NOAA testbeds bring mature research into an operations-like environment, allowing forecasters and researchers to test and demonstrate products in real-world conditions to fine-tune tools and methods for operational use. The FY25 NOFO supported five testbeds: Climate, Fire Weather, Hazardous Weather, Hurricane and Ocean, and Hydrometeorological. The priorities for each were: Project Title Principal Investigators Project…
The Synoptic Program focused on air quality research and forecasting in its FY25 NOFO. It prioritized the following capabilities: Project Title Principal Investigators Project Description Implement the DeepCTM to Enhance the Performance of the National Air Quality Forecast Capability Jia Xing, University of TennesseeYouhua Tang, George Mason University Integrate DeepCTM — a cutting-edge machine-learning model…
The Observations Program had four main priorities in its FY25 NOFO. It sought projects to develop and demonstrate the following: Project Title Principal Investigators Project Description Hazard Focus Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SMFR) Calibration and Re-Calibration Tool Zorana Jelenak, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research/Cooperative Programs for the Advancement of Earth System Science (UCAR/CPAESS) SFMR units…
Saving lives and protecting property requires that people not only receive accurate weather information in a timely manner, but that they also take protective actions with that information. Effectively addressing societal impacts from hazards like hurricanes, floods, winter storms, tornadoes, and wildfire, requires coupling advances in weather prediction and forecasting with understanding how the American…
The FY25 Joint Technology Transfer Initiative (JTTI) portfolio covered a wide range of priorities, from improving forecast models and data assimilation systems to enhancing prediction of high-impact weather events and advancing next-generation forecasting tools. Each project supports the broader goal of strengthening NOAA’s Unified Forecast System (UFS) and delivering more accurate, timely, and actionable information…
The Subseasonal to Seasonal (S2S) Program had three primary focus areas in its FY25 NOFO: Project Title Principal Investigators Project Description Hazard Focus Know, Explore, Improve: Hypothesis-Driven Development of the UFS Benjamin Cash, George Mason University The Unified Forecast System (UFS) Seasonal Forecast System (SFSv1) is being developed by NOAA to replace the aging CFSv2…
This article was jointly written between the Earth Prediction Innovation Center (EPIC) and NSF NCAR. The increase in the frequency of drought and hot-dry-windy conditions over the last several decades, combined with the continued expansion into the wildfire-urban interface region, has led to a marked increase in the number of acres burned by hazardous wildfires.…
WPO funds work to advance our understanding of fire weather to improve forecasts of fire behavior and smoke for the public. The projects selected in this competition address the evolution of active fires and smoke, data assimilation of atmospheric and terrestrial conditions, new or improved physics parameterizations, and fire weather forecast system testing and verification.…
The Joint Technology Transfer Initiative supported the development and completion of the “WoFS ML Severe” severe weather probability suite, which is based on the Warn-on-Forecast System and machine learning. WoFS ML Severe uses inputs from the Warn-on-Forecast System and is trained on a combination of local storm reports and radar-based detections of severe weather to…
The Consortium for Advanced Data Assimilation Research and Education (CADRE), supported by the Weather Program Office through Inflation Reduction Act funding, is introducing itself to the Weather, Water, and Climate Enterprise at this year’s American Geophysical Union (AGU) Annual Meeting. The conference is being held in Washington, D.C. December 9–13, 2024. The video will be…