigations were mostly completed in FY14, some will continue into 

FY15, analysis of scientific data will continue in FY15); proposals for EVS-2 are being 

reviewed and selections will be made in late FY14/early FY15: 

o The Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) EVS-1 investigation uses two 

Global Hawk unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) around and in hurricanes. One 

Global Hawk payload is optimized for direct observations of the hurricane itself. 
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The other payload includes sensors, which measure important parameters in the 

region surrounding the storm to help improve our understanding of tropical 

cyclone genesis and behavior. HS3 results will also improve our ability to predict 

storm path and intensity. GPM will be providing much higher quality data than 

previously available on rain structure in tropical cyclones in all ocean basins. The 

surface-wind monitoring ISS-RapidScat instrument to be launched to the 

International Space Station in 2014 will also provide valuable information on 

surface winds in storms. 

o The Airborne Microwave Observatory of Subcanopy and Subsurface (AirMOSS) 

EVS-1 investigation uses an ultra-high frequency synthetic aperture radar to 

measure high spatial resolution soil moisture to provide insight into the vegetation 

activity and the uptake of carbon dioxide; the goal being to reduce uncertainty of 

global NEE (Net Ecosystem Exchange) estimates. The radar, deployed on a 

Gulfstream 3, operates over nine diverse biomes to provide information on a wide 

variety of climates and ecosystems. FY 15 will be the final year of a three year 

airborne campaign.

o The Deriving Information on Surface conditions from Column and Vertically 

Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality (DISCOVER-AQ) EVS-1 

investigation uses airborne and ground-based measurements of trace gases and 

aerosols, correlated with satellite remote sensing measurements, to improve our 

ability to characterize and predict air quality. In order to continue efforts to 

characterize a variety of urban environments, a fourth measurement campaign is 

planned for Denver, Colorado during summer 2014. 

 The second Earth Venture Instrument selection (EVI-2) will be made in late FY14 and 

the selected investigation will begin its formulation in FY15. The release of the third 

Earth Venture Instrument solicitation (EVI-3) will be made in FY15. The selection of 

the commercial geostationary satellite for the TEMPO (the selection for EVI-1) will also 

occur in FY15. 

 The Earth Venture Mission-2 (EVM-2) CYGNSS project has made significant progress. 

The science product algorithms are proceeding well and testing has started using the 

selected nature model. The satellite observatories and constellation has completed the 

preliminary design and is beginning Engineering Model development. The PDR 

(Preliminary Design Review) and associated KDP-C were successfully completed 

resulting in agency confirmation and authorized entry of the project into its 

implementation phase. The launch service selection has completed with the selection of 

the Orbital Pegasus Vehicle, which will launch the entire constellation out of Florida. 

 Through the Making Earth System Data Records for Use in Research Environments 

(MEaSUREs) Program, NASA is continuing its commitment to expand understanding the 

Earth system using consistent records. Emphasis is placed into linking together multiple 

satellites into a constellation, developing the means of utilizing a multitude of data 

sources to form coherent time series, and facilitating the use of extensive data in the 

development of comprehensive Earth system models. In FY 2014, the most recent 

selection of MEaSUREs projects made data products available and will continue to do so 

throughout the following five years. These data products include multi-sensor water 
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vapor, temperature, and cloud climate data records, global precipitation climatology 

development, global water surface storage dynamics, and the cloud-boundary layer. 

Department of Energy/Office of Science 

DOE’s Climate and Environmental Sciences Division (CESD) within the Office of Science 

focuses on a predictive, systems-level understanding of the fundamental science associated with 

climate change and DOE's environmental challenges; both key to support the DOE mission. 

CESD supports an integrated portfolio of research ranging from molecular to field scale studies 

with emphasis on the use of advanced computer models and multidisciplinary experimentation. 

As discussed next, CESD supports three research activities and two national scientific user 

facilities: 

Atmospheric System Research (ASR) 

The ASR activity seeks to resolve the two major areas of uncertainty in climate change 

projections: the role of clouds and the effects of aerosol emissions on the atmospheric radiation 

balance. Research from the ASR program results in improved physical formulations leading to 

state-of-the-art science related to clouds, aerosols, radiation, and precipitation. The program is 

geared to observe and advance understanding of the atmospheric system in a holistic, 

comprehensive fashion that addresses the full range of interrelated climatic processes. The 

anticipated end result is that climate models will have reduced uncertainty and improved climate 

simulation capability so that climate models can be used with increased confidence in decisionand policy making. 

Climate and Earth System Modeling 

Climate and Earth System Modeling in CESD focuses on development, evaluation, and use of 

Regional and Global Climate Modeling (RGCM), the development of Earth System Models 

(ESM), and Integrated Assessment Models to determine the impacts and possible mitigation, of 

climate change. 

Achieving greater detail about uncertainty and future variability of the earth climate system is 

critical for decision-makers. There is a need to ascertain shifts in major modes of climate 

variability and climate extremes, to detect and attribute regional manifestations of climate 

change, and to conduct ever more thorough model validation. All these goals of the RGCM 

program remain significant challenges. This program also provides support for national and 

international climate modeling research and assessments. An understanding of the model biases 

seamlessly feeds back to the ESM program. 

RGCM activities are organized into several distinct but coordinated components: 

 The Program for Climate Model Diagnosis and Intercomparison (PCMDI) develops 

improved methods and tools for the diagnosis and intercomparison of climate and Earth 

system models. It provides major facilities for archiving climate model output, including 

frequently analyzed variables such as those used for the IPCC Assessment Reports. 

PCMDI makes such model output readily accessible to the climate modeling community. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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 The Climate, Ocean and Sea Ice Modeling Project (COSIM) continues to develop the 

ocean model POP (Parallel Ocean Program), its hybrid-coordinate successor (HYPOP), 

and a sea ice model (CICE). COSIM is also developing a new Community Ice Sheet 

Model (CISM), designed for use at high spatial resolutions and at high latitudes. The 

scientific thrust of this work is to understand the role of oceans and ice in climate change, 

including (1) future sea-level rise caused by thermal expansion of the ocean and by 

melting of land ice; (2) stability of the high-latitude ocean thermohaline circulation; and 

(3) the unique high-latitude marine and ice ecosystems that reside along the ice edge and 

how they respond to changes in sea ice extent, including consequences for carbon and 

sulfur uptake and exchange. 

 Multi-century simulations using the Climate Change Simulation Model (CCSM) are 

conducted by the DOE Climate Change Project at the National Center for Atmospheric 

Research (NCAR). Analysis of CCSM simulations provides insights into how natural and 

anthropogenic forcings affect the coupled climate system. 

Research from the ESM program results in improved state-of-the-science dynamically coupled 

models for understanding future variability and predictability of the climate system. Significant 

scientific challenges need to be addressed, such as future changes in major modes of climate 

variability, climate extremes in a changing climate, detecting and attributing the regional 

manifestations of climate change, and carbon-cycle interactions with climate. Improved climate 

information at high spatial and temporal resolution is of immense significance to society and 

decision-makers. 

Climate change is real, its effects are more immediate and profound than previously anticipated, 

and old questions (are humans the cause?) are yielding to new ones: What are the impacts? Who 

and what will be most vulnerable? What can we do about it, and how can we prepare? Against 

this backdrop, and with an eye toward: (1) regional and local scale insights; (2) quantitative 

predictions at the decadal, annual, and even shorter time scales; (3) policy-making, planning and 

decision-support tools; (4) impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability studies; and (5) highly 

integrated analyses spanning energy, environment, and economic security, new or vastly 

improved Integrated Assessment Models will inform some of the most significant U.S. energy 

and other infrastructure decisions and investments of this century. These models shape our 

fundamental understanding of climate change: the drivers of climate change; its pace and 

consequences; the implications and role for energy systems of the future; changes in availability 

of natural resources, food, and water; and shifts in global economies, vulnerabilities and overall 

national security. 

Environmental System Science 

The Environmental System Science activity in CESD seeks to advance a robust predictive 

understanding of energy-derived byproducts in terrestrial ecosystems extending from the bedrock 

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Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

2-118 

Within DOE, ARM’s major clients are the ASR, RGCM, and ESM programs of CESD 

(described above). The primary ARM objective is improved scientific understanding of the 

fundamental physics related to interactions between clouds, aerosols, and radiative feedback 

processes in the atmosphere. In addition, ARM has enormous potential to advance scientific 

knowledge in a wide range of interdisciplinary Earth sciences. ARM was the first climate change 

field research facility to operate cutting-edge instrumentation on a long-term continuous basis 

and at both fixed and varying locations around the globe. ARM field research sites are designed 

to study the effects of aerosols, precipitation, surface flux, and clouds on global climate change. 

The fixed sites are located in three diverse climate regimes representing mid-latitude, polar, and 

tropical environs (i.e., the Southern Great Plains and the North Slope of Alaska in the United 

States and the Tropical Western Pacific). With its aerial measurement capability and mobile 

ground facilities, ARM provides the world’s most comprehensive continuous observational 

capabilities for obtaining atmospheric data specifically for addressing the major scientific 

uncertainties in climate change. 

Each ARM site uses a leading-edge array of cloud-, aerosol-, and precipitation-observing 

instruments to record long-term continuous measurements of atmospheric and surface properties. 

ARM also provides shorter term (months rather than years) measurements with its two mobile 

ground facilities and aerial measurement capability. The combination of high temporal resolution 

at discrete locations makes ARM observations uniquely suited for studying local cloud 

processes, many aspects of which remain poorly represented in climate models. The resultant 

data are available through the ARM’s data archive. These data are used as a resource for over 

100 journal articles per year, which represent tangible evidence of the ARM's contribution to 

advances in most areas of atmospheric radiation and cloud research. Additional programmatic 

information is available via the ARM homepage on the Internet. In 2013, ARM initiated its 

strategy to improve climate predictability by combining High resolution earth system modeling; 

ARM facility observations, and Ecosystem research by initiating and enhancing its NSA 

infrastructure complex at Oliktok Point, Alaska. This will include the installation of a third ARM 

Mobile Facility (AMF3) that includes its Restricted Air Space (RA-2204). ARM plans to utilize 

tethered balloon and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in order to address the climate changing 

issues in the Arctic. 

EMSL offers users access to more than 60 major systems, including many one-of-a-kind 

analytical instruments for studying atomic to molecular to larger-scale processes, a 

supercomputing platform and associated computational chemistry software, and the in-house 

scientific expertise to help obtain high quality results in a timely fashion. By co-locating multiple 

types of capabilities and scientific expertise, EMSL serves as an ideal place for research teams 

interested in integrating theory with experiment, as well as a place to conduct a wide range of 

single-investigator studies. 

Detailed scientific knowledge of the physical, chemical, and biological processes occurring at the 

most fundamental levels is necessary to discover and fully utilize breakthroughs in areas such as 

hydrogen as a new energy source, improved catalysts and materials for industrial applications, 

insights into the factors influencing climate change and carbon sequestration processes, new 

approaches to managing legacy wastes such as radionuclide and heavy metal contamination, and 

making bioenergy sources a reality. The complex nature of DOE's energy, science, and 

environmental missions demands a wide range of leading-edge experimental and computational 
 Climate Services 

2-119 

capabilities to enable scientists to conduct fundamental and multidisciplinary research using 

multiple experiment and computational approaches that will lead to scientific advances to help 

address the DOE missions. EMSL provides these leading-edge experimental and computational 

capabilities to the scientific community. 

DOE’s Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments Project 

The Arctic is undergoing a system-wide 

reorganization in response to an altered 

climate. The mechanisms responsible for this 

change have been unpredictable and difficult 

to isolate due to a large number of 

interactions among individual components of 

the system. The Next-Generation Ecosystem 

Experiments (NGEE) project will quantify 

the complex physical, chemical, and 

biological behavior of terrestrial ecosystems 

in Alaska. The project will focus on 

interactions that drive ecosystem-climate 

feedbacks through greenhouse-gas fluxes and 

changes in surface energy balance associated 

with thawing permafrost and thresholddominated permafrost degradation and 

thermokarst formation. Research sites will be 

located along a bioclimate gradient that 

spans tundra and shrub-tundra transition 

zones on the North Slope and Seward 

Peninsula. 

The vision for the NGEE project is to deliver a high-resolution terrestrial system model for 

coupled thermal, hydrological, geomorphic, biogeochemical, and vegetation processes as needed 

to predict the evolution of a warming Arctic landscape and its feedback to the global climate 

system. This vision includes field observations, laboratory experiments, and modeling of critical 

and interrelated water, nitrogen, carbon, and energy dynamics and the important interactions, 

from the molecular scale to the landscape scale, that drive feedbacks to the climate system. 

The new scanning precipitation radar at the 

Barrow, Alaska, ARM site. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

2-120 

National Science Foundation (NSF) 

The National Science Foundation funds 

basic climate research, modeling, and 

process studies. This research portfolio 

includes support to individual investigators 

and to groups such as the Center for 

Multiscale Modeling of Atmospheric 

Processes (CMMAP) and NCAR. With 

DOE as a partner, NSF funds NCAR to 

develop, maintain, and support the 

Community Earth System Model (CESM), 

a fully-coupled global climate model that 

provides state-of-the-art computer 

simulations of the Earth’s past, present, and 

future climate states. As part of a crossdirectorate and interagency effort, NSF and 

USDA are funding a third round of awards 

with a focus on decadal and regional 

prediction using Earth System Models. 

The NCAR/Wyoming Supercomputer is 

now fully operational and is available for a 

variety of research topics, including climate 

modeling studies, partially satisfying the 

ever growing need in the climate 

community for new computing resources.. 

The NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center provides 

advanced computing services to scientists studying a broad 

range of disciplines, including weather, climate, 

oceanography, air pollution, space weather, computational 

science, energy production, and carbon sequestration. It 

also houses a landmark data storage and archival facility 

that will hold, among other scientific data, unique historical 

climate records. Courtesy: University Corporation for 

Atmospheric Research
2-121 

EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND 

HOMELAND SECURITY SERVICES 

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 

Federal Emergency Management Agency

The mission of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is to support U.S. citizens 

and first responders to ensure that as a Nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve 

our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. 

In carrying out its role, FEMA works with the Federal scientific community and meteorological 

agencies to ensure that appropriate risk information for hazards, vulnerabilities, and 

consequences is used to execute this mission. 

FEMA’s Planning Division administers 

the National Hurricane Program, which 

conducts hurricane evacuation studies, 

provides evacuation decision-making 

training, and provides a range of hurricane 

evacuation decision support tools to State 

and local government emergency 

management officials to develop their 

hurricane evacuation plans. Under an 

Interagency Agreement with the National 

Weather Service’s National Hurricane 

Center (NWS/NHC), the NHC builds and 

utilizes its SLOSH (Sea, Lake and 

Overland Surges from Hurricanes) storm 

surge model as the hazard analysis basis 

for Hurricane Program studies, training, and decision support to State and local governments.. 

It is critical for FEMA to identify, develop, and/or utilize the most appropriate meteorological 

information to calibrate its preparedness, response, and recovery activities to build and deploy 

emergency management capability, and to design and implement mitigation measures which 

reduce the con–sequences from emergencies and disasters. These interests extend to national 

For purposes of this Federal Plan, Emergency Response and Homeland Security Services are those 

specialized meteorological services and facilities established to meet the requirements of Federal, 

state, and local agencies responding to natural disasters and security incidents. This category includes 

the use of atmospheric transport and diffusion (ATD) models for predicting the dispersion of airborne 

toxic substances; it also includes natural disaster monitoring and prediction services and the transport 

of water-borne toxic substances not included in basic services. For example, numerical weather 

prediction models used to forecast the path, intensity, and storm surge of landfalling tropical cyclones 

are part of basic services. Downstream models of the effects of a landfalling tropical cyclone on the 

infrastructure and population of a particular populated area could be included in this service category. 

FEMA’s interagency collaboration and support is key 

to disaster impact assessments and plans.
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

2-122 

standards for geographic information systems (GIS) used for delivery of meteorological products 

and services by other agencies. As administrator of the National Flood Insurance Program 

(NFIP), FEMA publishes Flood Insurance Rate Maps for all flood-prone communities, which 

serve as the official demarcation for flood risk. 

As part of its National Hurricane Program, FEMA also licenses, operates, maintains and 

distributes the HURREVAC software decision-support tool to approximately 20,000 local and 

state government coastal emergency managers annually. HURREVAC combines real-time NHC 

forecast data with evacuation clearance times to guide emergency managers as to when to 

execute hurricane evacuations to ensure evacuation is completed before the arrival of hurricane 

conditions. Additional information can be found at http://www.fema.gov/region-iii-mitigationdivision/national-hurricane-program 

FEMA actively supports the OFCM-sponsored Working Group for Disaster Impact Assessments 

and Plans: Weather and Water Data (WG/DIAP) and the WG/DIAP’s efforts to develop and 

implement the National Plan for Disaster Impact Assessments which outlines the interagency 

procedures to coordinate and support the collection of perishable data after major storms. (see 

related COASTAL Act narrative on page 2-6) These data have applications in post-disaster mitigation activities, the NFIP flood hazard analysis, the FEMA National Hurricane Program 

hurricane, and other FEMA risk analysis activities, such as the Multi-Hazard Loss Estimation 

Methodology (HAZUS). The National Hurricane Program is the principal FEMA contact point 

for most meteorological matters, while the FEMA Risk Analysis Division is the primary contact 

for NFIP flood risk analysis. 

U.S. Coast Guard 

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) directly supports all Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 

missions. It provides DHS the broad authorities, capabilities, and partnerships necessary to 

accomplish its tasks in the maritime domain. 

Coast Guard has three broad roles: Maritime Safety, Maritime Security, and Maritime 

Stewardship. Each USCG role is composed of several statutory missions. Each of the eleven 

statutory missions is listed below under the appropriate role. 

 The Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA) provides backup to several NOAA operational 

centers, maintaining capabilities (for example) in severe weather, aviation, volcanic ash 

dispersion, and space weather, available if and when needed to support emergency 

response and homeland security. 

 Maritime Safety Missions 

• Marine Safety 

• Search and Rescue 

 Maritime Security Missions 

• Drug Interdiction 

• Migrant Interdiction 

• Defense Readiness 

• Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security 
 Emergency Response and Homeland Security Services 

2-123 

 Maritime Stewardship Missions 

• Living Marine Resources 

• Marine Environmental Protection 

• Other Law Enforcement (Fisheries) 

• Aids to Navigation 

• Ice Operations 

Most USCG missions support more than one role. For example, the Aids to Navigation mission 

primarily supports the Maritime Stewardship role by preventing pollution from vessel 

groundings and collisions, while facilitating the movement of people and goods. But this mission 

also supports our Maritime Safety Role by preventing accidents, injuries, and deaths. These 

interwoven roles and complementary missions call for Coast Guard personnel and resources that 

are similarly multi-mission capable. This characteristic of USCG people and platforms—their 

ability to perform multiple missions—brings greater effectiveness, insight, and agility to bear in 

any situation. It is a fundamental source of the Coast Guard’s strength. 

Support for meteorological operations and supporting research is detailed in other sections of this 

plan. 

Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric Assessment Center 

The IMAAC provides a single point for the coordination and dissemination of Federal dispersion 

modeling and hazard prediction products that represent the Federal position during actual or 

potential incidents involving hazardous atmospheric releases. Through plume modeling analysis, 

the IMAAC provides emergency responders with predictions of hazards associated with 

atmospheric releases to aid in the decision making process to protect the public and the 

environment. 

The IMAAC is led by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and supported by seven 

other federal departments and agencies: Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Energy 

(DOE), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The IMAAC 

Technical Operations Hub is operated by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). 

Decision makers and first responders need timely and accurate plume predictions to help guide 

emergency response decisions. The IMAAC provides a suite of plume modeling tools that 

incorporate meteorological, geographic and demographic data, as well as hazardous material 

information, to predict the transport and potential downwind consequences of biological, 

chemical, radiological/nuclear, and natural releases. The IMAAC experts are available 24/7 to 

produce detailed quality-assured model predictions, utilize observations and field measurement 

data to refine analyses, and assist decision makers in product interpretation. 

The IMAAC produces both technical analyses and briefing products tailored for communications 

to non-technical decision makers. The IMAAC plots show hazard areas, affected populations, 

potential casualties and/or fatalities, damage estimates, and health effect, public protective action 

and worker protection levels. The IMAAC utilizes NOAA National Weather Service’s 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

2-124 

meteorological observations as well as variety of other available numerical weather prediction 

models (NWP) for the plume products. During IMAAC activations, the IMAAC Technical 

Operations Hub will consult with NOAA to determine the preferred higher-resolution forecast 

model for the event and will utilize that model if possible. 

The IMAAC has responded to numerous real-world events, including chemical fires and train 

derailments, in-situ burns from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and sulfur dioxide volcanic 

emissions in Hawaii. 

NOAA/National Weather Service 

National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP). 

The National Weather Service (NWS) has oversight responsibility for the NTHMP. The mission 

of the NTHMP is to work with communities in vulnerable U.S. coastal areas on preparedness 

activities to respond to tsunami events. In response to the destructive Indian Ocean Tsunami 

(December 2004), the U.S. Tsunami Warning Program, including the NTHMP, was upgraded 

and expanded to enhance the monitoring, detection, warning, and communications capabilities 

designed to protect lives and property for all U.S. communities at risk. 

NOAA Weather Radio (NWR). 

NWR is used as a reliable means of communicating weather-related warnings directly to the 

public. NWR is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather 

information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts official 

Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 

days a week. Working with the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) Emergency Alert 

System, NWR is an "All Hazards" radio network, making it a single source for comprehensive 

weather and emergency information. In conjunction with Federal, State, and Local Emergency 

Managers and other public officials, NWR also broadcasts warning and post-event information 

for all types of hazards – including natural (such as earthquakes or avalanches), environmental 

(such as chemical releases or oil spills), and public safety (such as AMBER alerts or 911 

Telephone outages). 

FEMA Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) and Wireless 

Emergency Alerts. 

The NWS pushes watches, warnings, advisories, and special statements in Common Alerting 

Protocol (CAP) format to the FEMA IPAWS Alert Aggregator. Warnings which pose an 

“imminent threat” to the general public pass through IPAWS to commercial wireless carriers and 

are broadcast as a 90 character Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) message on WEA-capable cell 

phones. The message notifies the recipient of the alert type, expiration time, a brief description of 

the action to be taken, and name of the alert originator (i.e., NWS). Numerous wireless carriers 

provide the CMAS/WEA service and more continue to come online. The number of WEAcapable devices on the market has dramatically increased since 2013. In fact, at least one major 

carrier reports their entire line-up of cell phones on the market as being WEA capable. 
 Emergency Response and Homeland Security Services 

2-125 

The NWS is actively collaborating with commercial wireless industry as well as Federal, 

emergency management, and academic partners in multiple Federal Communications 

Commission (FCC)-tasked working groups which have been tasked to identify possible future 

improvements to WEA. 

The NWS and FEMA have made NWS CAP messages available over FEMA IPAWS and 

multiple NWS dissemination systems for repackaging and redistribution by alert distribution 

partners. The NWS also continues working with FEMA, the FCC, broadcast industry, and 

related partners on solutions which would provide compatibility between NWS-produced CAP 

and EAS signals broadcast by NOAA Weather Radio (NWR), so that NWS-CAP could be used 

to activate EAS. 

Interagency Activities. 

In partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), NWS forecasters provide 

meteorological support for response to terrorist acts and other homeland security concerns, as 

well as accidental releases/spills of hazardous chemical, biological, or radioactive materials or 

other environmental events. NOAA has a meteorologist permanently located at FEMA 

Headquarters as a liaison to provide real-time decision support to FEMA and other national 

government decision makers. In addition, the liaison (along with additional NWS meteorologists 

when necessary) will support activations at the National Response Coordination Center as a 

result of any major disaster or emergency. Similarly, NOAA has a liaison deployed to the DHS 

National Operations Center. 

NWS meteorologists provide forecasts in response to Incidents of National Significance such as 

the space shuttle Columbia recovery effort, volcanic eruptions in Iceland, Sandy, and after major 

tornado events such as those in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Joplin, Missouri during the spring of 

2011. In addition, the NWS deploys a national cadre of specially trained Incident Meteorologists 

(IMETs) to provide onsite support for large wildfires and other homeland security concerns, as 

well as for accidental releases/spills of hazardous chemical, biological, or radioactive materials. 

NOAA/National Ocean Service 

Coastal Oceanographic Applications and Services for Tides and Lakes (COASTAL). 

The COASTAL program focuses on non-navigational applications of CO-OPS observing 

systems, data, and products for ecosystem restoration and management. COASTAL also 

provides decision-support tools to aid managers and restoration practitioners to plan for both 

current and future coastal conditions, and to anticipate and mitigate natural hazards. Real-time 

water level and meteorological information is critical for emergency managers to make decisions 

related to evacuation and warnings for coastal communities as well as to produce storm surge 

predictions. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

2-126 

The Storm QuickLook product in particular 

incorporates water level and meteorological 

information measured at National Water Level 

Observation Network (NWLON) and Physical 

Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS®) 

stations. Storm QuickLook bulletins (figure to 

the right) are posted for tropical cyclones that 

affect the United States coastline, but have also 

been created for the Deepwater Horizon oil 

spill and, in FY 2011, for elevated water levels 

in the Mississippi River. These bulletins 

provide near real-time, continuously updating 

oceanographic and meteorological data 

measured at affected water level stations and 

are displayed on the CO-OPS website and on 

the NOAAWatch (the NOAA All-Hazard 

Monitor) page. FY 2014 goals for this product 

are to enhance displays and make the product 

more dynamic. Also, 6-minute interval GOES 

transmission capability supports the NWS 

storm surge warning program when expected 

water level elevations are predicted or 

observed during coastal storms and hurricanes. 

COASTAL also provides aid to Tsunami 

Warning Centers, by supplying one-minute water level observations at coastal NWLON stations, 

as well as 15-second data as requested after a tsunami event. These data are used to assess the 

impact and damage of a tsunami. For more information see 

http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/coastal.html. 

NOAA/Office of Marine and Aviation Operations 

Among the NOAA/OMAO airborne observing systems fleet, the King Air (N68RF), AC-695A 

Commander 1000 (N45RF) and the Twin Otters (4 aircraft) can perform damage assessment 

flights following natural disasters. They provide high-resolution photographs to the public via 

the Internet. These photographs are extremely useful to local, county, and state government 

personnel, as well as to emergency managers and to the public at large, as they go about the 

business of assessing the damage and the nature and magnitude of the relief effort that will be 

required in the region. 

United States Air Force

Air Force (AF) weather personnel enable military decision-makers to anticipate and exploit the 

weather for air, ground, space, cyberspace, and intelligence operations. As applies to this section 

of the federal Plan, the AF provides meteorological services and support in the form of data, 

information and products required by Air Force, Army, and other military operations in order to 

support the Nation’s emergency response and homeland security efforts. Different AF 

organizations support various aspects of the Nation’s homeland security efforts: 
 Emergency Response and Homeland Security Services 

2-127 

 The AF, through the 1st Weather Group, produces environmental products used to 

support both the daily and emergency response and homeland security operations of the 

U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and the North American Aerospace Defense 

Command (NORAD). The AF’s 2nd Weather Group produces fine-resolution model and 

forecast products for use by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) in its hazard 

dispersion modeling and related emergency planning and response efforts. The 2nd 

Weather Group also produces space weather products used to support both the daily and 

emergency response and homeland security operation of USNORTHCOM and NORAD. 

 The AF produces both CONUS and worldwide geospatial representations of current and 

forecast weather used to support the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and 

US Army Corps of Engineers in their homeland security missions. 

 The AF provides backup to several NOAA operational centers, maintaining capabilities 

(for example) in severe weather, aviation, volcanic ash dispersion, and space weather, 

available if and when needed to support emergency response and homeland security. 

 The AF’s overseas Operational Weather Squadrons (the 17th OWS in Hawaii and the 

21st OWS in Germany) may support emergency planning and response operations in 

their respective areas of responsibility. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), 

operated jointly with the Navy in Hawaii, routinely works with its sister U.S. hurricane 

forecast centers to issue forecasts and warnings to protect U.S. assets and interests across 

the Pacific and Indian Ocean basins. 

United States Navy

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response 

Navy METOC personnel support Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HA/DR) 

operations aboard U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels. Military oceanographic survey vessels 

designated as T-AGS are continuously forward deployed and conduct hydrographic, 

oceanographic and acoustic surveys in all the oceans of the world. These ships have modern full 

ocean depth multi-beam and single-beam sonar systems for accurately measuring bottom depths 

and features, towed side-scan sonar systems for acoustic imaging of bottom features and 

navigation hazards, ocean current profilers, sub-bottom profilers for measuring stratification of 

seabed sediments, and over-the-side devices that collect physical ocean parameters such as 

temperature and salinity with depth. These ships are capable of hosting a number of roll-on/rolloff systems, including systems for collection of seismic data and unmanned underwater vehicles. 

The ships are also equipped with C-band communications to send data directly back to the Naval 

Oceanographic Office for immediate processing. Three of the ships are complemented with 

hydrographic survey vessels — smaller craft for shallow water hydrographic collection. We have 

been operating unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) for well over a decade. Their inventory 

consists of propelled vehicles, such as various models of the Remote Environmental Monitoring 

Units (REMUS) UUVs for collection of sonar, sub-bottom and optical data in addition to 

buoyancy controlled, high endurance UUVs, such as the Slocum glider and wave-powered 

Sensor Hosting Autonomous Remote Craft (SHARC) vehicles, which collect and transmit ocean 

and atmospheric data in real time for satellite transfer back to our operational production centers. 

Navy uses UUVs for direct support to operation missions. As part of our hydrographic 

capability, they also employ unique jet-ski variants called Expeditionary Survey Vehicles or 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

2-128 

ESVs. Outfitted with single-beam and side-scan sonar, in addition to accurate Global Positioning 

System navigation, ESVs can be rapidly deployed and conduct hydrographic survey into the surf 

zone, to places where traditional systems can’t go. This data is extremely useful for supporting 

expeditionary warfare and enabling missions like humanitarian assistance and disaster response. 

Weather forecasts and surveys of anchorages and piers provided commanders with the status of 

port accessibility, ensuring accessibility to the port critical to allowing food, water, medical 

supplies, materials, and other support to arrive by sea. 

Partnerships and Stability Operations 

Partnerships provide access to data sources, insight into emerging science and technology, and 

help all parties leverage limited budgets by reducing redundancy and pooling capabilities. Naval 

operational oceanography has a long history of executing cooperative military hydrographic and 

oceanographic surveys, as well as data, product and subject matter exchanges with international 

partners. Their ability to provide emerging partners with improved capabilities in the areas of 

meteorology, oceanography and hydrography is unique and is highly regarded by combatant 

commanders and naval component commanders as an outstanding tool for strategic engagement. 

In turn, their partners provide access to information vital to forward-deployed naval operations. 

Navy METOC also maintains strong interagency partnerships. The integration of modeling 

efforts among the Navy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and U.S. 

Air Force, NUOPC provides an unparalleled global modeling capability that can be adapted by 

individual agencies for specific applications. Another strong example is their partnership with 

NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard in operating the U.S. National/Naval Ice Center, providing ice 

analysis and forecasts to support safety of navigation for public, commercial and DoD use in the 

Arctic, Antarctic, Great Lakes, and all other large bodies of water affected by ice. 

U.S. Marine Corps 

Chemical Biological Incident Response Force 

The CBIRF METOC Analyst serves to provide essential meteorological and hazardous 

prediction information in support of CBIRF`s real world and training operations coupled with 

providing daily and weekly weather forecasts and climatological briefs to the corresponding staff 

to support planning operations and typical battalion operations. Other duties include: research 

and implement new weather forecasting techniques or tools as well as new plume modeling 

software or tools; responsible for coordinating and maintaining liaison with local, state, and 

federal agencies such as the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) or Joint Task Force 

Civil Support (JTF-CS) in order to enable appropriate sharing of information and a combined 

arms response to Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosive (CBRNE) incidents that 

may occur within CBIRF`s purview; and work with the Battalion Chemist to develop plume 

modeling products that are disseminated in response to training or real world CBRNE events. 

U.S. Geological Survey 

The USGS mission provides for "the classification of the public lands and the examination of the 

geological structure, mineral resources, and products of the National Domain.” The USGS serves 
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the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; 

minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and 

mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life. Among its broad responsibilities 

and efforts are identification, assessment, and monitoring of potentially hazardous areas; 

development of capabilities to predict the time, place, and the severity of hazardous geologic, 

hydrometeorologic, biologic, and chemical conditions or events; and dissemination of the 

findings and their implications, including the provision of technical and scientific advice to 

public officials. The USGS also maintains Bureau-wide efforts intended to educate the public 

about natural hazards. 

The USGS has been delegated the Federal responsibility to provide notification and warnings for 

earthquakes, volcanoes, and landslides. In addition, USGS data-collection networks provide realtime information needed by other agencies to issue forecasts and warnings related to a variety of 

hazards. For example, the USGS seismic network supports NOAA tsunami warnings; the USGS 

streamgage network supports NOAA flood forecasts (see Hydrometeorological and Water 

Resources Services); the USGS geomagnetic observations support solar storm forecasts (see 

Space Weather Services); USGS biologic monitoring of wildlife diseases enhances assessments 

of potential human pathogens such as the H1NI influenza virus; and USGS geospatial and 

remotely sensed information supports a broad spectrum of disaster-response activities and 

operations from an “all-hazards” perspective. 

The USGS established a secondary reception station for NOAA GOES at the USGS Earth 

Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center in Sioux Falls, SD. Three new satellite 

antennas and an existing antenna at EROS are used in support of this effort. Three of these 

antennas support communications with the GOES East and GOES West satellites, along with a 

hot spare. The remaining antenna is designated for a DOMSAT link, which is used for data 

dissemination. EROS also receives streamgage data in real time from the GOES satellites and is 

making these data available to USGS and other stakeholders. The receive station at EROS serves 

as a backup to the primary site [station] at Wallops Island, Virginia, which otherwise would 

represent a single point of failure in this vital data collection and dissemination system. 

Beyond network operations, the USGS has the expertise and infrastructure to acquire, assess, 

disseminate, or preserve information that can be derived from the study of geological, 

hydrological, meteorological, chemical, or biological conditions before, during, or after an 

imminent or declared disaster or emergency. These capabilities can be tapped through mission 

assignments, interagency agreements, or third-party contracts, as provided by law and regulation. 

Department of Energy 

Field Site and National Laboratory Meteorological Services 

In support of its national security, scientific research, and environmental stewardship missions, 

DOE has established and maintained operational meteorology programs at its field sites, national 

laboratories and offices. It has also managed various atmospheric research projects in support of 

emergency response and homeland security services among other activities. With respect to these 

programs, field sites and national laboratories collect quality-assured meteorological data, 
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develop site-specific climatology from these measurements, use these data for various 

applications, and provide local site weather forecasting. 

Emergency response and homeland security services require characterization of atmospheric 

processes that determine fate and transport of hazardous material releases. Meteorology 

programs directly contribute to the protection of public health and safety, and the environment, 

by accurately measuring and characterizing relevant local atmospheric processes to establish 

real-time and forecasted consequences. 

DOE sites benefit from well-managed meteorological program support to 24/7 operations (e.g., 

work-force safety under severe weather and emergencies) and national defense programs. 

Field Site and National Laboratory Operationao Meteorological Support 

Operational meteorology programs provide customized meteorological monitoring services and 

local site weather forecasts for national defense projects, and for nuclear safety and emergency 

response programs. Each operational program is primarily focused on supporting emergency 

response, and protecting the safety of workers, public and the environment. 

Operational meteorology programs are established at eight national laboratories, three 

reservations, Pantex, and Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Some of these programs incorporate 24/7 

severe weather watches to reduce risk of potential adverse impacts on facilities, construction 

projects, property, and workers: 

 Two sites have received a National Weather Service (NWS) Storm Ready certification 

and other sites are pursuing this certification; 

 Lightning protection and safety initiatives are integral elements of facility and worker 

safety systems supported by operational meteorology programs at eight locations; 

 State-of-the-art instrumentation, including vertical profilers, sound detection and ranging 

instruments, and sonic anemometry, are employed in site monitoring networks; and, 

 Data from some sites are part of the NWS database through the Meteorological 

Assimilation Data Ingest System. 

The DOE Meteorological Coordinating Council, established in 1994, provides a forum for 

continuity of meteorological activities at DOE sites. Information on this council can be located at 

www.orise.orau.gov/emi/dmcc. 

Many DOE reservations and national laboratories are located in areas with heterogeneous surface 

characteristics (e.g., land-water interface, mountain-valley morphology, forests) and experience 

complex localized weather conditions and resultant airflow trajectories. At these locations, 

diagnostic and prognostic characterization of local three-dimensional wind fields is required to 

determine trustworthy consequence assessments. Accordingly, multi-location comprehensive 

meteorological monitoring systems are essential at these facilities. Oak Ridge National 

Laboratory (ORNL) has produced a comprehensive characterization of the wind fields in the Oak 

Ridge, TN area that is being used to fine-tune its ATD modeling while other sites have 

extensively studied site-specific atmospheric flow phenomena to calibrate ATD capabilities. 

Finally, several DOE sites use NOAA’s Weather Research Forecasting mesoscale model as a 

component of its emergency response prognosticative capability. 
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Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response 

coordinates NRC responses to nuclear facility emergencies through the activation of the NRC 

Operations Center. The Protective Measures Team dose analysts in the NRC Operations Center 

rely on the Radiological Assessment System for Consequence Analysis (RASCAL) model to 

assess offsite consequences in the event of a radiological accident at a NRC-licensed facility. 

The NRC also maintains an interest in the effects of transport and dispersion of airborne 

hazardous and nonradioactive materials on the safe operation of nuclear facilities and uses 

SAFER Real-Time to assess protective action levels for making recommendations in the event of 

a non-radiological accident at an NRC licensee. 

 SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS 

NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) 

Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) 

AOML conducts mission oriented scientific research that seeks to understand the physical, 

chemical, and biological characteristics and processes of the ocean and atmosphere, both 

separately and as a coupled system. While the focus of the laboratory is on improving 

understanding through research, AOML houses a large component of the global ocean observing 

system, including Argo profiling floats and surface drifters. AOML also has maintained the 

long-standing expendable bathythermograph (XBT) program, which has a long-standing 

collaboration with the National Weather Service and the United States Coast Guard to develop 

and support the AMVER program. The AMVER program (Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel 

Rescue AMVER reports allow the U. S. Coast Guard to track a vessel's position. The AMVER 

program relies on ships to submit four types of reports: (1) Sail Plans; (2) Position Reports; (3) 

Arrival Reports and (4) Deviation Reports, when necessary. The U. S. Coast Guard updates their 

database with the position information from these reports, which allows them to identify vessels 

in the vicinity of a ship in distress. AOML mains the software and processes all reports. 

Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) 

NOAA’s Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) develops and improves dispersion and air quality 

models and collects research-grade atmospheric measurements. Our programs support NOAA, 

broader US, and some international emergency response programs with an emphasis on 

chemical, nuclear, smoke, dust, and volcanic ash events. Our key NOAA customer is the 

National Weather Service, and we interact extensively with the National Ocean Service Office of 

Response and Restoration. ARL also provides a broad selection of web based assessment tools. 

ARL’s primary emergency response model platform is the Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian 

Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model and has been made operational at NOAA’s National 

Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). HYSPLIT also serves as the national dispersion 

forecasting capability in several other countries. HYSPLIT is the major product employed in the 

operations of the Regional Specialized Meteorology Center (RSMC) set up as a joint undertaking 

of ARL and NCEP under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The 
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WMO/RSMC is the source of dispersion products in the event that a radioactive plume crosses 

international boundaries. 

ARL provides meteorological support for the Department of Energy at the Idaho National 

Laboratory (INL) in Idaho Falls and at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) north of Las 

Vegas. ARL meteorologists staff the DOE Emergency Operations Center during drills and 

emergencies, such as accidental toxic chemical releases and wildfires. ARL operates an 

additional mesonet in East Tennessee that collects ozone and basic meteorological information. 

ARL operates an urban research meteorological network within the National Capital Region 

called DCNet that collects standard meteorological data and also measures characteristics of 

atmospheric turbulence. DCNet provides critical data and insights that improves dispersion 

predictions of airborne hazardous materials. While DCNet is a research network, its observations 

are used by numerous government security and emergency management personnel for various 

activities within the National Capital Region. 

In FY15, ARL will: 

 Continue to improve and adapt the HYSPLIT model to address threats imposed from radioactive 

material, volcanic ash, dust, and wildfire smoke, and other hazardous materials. 

 Provide reach-back support to NWS and other organizations that use our models. 

 Continue to maintain mesonets in Nevada, Idaho, eastern Tennessee, and the National Capital 

Region. 

 Continue to support the Department of Energy at the INL and NNSS.

Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL)

The Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) has developed and continues to 

upgrade the Great Lakes Coastal Forecasting System (GLCFS). This system produces forecasts 

of waves, currents, temperature, ice, and other properties of the five Great Lakes and their 

connecting channels that are used by commercial ship captains, recreational boaters, fishermen, 

beach managers, oil spill responders, and search and rescue personnel. The GLCFS is currently 

being upgraded from a system based on the Princeton Ocean Model (POM), to a system based on 

the Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model (FVCOM), which allows the model to be executed with 

variable spatial resolution, among other capabilities. The FVCOM versions of the GLCFS will 

become operational in FY2014, starting with Lake Erie. 

The NOAA Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Team has also recently completed a technical 

memorandum that describes the particular roles and responsibilities for different NOAA offices 

and personnel in the Great Lakes in the event of a natural or human-caused emergency such as a 

severe winter storm, large wildfire, or oil spill. The team will be assisting other NOAA regions 

in FY2014 to adapt this approach for use in their areas, with consideration of the particular 

emergencies that might be anticipated in other regions such as hurricanes or earthquakes. 
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Department of Energy 

The Department of Energy (DOE) Meteorological Coordinating Council (DMCC) was 

established in 1994 to coordinate meteorological activities among the field offices to enhance 

cost effectiveness and productivity and to leverage synergistic opportunities. DOE has delegated 

the operation of its site/facility meteorological programs to NOAA and to non-Federal for-profit 

management and operating contractors. The DMCC membership is therefore composed of 

subject-matter experts from within the DOE complex, representing the three components with 

operational responsibilities for the following programs: 

 Department of Commerce (DOC/NOAA) under an interagency agreement 

 Management and operating (M&O) contractors 

 Private contractors 

The DMCC operates as a subcommittee of the DOE Emergency Management Issues Special 

Interest Group (EMI SIG) and has a web page that can be accessed directly or through the web 

page of the Subcommittee for Consequence Assessment and Protective Actions (SCAPA). 

DMCC also issues an annual report as part of its presentation to the EMI SIG Steering 

Committee. 

A current DMCC project is to improve the provision of quality-assured meteorological 

information and execution of transport and diffusion models that meet software quality assurance 

requirements. Products of the DMCC include evaluations of meteorological requirements 

contained in DOE orders and guidance documents, site meteorological program peer reviews 

(i.e., meteorological program assist visits), and, as needed, customized technical assistance. The 

DMCC developed tools to enable DOE/NNSA sites to perform self-assessments of their 

individual meteorological monitoring programs and the meteorological aspects of consequence 

assessment. 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

The Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) plans, recommends, and implements a 

program of nuclear regulatory research for nuclear power plants and other facilities regulated by 

the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). RES provides technical support, technical tools, and 

information to identify and resolve safety issues for current and new designs and technologies 

through testing, data development, analysis, and national and international collaboration. For 

example, RES is currently evaluating toxic gas dispersion modeling capabilities of several 

computer codes as licensing tools for assessment of control room habitability specific to dense 

gas release simulations. RES also develops regulatory guidance and participates in the 

development of criteria and consensus standards related to the protection of the public health and 

safety and the environment. 

 
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HYDROMETEOROLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES SERVICES 

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 

Interagency Collaborative Programs and Products 

Integrated Water Resources Science and Services (IWRSS) 

The Integrated Water Resources Science and Services (IWRSS) is a new business model for 

interagency collaboration. IWRSS brings a consortium of United States federal agencies with 

complementary water resources missions together to share resources to help solve the nation's 

water resources issues. Initiated through an Interagency Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), 

IWRSS's overarching objective is to enable and demonstrate a broad, interactive national water 

resources information system to serve as a reliable and authoritative means for adaptive water 

related planning, preparedness and response activities. The goals are to: 

 integrate information delivery and simplify access to this data, 

 increase accuracy and timeliness of water information, and 

 provide summit-to-the-sea high resolution water resources information and forecasts 

Currently the collaboration is with three United States federal agencies: USGS, NOAA, and 

USACE. Other federal agencies are expected to join the consortium in the near future. Two 

initial charters have been written to support and help define the IWRSS effort. The first charter is 

the National Flood Inundation Mapping (NFIM); with the second charter being the System 

Interoperability and Data Synchronization (SIDSRT). Interagency teams have been identified 

and charged with addressing the tasks described in the charters. 

The implementation of the charters represents initial activities that address the IWRSS goals and 

the objective of the Building Strong Collaborative Relationships for a Sustainable Water 

Resources Future initiative to build a Federal Support Toolbox for Integrated Water Resources 

Management (IWRM). Additional information is included in the NOAA/National Weather 

Service narrative below and at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/oh/nwc/. 

NOAA/National Weather Service 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) 

has the primary responsibility among Federal agencies to provide advanced alerts of hydrologic 

For purposes of this Federal Plan, Hydrometeorology and Water Resources Services are those 

specialized meteorological services and facilities that combine atmospheric science, hydrology, and 

water resources in order to meet the requirements of Federal, state, and local agencies for information 

on the effects of precipitation events on infrastructure, water supplies, and waterways. These products 

and services also meet the needs of the general public in the conduct of everyday activities and for the 

protection of lives and property. 
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conditions via flood warnings and river forecasts in the United States. The provision of these 

water prediction and warning services are significantly influenced by anthropogenic activities 

associated with water management and water use/regulation (e.g. reservoirs, diversions, 

withdrawals). In order to provide these important services, collaboration with other federal 

agencies is crucial as 24 Federal agencies have a role in water. The end-to-end forecast process 

employed by the NWS to provide hydrologic and water resources forecast and warning services 

leverages data and information from Federal partners and involves the following: 

 Meteorological and hydrological observations and anthropogenic data; 

 Data collection, management and processing; 

 Science and technology infusion; 

 River and water quantity forecasting; 

 Inundation mapping; 

 Dissemination systems; 

 Performance measurement; and 

 Outreach and education. 

NWS relies on routine access to water data and observations from other Federal agencies to 

produce and provide water forecasts and warnings. These Federal agencies and their respective 

roles include the: 

 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) - real-time and historical streamflow observations, 

stream/river cross-sections, rating curves (relating streamflow to river stage), topographic 

data (for inundation mapping) 

 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) – water use/regulation data, real-time 

streamflow observations, and hydraulic models 

 Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) – water use/regulation data 

 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – snow observations 

 Department of Energy (DOE) – water use/regulation data 

NWS hydrology and water resources program also leverages and expands NOAA science and 

service partnerships for the atmosphere, watersheds, estuaries, and oceans as well as partnerships 

with universities, the private sector, and the international community to improve and integrate 

modeling capabilities. 

An NWS field infrastructure which includes 122 Weather Forecast Offices (WFO), 13 River 

Forecast Centers (RFC), the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center 

(NOHRSC), and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction’s (NCEP) Weather 

Prediction Center (WPC) and Climate Prediction Center (CPC) work as a team to provide 

hydrologic forecast and warning services from floods to droughts to minimize the loss of life and 

property and to meet the growing water resources service needs of our Nation. NWS hydrologic 

products and services support decision makers from a spectrum of service sectors including 

emergency management, agriculture, hydropower, reservoir management, and watershed 

management, river commerce, municipal and industrial water supply, and recreation. 
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A new element in the NWS hydrology program infrastructure, the National Water Center 

(NWC), was completed in early 2014 on the campus of the University of Alabama in 

Tuscaloosa, AL. The NWC will serve as a cornerstone for collaboration among Federal water 

agencies and provide a central hub to integrate and advance regional field operations and 

services. It is currently being staffed to achieve an Initial Operating Capability by May 2015. 

WFOs assess and monitor the threat of flash and river flooding 24 hours a day 7 days a week to 

provide timely and accurate life-saving flood watches and warnings. Toward this end, WFOs 

integrate a spectrum of RFC, NCEP and NOHRSC guidance, Doppler weather radar 

(NEXRAD)-based precipitation estimates, and real-time telemetered precipitation and stream 

gauge observations, to provide routine river forecast services and critical, event-based decision 

support services. In addition, WFOs work with dam operators to provide timely warnings for 

floods that result from infrastructure failure such as dam break and levee breaches. Moreover, 

WFOs routinely conduct local outreach and education to heighten public and partner awareness 

of flood risks and NWS hydrologic services. 

RFCs routinely generate short range (deterministic) through extended range (probabilistic) river 

forecasts and (deterministic) flash flood guidance. Information from the RFCs serves as the 

basis for local flood and flash flood warnings, watches, and advisories issued by the WFOs. 

These RFC products typically incorporate guidance from WPC, CPC, NOHRSC and the WFOs, 

and emphasize flooding impacts from meteorological events based on geographic area, land use, 

time of the year, and other factors. In order to provide objective simulations of future river 

flows, RFCs calibrate, operate, and verify sophisticated hydrologic models based on rainfall, soil 

characteristics, quantitative precipitation forecasts (QPFs), reservoir regulations, and several 

other variables. Some RFCs, especially those in mountainous regions, also provide water-supply 

volume and peak-flow forecasts based on snow pack in high elevations. These water supply 

forecasts are used by a wide range of decision makers, including those in agriculture, 

hydroelectric dam operation and electricity generation, and water resources management. RFCs 

routinely coordinate with their associated WFOs, Federal water partners, stakeholders, and the 

WPC. 

NOHRSC provides comprehensive snow observations, analyses, data sets and map products for 

the Nation. NOHRSC products and services are used by RFCs and WFOs to develop a variety of 

hydrologic products such as spring flood outlooks, water supply outlooks, river and flood 

forecasts, and reservoir inflow forecasts. Additionally, the NOHRSC provides and supports 

geographic information system (GIS) data sets and applications used by the RFCs in generating 

automated hydrologic forecast basin boundaries. NOHRSC products and services also support a 

wide variety of government and private-sector applications in water resource management, 

disaster emergency preparedness, weather and flood forecasting, agriculture, transportation and 

commerce. 

Personnel at the NCEP’s WPC, located in College Park, Maryland, routinely prepare a spectrum 

of forecast products used by the WFOs to develop local rainfall, snow, and ice forecasts and by 

the RFCs to develop local river and flood forecasts. WPC coordinates with RFCs, WFOs and 

other Federal agencies, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), during 

major flood events. The WPC also provides an array of surface analyses and short-range forecast 

products used by NWS field offices and the weather enterprise. 
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NCEP’s CPC monitors and forecasts short-term climate fluctuations and generates guidance to 

communicate the effects climate patterns can have on the Nation. CPC develops and produces a 

suite of climate predictions and monitoring products, assessments, and discussions. These 

forecast products include 6-10 day, 8-14 day, one-month, and three month outlooks which depict 

the probability the temperature and precipitation will be above or below normal. CPC also 

routinely produces a U.S. Hazards Outlook, a U.S. Monthly Drought Outlook, a U.S. Seasonal 

Drought Outlook, and partners with the USDA and the National Drought Mitigation Center to 

produce the U.S. Drought Monitor. These products are used by WFOs and RFCs to enhance 

decision support services and serve as an input to RFC-generated, ensemble-based, extended 

range (probabilistic) river forecasts. 

The Community Hydrologic Prediction System (CHPS) is an operational framework that allows 

for broad systems interoperability at the 13 NWS RFCs, and supports new water resourcesrelated forecasts. It reinforces NOAA’s national water information strategy, allowing NOAA’s 

research and development enterprise and operational service delivery infrastructure to be 

integrated and leveraged with other Federal water agency activities and the private sector. 

Through CHPS, and under the auspices of the Integrated Water Resources Science and Services 

(IWRSS) Consortium, NOAA plans to deliver a new suite of high-resolution forecasts (including 

estimates of uncertainty) for streamflow, soil moisture, soil temperature, and many other 

variables directly related to watershed conditions via collaboration and sharing of data and 

models with other Federal, university, and private-sector experts. Furthermore, these activities 

will enable NOAA to deliver a national database of hydrologic analyses and predictions and 

generate user-friendly geographic information system (GIS) products for monitoring floods and 

drought. This activity contributes to the National Integrated Drought Information System 

(NIDIS). 

Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS). 

The overarching goals of AHPS are to provide: a) better forecast accuracy by incorporating 

advanced hydrologic science into NWS models; b) more specific and timely information on fastrising floods by using tools which make it easier to rapidly identify small basins affected by 

heavy rainfall and excessive runoff, and predict the extent and timing of the resulting inundation; 

c) new types of forecast information by incorporating enhanced techniques for quantifying 

forecast certainty and conveying this information in products which specify the probability of 

reaching various water levels; d) longer forecast horizons; e) easier-to-use products; and f) 

increased, more timely, and consistent access to hydrologic information. AHPS includes a suite 

of web-based products and information designed to support more informed decisions through 

timely and accurate hydrologic forecasts and warnings. 

The NWS continues to implement AHPS which builds on the existing NWS infrastructure, 

including the Advanced Weather Information Processing System (AWIPS), NEXRAD, and 

CHPS. AHPS also provides Ensemble Streamflow Prediction (ESP) - a capability that allows 

the NWS to generate extended range (probabilistic) river forecasts which quantify the forecast 

certainty. This information enables decision makers to apply risk-based analyses as they prepare 

for, and respond to, flooding and better balance competing demands on water supply, especially 

during periods of drought. The ESP capability is being expanded to include new techniques to 

facilitate the comprehensive generation of probabilistic hydrologic information seamlessly from 
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short- to long- forecast horizons within CHPS. This enhanced capability is referred to as the 

Hydrologic Ensemble Forecast Service (HEFS) and is being implemented at select river forecast 

locations across the country. 

Another AHPS capability, known as Flash Flood Monitoring and Prediction (FFMP), combines 

high-resolution radar rainfall observations with GIS technology to provide more accurate and 

precise flash flood detection. Flash floods, typically caused by intense, small-scale convective 

systems, are the leading cause of flood fatalities. The added precision provided by FFMP greatly 

reduces the area warned in flash flood warnings, making them more credible and leading to more 

effective and efficient public response, which ultimately saves lives. AHPS also provides 

opportunities to improve NOAA’s analysis and forecast capabilities related to coastal water 

conditions, through joint efforts with NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS) and Office of 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR). 

Integrated Water Resources Science and Services (IWRSS). 

Our Nation faces a spectrum of growing water resources challenges which necessitate the 

provision of new and enhanced services. These challenges include: a) population growth and 

economic development are stressing water supplies and increasing vulnerability; b) a changing 

climate is impacting water availability and quality and increasing uncertainty; and, c) an aging 

water infrastructure is forcing critical, expensive decisions. 

In this era of growing challenges and reduced budgets, the collective capabilities of Federal 

water agencies need to be leveraged to inform and guide increasingly important water decisions. 

The provision of life-saving NWS forecasts and warnings and other important water resources 

information is dependent upon routine collaboration between Federal water agencies including 

NOAA’s NWS, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS). To strengthen this relationship and enhance the quality of Federal water resources 

services, in May of 2011, NOAA’s NWS, the USACE, and the USGS entered into a 

memorandum of understanding to design, develop, and implement the Integrated Water 

Resources Science and Services (IWRSS) program. Consisting of a consortium of federal 

agencies with complementary missions in water science, observation, management and 

prediction, IWRSS is a new business model for interagency collaboration in the information age. 

The IWRSS Consortium envisions an integrated national water modeling framework and 

information services framework. Together these frameworks will establish a common operating 

picture for water, improve water modeling and synthesis, and support the production of a 

comprehensive, seamless and consistent suite of high-resolution tree-top-to-bedrock, summit-tosea water resources products and information services. Toward this end, IWRSS applies a crosscutting, multi-disciplinary systems approach to address complex water problems collaboratively. 

The overarching objective of IWRSS is to enable and demonstrate a broad, integrative national 

water resources information system to serve as a reliable and authoritative means for adaptive 

water-related planning, preparedness and response activities. IWRSS builds on progress made 

under AHPS, CHPS and other NOAA water forecasting services. 

NWS Partnerships for Hydrometeorological Products and Services. 
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Partnerships with a variety of Federal, state, and local agencies are critical to the NWS 

Hydrologic Services Program. For example, the NWS works very closely on water-related issues 

with many federal water agencies including: the USGS, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the 

Bureau of Land Management in the Department of the Interior; with the USACE in the 

Department of Defense; the Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation 

Service (NRCS); and FEMA in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Among these 

partnering activities are stream gaging, flood inundation mapping, river and water supply 

forecasting, and water management. For example, river stage and flow observations and stage 

discharge relationships provided by the USGS and reservoir operation information provided by 

the USACE, are critical to NWS warning and forecast operations for the Nation’s rivers. 

NOAA/Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) 

Within the NOAA/Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) aircraft fleet, a NOAA 

AC-695A Commander 1000 (N45RF) and a DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (N46RF or N48RF) 

are used annually to conduct important snow-pack surveys in the northern and western 

continental U.S., Alaska, and southern Canada. During these survey flights, the gamma radiation 

sensors aboard these aircraft measure the naturally occurring terrestrial radiation emitted from 

the ground to obtain snow water–equivalent estimates. The data are transmitted to the National 

Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (NOHRSC) up to three times a day, and, after 

further processing, the data are distributed to NWS field offices within five minutes of receipt 

from the aircraft. These data are used by the NWS to forecast river levels and potential flood 

events, resulting from snowmelt water runoff. Hydroelectric power interests and other water 

supply managers also use the data to regulate water storage and delivery. 

U.S. Department of Agriculture 

NRCS Hydrometeorological Observations 

Snowmelt provides the majority of the annual water supply in the Western United States; 

therefore, having information on snowpack is critical for water supply forecasts and 

management. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) measures snowpack and 

collects hydrometeorological data in 13 Western States, including Alaska. NRCS’ Snow Survey 

and Water Supply Forecasting (SSWSF) Program conducts snow surveys at high elevations in 

the mountainous West. The data collection system includes approximately 1,160 active manual 

snow courses in the United States and Canada (Canada operates their own data collection, but 

shares data with US), and more than 885 automated Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) monitoring 

stations. The NRCS collects data at the manual snow courses in cooperation with a number of 

different Federal, State, local, and private partners, as well as Canadian agencies. The SNOTEL 

and manual snow course data, along with data from stream-gages, major reservoirs, and 

climatological observation stations managed by other agencies, are merged into a hydroclimatic 

database that is used to produce real-time watershed analyses and water supply forecasts. The 

purpose of water supply forecasts are to: (1) help irrigators make the most effective use of 

limited water supplies for agricultural production needs; (2) assist the Federal government in 

administering international water treaties with Canada and Mexico; (3) assist state governments 

in managing intrastate streams and interstate water compacts; (4) assist municipalities in 

planning the early management of anticipated water supplies and drought mitigation; (5) operate 
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reservoirs to satisfy multiple use demands, including hydropower generation; (6) mitigate flood 

damages in levied areas and downstream from reservoirs; and (7) support fish and wildlife 

management activities associated with species protection legislation. 

The automated SNOTEL network transmits data from remote sites and is served on the web by 

the national Water and Climate Center in Portland, Oregon. The SNOTEL network provides 

near-real-time remote hydrometeorological data that significantly improve flood stage forecasts 

and the monitoring of other life-threatening snow-related events. The primary use of the snow 

survey data is the production of water supply forecasts for more than 632 Western basins. All 

SNOTEL data are sent hourly to the National Weather Service (NWS) to assist in forecasting 

flood events. SNOTEL information enables emergency management agencies to effectively 

mitigate drought and flood damages and to monitor and assess wildfire potential. 

Water supply forecasts are produced bi-monthly each year from January through June, as well as 

mid-month forecasts and daily guidance for some basins beginning in December. The NRCS 

furnishes snow measurements that are combined with advanced snow modeling and analysis 

provided by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA’s National 

Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center continues to support joint NWS-NRCS efforts. 

The NRCS typically develops nearly 7,000 seasonal water supply forecasts for 632 streamflow 

forecast locations in 13 Western States. In addition, the Program provides daily water supply 

guidance forecasts for 198 of the 632 Western basins. These products provide information for 

water managers to adapt to weather changes as they occur. The web link for this information is 

http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/wsf/daily_forecasts.html. 

Historical snow survey data are valuable to climate change researchers to aid in developing 

reliable projections of climate change. It has been projected that changes to the hydrologic cycle 

in the Western States, resulting from changes in snowpack conditions and timing of snowmelt, 

will increase the water supply challenges the States face. Monitoring data provides assistance to 

water managers at all levels to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Snowpack measurements 

extend back decades, and in some cases over 100 years, highlighting the value of this highaltitude network for understanding and assessing changes in climate. 

The SSWSF Program provides a variety of climate and water supply products that are used to 

assess drought in the West. These include SNOTEL snowpack and precipitation analyses in the 

mountains, water supply forecasts, and State Surface Water Supply Indexes (SWSI). These 

products are critical to the weekly production of the interagency Drought Monitor, a web-based 

report. Separate from the SSWSF Program and SNOTEL network, the NRCS also manages a 

cooperative nationwide network of 203 Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN) sites in 40 

States, as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These SCAN sites monitor soil 

temperature and soil moisture, which support national drought monitoring, agriculture 

production, and climate change research. Presently, more than 400 SNOTEL stations also have 

soil moisture and soil temperature sensors. 

U.S Army Corps of Engineers 

In its civil operational activities, the Corps of Engineers (COE) uses a network of about 10,850 

land-based gages. About 55 percent of these sites collect meteorological data, 35 percent collect 
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a combination of hydrologic and meteorological data, and 10 percent collect hydrologic or water 

quality data. The meteorological gages commonly measure precipitation and temperature. All 

data are used in the regulation of COE dams and other water projects, for flood control, 

navigation, hydroelectric power, irrigation, water supply, water quality, and recreation. The 

COE funds or partially funds nearly half of all the gages it uses. 

 

The COE funds NOAA/National Weather Service (NWS) to collect and maintain precipitation 

information from 876 meteorological sites. The COE funds the NWS for hydro-meteorological 

studies and funds the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for maintaining hydro-meteorological data 

collection services for 2479 sites. The rest of the sites are maintained by the COE. Services 

performed by USGS vary by site and by year, and can include site visits, maintenance of 

equipment, replacement of damaged equipment, field measurements for verification of data and 

continuous monitoring of data results. About 90 percent of all COE sites provide real-time data 

via satellite, microwaves, meterbursts, landlines, or radio. Data from COE gage sites are 

available to NWS, and to other federal, state and local agencies. 

 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Hydrometeorological Data Collection and Distribution 

The USGS’s Water Mission Area (WMA) collects streamflow, precipitation, water quality, 

ground-water level, and other water resources and climatological data as part of a national 

network and for a number of projects concerning rainfall-runoff, water quality, and hydrologic 

processes. Currently, the USGS collects 

continuous hydrologic and meteorological 

data at about 9,000 surface water sites, 2,700 

ground water-level sites, and 1,500 water 

quality sites. Periodic records are collected at 

approximately 1,500 additional surface water 

sites, 20,000 ground water sites, and 10,300 

water quality sites. Precipitation records are 

collected at about 800 sites. 

Near-real-time streamflow data and ancillary 

information are provided to NWS RFCs for 

river forecast locations and to general public 

for all USGS streamgages via USGS NWIS 

web site (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/). 

Additional historical and real-time water 

resources data also are available. During 

floods, these data are supplemented by 

additional flood flow measurements. 

The USGS also collects precipitation samples at a number of sites to determine the atmospheric 

contribution of chemical constituent loads to runoff, and for defining the effect of atmospheric 

deposition on water quality and the aquatic environment. 

The USGS has developed new rapidly deployable, mobile streamgages to provide short-term 

water-level data to critical areas lacking permanent streamgages. Image provided by USGS 

Office of Surface Water. 
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Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

Following the accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant resulting from the March 

11, 2011, Great Tōhoku Earthquake and subsequent tsunami, the Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission (NRC) issued letters to all its operating nuclear power plant licensees requesting 

that they reevaluate the flooding hazards at their sites using updated information and present-day 

regulatory guidance and methodologies. This includes considering the effects from large 

precipitation events, snow pack, ice effects, and other meteorological events that drive flood 

events, such as storm surge. Licensees were directed to provide their responses on a set response 

date between March 2013 and March 2015 based on a set of criteria used to prioritize the nuclear 

power plant sites. The NRC staff, along with support from its consultants, has begun reviewing 

the flood hazard reevaluations that have been submitted to date to determine whether additional 

regulatory actions are necessary to protect against the updated hazards. 

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS 

NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) 

Hydrometeorological Testbed (HMT). 

The HMT conducts research on precipitation and weather conditions that can lead to both 

flooding and drought, and fosters transition of scientific advances and new tools into forecasting 

operations. HMT's outputs support efforts to balance water resource demands and flood control 

in a changing climate. The HMT is a national program aimed at accelerating the infusion of new 

technologies, models, and scientific results from the research community into daily forecasting 

operations of the NWS at both the national (NCEP Weather Prediction Center) and regional 

(regional forecast centers and local forecast offices) levels. Research at the HMT, which operates 

as an end-to-end demonstration project with forecasters and researchers joining forces in the 

operational setting, has focused on improving regional forecasts of extreme precipitation, both 

too much and too little. This is achieved by a combination of: a) unique observations designed to 

monitor precipitation, kinematic, and surface processes; b) research aimed at improved 

understanding of physical processes leading to extreme precipitation; and c) operational forecast 

experiments to test new tools, methods, and models. HMT partners with organizations across 

NOAA, including NESDIS, OAR, NWS, NMFS, and NOS as well as regional academic and 

State authorities. 

In FY 15, ESRL/PSD will continue to lead the implementation of the Hydrometeorology Testbed 

(HMT) – Southeast Pilot Study (SEPS), and associated analysis efforts, aimed at improving 

NOAA’s ability to monitor and predict extreme precipitation in the southeast U.S. ESRL/PSD 

and HMT are also leading several projects in the California Russian River watershed as part of 

the NOAA Habitat Blueprint, aimed at sustaining healthy ecosystems. 

Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) 

GLERL conducts research and modeling to advance understanding of the hydrometeorological 

and hydrologic system of the Great Lakes basin. The Great Lakes is unique among hydrologic 
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catchments worldwide in having about one-third of its area covered by fresh water, thus 

affording water a stronger second chance to evaporate while within a water body in addition to 

evapotranspiration from the land areas. Economic sectors such as fishing, shipping, and 

recreation are linked to the lake levels and water quality of the Great Lakes. A major product 

from GLERL is the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction System (AHPS, different from the NWS 

product of the same name) that provides probabilistic outlooks on a seasonal time scale, based on 

the Climate Prediction Center's meteorological outlooks (and corresponding Canadian products), 

for lake levels, precipitation, river flow, and other variables. GLERL also has the Great Lakes 

Hydrometeorological Dashboard, a web-based system for displaying a wide variety of 

observational and model-generated data for lake levels, precipitation, ice cover, evaporation, and 

other variables. GLERL's hydrologic activities are coordinated with cooperating groups in both 

the operational and research realm through the Coordinating Committee on Great Lakes Basic 

Hydraulic and Hydrologic Data (CCGLBHHD, or "The Coordinating Committee"), including 

other US Government entities (US Geological Survey, US Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, and 

NOAA National Ocean Service) and the Canadian Government (Environment Canada). 

National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) 

Storm-scale Hydrometeorology Research. 

Routine water level simulations that capture the complex interaction between rainfall, river 

flows, waves, tides and storm surge have not been possible until now. NSSL has developed a 

prototype real-time system that combines observations, weather and water models, and decision 

support tools to better forecast and prepare for inland and coastal floods. The NSSL Coastal and 

Inland Flooding Observation and Warning (CI-FLOW) project uses the NSSL multi-sensor 

rainfall estimates to drive an NWS-distributed hydrologic model that predicts streamflow to help 

the NWS improve flash flood warnings. CI-FLOW is coordinating with NOAA’s Integrated 

Water Resources Science and Services – an innovative partnership of federal agencies with 

complementary operational missions in water science, observation, prediction and management. 

In addition to streamflow prediction, streamflow data from predictive models are used to drive a 

storm surge model from the University of North Carolina. We believe this system of coupled 

models, tested during the 2010 hurricane season and in Hurricane Irene in 2011, can be used not 

only for inundation studies of landfalling tropical systems, but also for land-use studies, algal 

bloom studies, and water quality assessment studies. 

NSSL is working with the NWS to bring enhanced weather information and capabilities to 

operations. After more than a decade of development, testing and experimental evaluation, 

NSSL, in collaboration with the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), is 

bringing the Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor (MRMS) system to NWS operations. MRMS 

consolidates and “cleans up” data from a wide variety of sources including radars, satellites, and 

surface observations to provide forecasters with the best-possible real-time analysis of the 

atmosphere at any location. This system has shown considerable improvement in radar-based 

rainfall estimates and provides forecasters with an ability to “mine” the data set to extract new 

types of aviation, severe and hydrologic weather information. By placing high-quality, 

remotely-sensed data in a three-dimensional framework accessible to NWS forecasters, MRMS 

will be opening the door to exciting new possibilities in improving flash flood and severe 

weather warnings, as well as forecasts. 
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NSSL continues to develop, with substantial support from the FAA and Taiwan’s Central 

Weather Bureau, a seamless CONUS radar mosaic system to quantitatively estimate precipitation 

(QPE) every 5 minutes (called next generation QPE or Q2). Q2 incorporates information from 

operational and research weather surveillance radars (e.g., NOAA/NWS WSR-88Ds, FAA 

Terminal Doppler Weather Radars, deployable “gap-filling radars, Canadian operational network 

radars, etc), GOES satellite data, lightning flash detections, rain gauge accumulations, surface 

and upper air observations, and more recently, numerical model output to produce an ensemble 

of many gridded precipitation estimates. These precipitation products, with their different levels 

of complexity, each have strengths and weaknesses that vary with season, geography, and 

precipitation type. The Q2 algorithm is unique in the way that it performs quality control on the 

reflectivity fields, identifies the bright band using radar data, segregates convective and 

stratiform precipitation and applies differential Z-R relationships, delineates the rain-snow line, 

and adaptively calibrates infrared satellite data using radar precipitation rates. Research from the 

limited area deployment of Q2 demonstrated that calibrated satellite-based precipitation 

outperforms radar-only algorithms in complex terrain during the cool season. The Q2 multisensor and radar products are both adjusted by rain gauges using a mean field bias technique as 

well as a local bias adjustment. 

The Flooded Locations And Simulated Hydrographs (FLASH) project also takes advantage of 

NSSL’s high resolution, multisensor precipitation estimates. The rainfall estimates are used to 

force the Coupled Routing and Excess Storage (CREST) distributed hydrologic model running at 

a resolution commensurate with the rainfall forcing and flash floods. The FLASH system 

produces forecasts of flash flooding out to 6 hours in the future at every grid point in the 

conterminous US. FLASH is presently running in real-time as a demonstration and will be 

transferred to NWS operations along with MRMS. Weather Prediction Center forecasters 

evaluated FLASH model outputs during the Flash Flooding and Intense Rainfall (FFaIR) testbed 

experiment during the summer of 2013. They stated in their final report that FLASH provided 

better overall guidance in the forecast of flash floods than the operational tools used by 

forecasters in the NWS. The system offers to the potential for a consistent, nation-wide solution 

for flash flood forecasting by the National Weather Service. 

Department of Agriculture 

Natural Resources Conservation Service 

Within the Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program, there are a number of agency 

initiatives that support research and development in regards to system operations. These 

initiatives include model development, quality assurance tools, radio and telemetry development, 

SCAN support, and radio spectrum management. 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) conducts meteorological research to support 

licensing activities. Current research activities include updating the methods used to estimate the 

effects of extreme precipitation events, evaluating the use of paleoflood information to extend 

the historical record, and applying probabilistic techniques to riverine systems. The extreme 
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precipitation work has been extended to consider the influence of orographic features. In 

addition, work has been initiated to start looking at flooding, including site specific probable 

maximum precipitation, from a probabilistic perspective. Preliminary planning is underway to 

develop an integrated probabilistic approach for flood hazard assessment for nuclear power 

plants that will include advanced approaches for modeling meteorological and hydrological 

phenomena and systems. This work is prioritized for those areas of the United States where new 

nuclear power plants are proposed and will provide the design basis for flood protection systems, 

or where existing nuclear power plants have submitted analyses for the NRC to review. The 

work will be done in cooperation with the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation 

and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The focus of NRC research in these areas is to 

accurately assess the potential hazard to safe operation of nuclear facilities from extremely rare 

hydrometeorological events. 
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MILITARY SERVICES 

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 

For each of the military services with meteorological operational programs (U.S. Air Force, 

Navy, Army, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard), the discussion below first describes that service’s 

operational organizations, followed by a description of the principal meteorological products and 

services provided by these organizations. 

U.S. Air Force 

Operational Organizations 

Air Force weather organizations enable military decision-makers to anticipate and exploit the 

weather for air, ground, space, cyberspace, and intelligence operations. AF weather personnel 

provide mission-tailored terrestrial and space environment observations, forecasts, and services 

to the U.S. Air Force (AF), U.S. Army (USA), and a variety of U.S. Government departments 

and agencies. 

The AF Director of Weather (AF/A3W) is aligned under the AF Directorate of Operations 

(AF/A3), Headquarters Air Force. The Director of Weather oversees Air Force-wide training, 

organizing, and equipping of AF weather personnel and capabilities, to include the following 

functions: 

• Development of doctrine, policies, requirements, and standards for weather support for 

worldwide Air Force and Army operations and training 

• Evaluation of weather support effectiveness for worldwide operations and training 

• Management of weather officer, enlisted, and civilian career fields 

• Development and implementation of mid- to long-range plans for the organization, 

equipment, manpower, and technology necessary to meet future Air Force, Army, and 

other DoD Agency weather requirements 

For purposes of this Federal Plan, Military Services are those meteorological operations, services, and 

capabilities established to meet the unique requirements of military user commands and their 

component elements. Programs and services that are not uniquely military in nature are reported under 

another service category (e.g., Basic Services, Aviation Services [civilian], Surface Transportation 

Services, or Emergency Response and Homeland Security Services). 
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• Advising Air Staff and subordinate headquarters weather functional managers, regarding 

manpower, career field management, personnel utilization, training, operations policy 

and procedures, and technology acquisition 

• Advocating and fielding standardized weather equipment to support worldwide training 

and combat operations 

AF weather operations provide a 

Total Force capability, employing 

more than 4,000 Active Duty 

(AD) and Reserve Component 

military and civilian personnel 

supporting Air Force and Army 

conventional and special 

operations forces (SOF) 

worldwide. The majority of AF 

weather personnel are focused on 

two distinct, yet related functions: 

characterizing the past, current, 

and future state of the air and 

space environment, and exploiting 

environmental data and 

information to provide actionable 

environmental impacts 

information directly to decision 

makers. 

AF weather personnel act as “eyes forward” to collect, analyze, tailor, integrate and disseminate 

weather environmental information, including forecasts of future conditions, in support of 

military operations. Weather personnel must understand warfighter tactics, techniques, and 

procedures, and help decision makers mitigate weather impacts and take advantage of weather 

conditions. AF weather personnel support Air Force, Army, Joint, and DoD conventional and 

special operations at various garrison and deployed locations worldwide. 

AF weather personnel aligned with Army units directly support the G-2 intelligence centers, 

Aviation and Army Fire Support operations. Weather is a vital part of the intelligence estimate 

and is an essential element that supports the military rapid-response planning process. Weather 

personnel assigned to these commands provide expertise, products, and services that directly 

support the Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (JIPOE) process by 

helping intelligence analysts to effectively evaluate, integrate, and synchronize weather effects 

for military courses of action. 

The AF weather support infrastructure is designed to rapidly deploy and operate in austere 

expeditionary environments. It is capable of providing sustained, comprehensive, and relevant 

weather support to all elements of an Air Expeditionary Force, as well as forward deployed air 

bases and stations of the establishment supporting that force. AF weather forces are organized in 

 Air Force Weather mission statement 
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a 3-tier structure to maximize capabilities that can be accomplished in the rear area via “reachback” technology. This minimizes forward expeditionary presence, making a “light and lean” 

force consistent with the overall AF vision for contingency operations in the 21st century. 

Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA). AFWA is a Field Operating Agency, reporting to the AF 

Director of Weather. AFWA delivers weather training tools and fields all standard weather 

systems and equipment. In conjunction with acquisition organizations, AFWA builds and 

maintains the world’s most comprehensive weather database of observation, forecast, 

climatological, and space weather products available on the World Wide Web. AFWA presently 

oversees two weather groups with distinct operational roles.

• The 1st Weather Group (1 WXG) aligns stateside weather operations by overseeing 

regionalized operational weather squadrons (OWSs). The 1 WXG has three subordinate 

OWSs whose areas of responsibility include the continental United States, Canada, parts 

of Mexico, and surrounding areas: the 15th, 25th, and 26th OWSs. They form the 

backbone of regionally focused, “reachback” weather operations for much of North 

America, providing a variety of weather forecast products and support to units assigned 

to and/or deployed in their respective areas of responsibility. 

• The 2nd Weather Group (2 WXG) delivers timely, relevant, and specialized terrestrial, 

space, and climatological global environmental intelligence to joint warfighters, U.S. 

DoD decision makers, national agencies, and allied nations for the planning and 

execution of missions across the complete spectrum of military operations through the 

operation, sustainment, and maintenance of the AF's $288 million strategic center 

computer complex, production network, and applications. The 2 WXG is the weather 

production center in the first tier of the AF weather organizational structure. It delivers 

worldwide weather products to Air Force and Army decision-makers, unified commands, 

National Programs, and the National Command Authorities. Within the AF weather 3-

tier structure to support forward operations via reach-back technology, the 2 WXG’s 2nd 

Weather Squadron (2 WS) provides global coverage of forecaster-in-the-loop products to 

exploit environmental information necessary to effectively plan and conduct all levels of 

military operations, including providing dedicated support to the intelligence community, 

as well as backup for two national weather centers. 

Operational Weather Squadrons. Around the world, the OWSs are the second tier of the AF 

weather support structure and provide continuous, complete environmental situational 

awareness. They are responsible for producing and disseminating mission-planning and missionexecution weather analyses, forecasts, and briefings for Air Force, Army, National Guard, and 

Reserve forces operating anywhere around the world.

• The 15th OWS’s area of responsibility includes 149 installations/sites in a 22-state region 

of the northeastern United States. 
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• The 17th OWS’s area of responsibility covers more than 95 million square miles of the 

Pacific region including Alaska and Hawaii, Australia, Korea, and Japan. 

• The 21st OWS’s area of responsibility includes sites within the U.S. European Command 

and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility, including Europe, Greenland, Russia, 

the Caucasus region, Turkey, Israel, and most of Africa. 

• The 25th OWS’s area of responsibility includes 79 installations/sites in an 11-state region 

of the western United States. 

• The 26th OWS’s area of responsibility includes 133 installations/sites in a seven-state 

region of the south central United States. 

• The 28th OWS’s area of responsibility includes sites throughout the U.S. Central 

Command area of responsibility, including southwest Asia and Egypt. 

Weather Flights. Deployed in the field and focused on operational weather, AF Weather Flights

constitute the third tier of AF weather support, acting as the prime interface with an AF 

installation's flying and ground operations. Weather Flights are located at military installations 

around the world and are the “eyes forward” for the responsible OWS.

Special Operations Weather. AF special operations units provide environmental reconnaissance 

in non-permissive and/or hostile areas and transmit them to a Joint Special Operations Task 

Force or next-echelon weather element on an as-required basis. Their tailored weather 

information and knowledge enable planning, command decisions, and execution of SOF 

operations. AF combat weather technicians assigned to SOF units are expected to know and keep 

current on the entire environment in the isolated locations to which their unit deploys.

Air Force Operational Weather Squadron (OWS) areas of responsibility (AORs) overlaid on 

geographic combatant commander AORs. 
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Air Force-Army Weather Support. Weather Airmen aligned with Army units directly support 

the Army G-2 intelligence centers and Army fire-support operations. AF weather personnel 

predict the impact weather will have on Army and joint operations, giving leadership at all levels 

the ability to adjust operational and tactical strategies helping to further mission success. AF 

weather technicians and meteorologists assigned to support Army units are expected to forecast 

the weather anywhere their Army unit deploys. Army-trained weather personnel may parachute 

behind enemy lines and travel with a small platoon of soldiers, providing on-the-scene weather 

information for a variety of missions. 

Weather Specialty Teams. AF weather experts are assigned to weather specialty teams in air and 

space operations centers. This crosscutting team integrates environmental information at key 

decision points of air and space operations planning, execution, and assessment. Armed with this 

information, decision makers can balance operational risks against mission need to optimize 

timing, tactics, target and weapons selection, and other factors affecting air and space operations. 

Air Force Operational Climatology. The 2 WXG’s 14th Weather Squadron (14 WS), at 

Asheville, North Carolina, is co-located with the National Climatic Data Center, one of the 

environmental data centers under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 

(NOAA’s) National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS). The 

mission of 14 WS is to support DoD climatological requirements for engineering, planning, and 

operations to maximize effectiveness and efficiency of military operations. For more information 

on the 14th Weather Squadron and the National Climatic Data Center, see the Climate Services 

section of this Federal Plan. 

Space Weather Operations. AF weather personnel within 2 WXG provide space weather 

analyses, forecasts, and alert notification for all DoD agencies and U.S. Government systems. 

With observatories in Australia, Italy, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Hawaii, AF weather 

technicians maintain a continuous observational watch on the sun, which emits electromagnetic 

energy and electrically charged particles capable of causing disturbances in the near-Earth 

environment and disrupting satellite operations and satellite-based communications. The mission 

of the AF solar observatories is to monitor solar flares, noise storms, and other releases of energy 

from the sun and, when necessary, notify military and civilian organizations concerned with 

space weather, power, and communications in countries throughout the world. For further 

discussion of the complementary roles of AF space weather operations and the National Weather 

Service’s (NWS) Space Weather Prediction Center, see the section on Space Weather Services. 

USAF Reserve Component. The Reserve Component includes weather Airmen in both the Air 

Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and the Air National Guard (ANG). The AF continues to 

integrate these forces to more closely align with active duty force operations. AFRC weather 

personnel augment the active duty force at all three tiers. In some cases, the AFRC provides very 

unique weather-related services not duplicated in the active duty force, such as AFRC’s 53rd 

Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (53 WRS) (see “AFRC Hurricane Hunters,” below). 

To augment OWS operations, AFRC organized two operational weather flights, each staffed by 

AFRC weather personnel, capable of augmenting an OWS either in the CONUS or overseas. 

Additional AFR weather personnel serve as individual mobilization augmentees assigned to 

various active AF organizations at all echelons, typically in staff, forecasting, or scientific roles. 
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Weather traditional reservists at one location work with an AFRC Remotely Piloted Aircraft 

(RPA) unit. There are also AFR weather personnel in Air Reserve Technician positions, i.e., 

combined full-time Civil Service/AFR military positions, employed by HQ AFRC as a staff 

weather officer and by the 53rd WRS as aerial reconnaissance weather officers. Lastly, AFRC 

civil service and contract weather personnel provide weather services at AFRC-operated bases in 

the CONUS. 

The ANG traditional program consists of 23 numbered weather flights, ranging in size from 13 

to 25 personnel, who meet monthly to train for their military mission. These flights provide 

weather support to ANG and Army National Guard units. Air Combat Command (ACC)-gained 

ANG wings also have up to four traditional weather positions to provide weather operations for 

each wing’s flying mission. In addition, there are traditional weather positions in two ANG 

Special Tactics Squadrons (AF Special Operations Command), and four ANG RPA units (e.g., 

Predator). The ANG also has seven contract and four civil service locations where it is 

responsible for providing peacetime weather support to airfield operations. 

Air Force Products and Services 

Satellite Services. The AF operates a satellite data processing center, ingesting and storing 

worldwide meteorological satellite (METSAT) data. The Defense Meteorological Satellite 

Program (DMSP), which provides cloud, upper air, and space environmental data, is a vital 

source of global weather data used to support military operations and has been collecting weather 

data for U.S. military operations for more than 5 decades. Onboard sensors provide AF weather 

organizations with visible, infrared, and microwave imagery, plus temperature and moisture 

sounding data. The DMSP also supplies direct, real-time readouts of regional imagery and 

mission-sensor data to DoD land-based and shipboard terminals located worldwide. 

There are two primary operational DMSP satellites in polar orbit at about 450 nautical miles 

(nominal) at all times. The primary weather sensor on DMSP is the Operational Linescan 

System, which provides continuous visual and infrared imagery of cloud cover over an area 

1,600 nautical miles wide. Worldwide coverage of weather features is accomplished every 12 

hours providing essential data over data-sparse or data-denied areas. Additional satellite sensors 

measure atmospheric vertical profiles of moisture and temperature. Military weather personnel 

can detect developing patterns of weather and track existing weather systems over remote areas, 

including the presence of severe thunderstorms, hurricanes, and typhoons. 

In addition to DMSP polar-orbiting data, the AF receives stored data from NOAA’s Polarorbiting Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) constellation and real-time high-resolution 

data from NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) East and West; 

European METSAT (EUMETSAT) -7, -8, and -9 geostationary satellites, and Meteorological 

Operational Polar (METOP) orbiters; as well as the Japanese Multifunctional Transport Satellite 

(MTSAT). The AF also currently receives data from the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration’s (NASA’s) Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), 

Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), and Aqua Advanced Microwave Scanning 

Radiometer-E (AMSR-E); NOAA’s Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC); and 

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). 
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Space Launch Support. AF meteorological support for space launches is discussed in the Other 

Specialized Services section of this plan. 

Air and Space Natural Environment Modeling and Simulation. The Air Force Director of 

Weather carries out the DoD Air and Space Natural Environment Modeling and Simulation 

Executive Agent (ASNE MSEA) responsibilities of managing, coordinating, and implementing 

all aspects of modeling and simulation, relating to the Air and Space Natural Environment 

domain to include, but not limited to, planning, programming, monitoring, and reporting across 

all DoD Components in accordance with the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, 

Technology, and Logistics memorandum to the Secretary of the Air Force designating the 

Department of the Air Force as the MSEA for air and space natural environment representations. 

The DoD ASNE MSEA ensures DoD communities that use simulations for their training, 

acquisition, testing, planning, experimentation, and analysis have the right tools, infrastructure, 

and databases necessary to represent the air and space natural environment and its effects. More 

information is available in the Climate Services section of this Federal Plan. 

AFRC Hurricane Hunters. The AFRC’s 53 WRS, also 

known as the “Hurricane Hunters,” provides another 

means of collecting vital meteorological data, especially 

in and around tropical cyclones. Their specially 

equipped WC-130J aircraft collect temperature, 

moisture, wind, pressure, and visually observed 

information at the aircraft location as well as vertical 

profiles of the atmosphere collected by dropsondes. 

Hurricane Hunter aircraft penetrate the eyes of tropical 

cyclones to provide the National Hurricane Center very 

accurate center fix locations as well as other 

meteorological parameters, including sea level pressure. 

In addition to tropical cyclone reconnaissance, the 53 

WRS collects meteorological information to improve 

wintertime West Coast forecasts and to support 

scientific field programs when possible. 

Air Force Aviation Weather Support. The three 1st 

Weather Group (1 WXG) CONUS OWSs and the US 

Air Forces in Europe, Pacific AFs and AF Central Command aligned OWSs all perform 

“reachback” weather operations, providing a variety of weather forecast products and support to 

units assigned to and/or deployed into their respective areas of responsibility (AORs). 

Operational support to the AF, Army, Navy, Marine, Guard, Reserve and regional Combatant 

Commanders includes graphical analyses, aviation terminal aerodrome forecasts, severe weather 

watches/warnings and advisories, and mission execution forecasts, such as aviation hazards and 

en route and target forecasts. Additionally, the OWSs provide flight weather briefings to 

aircrews, operating within their AOR without home station support or as requested by base or 

post-level weather forces. 

The 15th OWS, located at Scott AFB, IL, provides short-term backup services for the National 

Weather Services’ Storm Prediction Center (SPC) and Aviation Weather Center (AWC). In the 

The sun tries to break through the 

thick clouds surrounding the WC130J aircraft as it penetrates Tropical 

Storm Lee on Sept. 2, 2011. The 

53rd Weather Reconnaissance 

Squadron “Hurricane Hunters,” were 

gathering atmospheric data to relay 

to the National Hurricane Center for 

their forecast models. (U.S. Air Force 

photo by Staff Sgt. Valerie Smock)
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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event of an extended or catastrophic outage at either SPC or AWC, essential staff would relocate 

to the AFWA facility at Offutt AFB, NE, where system and communications infrastructure exists 

to support relocation backup of these critical national missions. 

At AF bases and Army posts, AF weather personnel focus on their supported unit’s mission 

requirements. These units provide and disseminate observations and develop tailored mission 

execution forecasts based on centrally-produced guidance. For AF operations, these weather 

professionals are normally assigned to a flight under an operations support squadron of an AF 

flying wing; however, individuals from the weather flight are integrated into flying squadron 

mission planning and execution processes. 

For Army operations, the AF weather personnel are normally aligned with Army units down to 

the brigade level. The weather Airmen are integrated into all aspects of Army operations. In this 

capacity, weather forces supporting AF and Army aviation operations infuse critical weather 

information at key points in the decision cycle to help aircrews maximize wartime capabilities, 

enhance flight safety, and optimize training effectiveness. 

Volcanic Ash Surveillance and Analysis. One of the roles of the 2nd Weather Group is to 

provide volcanic ash surveillance and analysis for DoD aviation operations worldwide. Analysts 

continuously monitor all active volcanoes, generating more than 3,500 bulletins per year. 

Tailored satellite imagery, graphical ash plume forecasts, and text bulletins provide vital 

information needed to mitigate airborne volcanic ash as a threat to flight safety. The 2nd Weather 

Group also provides critical backup for NOAA’s Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center. 

Education and Training. AF officers newly accessed into the weather career field are university 

graduates with degrees in meteorology/atmospheric science. Some AF weather officers currently 

serving hold undergraduate degrees in other disciplines, but possess extensive technical training 

and operational weather experience. Further, the AF sends approximately ten officers per year to 

obtain advanced degrees, both M.S. and Ph.D., through the AF Institute of Technology. These 

advanced degrees include specialties in meteorology as well as solar and space science. New 

enlisted weather personnel attend the rigorous nine-month Weather Initial Skills Course at 

Keeler AFB, MS. At their first weather duty assignment, they gain a combination of operational 

experience and further skill upgrade training in accordance with the enlisted weather career field 

education and training plan. Continuation training programs for both officer and enlisted 

personnel ensure continuous learning appropriate to the supported mission and location. 

Air Force Aviation Weather Products and Services 

NextGen Development. The AF weather function continues active collaboration with the Next 

Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) program, which is described more fully in the 

Aviation Weather Services section of this Federal Plan. Experiences gained through 

implementation of DoD’s Joint METOC Data Base, AF Weather Web Services (AFW-WEBS), 

and machine-to-machine data services used by the Air Force’s primary automated mission 

planning systems are providing valuable lessons learned for NextGen’s development. Air Force 

Weather Ensemble Prediction System (AFWEPS) is also providing valuable path-finding insight 

into the utility and delivery of probabilistic aviation impacts that is a requirement for NextGen. 
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Weather System Upgrades. In FY 2015, the AF will continue to upgrade weather systems and 

processes that support AF and Army aviation. Continued refinements of the Joint Environmental 

Toolkit along with upgraded surface weather sensors will produce more accurate and timely 

weather observation and forecast products. 

U.S. Army 

USA Weather Support Structure 

Weather support within the Army is conducted by Air Force personnel and equipment in 

accordance with a United States Army (USA)–United States Air Force (USAF) agreement: 

Army Regulation [AR] 115-10/Air Force Instruction [AFI] 15-157 (IP), Weather Support for the 

U.S. Army, 6 January 2010. This inter-Service regulation describes the responsibilities of USAF 

and USA for providing weather support. Under this agreement, the USAF provides the Army 

with the necessary labor and unique tactical and fixed weather equipment to meet Army tactical, 

installation, and airfield support requirements for both Active and Reserve Components. The 

USAF assigns weather personnel to provide direct and indirect weather support to the Army 

Commands, Army Service Component Commands, and installations. The Army provides 

assigned Air Force personnel the equipment necessary to perform their Army support mission in 

the tactical environment. The Army also provides facilities and host services to Air Force 

personnel assigned to Army installations. Each Service provides this support on a nonreimbursable basis. 

Air Force Weather personnel provide installation, garrison, and tactical weather support on a 

daily basis to U.S. Army Forces Command, U.S. Army Europe, U.S. Army Pacific, U.S. Army 

Special Operations Command, Eighth U.S. Army, and the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine 

Command (TRADOC). The Army provides operational weather support to Army research, 

development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) ranges, centers, and other research facilities using 

the Army Test and Evaluation Command’s meteorological teams. U.S. Army Space and Missile 

Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command (SMDC/ARSTRAT) provides weather 

support to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll through a 

Meteorological Environmental Test Support contractor. 

 Headquarters, Department of the Army, Army Commands, and Army Service 

Component Commands 

Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA) The Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2, 

employs two civilian meteorologists whose primary duties are to establish weather policy within 

the Army, coordinate on AF weather policy issues with the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for 

Operations and Requirements (HQ USAF/A3), submit validated Army weather requirements 

and priorities to the HQ USAF/A3, coordinate with the AF on Army-AF and Joint Service 

weather operational concepts and doctrine, serve as the Army staff lead for meteorological 

satellite capabilities and issues, and review and coordinate Army-related support issues with the 

Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the Department of the AF, other Services, 

HQDA staffs, Army Commands, Direct Reporting Units, Army Service Component Commands, 

and other Federal Agencies. FY 2015 activities will focus on meteorological satellite activities 

and collaboration of meteorological activities within the Army. 
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The Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7 (DCS, G-3/5/7), validates and prioritizes 

weather support requirements and programs to meet Army requirements, sets priorities for 

weather support for Army training and contingencies, coordinates with the HQ USAF on Army 

weather program and resource issues, Army Guard and Reserve weather issues, and Army 

installation weather support requirements. 

Project Manager Distributed Common Ground System – Army (PM DCGS-A) is the materiel 

developer of weather capability in the Army and reports to the Program Executive Office 

Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (PEO IEWS) and Assistant Secretary of the Army 

for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)). In addition to developing, integrating, 

testing, and fielding capability, PM DCGS-A also leverages Air Force weather capability in 

support of Army operations. 

Training and Doctrine Command. Headquarters, TRADOC is responsible for leading the USA 

in development of and validating requirements for USA-USAF inter-Service weather operations, 

services concepts, and doctrine required in support of Army operations. TRADOC develops and 

manages USA weather training programs, documents standard USA equipment for use by Air 

Force weather personnel in the Table of Organization and Equipment (TOE), and recommends 

modifications to the TOE and Common Table of Allowances to DCS, G-3/5/7, for approval as 

required. TRADOC’s Army Weather Proponent Office (AWPO) processes tactical Army 

weather support requirements, represents the Army’s warfighting functions by determining 

needed weather capabilities and processing weather requirements found in Joint and USA 

conceptual documents and originating from TRADOC centers and schools. 

Key mission areas for the next few years: (1) assist the USAF with development and 

implementation of new weather support concepts to meet the needs of the USA’s evolving force 

structure; (2) update weather support doctrine, policy, organization, concepts, along with tactics, 

techniques, and procedures; (3) ensure weather lessons learned and after action concerns with AF 

weather support to USA operations are documented and communicated to Army and Air Force 

leadership; and (4) ensure USA weather support processes and procedures are trained across the 

TRADOC schools and centers. These mission areas are accomplished in coordination with the 

USAF Staff Weather Officers and USA and USAF civilians assigned within TRADOC. 

U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence. The U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence 

(USAICoE) is the functional proponent for USA tactical weather support. As such, TRADOC’s 

AWPO represents the USA Warfighter by processing weather support requirements and 

developing solutions to satisfy those requirements when they are the responsibility of the USA. 

The AWPO collects and processes weather requirements from TRADOC schools/centers, USA 

Medical Command, and USA Corps of Engineers (USACE). It collaborates with HQDA and 

Headquarters, USAF, to recommend solutions to satisfy those requirements by processing 

tactical USA weather support requirements through the Joint Capabilities Integration and 

Development System (JCIDS) process. The AWPO employs one Department of the Army 

Civilian (DAC) to lead these weather requirement efforts. This DAC oversees the AWPO efforts 

with the JCIDS process, and in all doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership, 

education, personnel, and facilities (DOTMLPF) work. This JCIDS and DOTMLPF work occurs 

within USAICoE and in conjunction with other USA Centers of Excellence and Army research 

and experimentation organizations. 
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U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence (USAACE). USAACE provides 10 courses in the 

aviation training curriculum that contain weather training for aviators and unmanned aircraft 

systems operators. USAACE is in the process of acquiring excess automated surface observing 

systems from the Air Force to enhance flight safety at several training airfields. 

Artillery Meteorological Education and Training. The U.S. Army Field Artillery School, Fort 

Sill, Oklahoma, is the proponent for upper air meteorological support to the Army and home of 

the Field Artillery Meteorology Course. The AN/TMQ-52A/B MMS-P is a suite of 

meteorological sensors and associated software/models which will provide the field artillery with 

current and/or expected weather conditions at a point where the weapon munitions is expected to 

engage a target (Target Area Met). U.S. Army Field Artillery School: The Military Occupational 

Specialty (MOS) 13T Field Artillery Survey/Meteorological Crewmember Course is no longer 

being instructed by the 13T. Field Artillery Meteorological training has been relegated into 13D 

MOS, which is Field Artillery Automated Tactical Data System Specialist. The 13D have been 

fielded Computer Meteorological Data- Profiler (CMD-P) that replaced the AN/TMQ-52 

Meteorological Measuring Set – Profiler (MMS-P) system. 

The CMD-P (AN/GMK-2) is a weather measurement system developed to provide 

meteorological (MET) data to support artillery and target acquisition units. The AN/TSR-8 

Global Broadcast Service (GBS) Satellite Receiver Suite receives polar orbiter MET data & 

communications satellite data units. Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System 

(NOGAPS) initialization data is acquired via a GBS satellite link. CMD-P provides MET data 

messages covering up to 500 km. The profiler’s technology migration from the MMS-P to the 

CMD-P platform reduces the logistics footprint to a portable computer configuration that is 

located in the Tactical Operations Center (TOC). The CMD-P interfaces with the Advanced 

Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) via a Local Area Network (LAN) connection 

and is operated by the AFATDS Operator 13D. The system will no longer require the Global 

Broadcast Service (GBS) receiver suite as part of the profiler system but will rely on the GBS 

connection from the TOC LAN (Meteorological data is downloaded on Compact Disc via 

internet from the Air Force Weather Agency). The system software will be capable of providing 

Field Artillery Computer MET and Gridded MET messages on demand with or without an 

operator in-the-loop. 

U. S. Army North (USARNORTH). USARNORTH employs one civilian meteorologist as an 

advisor to the Commander, USARNORTH, on all issues involving meteorology, oceanography, 

and space weather. This individual applies meteorological and oceanographic policies and 

objectives to cover all USARNORTH mission requirements, and coordinates on USARNORTH 

exercise and contingency plans. 

U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC). ATEC is responsible for providing 

operational meteorological support to USA RDT&E. Under responsibilities established in AR 

115-10/ AFI 15-157 (IP), ATEC meteorological units provide meteorological data collection and 

analysis, consultation, and weather forecast and warning services to support USA and other DoD 

RDT&E activities at eight USA installations. The Meteorology Division at Dugway Proving 

Ground's West Desert Test Center provides meteorological support to USA RDT&E. Specialized 

services provided by the division include: (1) technical assistance to the ATEC operational 

meteorological teams/branches; (2) system administration support to the 4DWX system 
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components and network connections at each ATEC test center; (3) atmospheric model 

verification and validation, including algorithm evaluation and the generation of validation data 

sets; and (4) technical assistance to the DoD chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and 

explosive (CBRNE) defense modeling community in the development of new CBRNE hazard 

assessment models. Division employees also serve on various national and international 

committees, addressing issues related to meteorological measurements, atmospheric dispersion 

modeling, CBRNE hazard assessment, and air quality. 

U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command Support to 

the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site. A subcommand of SMDC/ARSTRAT 

provides operational support to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, including 

support for range activities (local and remote missile launches), missile weapons readiness 

testing, aviation and marine operations, and emergency operations. For further description of this 

support service, see the Other Specialized Services section of this federal plan. 

U.S. Army Products and Services 

U.S. Army Artillery. The Profiler Block III provides highly accurate meteorological data to the 

Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems (AFATDS) to adjust artillery fire. The system 

supports battalion and brigade Field Artillery units. The Profiler Block III is connected to the 

Tactical Operations Center local area network and provides the Advanced Field Artillery 

Tactical Data Systems (AFATDS) with the meteorological requirement for achieving first round 

hits and fires for effect. The Profiler Block III uses weather data obtained from the Air Force 

Weather Agency (AFWA) combined with weather modeling software. It provides 

meteorological data on demand with or without an operator in-the-loop to the AFATDS. A 

virtual module product improvement is currently under development and will be available in 

FY15 with an upgraded weather model and the software is changing to be Common Operating 

Environment compliant. 

Distributed Common Ground System–Army (DCGS-A). Weather Services. DCGS-A weather 

services enables the Staff Weather Officer and intelligence operators to integrate weather effects 

in Intelligence Preparation of The Battlefield, Military Decision Making Processes, and Mission 

Command. DCGS-A exploits AF weather capabilities, employs Ozone Widget technology, and 

Data Distribution Service to distribute weather information to users throughout the enterprise. 

U.S. Navy 

Operational Organizations 

Oceanographer of the Navy. Naval Oceanography encompasses Meteorology and 

Oceanography (METOC), Geospatial Information andServices (GI&S), and Precise Time and 

Astrometry (PTA) under the sponsorship of the Chief of Naval Operations. The 

Oceanographer of the Navy (OPNAV N2/N6E) is the Chief of Naval Operations’ (CNO) 

principal advisor and the Oceanographer of the Navy (N2/N6E) implements the CNO 

responsibilities for Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC), Maritime Domain Awareness, 

Navy Space, Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT), and performs functions relating to 

external interfaces with national and international operational and research and development 
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oceanographic organizations and activities. 

 As the Oceanographer and Navigator of the Navy, N2N6E serves as 

the focal point for matters related to the Naval Oceanography 

enterprise (NOe) and other marine science fields. The Oceanographer 

and his staff work closely with U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Pacific 

Command (USPACOM), and the Office of Naval Research to ensure 

the proper resources are available to meet mission requirements. As 

the functional manager for GI&S, he works within the National System 

for Geospatial-Intelligence (NSG) and liaises with the National 

Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), National Reconnaissance 

Office (NRO), and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). He 

acts as Naval Deputy to the NOAA Administrator and represents the 

Naval Oceanography Program in interagency and international forums, 

including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the 

World Meteorological Organization (WMO). 

The Navigator of the Navy provides for the standardization of 

METOC, maritime geospatial information, astrometric and precisetime models, databases, and environmental predictive techniques. He 

coordinates NOe, Navigation Operations for Policy, architectures with Navy and DoD science 

and technology and RDT&E, along with related efforts in civilian agencies and develops means 

for transition from research to operational applications. This integrated approach provides the 

Fleet with critical 

information about the 

physical environment 

and its impacts on 

platforms, sensors, 

weapons, and personnel. 

Naval Meteorology and 

Oceanography support 

is integral to Navy, 

Marine Corps, and Joint 

Force capabilities to 

deter or win regional 

conflicts or major wars 

and conduct peacetime 

operations, including 

Humanitarian 

Assistance and Disaster 

Relief (HA/DR). 

This year CNO 

approved the 

establishment of the 

Navy Information 

Dominance Forces 

Organization of the Deputy, Chief of Naval Operations (DCNO) for 

Information Dominance (OPNAV N2N6) showing placement of the 

Oceanographer and Navigator of the Navy, as the Director, Oceanography, 

Space, and Maritime Awareness, and PNT. 

Rear Admiral Jonathan 

W. White (OPNAV 

N2N6E) Oceanographer 

and Navigator of the 

Navy; Official U.S. Navy 

Photograph 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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Command (NAVIDFOR), the Navy’s newest TYCOM. NAVIDFOR will incorporate the 

current Navy Cyber Forces Command and integrate the TYCOM-like functions performed by 

OPNAV N2/N6, FCC/C10F, the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) and the Navy Meteorology 

and Oceanographic Command (NMOC). With this integrated man, train and equip (MT&E) 

portfolio, NAVIDFOR will coordinate closely with the platform TYCOMs to deliver enhanced 

Information Dominance capability and readiness to the fleet. 

Task Force Climate Change. The Oceanographer of the Navy serves as Director of TFCC and 

develops comprehensive approaches regarding the Arctic and global climate change to guide 

future Navy public, policy, and strategy discussions. A new National Strategy for the Arctic 

Region was signed 10 May 2013, reflecting growing recognition that the Arctic is opening up for 

human enterprise and will increasingly become a strategic priority for the United States. 

The U.S. Navy Arctic Roadmap was updated in February 2014 prepares the U.S. Navy to 

respond effectively to future contingencies, delineates the U.S. Navy’s Arctic Region leadership 

role within the Defense Department, and articulates the Navy’s support to national priorities. 

The Arctic and climate change Roadmaps provide all encompassing, chronological, sciencebased guidance for future Navy action from 2014 through 2030. 

Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. The Naval Meteorology and Oceanography 

Command (COMNAVMETOCCOM) is responsible for the Command and management of the 

Naval Oceanography Program (NOP) utilizing meteorology and oceanography, GI&S, 

and precise time and astrometry, to leverage the environment to enable successful strategic, 

tactical and operational battle space utilization across the continuum of campaigning and at all 

levels of war: strategic, operational and tactical. COMNAVMETOCCOM will retain 

administrative control (ADCON) over the METOC fourth echelon commands, reporting to the 

Information Dominance Typer Command (IDFOR), and serving as the operational arm of the 

NOe. COMNAVMETOCCOM's assets are globally distributed at shore facilities in fleet 

concentration areas. 

Two central METOC Production Centers are located in the U.S. and operate through the Naval 

Oceanography Operations Command (NAVOCEANOPSCOM) at the Stennis Space Center 

(SSC) in Mississippi. As the Navy’s physical science team, Naval METOC personnel (Navy and 

Marine Corps) are highly educated sailors, marines, and civilians that measure and collect 

meteorological, oceanographic, hydrographic and other data relevant to the physical battlespace. 

They use the data to analyze and determine current conditions, forecast the future state, and 

provide mission-focused impacts that enable commanders to make well-informed operational 

decisions across the entire spectrum of warfare. Operational oceanography operates along eight 

distinct lines of operations: maritime operations, aviation operations, fleet operations, navigation, 

precise time and astrometry, expeditionary warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and mine warfare. 

Maritime operations enable the safe operation of ships and submarines at sea through 

individualized forecasts, monitoring of their movement relative to hazardous weather, and 

alternate route advisories as warranted. Aviation operations are similar, but focus on the safe

navigation of aircraft. Fleet operations represent our oceanography forces deployed on aircraft 

carriers, amphibious assault ships, independent deployers and task forces. METOC and 

Navigation services enable safety of surface and subsurface operations and support the Global 
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Positioning System, networks, communications, and space-based systems. Expeditionary warfare 

(amphibious warfare, riverine warfare and special operations), antisubmarine warfare, and mine 

warfare (offensive mining and defensive countermeasures and clearance), as their names imply, 

support their respective warfare areas via a mixture of forward-deployed and reach-back 

capabilities required to provide intelligence preparation of the operational environment (IPOE). 

COMNAVMETOCCOM is focused on providing critical environmental knowledge to the war 

fighting disciplines of Anti-Submarine Warfare; Naval Special Warfare; Mine Warfare; 

Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance; and Fleet Operations (Strike and Expeditionary), 

as well as to the support areas of Maritime Operations, Aviation Operations, Navigation, Precise 

Time, and Astrometry. Major activities and additional subordinates within the command include 

the following: 

• NAVOCEANOPSCOM, Stennis Space Center, MS 

• Fleet Weather Center Norfolk and Fleet Weather Center San Diego with subordinate 

units and detachments 

• Naval Special Warfare Oceanography Center in San Diego, CA, (with components and 

detachments in Stuttgart, Germany, Norfolk, and Pearl Harbor) 

• Naval Oceanography Anti-Submarine Warfare Centers in Yokosuka, Japan, and Stennis 

Space Center, MS (with subordinate detachments) 

• Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO), Stennis Space Center, MS 

• Fleet Survey Team, Stennis Space Center, MS 

• Naval Ice Center, Suitland, MD 

• Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC), Monterey, CA 

• USNO, Washington, DC

Organization of Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command within the U.S. 

Fleet Forces Command structure 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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• Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Professional Development Center, Gulfport, MS, 

with detachments in Norfolk, VA; San Diego, CA; Pearl Harbor, HI; and Yokosuka, 

Japan

Naval Oceanography Operations Command. NAVOCEANOPSCOM is an echelon four 

METOC command that coordinates and manages efforts among field activities under the 

Operational Oceanography enterprise to optimize warfighting resources, support safe operations, 

and enhance decision superiority within the battlespace through superior understanding and 

exploitation of the environment. The Command encompasses warfighting and enabling 

directorates for: Aviation Operations, Maritime Operations, Fleet Operations, Precise Time and 

Astronomy, Navigation, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), Mine Warfare, 

Naval Special Warfare, and Anti-Submarine Warfare. Each directorate determines how that 

directorate’s services are delivered globally. Each directorate reports to a single Navy Captain 

who functions as Naval Oceanography’s Director of Operational Oceanography (DOO). The 

operations support portion of USN/USMC budget funds the day-to-day environmental support to 

the Department of Defense, the Active and Reserve Components of the Navy and Marine Corps, 

ten unified commands, and other agencies as directed by the Chief of Naval Operations. Over 

1,228 military and civilian personnel conduct these activities at more than 22 locations 

worldwide. 

Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center. FNMOC, is an echelon four activity 

reporting to CNMOC, is the NOe production center for meteorology. This center plays a 

significant role in the national capability for operational weather and ocean prediction by 

implementing, operating, maintaining, and improving Numerical Weather Production (NWP) 

systems, including global and regional METOC models that extend from the top of the 

atmosphere to the bottom of the ocean. Since the end of the Navy’s Geosat Follow-On (GFO) 

satellite, the military has been reliant on the Ocean Surface Topography Mission for radar 

altimetry, a unique source for atmospheric, oceanographic, and geodetic data. Navy is working 

with NOAA to find partnership opportunities through the JASON radar altimetry program. 

Through close collaboration with NAVOCEANO, FNMOC is also a key component in the 

Navy’s operational weather and ocean prediction program. Naval operational oceanography is 

the key contributor to providing the predictive, physical maritime battlespace awareness 

capability. In the future, vital information from both intelligence and oceanography professionals 

will be fused into the same common operational picture afloat, providing a view of the 

battlespace we can only imagine today, ensuring better and faster warfighting decisions. 

Naval Oceanographic Office. NAVOCEANO is the NOe’s production center for oceanography. 

Since atmospheric conditions are inherently coupled to oceanographic conditions, the Navy’s 

program in meteorology is closely linked with oceanography, which is the focus of the 

NAVOCEANO, Stennis Space Center, Mississippi. NAVOCEANO’s primary responsibilities 

include the collection, processing, and distribution of oceanographic, hydrographic, and other 

geophysical data and products. NAVOCEANO is responsible for the administration of a fleet of 

ocean-class hydrographic survey vessels and data from both aviation assets and spacecraft 

NAVOCEANO is headquartered at the Stennis Space Center, which is home to the Navy 

Department of Defense Supercomputing Resource Center that Navy, Army, and Air Force 

scientists and researchers use to design tools and weapons systems that support the Department 
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of Defense’s global mission. The Navy DSRC is a premier provider of high performance 

computing services and support to DoD scientists and engineers. It is one of five supercomputing 

centers established under the DoD High Performance Computing Modernization Program 

(HPCMP). CNMOC maintains oversight of the Navy DSRC systems that have been operational 

since 1997.The Navy DSRC provides a high performance computing capability with primary 

emphasis on support of the largest, most computationally-intensive HPC applications. Our center 

leads the way for numerous HPCMP-wide initiatives and provides our users with in-depth 

computational expertise and support. While the HPCMP is primarily focused on DoD research 

and development programs, the Navy DSRC is unique in that approximately 15 percent of its 

total capability is apportioned for operational use by naval operational oceanography. Today, the 

Navy DSRC enables, on a daily basis, operational, global, regional, and port scale ocean 

circulation, as well as wave and sea ice forecast numerical models supporting worldwide Navy 

and DoD operations. Navy DSRC’s total computational capacity affords us computational space 

to not only improve our ocean models, but to bring online world-class atmospheric models 

within the DSRC and begin to more tightly couple ocean and atmospheric physics and energy 

exchange to provide a more accurate, longer range future state of the atmosphere. 

United States Naval Observatory. The U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, DC maintains 

precise time and makes it available to DoD users. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the DoD 

standard and the primary time reference for GPS and other military applications. Naval 

Observatory’s (USNO) Master Clock (MC) is a reference for the internet’s Network Time 

Protocol (an Internet standard that facilitates the transfer of digital data). USNO’s mission 

includes determining the positions and motions of the earth, sun, moon, planets, stars, and other 

celestial objects; providing astronomical data; determining precise time; measuring the earth’s 

rotation; and maintaining the Master Clock for the United States. USNO astronomers make 

celestial observations, 

construct the Celestial 

Reference Frame (CRF), 

distribute star catalogs, 

formulate theories, and 

conduct relevant research. 

NOAA Geostationary 

Operational Environmental 

Satellite (GOES) and Polarorbiting Operational 

Environmental Satellite 

(POES) constellations of 

weather satellites, utilize the 

precise positions of stars to 

calibrate optical effects in the 

focal plane of their satellite 

imaging systems, applying 

corrections to subsequent 

images of the earth’s weather 

systems. 

Left to right: Dr. Chris Ekstrom, Chief, USNO Clock Development 

Division, Dr. Steven Peil, USNO Research Physicist, Dr. Bobby 

Junker, ONR, and Dr. Bill Phillips, NIST/UMD (winner of Nobel 

Prize in physics in 1997 for laser trapping and cooling of atoms). 

Official U.S. Navy photograph 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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Navy Products and Services 

Maritime Weather Operations. The Fleet Weather Center in Norfolk, VA supports operations 

for Commander Second Fleet (North Atlantic); Commander, Fourth Fleet (Caribbean Sea and 

South Atlantic); Commander, Sixth Fleet (Mediterranean Sea), and Arctic Region operations. 

The Fleet Weather Center in San Diego, CA supports operations for the Commander, Third Fleet 

(East Pacific); Commander, Fifth Fleet (Arabian Sea and Suez Canal); Commander, Seventh 

Fleet (West and Central Pacific) areas of responsibilities. 

 

Navy meteorologists and forecasters provide Optimum Track Ship Routing (OTSR) and weather 

forecasts to support transoceanic voyages and coastal operations. OTSR services include:

• Hazardous ocean and weather advisories and divert recommendations to ship 

Commanding Officers and Masters at sea 

• Sortie recommendations for potentially damaging weather conditions in port 

• Preliminary climatologic outlooks for transit and mission planning 

• Routine ship weather forecasts and aviation weather forecasts for ship-based helicopters, 

to include high wind and seas warnings and local area warnings for Fleet Concentration

Areas 

Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). The JTWC, established by the U.S. Pacific Command, 

is jointly manned with U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force personnel. JTWC services include tropical 

cyclone forecasts, warnings, and other products for DoD Warfighters operating in the Pacific and 

Indian Oceans. JTWC, located in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is an internationally recognized tropical 

cyclone forecasting center. 

FNMOC Numerical Weather Prediction Systems. FNMOC satisfies the military’s requirement 

for an operational global Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) capability. This requirement is 

driven by the importance of weather and ocean conditions on modern military operations, the 

need to use classified weather observations to guarantee the very best weather and ocean 

predictions in theaters of conflict, and the imperative to produce and disseminate weather and 

ocean products to military decision makers without fear of interruption or compromise as a result 

of cyber terrorists or cyber warfare. FNMOC employs four primary models—the Navy Global 

Environmental Model (NAVGEM), the Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction 

System (COAMPS), the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Navy (GFDN) model, and the Wave 

Watch III model (WW3)—along with a number of specialized models and related applications. 

• NAVGEM is an improvement to the former Navy Operational Global Atmospheric 

System (NOGAPS) that drives nearly all other FNMOC models and applications in some 

fashion, and forms the basis for the FNMOC global Ensemble Forecast System. 

• COAMPS is a high-resolution, non-hydrostatic regional model, multiply nested within 

NAVGEM. It has proven to be particularly valuable for forecasting weather and ocean 

conditions in highly complex coastal areas. 
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• GFDN is a moving-nest tropical cyclone model, nested within NAVGEM. It is used to 

forecast tropical cyclone tracks globally. 

• WW3 is a spectral ocean wave model that is employed both globally (driven by 

NAVGEM) and regionally (driven by COAMPS) in support of a wide variety of naval 

operations. 

FNMOC Products and Services. FNMOC’s complex and robust operational prediction 

capability is designed to deliver detailed forecasts of wind stresses and heat fluxes to drive very 

high-resolution ocean models that provide ocean thermal structure and currents in support of 

anti-submarine and mine warfare operations, or near-shore wind, sea, and surf forecasts that 

directly support Fleet Operations through ship-to-objective maneuver. FNMOC models feed 

directly into applications models, tactical decision aids, and other products that provide direct 

support to various weather-sensitive activities associated with the optimum path aircraft routing, 

optimum track ship routing, issuance of high-winds and high-seas warnings, hurricane/typhoon 

sortie decisions, covert ingress/egress of Special Operations Forces, ballistic missile targeting, 

cruise missile launch and targeting, radar, EO, and FLIR system performance prediction in 

support of ship self-defense, naval gunfire operations, understanding the threats posed by 

airborne nuclear/biological/chemical agents, search-and-rescue at sea, and many other activities. 

Many of FNMOC’s products are distributed to users over the Web via the PC-based METCAST 

system, and subsequently displayed and manipulated on the user’s PC with the Joint METOC 

Viewer (JMV) software. This includes all standard METOC fields, synoptic observations, and 

satellite imagery. FNMOC provides a Web-based capability called WxMap (i.e., “Weather 

Map”). WxMap, requiring only a Web browser for access, allows the user to select and quickly 

display predicted METOC fields for any user-defined geographical area. FNMOC benefits 

greatly from collocation with its supporting R&D activity, the Marine Meteorology Division of 

the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL/MRY). NRL/MRY is a world-class research organization, 

with focus on weather-related support to warfighting. FNMOC and NRL/MRY share space, data, 

software and computer systems, and together with the nearby Naval Postgraduate School 

represent one of the largest concentrations of weather-related intellectual capital in the Nation. 

Collocation and close cooperation between research and operations, such as exists between 

NRL/MRY and FNMOC, is the optimum arrangement for transitioning R&D quickly and cost 

effectively into new and improved operational weather prediction capabilities. 

NAVOCEANO Products and Services. NAVOCEANO is the Navy's center for operational 

oceanographic support and provides daily analyses and forecasts of the ocean state with a series 

of global, regional, and coastal ocean circulation and wave models. The core of the system is the 

dynamic Navy Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM) which predicts three-dimensional ocean 

properties to 96 hours. The 1/8 degree (14km/7.5nm) resolution Global NCOM covers the world 

from pole to pole and is coupled with the Arctic Polar Ice Prediction System, which forecasts ice 

properties for the National Ice Center. Twelve regional NCOMs are on line with 24 planned in 

2014. Nested 1/36 degree (3km/1.7nm) regional NCOM domains of order 20 by 20 degree sizes 

provide high-resolution ocean forecasts in areas of Navy and national interest. Global and 

regional NCOM products and data fields are shared with our NOAA partners. 
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NAVOCEANO runs a series of coastal, estuarine, and river domains with resolutions as fine as 

1/360 degree (300 m, 1000 ft) or less in the support of mine warfare and homeland security 

efforts. When appropriate, coastal NCOMs are supplemented by other models including 

HYDROMAP, DELFT3D, and PCTIDES. The NCOMs are initiated through the assimilation of 

ocean data from satellites (sea surface temperature and altimetry) and various surface and 

subsurface observing systems, including ship data, ARGO profiling floats, and gliders. Global 

NCOM will be replaced by the 1/12-degree resolution Global HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model, 

which was developed under the National Ocean Partnership Program by a consortium of 

government and academic scientists, led by NRL Stennis and including NOAA’s National 

Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). 

NAVOCEANO is the Navy's primary processing facility for a number of polar-orbiting and 

geostationary satellite collection systems, and is nationally recognized for satellite-derived seasurface temperature and satellite altimeter-derived sea surface topography and wave height 

observations. These products are shared with NOAA partners and are critically important to 

successfully running both the NAVOCEANO ocean models and FNMOC's NAVGEM and 

COAMPS atmospheric models. 

U.S. Marine Corps 

Operational Organizations 

CMC, DC/AVN, APX-9. The senior USMC METOC officer is dual-hatted as the METOC 

Services Officer and the METOC Occupational Field Manager. The METOC Services Officer is 

the principal advisor and subject matter expert to the Deputy Commandant, Aviation. The 

Aviation Department mission is to assist and advise the Commandant of the Marine Corps on all 

matters relating to Marine Aviation consistent with Marine Corps requirements. Specific duties 

include, but are not limited to: advise the Commandant of the Marine Corps on aviation safety, 

aviation policies, and Joint matters relating to aviation; provide principal aviation staff interface 

with the Chief of Naval Operations; Joint Capabilities Board; USMC liaison to the National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and the Office of the Federal Coordinator for 

Meteorology. 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces (MARFOR). The MARFOR METOC officer serves as a Special 

Staff for the Commanding General of the MARFORs and resides within the G-2. The primary 

mission of the MARFOR METOC Officer is to advise and assist the MARFOR Commanding 

General in the development of METOC policies and the execution and management of METOC 

resources by planning, coordinating, and validating the collection, evaluation, interpretation, and 

dissemination of METOC data. MARFOR billets include assignment to Marine Forces Pacific 

(MARFORPAC) Camp Smith, HI and Marine Forces Command (MARFORCOM) Norfolk, VA. 

Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF). The primary mission of the MEF METOC Officer is to 

advise and assist the MEF Commanding General in the development of METOC policies and the 

execution and management of METOC resources by planning, coordinating, and validating the 

collection, evaluation, interpretation, and dissemination of METOC data. Other duties include: 

planning for the employment and use of organic METOC assets, equipment, and capabilities; 

preparing METOC annex (Annex H) for OPLANs or OPORDs and providing METOC’s input 
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into the CIS annex (Annex K), the intelligence annex (Annex B), and other annexes, as necessary 

regarding METOC issues. 

Intelligence Battalion (Intel Bn). The Intel Bn provides the largest preponderance of METOC 

personnel outside of the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) and provides direct support to the 

MEF and general support to all other elements of the MAGTF. The secondary mission is to 

provide METOC Support Teams (MSTs) to the Command Element (CE), Ground Combat 

Element (GCE), Logistics Combat Element (LCE), and Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs); 

which are task-organized to support unique mission requirements. 

Marine Division (MARDIV). The MARDIV METOC Chief serves as a Special Staff for the 

Commanding General of the Division and resides within the G-2. The primary mission of the 

Division METOC Chief is to integrate into operational planning. Other duties include: prepare 

and present METOC briefs in support of mission planning and execution; forecast and identify 

environmental factors expected to impact operations; and provide METOC expertise in the areas 

of Doctrine, Organization, Training, Material, Leadership, Personnel, and Facilities on behalf of 

the Commanding General of the Division. 

Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW). The primary mission of the MAW METOC Staff is to integrate 

into operational planning and advise the Commanding General on the capabilities and limitations 

of the METOC personnel and equipment with the MAW. TACC METOC personnel; assist 

subordinate commands in knowledge development for all METOC personnel in the Wing; and 

provide METOC expertise in the areas of Doctrine, Organization, Training, Material, 

Leadership, Personnel, and Facilities on behalf of the Commanding General of the MAW.

Marine Air Control Group (MACG). The primary mission of the MACG METOC Chief is to 

integrate into operational planning and to advise the Commanding Officer on the capabilities and 

limitations of the METOC personnel and equipment within the MACG. Other duties include 

planning and execution of MAGTF operations; analyze and interpret centrally prepared products, 

alphanumeric data, satellite images, and Doppler radar coverage in order to provide forecast 

meteorological conditions, space weather, climatological and astronomical products, and impacts 

assessments. 

Marine Corps Installations Command (MCICOM) 

 Marine Corps Installations East and West (MCI East and MCI West) 

Regional METOC Centers (RMC). The Regional METOC Centers (RMC) are operational 

supporting establishments that are under the cognizance of MCICOM. There are two RMCs; one 

on each coast. RMC West (RMC-W) is located at MCAS Miramar and has a primary mission of 

coordinating METOC support for all MCI West stations and bases thus ensuring adequate 

aviation METOC support for all MCAS, 3rd MAW, and transient aircraft in garrison. RMC East 

(RMC-E) is located at MCAS Cherry Point and has the primary mission of coordinating METOC 

support for MCI East stations and bases thus ensuring adequate aviation METOC support for all 

MCAS, 2nd MAW, and transient aircraft in garrison. 
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Other CONUS Marine Corps Bases and Air Stations. Marine Corps Bases and Air Stations 

require continuous METOC support for force protection and flight operations. Although CONUS 

Marine METOC services have been regionalized with the establishment of the RMCs, each 

Station still maintains a small contingency of METOC personnel to provide on-site local area 

environmental expertise. 

CMC, DC/CD&I, IID. The Combat Development Directorate (CDD) METOC officer serves to 

integrate, across battlespace functional areas, METOC requirements with regards to ISR near, 

mid, and far-term requirements for the support of MAGTF, Joint, and Combined operations. 

Other duties include: ensure that Doctrine, Organization, Training, Material, Leadership, 

Personnel, and Facilities solutions represent a thorough analysis of capabilities needed to provide 

timely, relevant, and tailored METOC combat information and intelligence to commanders and 

staff; and coordinate with other integration divisions in areas of mutual interest and represents 

the USMC METOC community in USMC, other service, and joint forums in which METOC 

concepts and requirements pertain. 

CMC, MCSC. The MARCORSYSCOM METOC Project Officer leads the research and 

technology development, acquisition, engineering and production, maintenance, life-cycle 

sustainment and disposal of METOC systems as required by the Marine warfighter and the 

MAGTF. 

Marine Liaison, Oceanographer of the Navy (N2/N6). The United States Marine Corps Liaison 

and Requirements Officer responsible for the funding of all programs associated with METOC 

support to the MAGTF resides within OPNAV N2/N6E1. The N2/N6E1 USMC Requirements 

Officer represents the Deputy Commandant for Aviation in all aspects of METOC policy and 

procedures, requirements, acquisitions, and finance and must maintain familiarization with 

defense acquisition, technology, and logistics life cycle management framework. This officer 

also monitors Marine Corps METOC programs to ensure requirements are being met and advises 

the Program Sponsor of program status and milestone accomplishments. 

Marine Liaison, Commander Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. The United 

States Marine Corps Liaison Officer, Commander Naval Meteorology and Oceanography 

Command is the principal advisor and subject matter expert for all MAGTF METOC support 

capabilities. Duties include: aligning the METOC support requirements for littoral and 

expeditionary warfare operations to include the proper employment and optimal utilization of 

MAGTF METOC capabilities. 

Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1). The MAWTS-1 METOC 

Officer serves as the METOC subject matter expert for MAWTS-1 and advises the MAWTS-1 

Commanding Officer on OccFld 68XX and DoD initiatives that impacts the management and 

employment of Aviation METOC resources. Other duties include: plan, coordinate, and provide 

METOC support and curriculum to the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course; manage 

the MCWP 3-35.7, MAGTF METOC Support as the doctrinal proponent; maintain NAVMC 

3500.38 68XX, METOC T&R manual as syllabus sponsor; create courseware that facilitates the 

tactical application of METOC support to the MAGTF. 
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Marine Corps Detachment (MARDET) Keesler AFB. The mission of MARDET, Keesler AFB 

is to train entry and career-level Marines for service with the Marine Corps Operating Forces, 

sustain their transformation process while they obtain the technical skills of their future MOS. 

Marine Corps METOC personnel must attend the Meteorological Oceanographic Analyst 

Forecaster (MOAF) Course. This training includes meteorology, oceanography, computers, 

satellite, meteorological reports, chart analysis, air mass soundings analysis, space environment, 

and climatology. 

Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF). The CBIRF METOC Analyst serves 

to provide essential meteorological and hazardous prediction information in support of CBIRF`s 

real world and training operations coupled with providing daily and weekly weather forecasts 

and climatological briefs to the corresponding staff to support planning operations and typical 

battalion operations. Other duties include: research forecasting techniques or tools as well as new 

plume modeling software or tools; responsible for coordinating and maintaining liaison with 

local, state, and federal agencies such as the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) or Joint 

Task Force Civil Support (JTF-CS). 

Operational Supporting Establishments 

Regional METOC Center (RMC). The Marine Corps’ RMCs provide 24 hour direct (in person) 

and indirect (web, e-mail, and phone) regionalized METOC information, products, and services 

in support of Marine Corps operations and other military operations as may be directed from a 

garrison environment. RMCs have the secondary mission to coordinate and supervise the training of 

all METOC forecasters in the MCICOM chain of command. As part of the regionalization concept of 

the RMCs, they are responsible for 24/7 METOC support for the station they are aboard and after 

field closure for all other stations within their area of responsibility (AOR).

Other CONUS Marine Corps Bases and Air Stations. Station METOC support responsibilities 

include: METOC support to base training, tenant units, and transient aircrews; and liaison with the 

RMC to provide a continuous meteorological watch (METWATCH). The RMCs have final issuing 

authority for all terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAF) and weather WWAs for the bases and air 

stations within their respective area of responsibility. RMCs have final issuing authority for all 

terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAF) and WWAs for the stations and bases within their respective 

region. 

Marine Corps Aviation Support. The Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) conducts the complete 

range of air operations in support of the MEF, to include anti-air warfare, offensive air support, 

assault support, aerial reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and control of aircraft and missiles. 

The MAW serves as the principal headquarters for the ACE. Most of the MAGTF’s METOC 

support assets reside within the MAW, specifically at the MACG and its subordinate Marine Air 

Traffic Control Detachments. These assets are organized, structured, and capable of supporting a 

variety of MAGTF and ACE-specific operations as defined by the size, scope, and mission 

requirements. Dedicated METOC support is available for all MAGTF elements from within the 

MAW/ACE. 
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Marine Corps Products and Services 

METOC Support Capabilities—Meteorological Mobile Facility (Replacement) Next 

Generation [METMF(R)NEXGEN]. The highest level of METOC capability within the 

MAGTF is the METMF(R) NEXGEN. The METMF(R) NEXGEN provides the MAGTF with a 

lightweight, highly mobile, fully integrated FORCENet compliant meteorological system 

capable of sustaining METOC operations in direct or general support of all elements of the 

MAGTF. It provides a METOC capability similar to that found in garrison METOC facilities. 

The METMF(R) NEXGEN provisions for all functions 

of environmental sensing and data ingest, for the 

efficient collation and integration of collected data, 

and for user-friendly graphic user interfaces (GUIs) 

and software tools necessary for accurate interpretation 

and value-added production. The METMF(R) 

NEXGEN enables the Marine METOC personnel to 

effectively turn relevant METOC data into actionable 

environmental information which in turn can facilitate 

timely operational decision-making. The smallest level 

of METOC capability is the Naval Integrated Tactical 

Environmental System - Variant IV (NITES IV). The 

NITES IV is designed as a scalable, flexible, and 

mobile system for a first in and last out capability. The 

primary differences between the METMF(R) 

NEXGEN and NITES IV are size, logistics, 

scalability, mobility, and that the METMF(R) 

NEXGEN has organic sensing capabilities while the 

NITES IV sensing capabilities are limited. Thus, the 

NITES IV relies heavily on reach-back 

communications and MFC databases for data and 

products. The NITES IV provides METOC personnel 

access to METOC data and products which are then 

analyzed and tailored for a specific mission. 

Naval Integrated Tactical Environmental System 

(NITES IV). The NITES IV is a modular system, 

used to provide limited METOC support in a standalone mode with increasing capabilities realized with 

the addition of SIPRNET/NIPRNET connectivity. 

The NITES-IV suite consists of three laptops. Each 

laptop is designed to perform a different function, but 

all three are loaded with the same software and can perform the tasks of the others. Mission 

requirements, network availability, and embarkation space dictate how best to employ the NITES 

IV. 

An Automated Weather Observing System 

(AWOS) collects weather data at the 

Mountain Warfare Training Center in 

Bridgeport, CA., Mar 26, 2014. This 

Meteorology and Oceanography site allowed 

members of the Marine Air Traffic Control 

Mobile Team, Marine Air Control Squadron 2, 

to relay vital weather information to both air 

and ground units during Mountain Exercise 2-

14. Providing accurate weather information to 

participating Army CH-47 and AH-64 pilots 

was paramount for their air support and 

allowed 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines to better 

plan and execute their mission. (Photo by 

SSgt Kevin M. Brady) 
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Vaisala TacMet Meteorological Observation System. Organic to the METMF(R) NEXGEN 

and NITES IV, the TacMet is a field deployable, compact weather station for various field 

operations. Offering broad sensor capability, the local MAWS201M network system is used to 

provide weather data to support air operations on a temporary or semi-permanent basis. The 

local system enhanced configuration offers 

full aviation support, interfacing with 

intelligent sensors such as ceilometer, 

present weather sensor, and electric field 

mill. These sensors are capable of being 

deployed up to 150 feet away from the 

systems. A standalone version of this 

sensor is also available to the METMF(R) 

NEXGEN in the form of two (2) Remote 

Sensor Sub-systems (RSS). The RSS 

includes meteorological sensors from prepositioned, remote locations. This 

portable, scalable system comprises a 

sensor set with wind speed and direction, 

barometric pressure, air temperature, 

relative humidity, and precipitation 

sensors. 

U.S. Coast Guard 

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is a military, multi-mission maritime service and one of our 

Nation’s five armed forces. The USCG protects the public, the environment, and the economic 

interests in the Nation’s ports and waterways, along the coast, on international waters, and in 

other maritime regions, as required to support national security. The USCG has a long history of 

environmental observations and science support. Support for meteorological operations and 

supporting research is detailed in other sections of this plan. 

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS 

Interagency Supporting Research Programs and Projects 

National Unified Operational Prediction Capability Research Partnering Initiative 

The Navy, Air Force/Air Force Weather (AFW), and NOAA/NWS partner in this tri-agency 

management organization. The National Unified Operational Prediction Capability (NUOPC) 

vision is a national numerical weather prediction (NWP) system with interoperable components 

built on common standards and a common framework (the Earth System Modeling Framework), 

with managed operational ensemble diversity and a national global NWP research agenda to 

accelerate science and technology infusion. NUOPC focuses on the next-generation systems for 

global NWP with full implementation by 2020, allowing for possible future expansion into other 

METMF(R) NEXGEN provides critical enabling 

capabilities to collect, process, disseminate and integrate 

essential elements of information regarding the timesensitive characterization of the physical environment. 

Official U.S.M.C. photograph. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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areas of numerical environmental prediction. NUOPC established its Initial Operational 

Capability in January 2011, which provides a National multi-model global ensemble exchanged 

between NOAA, the Navy and the Air Force on a one degree grid for 72 variables out to 16 days. 

Upgrades to ensemble systems will continue and the resolution of the exchanged ensemble 

members is scheduled to be doubled by the end of 2013 to one half degree, and doubled again to 

one quarter degree in the next several years as computing and communications capabilities grow 

to support this requirement. The partners continue to use and develop ensemble-based products 

such as the new Wave Watch 3 Ensemble, based on this multi-model system that brings 

substantial skill improvements over any single model solution. 

The NUOPC effort partners with the Earth System Predictions Capability (ESPC) to improve 

and extend forecast skill through coupled systems. This effort is research focused to stimulate 

inter-agency interactions and collaborations in developing systems to improve forecasts at time 

scales from near-term weather to inter-seasonal/inter-annual. It also is working to couple 

domains such as atmosphere, ocean, ice, land and eventually into ecosystems. Improvements in 

predictions in these broader domains and timescales will result in better severe weather warnings 

(hurricanes, tornadoes, snowstorms), better cost avoidance for weather sensitive industries 

(agriculture, transportation, utilities, defense), and better informed decision making for industry, 

defense, and the general public. Finally, NUOPC efforts will work to operationalize findings 

from ESPC for the next generation environmental prediction system. More information is 

available at the NUOPC website at: www.weather.gov/nuopc/ and the ESPC website at: 

www.espc.oar.noaa.gov/. 

U.S. Air Force Supporting Research Programs and Projects 

Technology Transition Initiatives. The overarching objective of the AF meteorological and 

space environmental technology transition program is to give capability designers, operational 

weather personnel, and weather information users the technology and tools to gain and maintain 

the advantage over a potential adversary. AF capability needs in the atmospheric and space 

environment sciences are articulated in the Initial Capabilities Document for the METOC 

Environment, Capability Review assessments, AF Strategic Plans, the AF Weather Operations 

Functional Concept and Enabling Concepts (Characterize the Environment, Exploit 

Environmental Information, and Net-Centric Operations), and supporting concept and 

implementation plans. The AF also uses cooperative development and testing agreements with 

other governmental agencies and laboratories, as well as with for-profit companies. The Air 

Force Institute of Technology offers AF graduate students in the atmospheric and space 

environmental sciences opportunities to research topics of immediate operational interest to U.S. 

Military Services. 

AFW-WEBS is a centralized Web service capability providing access to environmental 

information appropriate to all levels of operation and command. The program is designed to 

leverage net-centric capabilities and geospatial display services via AFW-WEBS to provide the 

operational warfighting community a single point of access to the total AF authoritative 

environmental content from sources across the AF enterprise. By CY 2015, AFW-WEBS will 

have evolved into the single Web site optimized for accessing authoritative AF meteorological 

information and services. All appropriate meteorological information will be serviced in 

geospatially enabled formats for direct integration into warfighter systems and decision cycles. 
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Consistent environmental characterizations of key mission-impacting weather parameters 

improved by the FITL process will be used as a common source for both visualized web content 

and for direct M2M services accessed by warfighter systems. AF weather forces will employ 

AFW-WEBS capabilities to improve the quality, accuracy, and effectiveness of all-weather 

support processes. Finally, C2, ISR, and mission planning systems will employ AFW-WEBS 

products and services to help more decision-makers maintain better situational awareness and 

use the knowledge gained from this process to plan and execute more effective missions. 

Cloud Forecasting. In applied meteorological R&D, the AF is improving cloud forecasting 

techniques by increasing the resolution, using a new cloud interpretation/typing scheme, 

integrating available satellite (to include non-traditional METSAT) into the cloud analysis, 

incorporating cloud optical properties, and blending numerical weather prediction with forecast 

cloud advection techniques. The AF has transitioned key advances in tactical decision aids into 

operations, permitting improved forecasting of electro-optical system performance and 

generation of cloud and target scene visualizations for training, system development, and mission 

rehearsal. 

Weather Forecast Modeling for Air Force and Army Operations. The Weather Research and 

Forecasting (WRF) model is a community model and is another area of AF participation in 

research and development in collaboration with National Center for Atmospheric Research 

(NCAR). The AF initially implemented WRF operationally in 2006 and continues development 

at NCAR, along with test and evaluation of real-time runs of the WRF model runs as well as the 

WRF-Chem (which takes into account chemical and aerosol constituents). The Land 

Information System analyzes the current state of the land surface to provide information to DoD 

and civilian agencies, and, through coupling with WRF, will improve forecasting performance 

near the surface and in the low levels of the atmosphere. This enables AF weather forces to 

provide better environmental characterization for missions such as (but not limited to) low-level 

aircraft operations, the dispersion of aerosol contaminants, and the employment of precisionguided munitions. It also allows for assessment of trafficability for ground forces. 

In early 2012, the AF implemented the Air Force Weather Ensemble Prediction Suite 

(AFWEPS). AFWEPS output, at both the mesoscale and global scale, provides better 

meteorological intelligence for military operations by objectively quantifying the forecast 

certainty of mission-impacting meteorological parameters to optimize operational risk 

management for all echelons of decision making. It provides probabilistic algorithms for highimpact variables and quantifies biases, allowing concise, focused products. 

Tactical Decision Aids. The AF collaborates in the development of several tactical decision aids, 

including the Target Acquisition Weapons Software (TAWS), the Infrared Target Scene 

Simulator (IRTSS), and Integrated Weather Effects Decision Aid (IWEDA). TAWS provides a 

joint mission-planning tool for combining platform, weapon, target, background, and weather 

factors to depict three-dimensional target acquisition and lock-on range and recognition range 

versus time. 

• TAWS can be used to predict environmental impacts on night vision goggles and low 

light-level systems used by air, naval, and ground forces to execute nighttime operations. 
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• IRTSS uses detailed terrain information and multi-spectral imagery with TAWS weather 

inputs to generate forecast target scene images for mission rehearsal. 

• IWEDA uses environmental data with force, mission, and/or individual weapons rules of 

engagement or performance parameters to automatically generate mission-impact 

forecasts for large-scale planning efforts such as air tasking order preparation. It aids in 

selecting platforms, systems, or sensors, based on system rules with critical values and a 

forecast of weather conditions. Results are displayed on a red/yellow/green weather 

effects matrix and overlaid on a background map. 

TAWS, IRTSS, and IWEDA integrate environmental impacts into the mission execution 

forecasts for operations, command and control, and for mission planning systems throughout the 

military planning and execution cycle. AFRL, the Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems 

Command, NRL, and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) are developing modular 

programs as part of the IWEDA initiative. The Tactical Decision Aids program continues adding 

weapons systems and targets to the inputs to these decision aids at the request of users from the 

Services. 

U.S. Army Supporting Research Programs and Projects 

Army Materiel Command (AMC) 

AMC is responsible for the RDT&E of equipment to satisfy the USA’s requirements for 

meteorological support. AMC provides meteorological and climatological support to RDT&E 

projects, involving electro-optical sensors and atmospheric and obscurant effects on systems and 

their performance. AMC has several major subordinate commands and elements carrying out 

weather R&D responsibilities, including the Research Development and Engineering Command, 

which has responsibility for the USA’s Research Development and Engineering Centers and 

ARL. 

Battlefield Environment Division, ARL Computational and Information Sciences Directorate. 

The Battlefield Environment Division of the Computational and Information Sciences 

Directorate in ARL conducts basic and applied research in atmospheric science and technology 

to provide actionable environmental intelligence crucial to the success of current and future 

operations. The research program focuses on: (1) measurements, modeling, and theoretical 

investigations of aerosols, acoustics, electro-optics, and adaptive optics to support advances in 

detection and identification within the battlefield environment; (2) research to measure, model, 

predict, and understand the dynamics of the boundary layer atmosphere and its effects on Army 

systems and operations; and (3) research necessary to meet the Army’s requirements for detailed 

atmospheric analyses and very-short-range predictions (nowcasts) over mission-execution battle 

space domains in complex terrain areas and within urban environments. This mission effort will 

be carried out through the: (1) development of high-resolution physics-based and semi-empirical 

models for urban and complex-terrain meteorology; (2) development of Decision Support Tools 

(DSTs) that describe the impacts expected, and the resulting performance degradation due to, 

adverse environmental conditions, to include weather and terrain, for both friendly and threat 

systems; and (3) development of improved propagation and scattering models to be employed in 

novel techniques that can enhance the detection, identification, and localization of biological 
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aerosols and acoustic and optical sources, and to enable evaluations that will improve the 

performance of acoustic and electro-optic sensors. ARL provides a liaison to the Joint Polar 

Satellite System (JPSS) program office located at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center to 

coordinate on Army satellite data, information requirements, and applications development. The 

following three research programs are planned within ARL-BED for FY 2015. 

 Atmospheric Sensing. The objectives of this research program include: (1) experimental and 

theoretical research enabling high resolution characterization of atmospheric and other 

environmental conditions that may affect the performance of acoustic and electro-optic systems, 

and the conception of methods to mitigate these effects; (2) development of aerosol, acoustic, 

and electro-optic DSTs that utilize observed or modeled atmospheric parameters to improve 

warfighter performance within the battlefield environment; (3) development of theoretical and 

experimental technologies for the characterization of atmospheric constituents focused on the 

detection of threat agent aerosols; and (4) development and advancement of environmental 

remote sensing science and technologies to increase knowledge of the battlefield environment 

and to support Army operations. This program includes the Intelligent Optics Laboratory (IOL) 

that explores and develops new advanced Army battle space tactical and long-range atmospheric 

laser communication and imaging systems that will achieve high bandwidth communication, 

improve battlefield visualization, and allow for utilization of advanced command and control 

techniques. 

Atmospheric Modeling. The objectives of this program are to: (1) develop high-resolution, 

physics-based prognostic models and semi-empirical diagnostic models for ultra-fine-scale 

meteorology in urban, mountain, forest, and jungle terrain; (2) develop, modify, or adapt data 

assimilation tools that can ingest on-scene, 

traditional, and non-traditional weather 

observations, and fuse this information with 

forecasts to provide analyses and missionexecution Nowcast products for operations and 

short-term mission planning; (3) design and 

develop the means to process these models and 

transfer meteorological data over a distributed 

network; (4) develop capabilities to use ensemble 

model probabilistic forecast output in weather 

DSTs, and develop new aids to exploit such new 

databases; and (5) support the Artillery 

Meteorology community with expertise in 

meteorological modeling and atmospheric effects 

on artillery fires and target area meteorology. 

 

 Atmospheric Dynamics. The objectives of this effort are to: (1) develop applications to 

monitor and assess airborne hazards in complex terrain; (2) perform experiments to characterize 

the fine-scale effects of local terrain on winds, turbulence, and vertical fluxes; (3) develop DSTs, 

associated databases, user tools that describe the impacts expected, and the resulting performance 

degradation due to adverse weather conditions for both Friendly and Threat systems, (4) assess 

the accuracy and value-added to the Warfighter of Nowcasts and DSTs; and (5) develop 

Accurate wind forecasts are essential to 

deliver airdropped supplies to the precise 

location. (U.S. Army photo) 
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atmospheric propagation models and improved theory for characterizing the atmosphere, and the 

effects of turbulence on emerging sensing applications in previously under-exploited spectral 

regions including Terahertz for communications and imaging, Short-wave Infrared active and 

passive imaging, and Near-IR for directed energy systems. 

ARL Army Research Office. The Army Research Office, Research Triangle Park, North 

Carolina, manages the Army’s extramural basic research program in the atmospheric sciences. 

These programs are concerned with understanding the dynamical and physical properties, 

processes, and constituents of the atmospheric boundary layer through measurements, 

simulations, and theoretical considerations. The basic research program is conducted through the 

peer-reviewed, individual investigator program and occasional special initiatives. The focus of 

the research is on the atmospheric boundary layer over land, where the Army operates. 

Objectives of the research are to develop, from first principles, the physical basis for 

understanding the boundary layer, thereby leading to better understanding, modeling, and 

quantifying of atmospheric effects on soldiers, materials, and weapon systems. The research 

examines quantification, classification, and dispersion of battlefield materials; the effects of 

heterogeneous terrain features on airflow; and the development of natural obscurations 

throughout the diurnal cycle. The Atmospheric Science Program is especially focused on 

supporting high-risk, high-impact research that has the potential to change the way we view our 

research philosophies. 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers R&D 

The Corps of Engineers (COE) is responsible for reviewing emerging Army systems for 

environmental effects, as stated in AR 70-1 and AR 115-10/AFI 15-157 (IP). The COE 

Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) develops Tactical Decision Aids (TDAs) 

and geospatial analysis tools to interpret and help the Warfighter understand the impact of 

weather on terrain and provide actionable information of terrain, atmospheric and weather 

effects on units, systems, platforms and soldiers in support of Mission Command and 

Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance planning. TDAs will transition to the Distributed 

Common Ground System–Army (DCGS-A), the Joint Battle Command-Platform and the 

Commercial Joint Mapping Tool Kit. 

ERDC supports Army weapon systems RDT&E with all-season solutions for mitigating adverse 

environmental effects on Army operations. Basic and applied research is conducted on energy 

and mass transfer processes at and near the terrain surface. ERDC develops databases and 

models for predicting the state of the terrain including surface temperature, soil moisture, 

tactical decision aids, and geospatial tools supporting mobility analysis and sensor performance. 

These products transition to research and engineering programs including advanced technology 

demonstrations and specific programs of record. FY 2015 planned efforts include (1) 

development of downscaling methodologies enabling weather products to feed Army scale 

applications to enable terrain and weather influences and model predictions for austere entry, 

military maneuver, observations and fields of fire, cover and concealment, obstacles, key 

terrain, and avenues of approach analysis; (2) weather and terrain influences and predictions for 

seismic, acoustic, radar and radio frequency modalities into the sensor mission planning tool, 

Environmental Awareness for Sensor and Emitter Employment (EASEE); and (3) research into 
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the impacts weather and climate influences have on regional socio-cultural and socio-economic 

stability. 

Army Test and Evaluation Command 

ATEC is responsible for providing operational meteorological support to Army RDT&E. Under 

responsibilities established in AR 115-10/AFJI 15-157, ATEC meteorological units provide 

meteorological data collection and analysis, consultation, and weather forecast and warning 

services to support Army and other DOD RDT&E activities at eight Army installations. 

Enhancements to ATEC Four-Dimensional Weather System. The Army RDT&E Meteorology 

Program is continuing to collaborate with the National Center for Atmospheric Research 

(NCAR) on enhancements to the ATEC Four-Dimensional Weather (4DWX) system, which is 

the backbone of the meteorological support infrastructure at the Army test ranges. ATEC 

4DWX modeling capabilities include Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model based on 

real-time four-dimensional data assimilation at eight Army test ranges, and Global Meteorology 

on Demand, a globally relocatable mesoscale modeling system to support Army RDT&E 

(including ATEC distributed and virtual testing) at locations other than the Army ranges. Output 

from the 4DWX mesoscale model forecasts and analyses is used as meteorological input to 

atmospheric dispersion, noise propagation, ballistic trajectory, and other range applications 

models to simulate many tests and their associated impacts. The 4DWX system contributes to 

improved test planning and conduct, selection of more representative locations for test sensors, 

inclusion of realistic atmospheric effects in virtual testing, and forensic analyses of 

meteorological effects on test results. 

Major 4DWX system components include a central data archival/retrieval system for all range 

and external meteorological and model data, the WRF high-resolution mesoscale meteorological 

model, an innovative real-time data assimilation system, and a variety of user-configurable 

displays. 

The DoD High Performance Computing Modernization Office (HPCMO) in 2006 provided the 

ATEC program with a high-performance computer (HPC) that since 2007 has enabled 

operational 30-member ensemble 4DWX forecasts to support DPG test operations. With this 

HPC approaching the end of its expected life cycle, in 2012 DPG purchased a replacement 

system. The original HPC is still operational; therefore the replacement system is in use for 

model evaluation studies until the original system fails. The HPCMO recently awarded ATEC a 

2014 Designated Support Partition, a large allocation of computer resources at the Navy’s DoD 

Supercomputing Research Center at Stennis Space Center, for extension of the Ensemble 4DWX 

system currently in operations at Dugway Proving Ground, to all the ATEC test ranges. 

System enhancements during FY 2015 will include continued WRF and data assimilation 

development focused on forecasting improvements at each range, in addition to advances which 

apply generally to all WRF applications, including continued work on hybrid data assimilation in 

particular radar data assimilation; improved lightning potential prediction; development of range 

climatologies; continued development of Very Large Eddy Simulation capabilities; continued 

development of an on-line automated real-time quality control for observations; and continued 

enhancements to the AutoNowcaster implementations at Redstone Test Center and at White 
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Sands Missile Range. In addition, preparations are underway to install a weather surveillance 

radar at the Cold Regions Test Center. Also, ATEC will continue collaboration with the Army 

Research Laboratory to evaluate the utility of 4DWX data as input to the ARL MyWIDA 

weather impacts decision aid, and plans to evaluate an upgraded sound propagation model under 

development at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, for potential use at Aberdeen Proving Ground 

and Ft A.P. Hill, Virginia. 

U.S. Navy Supporting Research Programs and Projects 

Earth System Prediction Capabilities. The National Unified Operational Prediction Capability 

(NUOPC) initiative exemplifies how naval operational oceanography interagency partnerships 

contribute to enhanced capabilities. Navy is partnering with NOAA and other agencies on ESPC 

(Earth System Prediction Capabilities), on a zero-hour to 30-year model of the atmosphere, the 

ocean, and ice. The ESPC focus is on next-generation systems for Global Numerical Weather 

Prediction with full implementation by 2020. The ESPC primary deliverable is a multi-model 

global ensemble forecast system, coupling the domains of land, sea, atmosphere, ice, and space. 

Improvements in predictive capability are expected to result in better severe weather warnings 

(hurricanes, tornadoes, snowstorms), better cost avoidance for weather sensitive industries 

(agriculture, transportation, utilities, defense), and better informed decision making for industry, 

defense, and the general public. Additional information is included in the Basic Services section 

of this plan.

Electromagnetic Maneuver Warfare (EMW) Under the mission pillar of Assured Command 

and Control, in direct support to EMW, the Navy is engaged in improving Electro-Magnetic 

(EM)/Electro-Optic (EO)/Electronic Warfare (EW) Spectrum Management, especially in AntiAccess/Area-Denial (A2/AD) environments by improving exploitation opportunities across 

current and emerging fleet sensor systems. The NOe under COMNAVOCEANCOM direction, 

has partnered with Program Manager Ships (PMS 405) in coordinating atmospheric and 

oceanographic efforts for Solid State Laser (SSL) Technology Maturation (TM) and Quick 

Reaction Capability (QRC). An Integrated Product Team (IPT) is charged with providing 24/7 

atmospheric characterization and performance prediction for SSL operations at any maritime 

location of Navy interest. Current focus is on modeling and measurements, needed in developing 

vertical temperature/moisture and turbulence profiles. CNMOC is the Navy authoritative source 

for what atmospheric models to tap into and FNMOC is the Navy’s lead atmospheric modeling 

center. Other participants include ONR 34, NRL, and COMNAVSPAWARSYSCOM. Tech 

Solutions is a SPAWAR-led R&D effort for a weather sensing system onboard naval surface 

ships called Automated Shipboard Weather Observation System (ASO). The design of a variety 

of laser systems, for example, the Modular Universal Laser Equipment (MULE), has used the 

R&D turbulence models to optimize systems for operation in the atmospheric environment 

expected in different operational theaters.
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SPACE WEATHER SERVICES 

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 

NOAA/National Weather Service 

Space Weather Prediction Center 

The National Centers for Environmental Prediction’s (NCEP) Space Weather Prediction Center 

(SWPC), within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National 

Weather Service (NWS), is the Nation’s official 

source of space weather alerts, watches, and warnings 

for conditions in the space environment that impact 

systems and technologies that are vulnerable to space 

weather. The SWPC provides real-time monitoring 

and forecasting of space weather events, conducts 

research in solar-terrestrial physics, and develops 

techniques for forecasting space weather storms. 

These services are provided to promote public safety 

and mitigate economic loss that could result from 

disruption of critical systems such as satellite 

operations, communications and navigation systems, 

and electric power distribution grids. The SWPC 

operates the national civilian Space Weather Forecast 

Office, coordinating with Air Force Weather Agency 

(AFWA) personnel at Offutt Air Force base in the 

production of joint products, ensuring a consistent 

message on the space weather forecast across both 

civilian and Department of Defense (DOD) customer 

bases. The SWPC provides services to customers on a 

24 hour-per-day, seven day-per-week basis. SWPC 

products and services include observations and 

forecasts of solar, interplanetary, geospace, 

ionosphere, and thermosphere conditions that impact 

technologies on Earth and in space. The SWPC also 

develops and evaluates new models and products and 

For purposes of this Federal Plan, Space Weather Services are those specialized meteorological 

services and facilities established to meet the needs of users for information on space weather 

conditions and space weather storms that can affect terrestrial systems, space systems, Earth’s 

atmosphere, and the space environment. Space weather services include monitoring and alerting of 

space weather storms and their effects on technological infrastructure and human safety. Early 

warning of an approaching space weather storm, so that timely protective response is possible, is an 

important part of space weather services. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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transitions them into operations. The SWPC takes a leading role in advocating and specifying 

new space-environment sensors for operational use. 

The SWPC provides services to a broad user community of government agencies including 

DOD, NASA, DHS, DOE, and DOT. The SWPC provides support to industries, public 

institutions, and private individuals including the electric power industry, the airline industry, the 

satellite industry, oil exploration, agriculture, and many users of high frequency (HF) 

communication and satellite navigation. The SWPC also serves as the primary international 

World Warning Agency for the International Space Environment Service (ISES). It exchanges 

international data (solar wind, X-ray, sunspot, corona, magnetic, and ionospheric measurements) 

in real-time and issues a consensus set of daily forecasts for international use. 

U.S. Air Force 

The mission of AF weather personnel is to enable AF and Army decision-makers to anticipate 

and exploit the weather for air, ground, space, cyberspace, and intelligence operations. As this 

applies to the ‘Space Weather Services’ category, AF weather personnel provide space 

environmental information, products, and services required to support Department of Defense 

(DoD) operations as required, providing actionable environmental impacts information directly 

to decision makers. 

The AF’s 2nd Weather Squadron (2 WS), Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, is the Department of 

Defense’s reach-back center for space environmental services operations. These personnel apply 

a detailed understanding of the space environment to translate raw data into useful military 

intelligence information, which can be integrated into the Common Operating Picture. 

Personnel assigned to 2 WS monitor the sun’s emissions and provide mission-tailored analyses, 

forecasts, and warnings. Their products are used for mission planning and environmental 

situational awareness by national agencies, DoD operators, Warfighters, and decision makers. 

Solar emission of highly-energetic particles, X-rays, and radio bursts can produce the following 

effects on DoD operations: 

• Electrical anomalies and degrading of components to satellites and other equipment in 

orbit above the protective levels of the atmosphere. 

• Impacts on electromagnetic signals, influencing High Frequency (HF) communication, 

Ultra High Frequency (UHF) communication, and Global Positioning System (GPS) 

satellite navigation signals. 

• Increased drag on satellites in low-earth orbit. 

• Increased interference or false returns to sunward or poleward looking radars. 

• Potential health impact of radiation exposure to high-altitude aviators and those flying 

over polar regions. 
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The 2 WS space weather technicians, both at Offutt Air Force Base (AFB), Nebraska, and at 

solar observatories around the globe, are always focused on the sun. They provide timely, 

relevant, and accurate space weather information to DoD personnel, issuing approximately 

35,000 forecaster-in-the-loop and automated textual and graphical products warning of 

significant solar activity daily. 

Space environmental information is obtained through a combination of ground- and space-based 

systems. For the near-earth environment, i.e., ionosphere, ground-based and space-based systems 

complement each other to provide highly accurate point source verification and specification as 

well as enable global coverage and theater-wide situational awareness. For solar data, groundbased systems provide reliable observations of the sun in optical and radio frequencies, and 

space-based observations provide information (or data) unobtainable from the ground. Spacebased systems provide in situ measurements of the space environment; i.e., solar wind and 

magnetosphere. 

The 2 WS operates the Solar Electro-optical Observing Network (SEON), a network of five 

ground-based observing sites located around the globe providing 24-hour coverage of solar 

phenomena at optical and/or radio wavelengths. The network sites are: 

• Detachment 1, Learmonth, Australia 

• Detachment 2, Sagamore Hill, Massachusetts 

• Detachment 4, Holloman AFB, New Mexico 

• Detachment 5, Kaena Point, Hawaii 

• San Vito, Italy (contract site) 

The SEON network sites 

utilize the Radio Solar 

Telescope Network (RSTN) 

and/or the Solar Observing 

Optical Network (SOON). 

The RSTN is composed of 

the Radio Interference 

Measuring Set (RIMS) and 

the Solar Radio 

Spectrograph (SRS) and is 

used to monitor solar radio 

bursts at eight specific 

frequencies as well as a 

spectral band. The SOON 

is used to monitor solar 

flare activity, which are 

sometimes the precursor to 

coronal mass ejections that 

Solar optical and radio telescopes at Learmonth, Australia. 

Source: U.S. Air Force. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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may interact with the earth’s magnetic field to create geomagnetic storms. The SOON images 

the sun in the hydrogen-alpha wavelength, which reveals the complex solar activity in the lower 

atmosphere or chromosphere, as well as imaging the sun in the continuum (white light), which 

shows sunspots on the sun’s surface, or photosphere. The SOON also enables the production of 

magnetograms by analyzing right-hand and left-hand circularly polarized light to image the lineof-sight component (Doppler shifting) of the magnetic field in the photosphere. When solar 

emissions are observed over threshold levels, solar analysts transmit activity messages that are 

used to prepare mission-tailored analyses, forecasts, and warnings used for mission planning, 

mission execution, and environmental situational awareness. 

The AF employs a worldwide network of ground-based ionosondes and other sensors to provide 

environmental data in the ionosphere. It manages the NEXt-generation IONosonde (NEXION) 

fielding that started in summer of 2009, which will culminate in 20 NEXION sites worldwide. 

The AF has a network of 10 Scintillation Network Decision Aid (SCINDA) sites, which became 

operational in 2014. These sites characterize interference to SATCOM and GPS radio signals in 

the global equatorial regions. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory operates a complementary 

global network of more than 125 sensors, deriving ionospheric line-of-sight total electron content 

from GPS signals, and provides these data to the AF. Additional data are provided by the U.S. 

Geological Survey (USGS), which operates a network of ground-based magnetometers, 

primarily in North America, that provide the AF with critical measurements of the earth’s 

geomagnetic field and its variances. 

From space, the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Special Sensor Precipitating 

Electron and Ion Spectrometer measures low-energy precipitating electrons that cause the aurora 

and other high latitude ionospheric phenomena. The DMSP Special Sensors-Ions, Electrons, and 

Scintillation sensor provides top-side, in-situ measurements of the ionospheric environment, 

complementing ground-based sensors. These data are utilized to assess the impact of ionospheric 

conditions on ballistic-missile early warning radar systems and long-range communications. 

Additionally, the data are used to monitor global auroral activity and to predict the effects of the 

space environment on satellite operations. The Solar X-Ray Imager aboard NOAA’s GOES-15 

satellite monitors solar X-ray emissions and provides near real-time display at AFWA and the 

SWPC in Boulder, Colorado. The AF also leverages space-based data from NASA and other 

agencies. 

AF weather organizations will continue to lead the Department of Defense in space weather 

operations in FY 2015 and beyond. In FY 2015, the AF will continue to upgrade its solar 

equipment and processes, along with providing new or upgraded facilities for some solar 

locations. 

U.S. Geological Survey 

The Geomagnetism Program (http://geomag.usgs.gov) of the USGS Geologic Hazards Science 

Center provides real-time, ground-based measurements of the Earth’s magnetic field, which are 

an important contribution to the diagnosis of conditions in the near-Earth space environment of 

the Sun, the solar wind, the magnetosphere, the ionosphere, and the thermosphere. During 

geomagnetic storms, brought about by the complex interaction of the Earth’s magnetic field with 

that of the Sun’s, both high- and low-frequency radio communications can be difficult or 
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impossible, global positioning systems (GPS) can be degraded, satellite electronics can be 

damaged, satellite drag can be increased, and astronauts and high-altitude pilots can be subjected 

to enhanced levels of radiation. 

Ground-based geomagnetic observatory data are complementary to those collected by spacebased satellites; indeed, most of the hazardous effects on technological systems brought about by 

magnetic storms occur at or near the Earth’s surface. The Geomagnetism Program monitors 

ground-level magnetic activity by operating 14 magnetic observatories in the United States and 

its territories. Data from these observatories are transmitted to the Program’s headquarters in 

Golden, CO in near-real time. USGS and foreign observatory data streams are used to calculate 

storm-time disturbance indices, such as the magnetospheric ring-current index Dst, which serves 

as a standard proxy measure of magnetic storm intensity and is an important input to numerous 

operational physics-based models of the magnetospheric-ionospheric system. Data and stormtime disturbance indices are transmitted to SWPC, U.S. Air Force, and NASA in real time. In 

addition, USGS data are utilized by private industry, foreign space weather agencies, and 

academia. 

USGS observatories are operated in cooperation with INTERMAGNET 

(http://www.intermagnet.org), an international consortium that coordinates the operation of over 

120 geomagnetic observatories in 40 different countries; the role of INTERMAGNET was 

recently summarized in an article in the EOS newsletter, which is published by the American 

Geophysical Union. The U.S. Geological Survey recently began a novel public-private 

cooperative relationship with the oil and gas drilling industry to operate a magnetic observatory 

in Alaska. The USGS Geomagnetism Program is an integral part of the National Space Weather 

Program (NSWP). 

Federal Emergency Management Agency 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has initiated an Interagency Planning 

effort to develop a Concept of Operations Plan (CONPLAN) that will identify roles and 

responsibilities of each agency during a Space Weather Event. FEMA is working with their 

interagency partners to define the scope of this CONPLAN and to create a workable scenario on 

which to base the plan. Currently, this effort is in its infancy stage and participants in this effort 

are still being identified. 

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS 

NOAA/National Weather Service 

Space Weather Prediction Testbed 

The SWPC operates the Space Weather Prediction Testbed (SWPT) to provide the operational 

Space Weather Forecast Office with new models, products, and forecast techniques. The SWPT 

performs applied research and evaluates scientific developments from other agencies to develop 

and identify new capabilities to improve the prediction skill of space weather forecasts. The 

SWPT also validates and verifies new research results and works to transition research 
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developments into operational products and services. Through these activities the SWPT 

achieves its principal objective of infusing the benefits of new research and technology into 

operational space weather products and services, in order to improve the utility and capabilities 

of the SWPC alerts, watches, warnings, and forecasts for its customers. 

SWPT Activities include: 

• Maintaining awareness of scientific advances and new techniques being developed to 

identify improved data-analysis techniques, forecast models, and observational systems 

that have potential for significantly improving the forecast guidance provided by space 

weather forecasters; 

• Conducting, supporting, and managing focused research on data-analysis techniques/ 

algorithms, forecast models, and observational systems that have the potential to 

significantly improve the forecast guidance provided to space weather customers; 

• Developing, testing, validating, and verifying promising numerical codes and forecast 

techniques, emerging from the research community to determine their potential benefits 

for possible use in operations; 

• Communicating priorities and operating procedures to maintain fair and open interactions 

with all stakeholders (operational, research, academic, international, and commercial) and 

to stimulate improvements in space weather analysis and forecasting applications; 

Current projects at the SWPT include the following: 

• Improvements in the one-to-four day forecasts of space weather storms by improving the 

definition and parameterization of coronal mass ejections (CME) for input into 

operational solar-heliospheric models that forecast the propagation of solar disturbances 

through interplanetary space from the Sun to the Earth. 

• Improving services to the electric power industry by implementing a 

geospace/magnetosphere model so that SWPC can provide customers with regional 

forecasts and specifications of space weather impacts on Earth. 

• Improving estimates of auroral impacts by the development and transition of an auroral 

forecast model that will provide estimates of where and how intense the aurora will be. 

These forecasts will be used in other space weather models as well as by the general 

public interested in observing aurora. 

• Improving services to Global Positioning System /Global Navigation Satellite System 

(GPS/GNSS) customers by the development of the Whole Atmosphere Model which 

extends the NCEP Global Forecast Systems weather model up to the near-space 

environment thereby providing specification and forecasts of the impacts of the lower 

atmosphere weather systems on space weather. 
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U.S. Geological Survey 

Research conducted within the USGS Geomagnetism Program targets space-weather 

applications and geomagnetic hazards. Recent work has focused on mapping magnetic activity 

across North America and between magnetic observatory locations, and estimating the stormtime induction of electric fields in the Earth’s electrically conducting lithosphere. Other research 

projects have focused on analysis of individual historical magnetic storms, long-term changes in 

geomagnetic activity, and long-term changes in solar-terrestrial interaction, all of which are 

important for understanding the potential hazard posed by magnetic storms that will occur in the 

future. 

The research staff of the USGS Geomagnetism Program provides leadership and technical 

guidance to INTERMAGNET, an international consortium that is dedicated to promoting the 

global integration of real-time magnetic-observatory operations and the dissemination of their 

data. USGS research staff members also represent the USGS in numerous national and 

international forums. The importance of magnetic observatory data for space and solid earth 

research was recently highlighted in a feature article in the journal Physics Today, which is 

published by the American Institute of Physics. The role of the USGS Geomagnetism Program 

within the larger NSWP was recently summarized in a feature article in the journal Space 

Weather, which is published by the American Geophysical Union. 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

The objective of the Heliophysics Division of the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration’s (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is to understand the Sun and its 

interactions with Earth and the solar system, including space weather. The three areas of 

concentration are theory development, data collection and analysis, and modeling of the resulting 

scientific understanding. To support this effort, the division operates a fleet of 18 missions 

involving 29 spacecraft. The region of space that must be covered is huge, extending from the 

Sun through the Earth’s near-space environment and outward to the edges of the solar system. 

To meet national and societal needs, NASA coordinates its space weather activities with several 

interagency and international partners, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
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Administration (NOAA), which is responsible for delivering operational space weather products 

and services to the nation. Currently, five NASA research missions provide data that have 

become essential to our nation’s space weather protection community. This is done by either 

direct broadcast from the satellite to a network of NASA and non-NASA receiving antennae, or 

by data that is processed in near real-time and made accessible via the internet. The Advanced 

Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft provides data on the condition of the solar wind 

upstream of the Earth’s magnetic field. Additional space weather information is provided by the 

two Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft which broadcast beacon 

images of the far side of the Sun; as well as coronal mass ejection alerts from the European 

Space Agency (ESA)/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) and super highresolution images from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Also, the two Van Allen Probes 

provide near-real-time information on the conditions in the Earth’s radiation belts. 

NASA also supports the development of space weather technology and predictive capability with 

its Research Program and the Living with a Star Science Program. With the Research Program’s 

instrument development funding, NASA is developing the next generation of instruments that 

will be capable of observing extreme space weather conditions. NASA works to continually 

improve the understanding of space weather that enables improvements to space weather 

prediction models. Also, within the Research Program, as a quality assurance activity to validate 

solar and space physics research models and to prepare them for transition into operational 

activities, NASA operates a Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC), an interagency 

collaborative activity involving the National Science Foundation (NSF), NOAA, and the DOD. 

Department of Energy 

The U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) 

supports the NSWP through the collection and distribution of operational data, through 

participation in research missions with space weather applications, and through the development 

of space weather models such as DREAM and AE/AP-9. One of the most significant 

contributions is the collection and distribution of space weather data from DOE/NNSA 

instruments on U.S. government satellites in geosynchronous and GPS orbits. DOE/NNSA 

geosynchronous observations have been available continuously since 1979 and, since 1989, 

measurements span energies from a few electron volts (eV) to tens of MeV. Geosynchronous 

observations are also available in real time from multiple satellites which constitutes an 

important resource for driving real-time specification and forecast models. 

DOE/NNSA space weather resources on GPS satellites include both particle measurements for 

the space radiation environment and impulsive RF measurements that provide important 

information on ionospheric structure and density with global coverage (24 satellites). GPS 

observations cover the time period from 1983 to present so, as with other geosynchronous 

measurements, they provide an important resource for space weather climate models and for 

validation and testing of specification and forecast models. 

DOE/NNSA, through the national laboratories, has also provided important space weather 

capabilities through the construction and operation of scientific instruments that also provide 

important space weather information. These include the plasma spectrometer on ACE (L1 solar 

wind), particle detectors on RBSP (ring current, radiation belts, solar particles), Forté 
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(ionospheric structure and density), and others. DOE/NNSA has also supported the development 

of space weather models. These include the next-generation climatology model (AE/AP-9) for 

spacecraft design and the DREAM model which is a real-time assimilative model for the 

radiation belts. Both models rely heavily on geosynchronous and GPS observations. A third is 

RAM-SCB which is a model of the ring current. DOE/NNSA strives to partner with other 

entities with space weather interests and is exploring new ways in which its data, models, and 

space weather services can be more fully utilized to support the national space weather 

enterprise. 

National Science Foundation 

The National Science Foundation (NSF) supports the NSWP in pursuing the program’s objective 

to perform the research and technology transfer needed to improve the specification and 

forecasts of space weather events that can cause disruption and failure of space-borne and 

ground-based technological systems and that can endanger human health. NSF supports space 

weather through dedicated programs as well as through basic space physics research programs. 

Space weather relevant research efforts include the development of large-scale space weather 

forecast models, construction and operation of advanced ground-based instruments and networks 

for the observation of space weather parameters, and the development and demonstration of 

innovative and creative small space weather satellites. NSF NSWP support in FY 2014 was 

estimated at $14 million and is expected to be around the same level in FY 2015. In FY14, NSF 

created a dedicated Space Weather program to go alongside science programs in Aeronomy, 

Magnetospheric Physics and Solar-Terrestrial Research. 

U.S. Air Force 

Air Force Research Laboratory 

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) supports the Air Force space weather mission by 

executing research conducted by external agencies and by conducting in-house research on space 

weather. In space weather research, AFRL programs focus on ionospheric impacts to radio 

frequency systems, charged particle specification and forecasts, solar disturbance prediction, and 

neutral density effects on low-earth orbiting spacecraft. Working closely with the DMSP System 

Program Office at the Space and Missile Systems Center, under a memorandum of agreement, 

AFRL supports the development and upgrading of operational space weather sensors, models, 

and software products including space environment sensors on the DMSP spacecraft, state-ofthe-art ground-based scintillation detectors, total electron content sensors, ionospheric 

characterization, solar radio and optical emissions observing, and the Operational Space 

Environment Network Display suite of Web-based products. 
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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES 

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 

NOAA/National Weather Service (NWS) 

National Weather Service’s (NWS) Marine and Coastal Weather Services is the lead for the 

Nation’s marine and coastal weather services, encompassing a vast area from -coastal waterways 

and near-shore bays and inlets to the open oceans spanning much of the northern and western 

hemispheres. The program is aimed at ensuring safe and efficient transportation, fishing, 

recreation, and offshore mineral exploration, in support of both commercial and recreational 

interests, and with consideration of the expanding and weather-sensitive U.S. coastal population. 

Forty-seven coastal Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs), the National Hurricane Center and the 

Ocean Prediction Center provide forecasts, analyses, watches, warnings and advisories of 

maritime conditions as well as coastal and tropical hazards. These services are provided for 

coastal waters, offshore and high seas waters, and Great Lakes near-shore and open lake waters. 

Coastal WFOs have responsibility for forecasts and warnings extending up to 60 nautical miles 

from the shore. The National Centers has are responsible for offshore and high seas waters, 

meeting U.S. obligations to maritime weather safety under the International Convention for 

Safety of Life at Sea, to which the United States is a signatory. 

Using observational data sources such as buoys and satellites, and numerical model guidance, 

NWS forecasters monitor weather conditions continuously over their responsible maritime 

domain. They produce and disseminate routine forecast products and analyses, watches, 

warnings, and advisories which describe maritime weather, sea ice and oceanographic conditions 

including tropical storms and coastal storm hazards. NWS coastal marine warning and forecast 

products describe wind, waves, visibility, icing, storm surge, coastal flooding, severe weather, 

high surf, and rip currents. NWS tropical storm products describe track and intensity as well as 

associated coastal hazards such as storm surge, waves, and inland impacts. 

The Marine and Coastal Services Program collaborates with a wide range of partners within and 

outside of NOAA. The program relies on the NWS Office of Operational Systems and NOAA’s 

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) for the collection of 

For purposes of this Federal Plan, Surface Transportation Services are those specialized meteorological 

services and facilities established to meet the weather information needs of the following surface 

transportation sectors: roadways, long-haul railways, the marine transportation system, rural and urban 

transit, pipeline systems, and airport ground operations. The roadway sector includes State and Federal 

highways and all State and local roads and streets. The marine transportation system includes coastal and 

inland waterways, ports and harbors, and the intermodal terminals serving them. Rural and urban transit 

includes bus and van service on roadways and rail lines for metropolitan subway and surface “light-rail” 

systems. Operational and supporting research programs for Aviation Services are often also relevant to 

airport ground operations, but program budgets counted in Aviation Services are not double-counted here 

under airport ground operations, and vice versa. 
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marine and coastal observations and the delivery of marine and coastal products to users. 

Through the joint National Ice Center, the Program collaborates with NESDIS, the U.S. Navy, 

and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to provide ice warning and advisory services. It supports the 

Navy, the USCG, the U.S. Maritime Administration, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

(USACE) to operate the Nation’s Marine Transportation System safely. It collaborates with the 

DOD, FEMA, DHS, and USACE to provide tropical cyclone warning and forecast services; with 

the USCG, Navy, Air Force, and private entities to disseminate weather information to mariners. 

It supports NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS) on the PORTS and TIDES programs; and 

through the World Meteorological Organization to coordinate maritime weather and ice safety 

services with national meteorological and hydrological services world-wide for consistent and 

seamless services that cover world oceans. It also collaborates with NOAA’s Office of Response 

and Restoration, Department of Defense, USCG and Department of Homeland Security to 

support emergency responses to maritime incidences such as hazardous material spills; maritime 

domain search, rescue, and recovery operations; and to maintain maritime domain situational 

awareness. 

The NWS and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are working together to improve the 

incorporation of weather information by state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) in their 

decision making for high impact weather events. Currently, the NWS provides weather 

information through a variety of dissemination mechanisms used by some state DOTs for the 

purpose of ensuring motorist safety, and for protecting life and property. This includes 

coordination on forecasts and wording of variable message signs along roadways, engagement 

with state DOTs on 2-way NWSChat, and evaluation of road models based on NWS grids. NWS 

provides direct decision support to some state DOTs in certain non-routine situations, from realtime to seasonal events, which threaten public safety or can cripple road and bridge 

infrastructure. Support has been provided outside of standard products for fires (particulates and 

winds), dense fog, dust storms, hazardous material incidents/spills, coastal and inland flooding 

(flash flood, probabilistic river forecasts, precipitation frequency Atlas and runoff), and 

dangerous winter conditions (black ice, snow accumulation, melt related flooding) or tropical 

storms. Direct support includes single-slide IDSS (Impact-based Decision Support Services) 

graphics prepared for specific DOTs and experimental local graphical travel pages. State DOTs 

have also captured NWS graphics for redisplay directly on their public websites or internal web 

pages for each mile marker as well as for content in their 5-1-1 Travel Information Systems. To 

improve readiness, NWS provides seasonal training workshops and site visits with state DOTs. 

NOAA/National Ocean Service 

Marine Transportation System Services 

The National Ocean Service (NOS) is the primary civil agency within the federal government 

responsible for the health and safety of our nation's coastal and oceanic environment. Largely 

through the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) program 

line (http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/ ), NOS acquires water levels, currents, and other physical 

oceanographic and meteorological data and distributes these data and circulation predictions as 

elements of an integrated NOS program. This program provides a comprehensive science-based 

suite of information required by the marine transportation community to ensure safe and efficient 

transportation, including the transport of hazardous materials. NOS also provides coastal 
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oceanographic and meteorological 

products required by the NWS to meet its 

short-term weather and forecasting 

responsibilities, including tsunami and 

storm surge warnings. NOS manages 

several observing systems and programs; 

however, four in particular are heavily 

linked to the capability of NOAA to meet 

the marine transportation needs of the 

nation: 

National Water Level Observation 

Network (NWLON). NOS manages the 

NWLON, which officially consists of 210 

stations located along the coasts of the 

United States and the Great Lakes, from 

which water level data as well as other 

oceanographic and meteorological data 

are collected and disseminated. NWLON provides data and supporting information to a number 

of NOAA and other federal programs, such as the NOS Nautical Charting Program, NOS 

Shoreline Mapping Program, NWS Tsunami Warning System, NWS storm surge 

warning/forecast activities, and the Climate Services Program. Approximately 182 of the 210 

NWLON stations contain at least one meteorological sensor (an anemometer, a barometer, an air 

temperature sensor and at some Great Lakes stations a relative humidity sensor), and 150 stations 

are outfitted with a full suite, which includes dual anemometers, a barometer and an air 

temperature sensor. Water level and meteorological data are automatically formatted into SHEF 

bulletin format for inclusion into the NOAA AWIPS system. In FY12, two NWLON stations in 

Texas were upgraded to Sentinels, which are specially-designed water level stations that are built 

to withstand a Category 4 hurricane, and these stations include a full suite of meteorological 

sensors. For more information see http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/nwlon.html. 

Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS®). PORTS® is a decision support tool 

which improves the safety and efficiency of maritime commerce and coastal resource 

management through the integration of real-time environmental observations, forecasts, and 

other geospatial information. PORTS® measures and disseminates observations and predictions 

of water levels, currents, salinity, waves, bridge air gap and many meteorological parameters, 

needed and requested by the mariner to navigate safely. There are 23 existing PORTS® systems 

that comprise a total of 86 PORTS® water level stations. Currently, 71 of these stations contain at 

least one meteorological sensor (anemometer, barometer, air temperature sensor or a visibility 

sensor). In FY15, one new PORTS® is planned in Morgan City, LA. This station will include 

meteorological sensors including winds. 

Visibility station in Mobile, AL used to determine fog. 

Photo credit: NOS 
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The PORTS® systems come in a variety of sizes and configurations, each specifically designed 

to meet local user requirements. PORTS® is a partnership program in which local operating 

partners fund the installation and operation of the measurement systems. The largest of NOS' 

existing installations is composed of over 100 separate instruments. The smallest consists of a 

single water level gauge and associated oceanographic and meteorological instruments. 

Regardless of its size, each PORTS® installation provides information that allows shippers and 

port operators to maximize port throughput while maintaining an adequate margin of safety for 

the increasingly large vessels visiting United States ports. In addition, prevention of maritime 

accidents is the most cost effective measure that can be taken to protect fragile coastal 

ecosystems. One major oil spill can cost billions of dollars and destroy sensitive marine habitats 

critical to supporting coastal marine 

ecosystems. PORTS® provides information to 

make navigation safer, thus reducing the 

likelihood of a maritime accident, and also 

provides the information necessary to mitigate 

the damages from a spill, should one occur. An 

extensible PORTS® can be integrated with 

other marine transportation technologies such 

as the Coast Guard’s Automated Identification 

System AIS, Electronic Chart Display 

Information Systems ECDIS, and Vessel 

Traffic Systems VTS. Visibility sensors are the 

most recent sensor type to be integrated into the 

PORTS® systems, and there are currently two 

visibility stations installed in Mobile Bay 

PORTS®, three in the San Francisco PORTS®

and three in the new Jacksonville PORTS®. 

More visibility installations are planned for 

Narragansett Bay and Chesapeake Bay 

PORTS® in FY14/15. For more information see 

http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/ports.html. 

National Operational Coastal Modeling Program (NOCMP). NOCMP serves a variety of users 

with oceanographic nowcast and forecast products for ports, estuaries and the Great Lakes. The 

integration of PORTS® technology and numerical circulation models allows nowcasts and 

predictions of up to five parameters (water level, current speed and direction, winds, water 

temperature and salinity) within the boundaries of the twelve models at locations where physical 

measurements are not available. In FY14 a new model in San Francisco Bay was implemented, 

along with nested grid models in Mobile, Gulfport and Pascagoula to enhance the Northern Gulf 

of Mexico model. Ongoing developments will enable the operational forecast systems to 

incorporate ecological forecast models and integrate the output with circulation measurements to 

provide information on transports of materials in the ecosystem essential for effective marine 

resource management and homeland security. Developed in FY13, model information is now 

automatically formatted into SHEF bulletin format for inclusion into the NOAA AWIPS system. 

For more information see http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/nocmp.html. 
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The NOS Continuous Real-Time Monitoring System (CORMS). CORMS was designed to 

operate on a 24 x 7 basis to ensure the accuracy and working status of oceanographic and 

meteorological observations acquired via the NWLON and PORTS® programs. CORMS 

improves the overall data quality assurance of real-time measurements, reduces NOAA's 

potential liability by not publicly disseminating inadequate data, and makes the observations 

more useful for all applications. CORMS ingests real-time data from all field sensors and 

systems, including the operational nowcast/forecast models, determines data quality, and 

identifies and communicates the presence of invalid or suspect data to real-time users/customers 

who rely on the data. CORMS is especially vigilant during storm and tsunami events to ensure 

the full set of products and services is being disseminated in a timely fashion. An advanced 

version of this system, CORMS 3, provides personnel with alerts as soon as any sensor data are 

suspect or any communications problems arise. This enables speedier communication to 

instrument labs and field crews who may fix the station remotely or initiate emergency 

maintenance, thereby decreasing downtime of a particular station or sensor. 

U.S. Coast Guard 

Although no Coast Guard cutters or shore units are solely dedicated to meteorology, they 

collectively perform a variety of functions in support of the national meteorology program. 

USCG ocean-going cutters and coastal stations provide weather observations to the NWS. Coast 

Guard communications stations broadcast NWS marine forecasts, weather warnings, and weather 

facsimile charts. They also collect weather observations from commercial shipping for the NWS. 

USCG conducts the International Ice Patrol (IIP) under the provisions of the International 

Convention for Safety of Life at Sea. The IIP uses sensor-equipped aircraft to patrol the Grand 

Banks of Newfoundland to locate and track icebergs that pose a hazard to North Atlantic 

shipping. Direct observations are supplemented and extrapolated using a numerical iceberg drift 

and deterioration model. IIP determines the geographic limits of the iceberg hazard and, twice 

daily, broadcasts iceberg warning bulletins and ice facsimile charts which define the limits of the 

iceberg threat during the iceberg season (spring and summer). IIP annually archives data on all 

confirmed and suspected icebergs, and forwards these data to the National Snow and Ice Data 

Center. These data can be accessed via the IIP web page, 

www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=IIPHome. Archived data contains all iceberg sighting data 

along with the last model-predicted position of each berg. 

The Coast Guard participates with the Navy and NOAA in supporting the National Ice Center, a 

multi-agency operational center that produces analyses and forecasts of Arctic, Antarctic, Great 

Lakes, and coastal ice conditions. The Coast Guard also collaborates with NOAA in operating 

the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) which deploys and maintains NOAA’s automated 

network of environmental monitoring platforms in the deep ocean and coastal regions. Five 

Coast Guard personnel fill key technical and logistics support positions within the NDBC. Coast 

Guard cutters support the heavy lift deployment and retrieval of data buoys and provide periodic 

maintenance visits to both buoys and coastal stations, expending approximately 180 cutter days 

annually. Coast Guard aircraft, small boats, and shore facilities also provide direct NDBC 

support. 
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Meteorological activities are coordinated by the Office of Marine Transportation Systems at 

Coast Guard Headquarters. Field management of Coast Guard meteorological support services is 

performed at the Coast Guard Area and District levels. 

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS 

DOT/Federal Highway Administration 

Road Weather Management Program 

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) coordinates a number of research and 

development activities aimed at improving safety, mobility, environmental quality, and national 

security on the nation's highways. These activities include identification and mitigation of 

weather impacts on the roadway environment. The FHWA does not operate either the highways 

or their supporting weather systems but seeks to improve operations in partnership with other 

public agencies (primarily State Departments of Transportation), national laboratories, private 

firms, and universities across the transportation and meteorological communities. Since 1999, 

FHWA's weather-related research activities have been centered in the Road Weather 

Management Program (RWMP) within the Office of Transportation Operations in coordination 

with the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Joint Program Office, which is housed in the 

Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA). 

The goals of the RWMP are limited but span many areas to include: improving understanding of 

weather impacts on highway transportation systems, demonstrating a nation-wide system for 

observed road weather data, research new environmental data sources, enhancing road weather 

(e.g. pavement temperature) and traffic modeling with weather inputs, enhancing mechanisms 

for communicating road weather information to users, and developing decision support tools. For 

FY2014─ FY2015, RWMP major research projects include expanded road weather observed 

data management and decision support applications, weather and road data from vehicles or 

mobile devices (mobile data), and weather-responsive traffic management. 

Road Weather Observing, Data Collection and Management – The Weather Data 

Environment (WxDE) 

Known as Environmental Sensor Stations (ESS), the standard method for observing road weather 

conditions is with fixed sensors near and/or actually embedded in the road surface that report 

common atmospheric weather variables plus pavement and subsurface road temperature, road 

wetness and pavement chemical concentration. Owned and operated by state, provincial or local 

transportation agencies, nearly 2,500 ESS are deployed across North America and together 

comprise one of the largest weather observing networks. 

From 2006-2013, a U.S. DOT-sponsored experimental system entitled Clarus collected, 

formatted, quality checked, and displayed ESS road weather data from across North America. 

Upon meeting its goals, the Clarus System was decommissioned on June 15, 2013. However, the 

operational capability of the Clarus System is currently being transitioned to the NWS. FHWA 

and NWS signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in November 2010 to establish a 
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framework for cooperation and coordination for projects like the Clarus transition to operations. 

In FY 2014, these agencies have been continuing to collaborate in the transition efforts. An 

important area of current 

research for both agencies is the 

gathering of weather and road 

data from vehicles. 

Recognizing the continued need 

for road weather observations in 

order to execute the RWMP 

research, the Program started a 

new project in FY 2014 called 

the Weather Data Environment 

(WxDE). The primary purpose 

of the WxDE is to provide a 

data and interoperability 

platform for supporting 

connected vehicle research. In 

particular, the WxDE will 

support the intelligent 

aggregation, normalization, 

warehousing, processing, and 

dissemination of road weather 

data gathered from a variety of 

fixed and mobile sources. In fall 

2013, an interim demonstration 

instance (see image to right, 

source: http://wxdedemo.leidoshost.com/dataMap.jsp) of the WxDE was launched to the 

community and since then, numerous improvements have been added to the system. In fall 2014, 

the demonstration instance will be transitioned to an operational production instance and released 

for general access. 

USDOT Connected Vehicle Research – Vehicle Weather Observations 

Connected Vehicles Research is a multimodal initiative that aims to enable safe, interoperable 

networked wireless communications among vehicles, the transportation infrastructure, and 

personal communication devices.1

 This research aims to leverage the potentially transformative 

capabilities of wireless technology to gather much more system data ultimately making surface 

transportation safer, smarter, and greener. Far beyond reliance on fixed or passive sensors, this 

emerging mobile technology has the potential to provide more extensive real-time travel and 

weather information to both the public sector and private industry. 

Because vehicles were not designed as weather stations, direct weather sensor readings from 

original vehicle equipment are limited to mostly air temperature and pressure, but when 

 

1

 See http://www.its.dot.gov/connected_vehicle/connected_vehicle.htm. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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combined with other vehicle data they could prove useful. Some of the inferred weather 

variables from vehicle data are precipitation rate, visibility, and road surface condition. The 

RWMP has been working on a Vehicle Data Translator (VDT) to process weather-related data 

from cars and trucks in order to better characterize the driving conditions along standard distance 

(e.g. one mile) or user-defined road segments. 

In partnership with the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and the states of 

Nevada, Michigan, and Minnesota, the FHWA has been carrying out an expanded project in FY 

2014 to demonstrate how data already resident on state fleet vehicles could be collected, 

processed, transmitted and used for providing motorist advisory warnings and enhancing 

maintenance decision support systems. The project has been helping to determine requirements, 

standards, and procedures for the collection and processing of weather, road condition, and 

vehicle status variables from mobile sources. Mobile weather and road condition data will also 

be integrated into the WxDE. The vision is for both public and private decision-makers to have 

the benefit of decision support tools that are supported by data from millions of vehicles through 

the connected vehicle initiative. 

Road Weather High-priority Research Areas 

The RWMP has identified the following high-priority research areas for the next ITS Strategic 

Plan for FY 2015-2019: 

• Data and Applications – Continue research on road weather sensor design and integration 

within vehicles; data communications and standards; data management and quality 

checking; interpretation of observed mobile data and proper assimilation methods for 

incorporation of mobile data with other observed and modeled data; and, improved 

methods for information display and delivery including an understanding of human 

factors associated with user interpretation. 

• State and Local Implementation Issues – From the existing RWMP projects, get a better 

understanding of the barriers and opportunities for public agencies to make investments 

on Connected Vehicle RWM applications, including the extent of infrastructure 

investments. 

• Multi-Modal Integration – Continue research to build the bridge between ongoing state 

DOT efforts and connected vehicles and automation, in accordance with updates to the 

National ITS Architecture. 

• Architecture & Standards – Develop a Connected Vehicle Reference Implementation 

Architecture for RWM data and applications. 

• Early Stage Applications – Engage the solutions developer community to research and 

develop applications that leverage a flexible RWM connected vehicle communications 

environment. 

• Connected Vehicle Pilots – Create real-world environments, urban and rural, in which 

public- and private-sector cooperation in implementation can educate the deployment 

community on the opportunities for replicating deployment. 

• Data Exchange Facilitation & Interoperability – Coordinate, internationally and 

domestically, information sharing specifications, architecture, and standards necessary 

for enhanced road weather data sharing across the public and private sectors within the 
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transportation and meteorological communities. Develop and promote strategies that will 

foster interoperability among agencies for ingesting and disseminating weather data more 

universally. 

• Surface Modeling – High spatial and temporal resolution surface modeling (integration of 

national weather prediction, pavement, traffic, and maintenance operations models) 

• Vehicle Automation – Understand the impact of road weather in connected vehicle 

automation and role of automation-enabled road weather applications in improving 

safety, mobility and environment. 

• Expanded Regional Pilots – Demonstrate data management capabilities to support multimodal RWM operations and data fusion, including crowd-sourced information. 

• Climate Change and Sustainability – Climate change, especially meeting the information 

needs during extreme weather events, and role of ITS in meeting the needs. Analyzing 

and anticipating the effects of climate change will ensure sustainable activities and 

strategies for deployment and operational decisions related to the ITS environment. 

Weather Support for Traffic Managers 

Unlike the national aviation system which has been a heavy user of weather information for 

decades, ground traffic management centers have been slow to integrate weather information 

into their operations. Since 2006, the RWMP focused a series of research projects on WeatherResponsive Traffic Management (WRTM) specifically addressing four areas: data collection and 

integration, human factors, WRTM strategies, and traffic analysis and modeling. 

Initial research has been completed in many areas such as driver behavior in inclement weather; 

traffic speed and volume adjustment guidelines for various precipitation and visibility 

conditions; WRTM state of the practice review of management strategies; test and evaluation of 

those strategies; and message guidance for road weather advisory and control information. 

Only until the last few years have traffic models incorporated weather data or the effects of 

weather. The RWMP completed research on the integration of weather into several traffic 

models including dynamic traffic prediction and assignment systems. In FY 2014, deployment 

began on a limited basis in some US cities. Research is also being conducted on the use of 

mobile weather data for traffic management. 

The FHWA will continue participation in several OFCM projects including the WIST Working 

Group and the Committee on Integrated Observing Systems (CIOS), among others. The FHWA 

is also participating in NOAA efforts to explore the development of a national mesonet system, 

and is leading the Department’s effort regarding the transportation Societal Benefit Areas of the 

National Earth Observations assessment. Nearing the end of several research projects on data 

management and applications, the RWMP has begun to look at other problem areas and update 

the program’s research agenda. For example, research has begun on the impact of weather on 

trucking, especially in the area of delay costs in truck heavy corridors/regions. The RWMP looks 

forward to building on past successes and partnering with organizations that share the same 

passion for reducing the impact of weather on the nation’s surface transportation systems. 
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DOT/Federal Railroad Administration 

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has outlined plans to support research on improving 

the collection, dissemination, and application of weather data to enhance railroad safety through 

its Intelligent Weather Systems project included in the FRA’s 5-year Research and Development 

Strategic Plan. These programs address safety issues for freight, commuter, intercity passenger, 

and high-speed passenger railroads. Intelligent weather systems for railroad operations consist of 

networks of local weather sensors and instrumentation—both wayside and onboard 

locomotives—combined with national, regional, and local forecast data to alert train control 

centers, train crews, and maintenance crews of actual or potential hazardous weather conditions. 

FRA intends to examine ways that weather data can be collected on railroads and moved to 

forecasters, and ways that forecasts and current weather information can be moved to railroad 

control centers and train and maintenance crews to avoid potential accident situations. This is 

one of the partnership initiatives identified in the National Science and Technology Council’s 

National Transportation Technology Plan. 

Operationally, the FRA relies on the meteorological data streams coming for the National 

Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center when issuance of regulatory waivers to railroads 

during times of severe weather is necessary. 

NOAA/National Ocean Service (NOS) 

Marine Transportation Research 

Ocean Systems Test and Evaluation Program (OSTEP). OSTEP facilitates the transition of new 

oceanographic and meteorological sensors and systems to an operational status, in support of the 

NWLON and PORTS® programs. OSTEP tests instruments to ensure that they meet NOS 

requirements, develops operational deployment and implementation processes, and establishes 

quality-control criteria. OSTEP also develops defensible justification for the selection of 

instruments used for CO-OPS installations, and subsequent validation procedures for the devices 

traceable to U.S. National Standards or other accepted standards. Ongoing testing will reveal 

correlations of visibility data to other meteorological data types, and will result in a possible 

change in the standard sensor configuration of PORTS® visibility stations. 
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WILDLAND FIRE WEATHER SERVICES 

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 

Interagency Collaborative Programs and Products 

Fire Weather Services in the National Coordination Structure for Wildland Fire 

Management 

Just as the service category for aviation weather derives from the need to understand and prepare 

for the influences of weather and other atmospheric conditions on the activity of flying aircraft, 

wildland fire weather services are needed to understand and predict the influences of weather and 

other atmospheric conditions on fire in the environment, particularly with the objective of 

assisting in the activity of managing and controlling such fires. Wildland fire weather services 

are therefore an integral part of the larger activity of wildland fire management. 

National Wildfire Coordinating Group 

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) is a collaborative group of 

intergovernmental partners with a shared vision and national responsibilities for wildland fire 

management. The partners focus on firefighter and public safety by improving coordination and 

integration through sharing talents, information, and resources. The NWCG develops and 

maintains standards, qualifications, and training for use by its member organizations. The 

NWCG enables member agency efforts to be consistent and coordinated while working 

collaboratively toward common goals. The Executive Board of the NWCG includes the five 

Federal wildland fire management agencies: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bureau 

of Indian Affairs (BIA), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and National Park Service (NPS) in 

the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) in the Department of 

Agriculture. The Executive Board also includes representatives from the U.S. Fire 

Administration within the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland 

Security, USFS Research, and three entities with responsibility for wildfire management on nonFederal forest lands: the National Association of State Foresters (NASF), the Intertribal Timber 

Council (ITC), and the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Oversight, policy coordination, 

and strategic direction for NWCG are provided by a series of federal and non-federal groups 

from the senior executive to the fire program levels. 

The NWCG is organized into four branches, fourteen committees, and numerous subgroups, 

representing the many business areas of wildland fire (e.g. aviation, equipment, fuels, and 

For purposes of this Federal Plan, Wildland Fire Weather Services are those specialized meteorological 

services and facilities established to meet the requirements of the wildfire management community at the 

Federal, state, tribal, and local levels. The primary areas of service are to support the reduction of wildfire 

initiation potential and the mitigation of both human and environmental impacts once initiation does 

occur. Services can include support to first responders and land managers and climate services tailored to 

wildland fire management. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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qualifications). The NWCG committee most directly and frequently involved with capabilities 

for informing the wildland fire community about fire weather is the Fire Environment 

Committee (FENC) in the Equipment and Technology Branch. This Committee has chartered 

several permanent subcommittees: 

• The Fire Weather Subcommittee (FWS) maintains the Interagency Wildland Fire Weather 

Station Standards and Guidelines, which addresses the network of permanently located 

Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS), portable stations used for incident response 

and prescribed fire, and manual fire weather stations. The Fire Environment Observation 

Unit under the FWS consists of the agency RAWS program managers who maintain the 

network of 2200 stations for their wildland fire agencies. 

• The Fire Danger Subcommittee provides interagency direction to the Forest Service for the 

National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) – a strategic planning tool and its national 

processor, the Weather Information Management System (WIMS). RAWS and manual 

station observations are key weather inputs to the NFDRS in WIMS. 

• The Fire Behavior Subcommittee provides interagency guidance for the use of fire weather 

observations for determining fire behavior predictions from a variety of tactical applications. 

These predictions include the work of Fire Behavior Analysts working closely with Incident 

Meteorologists on incidents. 

• The National Predictive Services Subcommittee oversees and provides guidance to the 

Predictive Services Program, which provides an important range of fire weather capabilities 

to the wildland fire community through the Predictive Services Units discussed below. 

In 2012, the FENC developed guidance released by the Executive Board on management of the 

RAWS network: http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/426/index.htm. The RAWS network is 

generally located in remote areas. RAWS observations fill a critical spatial gap in the 

initialization of the National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD). 

National Interagency Fire 

Center 

The National Interagency 

Fire Center (NIFC), located 

in Boise, Idaho, is the 

nation's support center for 

wildland firefighting. Eight 

different agencies and 

organizations are part of 

NIFC: the five wildland 

management agencies, the 

National Weather Service 

(NWS) in the National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA), 

the National Association of 

State Foresters, and the 

Entrance to the NIFC in Boise, showing the logos of the participating 

Federal agencies and the National Association of State Foresters. 
 Wildland Fire Weather Services 

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U.S. Fire Administration. Decisions are made using the interagency cooperation concept 

because NIFC has no single director or manager. 

The National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC), located at the NIFC, coordinates the 

national mobilization of resources for wildland fire and other incidents throughout the United 

States. Wildfire suppression is built on a three-tiered system of support: the local area, one of 

eleven geographic areas, and the national level. When a fire is reported, the local agency and its 

firefighting partners respond. If the fire continues to grow, the agency can ask for help from its 

Geographic Area Coordinating Center (GACC). When a geographic area has exhausted all its 

resources, it can turn to the NICC for help in locating what is needed, from air tankers to radios 

to firefighting crews to incident management teams. 

National Predictive Services Program 

Under the Predictive Services Program, meteorologists who specialize in fire weather services 

team with intelligence specialists and wildland fire analysts at the GACCs and the NICC to form 

Predictive Services Units. Each GACC and the NICC has a Predictive Services unit staffed with 

one or two meteorologists and an intelligence specialist. The NICC unit and Pacific Northwest 

GACC include a wildland fire analyst, and some of the GACC units add a fire behavior specialist 

during fire season. The Predictive Services units act as centers of expertise to produce integrated 

planning and decision support tools that enable more proactive, safe, and cost-effective fire 

management. The Predictive Services Program functions under the guidance of the National 

Predictive Services Subcommittee of the NWCG. 

NOAA/National Weather Service 

The National Weather Service (NWS) Fire Weather Services support Federal, state, and local 

land management, supporting partners such as the Department of Interior and the Department of 

Agriculture. On the national level, the Office of Climate, Water and Weather Services 

(OCWWS) directly supports tactical and strategic operations at NIFC. Also nationally, the NWS 

Storm Prediction Center issues assessments in advance of the development of critical fire 

weather patterns up to 8 days in advance. NWS Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) also issue a 

complete Fire Weather Forecast twice daily, with updates as needed. The forecast contains 

weather information relevant to fire control and smoke management for the next 36-48 hours. 

The appropriate dispatch zones and crews use this information to plan staffing levels, equipment 

placement, prescribed burn conditions, and to assess the daily fire danger. Once per day, NWS 

meteorologists issue forecasts for specific wildland observation sites for input into the National 

Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS). NFDRS determines land use restrictions and informs the 

public of the daily fire danger via the Smokey Bear awareness campaign. The WFOs also 

determine if a Fire Weather Watch or a Red Flag Warning needs to be issued. These products 

alert the public and other agencies that conditions are creating the potential for weather 

conditions creating extreme fire behavior. Finally, on a request basis, NWS forecasters issue 

spot forecasts for specific fire incidents, prescribed burn projects or other all-hazard incidents. In 

addition, the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) produces high resolution 

model guidance for winds, relative humidity, convection, precipitation and heat that may impact fire 

growth and environmental smoke transport over next 3-6 hours. 
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Upon request, NWS also provides on-scene assistance at large wildfires or other disasters, 

including HAZMAT incidents, by deploying Incident Meteorologists (IMET) to work with 

Incident Management Teams. These forecasters come from many different WFOs of all major 

NWS regions and, in some cases, support incidents more than a thousand miles from their home 

station. IMETs travel quickly to the incident site and then assemble a mobile weather center 

capable of providing continuous meteorological support for the duration of the incident. They 

gather other weather information through a remote connection and provide stand-up and on-thespot forecasts/analysis to firefighters and agency heads. The IMET program is coordinated and 

implemented nationally by the National Fire Weather Operations Coordinator, National Science 

and Dissemination Meteorologist, and the National Fire Weather Program Manager, located at 

the NIFC. 

The NWS has implemented regional digital weather files to complement currently-provided spot 

forecasts. The weather output enables Fire Behavior Analysts to directly input gridded weather 

data into fire danger assessments. These improvements are particularly important near zones 

where planned communities meet the wildland forests (known as the Wildland-Urban Interface 

or WUI). Recent improvements also include the creation of two fire weather specific gridded 

weather elements, an improved spot forecast program with access to smoke trajectory modeling. 

In addition NOAA and the USFS signed a fire weather research MOU that serves to coordinate 

applied fire weather research among the two agencies. Finally, the NWS renewed the 

Interagency Agreement for Meteorological Services with land management Agency Federal 

partners in September of 2012. The Agreement is valid through September 2017. NWS will 

continue excellent interagency relations with the wildland fire community through 

implementation of a new Interagency Agreement for Meteorological Services. 

USDA/U.S. Forest Service 

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) uses meteorological data and interpretation skills data for 

decision making regarding wildland fire management. The Forest Service Fire and Aviation 

Management (FAM) program operates a network of approximately 950 remote automated 

weather stations (RAWS) in a national network of over 2600 stations. The network provides 

real-time information which is key in the highly utilized Weather Information Management 

System (WIMS) used by fire agencies across the country. The data collected is crucial to 

supporting active wildfire decision-making including use in the Wildland Fire Decision Support 

System and associated fire modeling tools as well as for decision-making for prescribed fire 

operations. 

The program provides liaison with the Satellite Telemetry Interagency Working Group (STIWG) 

and its associated Technical Working Group and with the NWS, the wildland fire management 

agencies in the Department of the Interior (BLM, FWS, BIA, and NPS), State fire protection 

agencies, and the NWCG on the delivery of fire weather data and forecasting, critical for safety 

and effectiveness of firefighting and for flash flood warnings. The Forest Service RAWS 

Program manages the Interagency RAWS Website to support the program. The website address 

is http://raws.fam.nwcg.gov/. These stations form the basis for the assessment of fire danger, the 

pre-positioning of firefighting resources, and the conducting of prescribed fire operations. The 

costs include maintenance support contracts, maintenance training sessions, contracts for the 
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delivery of this information to agency personnel, fire 

weather forecasters, and state forestry agencies that 

use the data in real-time for critical decisions. 

The agency weather program works with the 

National Predictive Services Group at the NIFC to 

provide technical support and oversight to the 11 

GACCs. It also works closely with the Forest 

Service Research and Development staff in the 

oversight of the five Fire Consortia for Advanced 

Modeling of Meteorology and Smoke (FCAMMS) 

locations. This effort, in cooperation with NOAA 

and the Environmental Protection Agency, provides 

valuable fire weather, smoke forecasting and air 

quality information to fire and air quality programs. 

The FCAMMS and Predictive Services Group 

provide critical information for both planning of 

wildland fire activities as well as operational 

decision-making. 

Forest Service FAM has also initiated the Wildland 

Fire Air Quality Response Program to address the 

increasingly severe smoke impacts from wildfires. 

The Program encompasses a national emergency 

response cache of smoke monitoring and 

meteorological equipment which display data to 

internal decision-makers as well as the public through an array of websites including EPA’s 

AirNow. The program has developed a cadre of interagency personnel called Air Resource 

Advisors who are available for deployment to wildfire incidents to provide air quality impact 

information, monitoring, predictive smoke modeling and collaboration with states and those 

affected by smoke. Operational smoke modeling capability is another element utilizing the 

FCAMMS tools and recent refined model capabilities with finer spatial resolution and greater 

temporal scales. The Program also coordinates and collaborates with CDC, EPA and many states 

in guiding air quality response to wildfire smoke impacts. 

The Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS) integrates emerging science and 

technology in support of risk-informed decision making. It is a web-based system for 

documenting decisions, supporting analyses, and completing operational plans applicable to and 

used for all wildland fires. It promotes access to numerous information analysis tools in the areas 

of fire behavior modeling, fire weather information, economic principles, air quality and smoke 

management, and information technology to support effective wildland fire decisions consistent 

with Land and Resource Management Plans and Fire Management Plans. The WFDSS greatly 

reduces text input requirements by using spatially oriented and graphically displayed 

information. The system incorporates a progressive decision documentation and analysis process 

that can be scaled and adapted to match situational changes. Through WFDSS, information is 

assembled, consolidated, and processed for decision makers in a way that fosters collaboration 

Wildland fires in the wildland-urban 

interface are a continuing threat to 

lives and property. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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and, ultimately, provides better opportunities to improve large wildland fire strategic decision 

making. 

U.S. Geological Survey 

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the USFS, routinely provides weekly 

forecasts of fire danger for the conterminous US and provides these forecasts to the National 

Interagency Fire Center. The forecasts are derived from an integration of vegetation condition 

observed from satellite and meteorological forecasts provided from the NWS’s National Digital 

Forecast Database (NDFD). The NDFD forecasts provide meteorological information necessary 

for the calculation of live and dead fuel moisture, a critical element in determining wildland fire 

danger. 

For active fire, the Basic Fire Behavior and Short-Term Fire Behavior components of the 

WFDSS use forecasted weather from the NDFD. NDFD incorporates Remote Access Weather 

Station (RAWS) location to derive forecasted weather data. This forecast information, along with 

geospatial data provide by the USGS are used to derive live and dead fuel moisture 

characteristics and wind conditions to aid in the prediction of fire behavior. 

Landslides Hazards Program. Debris flows and flash floods that originate from steep 

watersheds burned by wildfire pose considerable hazards to downstream communities and 

structures. Fires throughout the western U.S. have impacted hundreds of thousands of acres of 

public land and made it susceptible to increased runoff and debris-flow activity. Science-based 

information on post wildfire debris-flow hazards is critically needed by Federal, State, and local 

agencies to issue warnings and to mitigate the impacts of post-fire hazards on people, their 

property, and natural resources. A joint NOAA/USGS, flash flood and debris flow warning 

system for recently burned basins in southern California was established in 2005 by linking the 

existing NWS Flash Flood Monitoring and Prediction (FFMP) system with rainfall intensityduration thresholds for burned areas developed by the USGS. Such a system is being used to 

issue Outlooks, Watches and Warnings that are disseminated to emergency-management 

personnel and the public through the NWS existing protocol. The USGS has also developed 

models for characterizing potential post-fire debris flow susceptibility that, when compared with 

forecast or measured precipitation, have been used to generate maps of potential hazards in realtime, which have been disseminated to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 

and the public through existing NWS protocol. The USGS has also developed models for 

characterizing potential post-fire debris flow susceptibility that, when compared with forecast or 

measured precipitation, have been used to generate maps of potential hazards in real- time, which 

have been disseminated to FEMA and to State and local agencies. Since its inception, numerous 

advisories have been given to residents and public officials, resulting in saved lives and reduced 

property damage. 
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SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS 

Department of Agriculture 

 U.S. Forest Service 

The research and development (R&D) mission of the USFS is to develop and deliver knowledge 

and innovative technology to improve the health and use of the Nation’s forests and grasslands—

both public and private. R&D provides this information to landowners, managers, policymakers, 

and the American people to help inform their decisions and actions. USFS researchers work 

independently and with a range of partners to provide land managers with information and 

technology to make management and land use decisions on issues such as invasive species, 

healthy watersheds, wildfires, climate change, and traditional and alternative forest products. The 

USFS R&D workforce includes scientists and technicians in the biological, physical, and social 

science fields, working in partnership with researchers from other agencies, academia, nonprofit 

groups, and industry. A few of the key accomplishments:

• Forest Service scientists made improvements to the Water Erosion Prediction Project 

(WEPP) model for forest conditions. One of the more recent improvements within the 

WEPP technology is the addition of shallow lateral flow as one of the primary sources of 

runoff from steep forested watersheds. The resulting predictive model shows the 

importance of lateral flow in delivering phosphorus from steep forested hill slopes to 

forest streams. 

• Forest Service scientists combined an advanced ecosystem process model with data from 

FIA and remote sensing to separate the effects of disturbance factors from nondisturbance 

factors. Results showed that disturbance factors had the strongest effects overall, but 

with significant regional and temporal differences. This is the first time such separation 

of causes has been possible at the continental scale, and this new information can be used 

to support development of policies and approaches to improve sustainable forest 

management and provide for cleaner air and water.

• Forest Service research has enhanced our understanding of the effects of weather on 

forest fires and has developed tools to predict fire and smoke behavior that protect public 

health. Forest Service scientists developed standards for characterizing and measuring 

effects of airborne pollutants on wild and planted forest lands, and for monitoring how 

ecosystems may be affected by changes in concentrations of pollutants over time. This 

research will increase the accuracy of models that land managers use to minimize effects 

of air pollution on public lands and wilderness areas. 

The 2012 Planning Rule requires national forests to consider air quality when developing Plan 

components and to treat air resources similar to soil and water resources. Forest Service 

managers directly monitor and use models developed by Forest Service researchers to measure 

or estimate the amount of atmospheric deposition occurring on National Forests and how this 

deposition is affecting Forest resources. Long-term air quality and resource monitoring on and 

near National Forest System (NFS) lands and Class I areas (area classification that receives the 

highest degree of protection under the Clean Air Act) has helped establish air pollution trends 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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and existing condition of the resources. With this information an Air Quality Portal has been 

developed as an online decision management tool to assist forest managers in evaluating air 

pollution impacts on their forests. 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) supports innovative, near-term 

demonstrations of its scientific results, technology developments, and satellite observations for 

societal benefit through its Applied Science Program element of the Earth Science Division 

(ESD). These projects serve as a bridge between NASA-generated data, derived products, 

information, knowledge and the decision-making needs of public and private organizations. Endusers of NASA’s products are able to apply Earth observations and model results to support 

activities that influence productivity, enhance quality of life, and strengthen the economy. 

Wildland Fire Weather Applications: New Opportunities. In FY 2014, the NASA ESD, Applied 

Sciences Program peer-review-selected nine (9) proposed wildland fire projects to advance to a 

Phase II (Decision Support Phase, 3-years), where projects are expected to successfully transition 

their capabilities to operational use by partner organizations. Partner organizations are expected 

to ramp-up their support and provide operational continuity of the transitioned capabilities. The 

projects advancing to Phase II focused on fire-related multidisciplinary topics including health 

and air quality, ecological forecasting, fire weather, water resources, disasters, and climate, and 

addressed all stages of wildland fire activities (pre-fire, active-fire, and post-fire assessment). In 

FY15, some of the projects are expected to provide baseline data, models and information, in a 

quasi-operational environment, allowing early assessment of adaptation by their partners. 

Of the nine selected wildland fire applications projects, four had a focused fire-weather 

forecasting and modeling component. Those four projects are highlighted here: 

• Wildland Fire Behavior and Risk Forecasting focuses on improving forecasting of 

wildland fire behavior and risk through inclusion of NASA / NOAA remote sensing 

observations, integrated within NOAA fire weather forecasting systems. The system is 

based on a coupled atmosphere-wildland fire model, which combines the Weather 

Research and Forecasting model (WRF) with a fire spread model (WRF-SFIRE) and a 

dynamic fuel moisture model. Dynamic data from NASA and NOAA orbital platforms 

(moisture estimation, burn scar mapping, and fire detection) are assimilated into the 

simulations. The system is accessed through NOAA FX-Net system or a website, and 

downloadable KML files for visualization in Google Earth. Expected operational 

partners to advance the capabilities include NOAA, US Forest Service and BLM. 

• An Integrated Forest and Fire Monitoring and Forecasting System for Improved Forest 

Management in the Tropics focuses development of a near-real-time alert system 

(FireCast) for use in non-traditional partner countries (such as Bolivia, Peru, Madagascar, 

and Indonesia) to enable improved fire monitoring, forecasting and improving monitoring 

of illegal forest activities (harvesting, burning, etc.). Firecast will include monitoring by 

NASA / NOAA orbital observation assets (MODIS, VIIRS, and Landsat) and 

development of fire risk models based on observed vegetation condition class and fire 

weather variables. Firecast will make a strong contribution to enhancing conservation and 

sustainable development goals for each of the target countries. 
 Wildland Fire Weather Services 

2-207 

• TOPOFIRE: A System for Monitoring Insect and Climate-Induced Impacts on Fire 

Danger in Complex Terrain (integrates NASA remote sensing and climate products into a 

decision support tool that delivers a suite of high spatial resolution real-time information 

essential to wildland fire management. Data from thousands of temperature and humidity 

sensors distributed across the US will enable refinement of the North American Land 

Data Assimilation System (NLDAS) downscaling algorithms, and the generation of high 

resolution historical and real-time gridded climate datasets. The fire spread simulator 

FARSITE will be modified to assimilate gridded microclimate data, which will be 

coupled with high resolution hydrologic outputs to produce on-demand fire behavior 

simulations that account for topo-climate and disturbance-induced structural change. 

Crowd-sourced weather and fuels information from incidents will be assimilated into 

hydro-climatic and fire behavior models, returning terrain and location-corrected fire 

behavior and incident risk information via smart phone to the firefighter. 

• Development and Application of Spatially Refined Remote Sensing Active Fire Data Sets 

in Support of Fire Monitoring, Management and Planning builds on proven science 

algorithms to produce new spatially refined active fire detection satellite products that 

yield significantly improved fire information. In addition, these products are used to 

initialize and validate fire growth predictions in a coupled weather-fire model that 

accounts for fuel information NASA / NOAA orbital sensors) and weather forecasts 

(including wind forecasts) to optimize the modeled outputs. The significance is that this 

approach can now be applied to monitor and predict the growth of a fire or a group of 

simultaneous wildland fires in a management unit from first detection until containment. 

The project focuses on near real-time operational delivery of new satellite remote sensing 

fire data, including customized products tailored for the end user community. Key partner 

agencies include the USDA Forest Service and the National Weather Service. 

Each of these projects will result in an improvement in the capacity of the fire management 

community to monitor, model, predict and manage fire behavior to reduce impacts on the 

community and still optimize ecological balances and benefits that fire can provide. The 

integration of fire weather information and models can and will improve our capacity to 

understand fire interplay in the ecosystem. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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2-209 

OTHER SPECIALIZED SERVICES 

OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) provides operational weather 

support to spaceflight operations through the Human Exploration and Operations Mission 

Directorate (HEOMD). 

Kennedy Space Center Weather Office 

The HEOMD Weather Office at NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSCWO) has oversight 

responsibility for operation and maintenance of the weather information infrastructure required 

for NASA’s manned spaceflight programs, and Expendable Launch Vehicles (ELV) programs. 

The infrastructure is a multi-agency partnership between NASA, the Department of Defense 

(DOD), and the Department of Commerce (DOC), and includes KSCWO, NASA’s Marshall 

Space Flight Center (MSFC) and Johnson Space Center (JSC), the DOD’s US Air Force (USAF) 

30th and 45th Space Wings, and the DOC’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

(NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) Spaceflight Meteorology Group (SMG). KSCWO 

also provides daily staff meteorological support to Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and NASA 

programs operating from KSC or the Eastern Range. 

The ELV program operates from many locations, including Cape Canaveral Air Force Station 

(CCAFS), Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California, NASA Wallops Flight Facility 

(WFF) in Virginia, and the US Army Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site on 

Kwajalein Island. KSCWO ensures that DOD weather support at DOD sites meets NASA 

requirements through training, technology, and tools. The KSCWO works with non-DOD sites 

and their weather service providers (such as the NWS or commercial companies) to provide 

similar assurance at those sites for NASA launches. 

KSCWO is the NASA lead for the joint NASA and USAF Lightning Advisory Panel (LAP), 

which provides independent scientific assessments of changes to the lightning launch commit 

criteria (LLCC) and technical guidance about lightning-related issues on facilities and ground 

operations. The Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

utilizes the same criteria for lightning flight commit at commercial spaceports. 

For purposes of this Federal Plan, Other Specialized Services include weather and climate 

information services and facilities established to meet the special needs of user agencies or 

constituencies not included in basic services or the preceding service categories. This service category 

includes any efforts to integrate the social sciences into meteorological operations, applications, and 

services not already described in the preceding sections. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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In FY 2014, the KSCWO: 

 Supported the Tri-Program through infrastructure and requirements concept studies for 

the Space Launch System (SLS), Multi Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV), Ground Systems 

Development and Operations (GSDO), and Experimental Flight Test 1 (EFT-1). 

 Supported NASA ELV launches from WFF and the Eastern and Western Ranges, as well 

as commercial and DOD launches from the Eastern Range. 

 Supported infrastructure and concept of operations development for commercial launch 

programs and the NASA launch facility at Wallops Island, VA. 

 Supported the Morpheus Lander Project by providing forecasts and weather consultations 

from the USAF 45th Weather Squadron for multiple Morpheus test firings at KSC. 

Continued procurement of a replacement for the aging 50 MHz Doppler Radar Wind 

Profiler (DRWP) that supports all launches from KSC and the Eastern Range. 

 Installed a new “Lightning Mapping Array” sensor suite. 

 Supported the Lightning System Upgrade (LSU) on the Eastern Range for data 

communication and validation. 

 Continued assisting the FAA with the development of Lightning Flight Commit Criteria 

for the commercial sector. 

In FY 2015, the KSCWO will: 

 Continue to support the ELV program. 

 Continue to support Wallops Island, Kodiak, and other launch facilities in addition to the 

DOD Ranges. 

 Continue to support commercial launch operators in developing weather infrastructure, 

requirements, and concepts of operation. 

 Continue assisting the FAA with the development of Lightning Flight Commit Criteria 

for the commercial sector. 

 Support the Tri-Program, and continue support for planning and design of the test flight 

programs. 

 Continue to work with the Eastern Range and other Ranges to define the requirements 

and infrastructure for weather support to NASA ELV and manned spacecraft in the postShuttle era. 

 Support certification testing of the new 50 MHz DRWP. 

Spaceflight Meteorology Group 

The SMG is located at JSC. In FY 2014, the SMG: 

 Operated with significantly reduced staff of 2 meteorologists. 

 Provided consultation on the Orion/Multi Purpose Crew Vehicle program (MPCV), 

specifically Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1) scheduled for December 2014. 
 Other Specialized Services 

2-211 

 Participated in NASA/JSC Mission Control Center landing simulations for EFT-1 

 Provided meteorological consultation and real-time weather forecasting support for the 

EFT-1 Underway Test off the coast of San Diego, CA 

 Provided extensive coordination and collaboration with NASA and DoD to ensure 

surface and upper air observations occurred during the EFT-1 URT in February 2014. 

Among other aspects, SMG facilitated U.S. Army meteorologists at Yuma Proving 

Ground, AZ, dispatched to a U.S. Navy ship for weather balloon support. All weather 

support objectives were met. 

 Coordinated with NCEP to obtain model upper air data archives, to assess (per NASA 

request) model forecast accuracy for the EFT-1 landing site off Baja, Mexico. 

 Supported Orion parachute drop test events at Yuma Proving Ground, AZ, with surface 

and upper wind forecasts. 

 Supported NASA with enroute forecasts for recovery personnel flying from Houston to 

Kazakhstan and back to Houston - to retrieve U.S. astronauts landing on the Russian 

Soyuz spacecraft after flying on the International Space Station. 

 Supported the JSC Morpheus Lander Project by providing forecasts and weather 

consultations for multiple Morpheus test firings at JSC in Houston. 

 Supported the NASA Langley Scientifically Calibrated in Flight Imagery (SCIFLI) 

project by providing cloud forecasts for SCIFLI thermal imaging of commercial launch 

vehicles. 

 Provided support for several large outdoor events at JSC to ensure compliance with 

certain weather monitoring and notification guidelines. Events include Memorial Tree 

Planting ceremonies, large group picnics and photos, and Chili Cookoffs. 

 Provided ongoing lightning and severe weather customized advisories for JSC 

management, weather sensitive operations, and employees. 

 Maintained forecast and verification database for EFT-1 landing site. 

 Provided tropical cyclone seasonal outlook briefings to JSC management and various 

directorates and divisions. 

 Continued Excel-based tools to track SMG forecast issuances and decision support 

emails and briefings. 

 Participated in school outreach with local schools and with schools across the U.S. via the 

JSC Educational Office Skype Studio. 

In FY 2015, SMG will: 

 Provide consultation on the Orion/Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle program (MPCV), 

specifically Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1) scheduled for December 2014. 

 Provide support to the EFT-1 Underway Tests. 

 Participate in NASA/JSC Mission Control Center landing simulations for EFT-1 
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 Provide weather decision support to the EFT-1 test scheduled for December 2014. 

 Implement AWIPS enhancements focused on EFT-1 support. 

 Support Orion parachute drop test events at Yuma Proving Ground, AZ, with surface and 

upper wind forecasts. 

 Support NASA with enroute forecasts for recovery personnel flying from Houston to 

Kazakhstan and back to Houston - to retrieve U.S. astronauts landing on the Russian 

Soyuz spacecraft after flying on the International Space Station. 

 Provide lightning and severe weather customized advisories for JSC management, 

weather sensitive operations, and employees. 

 Support the NASA Langley SCIFLI project by providing cloud forecasts for thermal 

imaging of commercial launch vehicles. 

 Provide weather support to large outdoor events at JSC. 

 Provide lightning, severe weather, and tropical storm/hurricane customized advisories for 

JSC management, weather sensitive operations, and employees. 

The Space Radiation Analysis Group 

The Space Radiation Analysis Group (SRAG) is located at JSC and is responsible for ensuring 

that the radiation exposure received by astronauts remains below established safety limits. SRAG 

is responsible for daily assessment of the space weather environment for human exploration, and 

works directly with flight control teams to assess real-time mission impacts of adverse space 

weather conditions. Some of the key space weather-related activities that SRAG is conducting in 

FY 2014 and FY 2015 include: 

 Daily monitoring of the space weather environment and impact assessment for crewed 

missions. 

 Developing and maintaining protocols for radiation environment contingency response 

and analysis. 

 Operating instruments both internal and external to crewed spacecraft for radiation 

environment characterization, quantification and impact assessment. 

 Building and processing of crew worn passive dosimeters and maintaining all crew 

radiation exposure records. 

 Design and Development of next generation radiation sensors that reduce mass, volume, 

and power without compromising data integrity. 

 Developing collaborations for maintaining necessary space radiation measurements for 

instruments operating beyond planned lifetimes. 

 Leading the development of space weather forecasting models. 

 Transitioning maturing space weather forecast models from research to operations. 

 Leading development of state-of-the-art radiation transport tools for vehicle design 

radiation analysis. 
 Other Specialized Services 

2-213 

 Implementing state-of-the art radiation risk models used to ensure astronauts are within 

lifetime career radiation risk limits. 

 Providing annual, end-of-active service, and ad hoc astronaut radiation risk reports. 

Marshall Space Flight Center 

The Natural Environments Branch (NEB) develops and implements weather support 

requirements for the Space Launch System (SLS) and other programs, including development 

and evaluation of launch constraints. 

In FY 2014, the NEB: 

 Continued development of terrestrial environment specifications, and provided 

atmospheric data and models for vehicle design and operation for the Space Launch 

System (SLS) and Multi-Purpose Crewed Vehicle (MPCV) programs. 

 Began developing day-of-launch procedures relating to upper air wind and 

thermodynamic requirements for the SLS and MPCV programs. 

In FY 2015, the NEB will: 

 Continue to develop and improve atmospheric wind and thermodynamic climatological 

data sets and models for vehicle design and operational safety margin analysis for the 

SLS and MPCV programs. 

 Continue developing day-of-launch procedures relating to upper air wind and 

thermodynamic requirements for the SLS and MPCV programs. 

U.S. Air Force Space Launch Support 

Air Force weather organizations provide meteorological and space weather products to the 

Nation’s space and missile programs, including a wide range of weather observing services at the 

Air Force Eastern Range and KSC. AF weather organizations also provide tailored forecasting 

for NASA’s manned and unmanned launches and for commercial launches from KSC. In 

addition, AF weather personnel provide specialized meteorological information for the Air Force 

Western Range at Vandenberg Air Force Base (AFB), California; the Pacific Missile Range, 

which includes Point Mugu and San Nicholas Island, California, and Barking Sands, Hawaii; 

White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico; Kwajalein Missile Range, Republic of the Marshall 

Islands; and other Department of Defense (DoD) research and test facilities as directed. The 45th 

Weather Squadron directly supports the 45th Space Wing of Air Force Space Command at 

Patrick AFB, Florida, and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The 30th Operations 

Support Squadron Weather Flight supports the 30th Space Wing across the Western Range at 

Vandenberg AFB, California. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command 

Support to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site (RTS) 

The RTS meteorological services contractor provides support for range activities, including local 

and remote missile launches, missile weapons readiness testing, aviation and marine operations, 

and emergency operations. 

A full suite of meteorological surface, upper air, satellite, radar, and lightning observing systems 

are available. Surface systems include an intra-atoll mesonet and an FAA-approved Automated 

Weather Observing System (AWOS III-P/T), supporting range and International Civil Aviation 

Organization Army Airfield operations at Kwajalein. Upper air sounding systems (1680 MHz), 

utilizing Global Positioning System (GPS) radiosondes, are located on Kwajalein and RoiNamur. One portable GPS upper air system (403 MHz) is available to provide soundings at 

remote locations. A dual-polarized Doppler S-band weather radar provides weather surveillance 

from Kwajalein Island, and a Doppler C-band weather radar is available for operations at Wake 

Island. Both are volume-scanning 

radars that support prediction of 

lightning events. Two Polar-orbiting 

Operational Environmental Satellite 

(POES) satellite receivers (one 

mobile) and one geostationary 

satellite receiver provides access to 

satellite imagery, cirrus cloud 

detection, and cloud height, with data 

processing and analysis provided 

through McIDAS management and 

display systems. A lightning 

detection network of four sensors is 

available to the RTS meteorologist at 

Kwajalein. A thunderstorm sensor 

that includes a field mill supports 

lightning prediction and detection at 

Wake Island. One thunderstorm 

sensor is attached to the AWOS IIIP/T. RTS provides rocketsondes locally and at remote locations where radar tracking can 

support. 

In cooperation with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, RTS Weather continues to support 

global climate studies through the Tropical Rainfall Measurements Mission and the follow-on 

program of Global Precipitation Measurement. Solar-Earth radiation fluxes monitoring with a 

suite of radiation measurements systems have continued since 1989 in support of work at 

NOAA’S Earth Systems Research Laboratory (ESRL). 

A rocketsonde launch on Kwajalein Atoll. U.S. Army 

Photo.
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National Park Service/Fish and Wildfire Service 

NPS Air Quality and Visibility Monitoring 

The National Park Service (NPS) monitors air quality and visibility in a number of national parks 

and monuments. Gaseous pollutant data are collected on continuous and integrated (24-hour to 

weekly) bases. Surface meteorological data are collected and analyzed for hourly averages. 

Precipitation chemistry is determined on week-long integrated rainfall samples. Twenty-fourhour-average particle concentrations (mass, elemental analyses, some chemical constituent 

analyses) are measured every third day. Atmospheric light extinction is measured continuously 

and relayed to a central location for analyses. 

Joint Air Quality Monitoring 

The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Air Quality Branch and the NPS Air Resources Division 

operate under an interagency agreement and are located in Lakewood, Colorado. Expertise from 

both agencies is pooled to address the air quality issues that are the responsibility of the Assistant 

Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. 

Map of one-year average standard visual range (SVR) from 2012, in kilometers, calculated from 

IMPROVE particle concentrations. Also shown are the locations of most of the IMPROVE and 

IMPROVE protocol sites in the contiguous U.S. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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The NPS oversees the operation of the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments 

(IMPROVE) network and the IMPROVE Protocol network in cooperation with the 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), NOAA, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the FWS, the 

Bureau of Land Management, and various State organizations. Currently, the network has about 

170 sites, mostly funded by the EPA in support of its regional haze regulations and through other 

cooperators. The enhanced network allows a better characterization of visibility and fine particle 

concentrations throughout rural and remote areas of the country (see figure above). 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Assessments and evaluations of radiological impacts. 

At the present time, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is a user of meteorological 

information rather than a performer of research in this field. Meteorological data are used to 

assess radiological impacts of routine airborne releases from facilities and to evaluate the impact 

of proposed changes in plant design or operation on unplanned releases. The NRC also maintains 

an interest in the effects of extreme meteorological events on the safe operation of nuclear 

facilities. The NRC uses current meteorological information and climatological predictions of 

extreme meteorological events over a range of timeframes, including long-term events greater 

than 100 years, to evaluate new reactor designs and sites, as well as existing reactor locations. 

Information of this type is also important for developing scenarios of climatological impacts on 

the isolation of long-lived nuclear wastes. 

Within the NRC, the Offices of Nuclear Reactor Regulation and New Reactors conduct reviews 

of nuclear power plant siting, design, construction, and operation, while the Offices of Nuclear 

Material Safety and Safeguards and Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management 

Programs conduct similar reviews of materials and waste facilities. All of these reviews include 

consideration of meteorological factors. Employees of these NRC offices also conduct 

rulemaking activities to establish regulatory requirements, and the NRC Regional Offices assure 

that NRC licensees comply with the regulatory requirements. 

SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS 

U.S. Army 

U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine 

U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) conducts basic and 

applied research on the effects of heat, cold, high terrestrial altitude and nutritional status on the 

health and performance of Warfighters and combat crews operating military systems. USARIEM 

provides subject-matter expertise regarding the physiological impact of exposure to extreme 

heat, cold, and altitude on military personnel. Products include a series of technical medical 

bulletins (TB MED), thermal indices, and decision aids. 

Applied research in thermal physiology and biophysical modeling is directed towards improving 

Soldier performance and minimizing health risks in climatic extremes. The research focus is on 
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the sensitivity of Soldiers to local weather conditions (ambient temperature, dew point, wind 

speed, and solar radiation) and its impact on human performance. The overall goals of 

USARIEM weather-related research programs are to develop methods to effectively monitor 

and, where possible, extend the envelope for both training and operations. 

USARIEM is investigating methodologies for integrating real-time local environmental data and 

Warfighter physiological data into predictive modeling processes. The effective combination of 

these two real-time data streams will enable environmental strain and performance status 

predictions for Warfighters. USARIEM is collaborating with other organizations, including the 

Army Research Laboratory-White Sands Missile Range (ARL-WSMR) under a Technology 

Program Agreement (TPA), to ensure access to soldier-scaled weather information and 

meaningful guidance concerning the weather effects on Soldiers. 

National Park Service 

Air Quality Research 

The National Park Service (NPS) conducts research to develop and test air quality models to 

assess long-range transport, chemical transformation, and deposition of air pollutants. These 

models are used to estimate source contributions to, and to identify source regions responsible 

for, observed pollutant loadings. 

The NPS is conducting research in the area of atmospheric nitrogen loading to high-elevation 

ecosystems in the Rocky Mountains, which have documented effects from nitrogen deposition. 

Measurements taken at Rocky Mountain National Park, in Colorado, indicate that routine 

monitoring networks may underestimate nitrogen deposition on the order of 30 percent by not 

analyzing for organic nitrogen and not routinely monitoring for ammonia gas. Source 

apportionment analyses indicate that under high loadings in the spring season, much of the 

nitrogen deposited at the park originates in the urban and agricultural areas of Colorado to the 

east of the park. By contrast, nitrogen loadings during the summer months had a significant 

contribution from Colorado, but higher loadings were noted from source regions out of the state. 

The NPS is participating in the July 2014 Deriving Information on Surface conditions from 

Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality (DISCOVER-AQ) and 

the Front Range Air Pollution and Photochemistry Experiment APPÉ) field campaigns taking 

place in the Denver, Colorado area extending into the mountains, which includes Rocky 

Mountain National Park. Measurements of oxidized and reduced nitrogen compounds as well as 

organic nitrogen compounds will be made to integrate with commensurate airborne and ground 

measurements in the region. Analysis will continue into 2015. 

NPS research in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, where effects on aquatic ecosystems 

from nitrogen deposition have also been documented, continues. Field measurements of 

atmospheric reactive nitrogen were completed in 2011. Source apportionment analysis is 

continuing with the availability of updated 2011 emission data. 

NPS is also examining the effects of recent oil and gas development in North Dakota on 

Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Concentrations of oxides of nitrogen, ozone, volatile organic 

compounds and speciated fine particles were measured during a second field campaign from 
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November 2013 to March 2014 to assess atmospheric deposition and visibility impairment at the 

park. Analysis will continue into 2015. 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

Kennedy Space Center Weather Office 

The KSCWO is described in the section above on Operational Programs. In FY 2011, the 

Director of Research for the KSCWO was a co-investigator on a climate research proposal to a 

FY 2011 NASA/ROSES solicitation. The proposal was selected for award in FY 2012 and work 

on the research was begun. In FY 2013 and FY 2014, the KSCWO continued work on the project 

along with the Principal Investigator from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and coinvestigator from the University of Central Florida. The project is entitled “Vulnerability 

Analysis of the Environment, Facilities, and Personnel of KSC to Extreme Weather Events and 

Climate Anomalies Resulting from Global Climate Change.” The KSCWO ceased participation 

in the project in January 2014 upon retirement of the KSCWO Director of Research. 

Applied Meteorology Unit 

The Applied Meteorology Unit (AMU) is a joint venture between KSCWO, USAF 45th Space 

Wing (45 SW), and NOAA NWS. The AMU is co-located with the 45th Weather Squadron (45 

WS) located at CCAFS. The AMU develops, evaluates, and transitions weather technology into 

operations. 

In FY 2014, the AMU: 

 Developed a capability for the NASA Launch Services Program (LSP) for the 30th

Operational Support Squadron (30 OSS) at VAFB Launch Weather Officers (LWOs) to 

rapidly assess Global Forecast System (GFS), North American Mesoscale (NAM) and 

Rapid Refresh (RAP) model forecasts of upper-level winds by calculating the differences 

between the model data and current upper-level wind speed and direction observations 

from VAFB Automated Meteorological Profiling System (AMPS) soundings during 

launch operations. Developed code in Excel to ingest and graphically display real-time 

model and observational data and delivered the capability as an Excel GUI to the LWOs. 

 Developed a capability for the NASA LSP for WFF LWOs to rapidly assess GFS, NAM 

and RAP model forecasts of upper-level winds by calculating the differences between the 

model data and current upper-level wind speed and direction observations from WFF 

soundings during launch operations. Developed code in Excel to ingest and graphically 

display real-time model and observational data and delivered the capability as an Excel 

GUI to the LWOs. 

 Provided improved accuracy for severe weather notifications and better prepare decision 

makers at KSC, CCAFS, and Patrick Air Force base (PAFB) to implement appropriate 

mitigation efforts by building a sounding database from the 1500 UTC CCAFS 

rawinsondes from 1989-2012, updating severe weather report database using nationally 

available severe weather records from the National Climatic Data Center and the Storm 

Prediction Center, and calculating stability parameters based on the 1500 UTC CCAFS 
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sounding database. Delivered a severe weather GUI in the Meteorological Interactive 

Data Display System based on the findings. 

 Acquired dual-Doppler software, the Weather Decision Support System Integrated 

Information (WDSS-II), and ran test cases using the 45 SW Weather Surveillance Radar 

(WSR), National Weather Service in Melbourne (NWS MLB) Weather Surveillance 

Radar – 1988 Doppler (WSR-88D), and Orlando International Airport Terminal Doppler 

Weather Radar. Using a dual-Doppler capability with these radars could support 

operations at KSC, CCAFS and the NWS MLB County Warning Area in east-central 

Florida. Evaluated the dual-Doppler system to assure the output proves to be useful and 

easily interpreted by the forecasters. Will further collaborate with NWS MLB and the 45 

WS to determine the most useful products for display and help determine if a real time 

implementation of WDSS-II is possible. 

 Developed upper-level (UL) wind profile temporal pair databases and conducted a 

statistical analysis of wind changes at the Eastern Range (ER), Western Range (WR) and 

WFF for use by NASA LSP space launch vehicle teams in their commit-to-launch 

decisions. The intent of these databases is to help LSP improve the accuracy of launch 

commit decisions by applying wind change statistics based on measured historical data, 

as opposed to modeled data, into UL wind assessments. 

 Completed evaluating configurations for a high-resolution model for the ER and WFF to 

better forecast a variety of unique weather phenomena in support of space launch 

activities. Ran test cases for the warm and cool seasons using several Weather Research 

and Forecasting (WRF) model domain configurations. Results comparing the WRF 

model forecasts against wind tower, accumulated precipitation, and sounding data show 

that Advanced Research WRF (ARW) outperforms the WRF Non-hydrostatic Mesoscale 

Model (NMM). 

 Established WRF model with data assimilation (DA) for the ER and WFF to better 

forecast a variety of unique weather phenomena. Provided a recommended local DA and 

numerical forecast model design optimized for the ER and WFF to support space launch 

activities. The model will be optimized for local weather challenges at both locations. 

 Completed market research of commercial, government, and open source software that 

might be able to ingest and display the 3-D lightning data from the KSC Lightning 

Mapping Array, the 45 SW WSR, the NWS WSR-88D, and the vehicle flight path data so 

that all can be visualized together. The results indicated there was no off-the-shelf 

software with 3-D capability but several software packages could be developed to 

provide the capability. 

 Supported launch operations for five Atlas V, two Delta IV and four Falcon 9. 

In FY 2015, the AMU will: 

 Implement a real time modeling capability using the WRF Environmental Modeling 

System (EMS) on the AMU modeling clusters and display the model output in the 

Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS II). Run a triple-nested WRF 

EMS in near real-time in a rapid update mode and conduct a verification of the model 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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output using the National Center for Atmospheric Research Model Evaluation Tools 

(MET) verification package. The grid spacing, domain sizes, and forecast periods of the 

model runs will depend on the cluster’s capabilities. Most likely, the outer domain will 

have a 12-km grid spacing and include the east coast of the United States, the middle 

domain will have a 4-km grid spacing and cover central Florida, and the inner domain 

will have a 1.33-km grid spacing and cover the KSC/CCAFS area. 

 Implement the NASA Natural Environments Branch at MSFC (MSFC NE) splicing 

algorithm used to merge data from boundary layer (915 MHz) and tropospheric (50 

MHz) Doppler radar wind profilers at KSC and CCAFS into the AMU-developed LSP 

Upper Level Winds tool. The Upper Level Winds tool currently does not use any 

intelligent splicing algorithm to merge the top level of the boundary layer profiler with 

the bottom of the tropospheric profiler. Implementing the MSFC NE algorithm will 

produce a smoother profile when the data from the two sensors are displayed together. 

 Continue to fine tune the Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation (GSI)/WRF model 

configuration based on individual range needs at the ER and WFF. Work with NASA’s 

Short-term Prediction Research and Transition Center (SPoRT) to explore the feasibility 

of implementing a GSI/WRF rapid update cycle. Explore the possibility of ensemble 

modeling to improve forecasting of unique weather phenomena at each range. 

 Support launch operations for Atlas V, Delta IV and Falcon 9. 

Environmental Protection Agency 

Air Quality Research 

Meteorological support to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Research and 

Development and Office of Air and Radiation, EPA regional offices, and to State and local 

agencies includes the following activities: 

 Conducting basic and applied research in air quality modeling 

 Conducting field studies for air quality model development and air quality model 

evaluations 

 Developing and applying multi-scale and multi-pollutant air quality models for pollution 

control, direct and indirect exposure assessments, and emission control strategy 

assessment 

 Reviewing of meteorological aspects of environmental impact statements, state 

implementation plans, and pollution variance requests 

 Providing Air Quality Index forecasts to state and local agencies for health advisory 

warnings 

 Understanding the relationships between air quality and human health 

 Understanding the atmospheric loading of pollutants to sensitive ecosystems 

 Understanding the interactions of global climate change and air quality 

 Emergency response planning in support of homeland security 
 Other Specialized Services 

2-221 

Meteorological expertise and guidance are also provided for developing the national air quality 

standards, modeling guidelines, and policy development activities of the EPA. In light of the 

1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act and the recent national rules, air quality models and the 

manner in which they are used are expected to continue to grow over the next few years. In the 

area of pollutant deposition, the evaluation of nitrogen, oxidant, sulfur, and aerosol chemistries 

will help to clarify the roles of model formulation, cloud processes, aerosols, radiative transfer, 

and air/surface exchanges in air quality model predictions, leading to a better understanding of 

model predictions relative to control strategy assessments. Further development and evaluation 

of existing air quality models will take place to accommodate the inter-pollutant effects, resulting 

from the variety of control programs that are now or may be in place, such as the new National 

Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and particulate pollution. These inter-pollutant effects 

include trade-offs among controls on ozone, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic 

compounds, as well as developing predictable methods of forecasting the impacts on various 

measures of air quality. 

With respect to the fine particulate model development, air quality models are being enhanced to 

accurately predict aerosol growth from precursors over local and regional-scale transport 

distances. As the concentration thresholds for the standards decrease, it will be important to 

understand intercontinental transport of pollution and how this would affect our ability to meet 

and maintain standards in the future. To assist in the evaluation of the contribution of various 

sources to regional air degradation, inert tracer and tagged species numerical models have been 

developed. These models will introduce separate calculations for inert or reactive chemical 

species emitted from a particular source or region. The calculations will proceed to simulate 

transport and transformation to a receptor point, where the contribution of emission sources can 

be discerned. 

Atmospheric research, regarding the effects of climate change on regional air quality, involves 

both analytical and statistical climatology as well as linking global climate models with regional 

chemical transport models, and the development of coupled models to better simulate the 

interactions between meteorology and atmospheric chemistry. Currently research is underway to 

test the efficacy of these models to accurately simulate the effects of aerosols on radiation. 

Research in human exposure modeling includes both micro-environmental monitoring and 

modeling and the development of exposure assessment tools. This research entails linking air 

quality models to exposure models to understand the relationships between air quality and 

human health. Micro-environmental algorithms are being developed based on field data to 

predict air quality in buildings, attached garages, and street canyons. These improved algorithms 

are then incorporated into micro-environmental simulation models for conducting human 

exposure assessments within enclosed spaces in which specific human activities occur. 

In addition to the above major areas, dispersion models for inert, reactive, and toxic pollutants 

are under development and evaluation on all temporal and spatial scales; i.e., indoor, urban, 

complex terrain, mesoscale, regional, and global. Other efforts include modeling nutrient 

deposition to the Chesapeake Bay and Gulf Coast, mercury deposition to the Florida Everglades, 

and the determination of meteorological effects on air quality. Atmospheric flow and dispersion 

experimental data obtained from wind tunnel and convection tank experiments in the EPA Fluid 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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Modeling Facility will be used to continue development and evaluation of these models along 

with providing researchers with insight into the basic physical processes that affect pollutant 

dispersion around natural and man-made obstacles. For example, the transport and dispersion of 

airborne agents in the Manhattan, New York, and the Pentagon were simulated in the wind 

tunnel to help build confidence in the modeling assessment of the source-receptor relationships 

for horrific events such as the one that occurred on September 11, 2001. The impacts of roadway 

configuration, noise barriers, and vegetation on air quality near roadways are being assessed, and 

improvements are being made to the EPA’s AERMOD model to better simulate the transport and 

dispersion of pollutants from roadways. 

Over the past 25 years, numerous air quality simulation models have been developed to estimate 

reductions in ambient air pollutant concentrations, resulting from potential emission control 

strategies. Separate models were developed, for example, for tropospheric ozone and 

photochemical smog, for acid deposition, and for fine particles. Distinct models also existed for 

addressing urban scale problems and the larger regional scale problems. It has been recognized, 

however, that the various pollutant regimes are closely linked chemically, spatially, and 

temporally in the atmosphere. The principal purpose of the Community Multi-scale Air Quality 

(CMAQ) modeling project was to develop a “one-atmosphere,” flexible environmental modeling 

tool that integrates the major atmospheric pollution regimes in a multi-scale, multi-pollutant 

modeling system. This system will enable high-level computational access to both scientific and 

air quality management users for socio-economic applications in community health assessments 

and ecosystem sustainability studies. 

The CMAQ model (first released in June 1998) is used by Federal and state agencies, industry, 

and academia and is updated periodically to reflect the state-of-science. The latest version of 

CMAQ, which includes science enhancements and computational efficiencies, was released in 

February 2012. It is also intended to serve as a community framework for continual advancement 

and for use in conducting environmental assessments. To this end, EPA has established a 

Community Modeling and Analysis System at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, 

North Carolina, to provide user support and training to modelers at the state agencies and 

universities. New versions of the CMAQ modeling system and associated documentation 

(Installation and Operations Manual, User Manual, Science Document, and tutorial) are publicly 

available. Additional information is available on the division web site at 

http://www.epa.gov/amad. 

From FY 2005 to FY 2008, the EPA worked closely with the NWS National Centers for 

Environmental Prediction (NCEP) in the continued development, evaluation, and use of a 

coupled meteorological-chemical transport model (WRF-CMAQ) for predicting ambient air 

quality over the continental United States. NWS implemented the CMAQ modeling system, to 

provide daily forecast guidance for ozone nationwide on an operational basis and fine particulate 

matter forecast on an experimental basis. State and local air quality management agencies are 

responsible to forecast local air quality and provide health advisory warnings. 

The EPA, through participation in the interagency Information Technology Research and 

Development (IT R&D) Program, is developing a modeling framework that supports integration 

of diverse models (e.g., atmospheric, land surface, and watershed). The EPA’s IT R&D work 

also enables increased efficiency in air quality-meteorological modeling through research on 
 Other Specialized Services 

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parallel implementation of the CMAQ modeling system. The evolving research seeks to improve 

the environmental management community’s ability to evaluate the impact of air quality and 

watershed management practices, at multiple scales, on stream and estuarine conditions. The 

following primary objectives are directed toward this goal: 

 Developing a prototype multiscale integrated modeling system with predictive 

meteorological capability for transport and fate of nutrients and chemical stressors 

 Enabling the use of remotely sensed meteorological data 

 Developing a computer-based problem-solving environment with ready access to data, 

models, and integrated visualization and analysis tools for water and air quality 

management, local and regional development planning, and exposure-risk assessments 

A variety of research areas are being pursued such as the integration of hydrology and 

atmospheric models; coupling of meteorology and atmospheric chemistry calculations to account 

for the influence of radiatively active atmospheric pollutants on atmospheric dynamics and 

subsequent effects on air pollution; enhanced atmospheric dry deposition models; multi-scale 

and spatially explicit watershed modeling tools; and model-coupling technology for integrating 

media and scale-specific models. 

The EPA also maintains good working relationships with foreign countries to facilitate the 

exchange of research meteorologists and research results, pertaining to meteorological aspects of 

air pollution. For example, agreements are currently in place with Canada, the United Kingdom, 

Greece, Japan, Korea, China, India, and Mexico, and with several European countries under the 

NATO Committee for Science for Peace. 
Section 2. Federal Meteorological Services and Supporting Research Programs 

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 A-1 

APPENDIX A 

ACRONYMS 
Appendix A - Acronyms 

 A-2 

3DWF 3D [three dimensional] Wind Field [model] 

4DWX Four-Dimensional Weather System 

AAWU Alaska Aviation Weather Unit 

ACC [USAF] Air Combat Command 

ACCESS Advancing Collaborative Connections for Earth System Science 

ACE Advance Composition Explorer 

AD Active Duty 

ADA Air Domain Awareness 

ADAS AWOS Data Acquisition System 

ADDS Aviation Digital Data Service 

AFB Air Force Base 

AFCENT Air Force Central Command 

AFI Air Force Instruction 

AFRC Air Force Reserve Command 

AFRI Agriculture and Food Research Initiative 

AFRL Air Force Research Laboratory 

AFW Air Force Weather 

AFWA Air Force Weather Agency 

AFWEPS Air Force Weather Ensemble Prediction Suite 

AFW-WEBS Air Force Weather Web Services 

AgriMet [Bureau of Reclamation] Agricultural Weather 

AHPS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service 

AIP Airport Improvement Program [FAA] 

AIRMoN Atmospheric Integrated Research Monitoring Network 

AMC U.S. Army Materiel Command 

AMS American Meteorological Society; [FAA] Acquisition Management System; 

Autonomous Modular Sensor; Analysis and Modeling Subsystem 

AMSR Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 

AMSR-E [Aqua satellite] Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-E 

AMU Applied Meteorology Unit 

ANG Air National Guard 

ANSP Air Navigation Service Provider 

AO Announcement of Opportunity 

AOC [NOAA] Aircraft Operations Center 

AOML Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory 

AOR Area of Responsibility 

ARL [NOAA] Air Resources Laboratory 

ARM Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Climate Research Facility 

ARS Agricultural Research Service 

ARTCC Air Route Traffic Control Center 

ASCC Army Service Component Commands 

ASNE MSEA [DOD] Air and Space Natural Environment Modeling and Simulation Executive Agent 

ASOS Automated Surface Observing System 

ASR Atmospheric System Research [activity in DOE/CESD]; Airport Surveillance Radar 
 Appendix A - Acronyms 

 A-3 

ASR-11 Airport Surveillance Radar Model 11 

ASR-9 Airport Surveillance Radar Model 9 

ASWON Automated Surface Weather Observation Network 

ATCSCC Air Traffic Control System Command Center 

ATD atmospheric transport and diffusion 

ATDD Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division [NOAA] 

ATEC U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command 

ATLAS Autonomous Temperature Line Acquisition System 

ATM Air Traffic Management 

ATO Air Traffic Organization [FAA] 

ATOP Advanced Technologies and Oceanic Procedures 

ATOS Applications, Transactions, and Observations Subsystem 

AWC [NOAA/NECEP] Aviation Weather Center 

AWG Aviation Weather Group [FAA] 

AWIPS Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System 

AWOS Automated Weather Observing System 

AWOS III-P/T Automated Weather Observing System [variant of AWOS] 

AWRP Aviation Weather Research Program [FAA] 

AWRT Advanced Weather Radar Technique 

AWSD Aviation Weather Services Directorate 

AWSS Automated Weather Sensors Systems 

BASC Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate 

BCTP Battle Command Training Program 

BIA Bureau of Indian Affairs 

BLM Bureau of Land Management 

BonD Battlespace on Demand 

CAC [U.S. Army] Combined Arms Center 

CAgM [WMO] Commission for Agricultural Meteorology 

CALIPSO Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations 

CAP Civil Air Patrol; Common Alerting Protocol 

CASR Committee for Aviation Services and Research 

CBRNE chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive 

CCAFS Cape Canaveral Air Force Station 

CCMC Community Coordinated Modeling Center 

CCSP U.S. Climate Change Science Program 

CDMP Climate Database Modernization Program 

CDR climate data record 

CEISC Committee on Environmental Information Systems and Communications 

CENR [NSTC] Committee on Environment and Natural Resources 

CENRS [NSTC] Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainability 

CERIS Coastal, Estuary Resource Information System 

CESD Climate and Environmental Sciences Division [DOE Office of Science] 
Appendix A - Acronyms 

 A-4 

CESM Community Earth System Model 

CESORN Committee on Environmental Services, Operations, and Research Needs 

CFC chlorofluorocarbon 

CFSR Climate Forecast System Reanalysis

CHPS Community Hydrologic Prediction System 

CI-FLOW Coastal-Inland Flood Observation and Warning 

CICE DOE/OS/CESD sea ice model 

CICS Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites 

CICS-NC Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites North Carolina 

CIOS Committee for Integrated Observing Systems 

CIP Current Icing Product 

CISM Community Ice Sheet Model (DOE/OS/CESD) 

CJMTK Commercial Joint Mapping Tool Kit 

CLASS Comprehensive Large-Array data Stewardship System 

CLIVAR Climate Variability and Predictability Experiment 

CMAQ Community Multi-scale Air Quality 

CMAS Commercial Mobile Alert System 

CMD-P Computer Meteorological Data-Profiler 

CME coronal mass ejection(s) 

CMIP5 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 

CMS Carbon Monitoring System 

CNMOC Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command 

CNO Chief of Naval Operations 

COAMPS Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System 

COASTAL Coastal Oceanographic Applications and Services for Tides and Lakes 

CoCoRaHS Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow [network] 

COLA Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies 

COMNAVMETOCCOM Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command 

CONPLAN Concept of Operations Plan 

COOP Cooperative Observer Program 

CO-OPS Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services 

COPC Committee for Operational Processing Centers 

CORMS Continuous Operational Real-time Monitoring System 

COSIM Climate, Ocean and Sea Ice Modeling Project 

COSMIC-2 Constellation Observing System for Meteorology Ionosphere and Climate-2 

CPC Climate Prediction Center 

CPP Command Post Platform 

CSD [NOAA/NWS] Climate Services Division 

CSESMO Committee for Space Environmental Sensor Mitigation Options 

CVA Ceiling and Visibility, Analysis [FAA/AWRP] 

CVF Ceiling and Visibility, Forecast [FAA/AWRP] 

CWSU Center Weather Service Unit 

DAC [AOML] Data Assembly Center; Department of the Army Civilian 
 Appendix A - Acronyms 

 A-5 

DAPE Data Acquisition, Processing, and Exchange 

DASI Digital Altimeter Setting Indicator 

DATMS Defense Information Switched Network Asynchronous Transfer Mode System 

DEM digital elevation model 

DHS U.S. Department of Homeland Security 

DMCC DOE Meteorological Coordinating Council 

DMSP Defense Meteorological Satellite Program 

DOC U.S. Department of Commerce 

DOD U.S. Department of Defense 

DOE U.S. Department of Energy 

DOI U.S. Department of the Interior 

DOMSAT domestic communication satellite 

DOS U.S. Department of State 

DOT U.S. Department of Transportation 

DOTMLPF doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership, education, personnel, and facilities 

DPG Dugway Proving Ground 

DSCOVR Deep Space Climate Observatory 

DTC Developmental Test Center; [U.S. Army] Developmental Test Command 

DTRA Defense Threat Reduction Agency 

DTSS Digital Topographic Support System 

EAS Emergency Alert System 

EcoFOCI Ecosystem-Fisheries Oceanography Coordinated Investigations 

ECV Essential Climate Variables 

EdIWG [CCSP] Education Interagency Working Group 

ELV Expendable Launch Vehicle(s) 

EMC [NOAA/NCEP] Environmental Modeling Center 

EMI SIG Emergency Management Issues Special Interest Group 

EMSL Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory 

EOSDIS Earth Observing System Data and Information System 

EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

EPI Enhanced Precipitation Identification 

ERAM En Route Automation Modernization 

ERC [hurricane] eyewall replacement cycles 

ERDC [USACE] Engineer Research and Development Center 

EROS [USGS] Earth Resources Observation and Science [center] 

ESM [DOE/OS/CESD] Earth System Models 

ESRL Earth System Research Laboratory 

ESS Environmental Sensor Station(s) 

ESTP [NASA] Earth Science Technology Program 

ET evapotranspiration 

EUMETSAT European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites 

FAA Federal Aviation Administration 
Appendix A - Acronyms 

 A-6 

FAR false alarm rate 

FCAMMS Fire Consortia for Advanced Modeling of Meteorology and Smoke 

FCMSSR Federal Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research 

FEC Fire Executive Council 

FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency 

FFMP Flash Flood Monitoring and Prediction 

FHWA Federal Highway Administration 

FIP Forecast Icing Product 

FMF Fleet Marine Force 

FNMOC Navy Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center 

FOR Flight Operations Review 

FPAW Friends/Partners in Aviation Weather 

FRA Federal Railroad Administration 

FRD [NOAA/ARL] Field Research Division 

FSR Forest Service Research 

FTE full-time equivalent 

FWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

FY fiscal year 

GACC Geographic Area Coordinating Center 

GBS Global Broadcast Service 

GCOS Global Climate Observing System 

GEOSS Global Earth Observation System of Systems 

GFDL Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory [NOAA-associated] 

GFDN Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Navy [model] 

GHCN-M Global Historical Climatology Network-Monthly 

GIS geographic information system 

GLD Global Lagrangian Drifters 

GLERL Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory 

GLOBE Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment 

GMD [NOAA/OAR/ESRL] Global Monitoring Division 

GODAE Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment 

GOES Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite 

GOES-R Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R 

GOOS Global Ocean Observing System 

GOSIC Global Observing Systems Information Center 

GPS Global Positioning System 

GPS-Met GPS-Meteorology 

GRA GOOS Regional Alliances 

GRIP Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes [NASA project] 

GSD [ESRL] Global Systems Division 

GTGN Graphical Turbulence Guidance Nowcast 

GTOS Global Terrestrial Observing System 

GTS Global Telecommunications System 
 Appendix A - Acronyms 

 A-7 

HALE high altitude, long-endurance [UAS] 

HAZUS Multi-Hazard Loss Estimation Methodology 

HCFC hydrochlorofluorocarbon 

HEL high-energy laser 

HELSTF High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility 

HF high frequency 

HFIP Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project 

HFPP HRD Field Program Plan 

HHWWS Heat Health Watch Warning Systems 

HMR [Nuclear Regulatory Commission] hydrometeorological report(s) 

HMT Hydrometeorological Testbed 

HPC [NPAA/NCEP] Hydrometeorological Prediction Center 

HPCMP [DOD] High Performance Computing Modernization Program 

HQDA Headquarters, Department of the Army 

HRD [NOAA/OMAO] Hurricane Research Division 

HSPD Homeland Security Presidential Directive 

HWRF Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting 

HYPOP Hybrid Coordinate Parallel Ocean Program [DOE model] 

HYSPLIT Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory [ATD model] 

IBTrACS International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship 

ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization 

ICESCAPE Impacts of Climate on Ecosystems and Chemistry of the Arctic Pacific Environment 

ICMSSR Interdepartmental Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research 

ICOADS International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set 

IFEX Intensity Forecast Experiment 

IHC Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference 

IIP International Ice Patrol 

IMAAC Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric Assessment Center 

IMET Incident Meteorologist 

IMETS Integrated Meteorological System 

IMPROVE Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments [program] 

INL Idaho National Laboratory 

IPAWS Integrated Public Alert and Warning System 

IPB intelligence preparation of the battlespace 

IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

IPE intelligence preparation of the environment 

IRTSS Infrared Target Scene Simulator 

ISCS International Satellite Communications System 

ISES International Space Environment Service 

ISMS [DOE] Integrated Safety Management System 

ISR intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance 

ISS International Space Station 
Appendix A - Acronyms 

 A-8 

IT information technology 

IT R&D Information Technology Research and Development [Program] 

ITS Intelligent Transportation Systems 

ITWS Integrated Terminal Weather System 

IWEDA Integrated Weather Decision Aid 

IWGCCST Interagency Working Group on Climate Change Science and Technology 

IWRSS Integrated Water Resources Science and Services 

JAG Joint Action Group 

JAG/ADM Joint Action Group on Architecture and Data Management ( 

JAG/CCM Joint Action Group for Centralized Communications Management 

JAG/JUTB Joint Action Group for Joint Urban Test Beds 

JAG/MD Joint Action Group on Metadata 

JAG/OCM Joint Action Group for Operational Community Modeling 

JAG/ODAA Joint Action Group for Operational Data Acquisition for Assimilation 

JAWF Joint Agricultural Weather Facility 

JAWS Juneau Airport Wind System 

JCIDS Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System 

JCSDA Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation 

JHT Joint Hurricane Testbed 

JPDO Joint Planning and Development Office 

JPSS Joint Polar Satellite System 

JSC [NASA] Johnson Space Center 

JTWC Joint Typhoon Warning Center 

KDP Key Decision Point 

KSC [NASA] Kennedy Space Center 

KSCWO SOMD Weather Office at NASA Kennedy Space Center 

LAN local area network 

LAP Lightning Advisory Panel 

LBS Littoral Battlespace Sensing 

LDCM Landsat Data Continuity Mission 

LIDAR light detection and ranging 

LLCC lightning launch commit criteria 

LLWAS Low Level Wind shear Alerting System 

LLWAS-NE LLWAS Network Expansion 

LRGS [USGS] local readout ground station(s) 

M&O management and operating 

MACPEX Mid-latitude Airborne Cirrus Properties Experiment 

MADA Monsoon Area Drought Atlas 

MADIS Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System 

MAGTF Marine Air Ground Task Force 
 Appendix A - Acronyms 

 A-9 

MALE medium altitude, long endurance [UAS] 

MASPS Minimum Aviation Safety Performance Standards 

MAW Marine Aircraft Wing 

MEF Marine Expeditionary Force 

MET meteorological; Meteorology and Oceanography 

MetMF(R) Meteorological Mobile Facility-Replacement 

METOC meteorological and oceanographic 

METOP Meteorological Operational Polar 

METSAT meteorological satellite 

MM5 Mesoscale Model Version 5 

MMS-P Meteorological Measurement Set-Profiler 

MOC [NextGen] Mid-term Operational Capability 

MODIS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer 

MOPS Minimum Operations Standards 

MOU memorandum of understanding 

MPAR multifunction phased array radar 

MPCV Multipurpose Crew Vehicle 

MRMS [FAA/AWRP] Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor [capability] 

MSFC Marshall Space Flight Center 

MST METOC Support Team 

MTOE Modified Table of Organization and Equipment 

MTSAT [Japanese] Multifunctional Transport Satellite 

MWPI Microburst Windspeed Potential Index 

MWSG Marine Wing Support Group 

MWSS Marine Wing Support Squadron 

NADM North American Drought Monitor 

NADP National Atmospheric Deposition Program 

NAO NOAA Administrative Order 

NAS National Airspace System 

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

NASS National Agricultural Statistics Service 

NAVOCEANO Naval Oceanographic Office 

NAVOCEANOPSCOM Naval Oceanography Operations Command 

NBC nuclear, biological, and chemical 

NCA National Climate Assessment 

NCAR National Center for Atmospheric Research 

NCDC National Climatic Data Center 

NCEP National Centers for Environmental Prediction 

NCOM Navy Coastal Ocean Model 

NCV National Ceiling and Visibility [FAA/AWRP Product Team] 

NDBC National Data Buoy Center 

NDFD National Digital Forecast Database 

NDMC National Drought Mitigation Center 
Appendix A - Acronyms 

 A-10 

NEB Natural Environments Branch [MSFC] 

NESDIS [NOAA] National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service 

NEXION NEXt-generation IONosonde 

NEXRAD Next-Generation Weather Radar 

NextGen Next Generation Air Transportation System 

NFDRS National Fire Danger Rating System 

NFIP National Flood Insurance Program 

NGA National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency 

NGDC National Geophysical Date Center 

NGEE Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments 

NHC [NCEP] National Hurricane Center 

NICC National Interagency Coordination Center 

NIDIS National Integrated Drought Information System 

NIFA National Institute for Food and Agriculture 

NIFC National Interagency Fire Center 

NITES Navy Integrated Tactical Environmental System 

NNEW NextGen Network Enabled Weathe 

NNSA National Nuclear Security Administration 

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

NOCMP National Operational Coastal Modeling Program 

NODC National Oceanographic Data Center 

NOGAPS Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System 

NOHRSC National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center 

NOMADS National Operational Model Archive and Distribution System 

NOP Naval Oceanography Program 

NOPC National Operational Processing Centers Program Council 

NORAD North American Aerospace Defense Command 

NOS National Ocean Service 

NOWCON Network of Weather and Climate Observing Networks 

NPDIA National Plan for Disaster Impact Assessments: Weather and Water Data 

NPOESS National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System 

NPP NPOESS Preparatory Project 

NPRB North Pacific Research Board 

NPS National Park Service 

NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission; National Research Council 

NRCC [FEMA] National Response Coordination Center 

NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service 

NRL Naval Research Laboratory 

NRL/MRY Marine Meteorology Division of the Naval Research Laboratory [NRL Monterey] 

NSF National Science Foundation 

NSIP National Streamflow Information Program 

NSIR Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response 

NSPD National Security Presidential Directive 

NSSL [NOAA] National Severe Storm Laboratory 
 Appendix A - Acronyms 

 A-11 

NSWP National Space Weather Program 

NSWRC NextGen Surveillance and Weather Radar Capability 

NTAS Northwest Tropical Atlantic Station 

NTHMP National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program 

NUOPC National Unified Operational Prediction Capability 

NWCG National Wildfire Coordinating Group 

NWIS National Water Information System 

NWLON National Water Level Observation Network 

NWP numerical weather prediction 

NWR NOAA Weather Radio 

NWRT National Weather Radar Testbed 

NWS [NOAA] National Weather Service 

OAR [NOAA] Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research 

OCE (USDA) Office of the Chief Economist 

ODCS [U.S. Army] Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff 

OEP Operational Evolution Partnership [FAA airport designation] 

OFCM Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research 

OGC Open Geospatial Consortium 

OMAO [NOAA] Office of Marine and Aviation Operations 

OMB Office of Management and Budget 

ONR Office of Naval Research 

OPC Ocean Prediction Center 

OSSE observing system simulation experiment 

OSTEP Ocean Systems Test and Evaluation Program 

OSTM Ocean Surface Topography Mission 

OSTP Office of Science and Technology Policy 

OTN [Defense Information Systems Agency] Optical Transport Network 

OTSR Optimum Track Ship Routing 

OWS [USAF] Operational Weather Squadron 

P3I Pre-Planned Product Improvement 

PACAF Pacific Air Forces 

PARISE Phased Array Radar Innovative Sensing Experiment 

PCMDI Program for Climate Model Diagnosis and Intercomparison 

PLAN Personal Localized Alert Network 

PMEL Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory 

PNE PIRATA Northeast Extension [project] 

POD probability of detection 

POES Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite 

POP Parallel Ocean Program [DOE/OS/CESD model] 

POPS Primary Oceanographic Prediction System 

PORTS® Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System 

PREDICT Pre-Depression Investigation of Cloud-systems in the Tropics 
Appendix A - Acronyms 

 A-12 

PSD [ESRL] Physical Sciences Division 

PTWC Pacific Tsunami Warning Center 

QPE quantitative precipitation estimation(s) 

QPF quantitative precipitation forecast 

R&D research and development 

R2O Research to Operations 

RASCAL Radiological Assessment System for Consequence Analysis 

RAWS Remote Automated Weather Stations (network) 

RBSP Ring Current, Radiation Belts, Solar Particles [satellite] 

RDT&E research development, test, and evaluation 

RES Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research 

RFC [NWS] River Forecast Center 

RGCM Regional and Global Climate Modeling [in DOE/OS/CESD] 

RIMS Radio Interference Measuring Set 

ROMANS Rocky Mountain Atmospheric Nitrogen and Sulfur 

ROSES [NASA] Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 

RPA Remotely Piloted Aircraft 

RSMC Regional Specialized Meteorological Center 

RSTN Radio Solar Telescope Network 

RTC Redstone Test Center 

RTS Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site 

RTVS Real-Time Verification System 

RUC Rapid Update Cycle [NWS forecast model] 

RVR Runway Visual Range 

RWI Reduce Weather Impact 

RWMP Road Weather Management Program 

SAFETEA-LU Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users 

SAS [NextGen] Single Authoritative Source 

SAWS Stand Alone Weather Sensors [FAA] 

SCAN Soil Climate Analysis Network 

SCAP Security Certification and Accreditation Package 

SCAPA Subcommittee for Consequence Assessment and Protective Actions 

SDO Solar Dynamics Observatory 

SDR [CENRS] Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction 

SEBN Surface Energy Budget Network 

SEES Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability 

SEON Solar Electro-optical Observing Network 

SERVIR Sistema Regional de Visualizacion y Monitoreo [NASA network] 

SESAR Single European Sky ATM Research 

SFMR stepped frequency microwave radiometer 

SGOT Strike Group Oceanography Team 
 Appendix A - Acronyms 

 A-13 

SICPS Standard Integrated Command Post Shelter 

SIP Societal Impacts Program 

SIR System Integration Review 

SLEP Service Life Extension Program 

SLOSH Sea, Lake and Overland Surges from Hurricanes [storm surge model] 

SMAP [NASA] Soil Moisture Active-Passive [Satellite Mission] 

SMD [NASA] Science Mission Directorate 

SMDC [U.S. Army] Space and Missile Defense Command 

SMG [NWS] Spaceflight Meteorology Group 

SNOTEL SNOw pack TELemetry 

SOF Special Operations Forces 

SOHO Solar and Heliospheric Observatory 

SOMD [NASA] Space Operations Mission Directorate 

SOON Solar Observing Optical Network 

SOOP Ship of Opportunity Program 

SORD [NOAA/ARL] Special Operations and Research Division 

SPC [NCEP] Storm Prediction Center 

SRS Solar Radio Spectrograph 

SST sea surface temperature 

SSWSF Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program 

STAR Center for Satellite Applications and Research 

STEM Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 

STEREO Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory 

STIWG Satellite Telemetry Interagency Working Group 

SWEF Space Weather Enterprise Forum 

SWIM [NextGen] System Wide Information Management 

SWPC Space Weather Prediction Center 

SWSI State Surface Water Supply Index(es) 

TAF Terminal Aerodrome Forecast 

TAO Tropical Atmosphere-Ocean [Project] 

TAO/TRITON Tropical Atmosphere-Ocean/TRIangle Trans-Ocean buoy Network 

TAWS Target Acquisition Weapons Software 

TDA Tactical Decision Aid 

TDWR Terminal Doppler Weather Radar 

TFCC Task Force Climate Change 

T-IWEDA Tri-Service Integrated Weather Effects Decision Aid 

TMC traffic management center 

TOC Tactical Operations Center 

TOE Table of Organization and Equipment 

TRADOC U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command 

TRMM Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission 

TSG thermosalinograph 

TSO Technical Standard Order [FAA] 
Appendix A - Acronyms 

 A-14 

UAS unmanned aircraft systems; unmanned aerial systems 

UHF ultrahigh frequency 

UNEP United Nations Environment Program 

UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 

UNOLS University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System 

UNSWC Unified National Space Weather Capability 

URI University of Rhode Island 

USA U.S. Army 

USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

USAF U.S. Air Force 

USAICoE U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence 

USARNORTH U. S. Army North 

USASMDC U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command 

USCG U.S. Coast Guard 

USCRN U.S. Climate Reference Network 

USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture 

USDM U.S. Drought Monitor 

USFF U.S. Fleet Forces Command 

USFS U.S. Forest Service 

USGCRP U.S. Global Change Research Program 

USGS U.S. Geological Survey 

USHCN U.S. Historical Climatology Network 

USNO U.S. Naval Observatory 

USNORTHCOM U.S. Northern Command 

USWRP U.S. Weather Research Program 

UV ultraviolet 

VAAC Volcanic Ash Advisory Center 

VAFB Vandenberg Air Force Base 

VFR visual flight rules 

VORTEX2 Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment 2 

VOS Volunteer Observing System 

WAFS World Area Forecast System 

WAMIS World AgroMeteorological Information Service 

WAOB World Agricultural Outlook Board 

WARP Weather And Radar Processor [FAA] 

WASDE World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates [report] 

WC/ATWC West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center 

WEBB Water, Energy, and Biogeochemical Budgets 

WFDSS Wildland Fire Decision Support System 

WFIP Wind Forecast Improvement Project 

WFO National Weather Service Forecast Office 
 Appendix A - Acronyms 

 A-15 

WG/DIAP Working Group for Disaster Impact Assessments and Plans: Weather and Water Data ( 

WG/TBC Working Group for Test Bed Coordination 

WG/UM Working Group for Urban Meteorology 

WG/VA Working Group on Volcanic Ash 

WG/WIST Working Group on Weather Information for Surface Transportation 

WGA Western Governors’ Association 

WHDE Wind Hazard Detection Equipment 

WIFS WAFS Internet File Service 

WIMS weather information management system 

WIS WMO Information Service 

WMO World Meteorological Organization 

WoF Warn on Forecast [Program] 

WP Work Product 

WRAP Wildfire Research and Applications Partnership 

WRD [USGS] Water Resources Discipline 

WRE-N Weather Running Estimate-Nowcasts 

WRF Weather Research and Forecasting 

WRTM Weather-Responsive Traffic Management 

WS [USAF] Weather Squadron 

WSDS Wind Shear Detection Services 

WSP [FAA] Weather Systems Processor 

WSR-88D Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler 

WTIC Weather Technology in the Cockpit 

WUI Wildland-Urban Interface 

WW3 Wave Watch III [model] 

WWCB Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin 

WWLLN World Wide Lightning Locator Network 

WXG [USAF] Weather Group 

XBT Expendable BathyThermograph [Program] 
Appendix A - Acronyms 

 A-16 
Agency Points of Contact 

U.S. Department of Agriculture Mr. Mark Brusberg 

 Dr. Harlan Shannon 

Department of Commerce 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ms. Aria Remondi 

 National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service Ms. Kelly Turner 

 Ms. Lisa Heilmeier 

 National Ocean Service Mr. Darren Wright 

 Mr. Jason Shadid 

 National Weather Service Mr. Patrick Nield 

 Ms. Sreela Nandi 

 Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Mr. Michael Bettwy 

 Ms. Melissa Pratt-Zossoungbo 

 Office of Marine and Aviation Operations LCDR Bradley Fritzler 

 Mr. Jeffrey Weir 

Department of Defense Lt Col Daniel Weekley 

 Ms. Marsha Korose 

Joint Staff Lt Col Kyle Bellue 

 U.S. Air Force Mr. Ralph Stoffler 

 U.S. Navy Mr. Philip Vinson 

 U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Jeff Wooldridge 

 U.S. Army Mr. William Spendley 

Department of Energy Mr. Rick Petty 

Mr. Vaughn Standley 

 Mr. Joel Cline 

 

Department of Homeland Security 

Federal Emergency Management Agency Mr. Daniel Porter (NOAA Liaison) 

U.S. Coast Guard Dr. Jonathan Berkson 

IMAAC Mr. Chad Gorman 

 Mr. Sean Crawford 

Department of the Interior 

U.S. Geological Survey Mr. Robert Mason 

National Park Service Mr. John Vimont 

Bureau of Land Management Mr. Louis Brueggeman 

 Office of Fire and Aviation Mr. Grant Beebe 

 Office of Soil Water and Air Dr. Larisa Ford 

Department of State Dr. David Reidmiller 

 

Department of Transportation 

Federal Aviation Administration Mr. Everette C. Whitfield 

Federal Highway Administration Mr. Paul Pisano 

Federal Railroad Administration Mr. Jared Withers 

 

Environmental Protection Agency Dr. Rohit Mathur 

 Mr. Thomas Pierce 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Dr. Ramesh Kakar 

 Ms. Elizabeth Yoseph 

 

National Science Foundation Mr. Nicholas Anderson 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mr. Jason White 

 

Smithsonian Institution Dr. Richard Wunderman