NOAA’s Weather Program Office Awards $16.5 Million for Critical Improvements in Weather Forecasting

The Weather Program Office is proud to announce the FY22 Awards for the FY22 Notice of Funding Competition. WPO competitively funds research from across the Weather Enterprise (government, academia, and the private sector) to improve weather prediction. In FY22, WPO focused on soliciting research proposals to improve weather, water, air quality, fire weather, earth-system modeling and observations, and social, behavioral, and economic science applications. The goal of this research is to advance science and technology from the research stage to transitionable outputs, or to prototype products that NOAA or external partners could further develop into practical applications and operations.

The six grant competitions from this notification are valued at approximately $16.5 million per year. This year, we’ve selected 54 projects from across these 6 programs:

  • Fire Weather & Atmospheric Composition
  • Climate Testbed
  • Joint Technology Transfer Initiative
  • Subseasonal to Seasonal Research
  • Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes in the U.S.A. (VORTEX-USA)
  • Weather Testbeds

Keep reading to learn more about each competition, and the newly funded projects under each award.

The TORUS project, or Targeted Observation by Radars and UAS of Supercells, aims at understanding the relationships between severe thunderstorms and tornado formation. CREDIT: NSSL NOAA

Fire Weather & Air Quality

Improving the National Air Quality Forecasting Capability

For predictions of ozone, suspended fine particulate matter, and wildfire smoke, as well as airborne dust from dust storms over the contiguous lower 48 states.

See the FY22 Funded Projects >

Joint Technology Transfer Initiative

Accelerating the transition of matured weather research to operations for the National Weather Service

To improve model development, find innovative solutions for the challenges of underserved communities and to develop solutions to improve Decision Support Services for extreme weather.

See the FY22 Funded Projects >

The TORUS project, or Targeted Observation by Radars and UAS of Supercells, aims at understanding the relationships between severe thunderstorms and tornado formation. CREDIT: NSSL NOAA

The Finish Line

JTTI Runs NOAA Internal Competition to Transition Matured Research into NWS Operations

Read More >

person with umbrella traverses busy city with lights at night

Subseasonal to Seasonal Research

Addressing a spectrum of issues on the subseasonal to seasonal time frame

To increase capabilities related to precipitation, its excess, shortfalls, duration, and precision of spatial and temporal placement on the subseasonal to seasonal scale.

See the FY22 Funded Projects >

Climate Testbed

In Partnership with the National Center for Environmental Prediction

Improve Operational Climate Outlooks and advance the NOAA’s subseasonal to seasonal prediction (S2S) capabilities via improved precipitation outlooks.

See the FY22 Funded Projects >

The TORUS project, or Targeted Observation by Radars and UAS of Supercells, aims at understanding the relationships between severe thunderstorms and tornado formation. CREDIT: NSSL NOAA

FY22 Funded Projects By the Numbers

More Research to Fill Gaps in Forecasting

In Fiscal Year 2022, the Weather Program Office funded 54 new projects aimed at critical forecast improvements for weather. Each of the 6 competitions focused on their areas of expertise to fill identified gaps in weather research and transition weather applications into operations.
6 New Funding Competitions
54 New Projects Funded
33 Institutions Funded
$16.5 Million Dollars per Year for Critical Improvements in Weather Forecasting
Taken from the Hazardous Weather Testbed at the National Weather Center in Norman, OK. Photo Credit: NOAA NSSL

Weather Testbeds

Collaborating Directly with Forecasters to find Research Solutions for Operational Challenges

To integrate machine learning, data assimilation techniques, physics, post-processing, and model-coupling to improve forecasts, and to improve messaging of high impact weather.

See the FY22 Funded Projects >

VORTEX-USA

In Coordination with the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Oklahoma

To explore and refine novel predictors of tornadoes, and to improve the communication of tornado forecasts and risk to tornadoes in the U.S.

See the FY22 Funded Projects >

VORTEX Satellite

FY22 Notice of Funding Announcement

FY22 Notice of Funding Documentation

Click on the image to see the NOFO at-a-glance, or view the details of the competition by accessing the original announcement at Grants.Gov.

View Announcement
NOFO at a glance

See all Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2022 Full Award List

FIRE WEATHER & AIR QUALITY

Project Title PI’s & Co-PI’s Affiliations
Implementing a state-of-the-science fire behavior model in the Unified Forecast System Pedro A. Jimenez Munoz (PI), Branko Kosovic, Maria Frediani, Timothy Juliano National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
Enhancing high resolution forecasting capability of RRFS-CMAQ Yang Zhang (PI), Daniel Q. Tong, Fanglin Yang Northeastern University, George Mason University, NOAA/NWS Environmental Modeling Center (EMC)
A novel dynamical ensemble design for probabilistic air quality predictions during wildfires based on RRFS-CMAQ Rajesh Kumar (PI), Stefano Alessandrini National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
Beyond the “Big-Leaf” Model at NOAA: Use of Novel Satellite Data and In-Canopy Processes to Improve U.S. Air Quality Predictions Patrick C. Campbell George Mason University

JOINT TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER INITIATIVE

External Competition 

Project Title PI’s & Co-PI’s Affiliations
Advanced Coupling Evaluation Metrics in METplus for UFS Land Surface Models Scott Miller (PI), Andrew Newman University at Albany-SUNY, National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
Multi-institution Collaborative Proposal: Integration of a Fully Functional Atmospheric UFS-HASFS into JEDI with Weakly Coupled Ocean Data Assimilation Capability Altug Aksoy (PI), Xuguang Wang, Jonathan Poterjoy Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS)/ University of Miami, University of Oklahoma, University of Maryland
Transitioning Weather-Aware Rapid Refresh Emission Modeling Capability to Support National Air Quality Forecast Capability Operations Bok Baek (PI) George Mason University
Probabilistic Prediction of Thunderstorm Hazards using the NOAA Warn-on-Forecast System and Machine Learning Montgomery Flora (PI) University of Oklahoma
Effectively Communicating Uncertainty in Tropical Cyclone Intensity Forecasts Daniel Halperin (PI), Deanna Sellnow Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, University of Central Florida
A Weather-Ready Nation Para Todos: Evaluating Current Practices in Communicating Hazardous Weather Risks to Spanish Speakers Justin Reedy (PI) University of Oklahoma
Advancing the Lake-Coupling Techniques for the Unified Forecast System (UFS) Christiane Jablonowski (PI) Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR)/ University of Michigan
Implementation of a Unified Workflow for the Unified Forecast System (UFS) Short Range Weather Application Christina Holt (PI) Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES)/ University of Colorado
Creation and evaluation of a CONUS-wide gridded analysis-of-record for ice accumulation Heather Reeves (PI) Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations (CIWRO) University of Oklahoma
A Scale-Aware Three-Dimensional Sub-Grid Scale Turbulent Mixing Parameterization for the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System Ping Zhu (PI), Jun Zhang Florida International University, Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS)/ University of Miami
Deep Learning Hybrid Dynamical-statistical model for US Precipitation Subseasonal Forecasting Hyemi Kim (PI) Stony Brook University
Implementation of an Ensemble Sensitivity Tool to Better Assess Uncertainty in Mid-Latitude Extreme Weather Forecasts Brian Colle (PI), William Lamberson Stony Brook University, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES)/ University of Colorado
Expanding Audiences, Removing Barriers, Promoting Action: Addressing the diverse needs of audiences for flood forecast information Rachel Hogan Carr (PI) Nurture Nature Center, Inc.
Advancement of background ensemble covariance at the air-sea interface toward the UFS HAFS fully coupled data assimilation Xuguang Wang (PI), Jun Zhang University of Oklahoma, Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS)/ University of Miami
A Wind-Wave-Current Data Assimilation Scheme for the 3D-Real Time Mesoscale Analysis Malaquías Peña (PI) University of Connecticut

 

Internal Competition

Project Title PI’s & Co-PI’s Affiliations
Evaluating Alternative Risk Communication Strategies for the Storm Prediction Center’s Convective Outlook Patrick Marsh (PI) NOAA/NWS/ Storm Prediction Center (SPC)
Accelerating transition to JEDI ensemble solvers for coupled data assimilation in the GEFS system Sergey Frolov (PI) NOAA/OAR/ Physical Sciences Laboratory (PSL)
Hazard Services: Modernizing Weather Prediction Center, Ocean Prediction Center, National Hurricane Center/Tropical Analysis and Forecasting Branch, and Honolulu Weather Forecast Office Workflows Nathan Hardin (PI) NOAA/OAR/ Global Systems Laboratory (GSL)
Transition and evaluation of Snow-to-Liquid Ratio algorithms into the Unified Post Processor for UFS medium range and short range applications Hui-Ya Chuang (PI) NOAA/ NWS/ Environmental Modeling Center (EMC)
Further Development of the Unified Gravity Wave Physics Suite for the UFS Joseph Olson (PI) NOAA/OAR/ Global Systems Laboratory (GSL)
The Continued Evolution of Severe Weather Warnings through Threats-in-Motion Kodi Berry (PI) NOAA/OAR/ National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)
Transitioning Critical MET Supported Software to Operations at the Weather Prediction Center James Nelson (PI) NOAA/NWS/ Weather Prediction Center (WPC)
Operationalizing the computation and dissemination of the Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI) and value-added products for CONUS-wide drought monitoring and early warning at the NOAA-Climate Prediction Center. Mimi Hughes (PI) NOAA/OAR/ Physical Sciences Laboratory (PSL)
Transitioning Bayesian Joint Probability (BJP) Calibration of Week 3-4 Predictions to Operations Dan Collins (PI) NOAA/NWS/ Climate Prediction Center (CPC)
Transitioning HYSPLIT to Operations. Alice Crawford (PI) NOAA/OAR/ Air Resources Laboratory (ARL)
Atmospheric Composition Data Assimilation for the Unified Forecast System (UFS) on Global and Regional Scales. Cory Martin (PI) NOAA/NWS/ Environmental Modeling Center (EMC)

SEASONAL TO SUBSEASONAL

Project Title PI’s & Co-PI’s Affiliations
Enhancing NOAA UFS subseasonal to seasonal predictions of precipitation and drought via improved representation of snowpack processes Cenlin He (PI), Fei Chen, Ronnie Abolafia-Rosenzweig National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
Assessing the impact of dynamic vegetation on drought forecasts Jason Otkin (PI), Michael Ek, Tara Jensen University of Wisconsin, National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
The Road to the Seasonal Forecast System: Improving Prediction of Precipitation Extremes Benjamin Cash (PI), James Kinter, David Straus, Chul-Su Shin George Mason University
Characterizing the impact of UFS model error and bias on S2S CONUS forecast skill using a hybrid UFS-machine learning approach John Albers (PI), Matt Newman Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES)/ University of Colorado
Integrated surface physics for coupled hydrometeorology in the UFS for S2S prediction David Gochis (Co-PI), Paul Dirmeyer, Michael Ek National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), George Mason University
Identifying efficient perturbations for initializing subseasonal-to-seasonal ensemble forecasts with the UFS Stephen Penny (PI), Thomas Hamill, Arun Kumar University of Colorado, NOAA/OAR/ Physical Sciences Laboratory (PSL), NOAA/NWS/ Climate Prediction Center (CPC)

CLIMATE TESTBED

Project Title PI’s & Co-PI’s Affiliations
Ensemble Post Processing to Remove Projections onto Temporal Spatial Error Eigenvectors to Optimize Seasonal to Subseasonal Forecasts Paul Roundy (PI), Emerson LaJoie University at Albany-SUNY, NOAA/NWS/ Climate Prediction Center (CPC)
Diagnostics Package for MJO-Teleconnections Christiana Stan (PI), Avichal Mehra, F. Martin Ralph, Jiabao Wang, Yutian Wu, Cheng Zheng, Hyemi Kim, Tara Jensen, Andrea Jenney, Daniela Domeisen, Chaim Garfinkel George Mason University, NOAA/NWS/ Environmental Modeling Center (EMC), University of California San Diego, Columbia University, Stony Brook University, National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), University of California Irvine, ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Hebrew University Jerusalem
Development of a Global Aerosol Reanalysis at NOAA in Support of Climate Monitoring and Prediction Bo Huang (PI), Mariusz Pagowski, Stephen Penny, Sergey Frolov, Georg Grell, Jeffery McQueen, Shobha Kondragunta, Jerome Barre University of Colorado Boulder, NOAA/ OAR/ Physical Sciences Laboratory (PSL), NOAA/OAR/ Global Systems Laboratory (GSL), NOAA/NWS/ Environmental Modeling Center (EMC), NOAA/National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR)
Transitioning NMME-based seasonal predictions of atmospheric river activity into an operational forecast product Baoqiang Xiang, Nathaniel Johnson, Kristen Schepel, Kai-Chih Tseng, Wei Zhang (Co-PI), Daniel Harnos, Laura Ciasto University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), NOAA/OAR Global Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), Princeton University, NOAA/NWS/ Climate Prediction Center (CPC)

WEATHER TESTBEDS

Project Title PI’s & Co-PI’s Affiliations
Advancing Probabilistic Prediction of Snow-to-Liquid Ratio and Snowfall during High-Impact Winter Storms- Hydrometeorology Testbed W. James Steenburgh (PI), Peter G. Veals University of Utah
Developing the “Next-Generation” Winter Weather Experiment Testbed: Integrating Road Hazards- Hydrometeorology Testbed Dr. Dana Tobin (PI), Dr. H. Reeves, Dr. K. Klockow-McClain, Dr. J. Correia, Dr. K. Harnos University of Oklahoma, University of Colorado, NOAA/NWS Weather Prediction Center (WPC)
FV3-LAM CAM Ensemble Forecast System and Improving Ensemble Probabilistic and Consensus Forecast Products in Support of HMT Winter Weather and Heavy Precipitation Forecasting- Hydrometeorology Testbed Keith Brewster (PI), Nathan Snook (Co-PI), Timothy Supinie (Co-PI) OU, Ming Xue (Co-PI) University of Oklahoma
Informing UFS-based Rapid Refresh Forecast System (RRFS) ensemble development through evaluation of analysis uncertainty representation methods- Hazardous Weather Testbed Jeff Beck (PI), Jamie Wolff (Co-PI), Craig Schwartz (Co-PI), Xuguang Wang (Co-PI), Aaron Johnson (Co-PI), Michelle Harrold (Co-I) Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA)/ Colorado State University, National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), University of Oklahoma
Bridging Watch-to-Warning Forecast Operations with Refined Probabilistic Guidance- Hazardous Weather Testbed Eric Loken (PI), Katie Wilson, Kristin Calhoun, Thea Sandmael University of Oklahoma, NOAA/OAR/ National Severe Storm Laboratory (NSSL)
Probabilistic medium-range hazards guidance with an FV3-based convection-allowing ensemble and machine learning -Hazardous Weather Testbed Craig Schwartz (PI), Ryan Sobash, Lucas Harris National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), NOAA/OAR/Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL)
Forecaster Support Products for Analysis of Tropical Cyclone Intensity and Structure from Aircraft Reconnaissance Observations- Hurricane Ocean Testbed (previously the Joint Hurricane Testbed) Jonathan L. Vigh (PI), Michael M. Bell, Jun A. Zhang, Eric A. Hendricks, Christopher M. Rozoff National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Colorado State University, Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS)/ University of Miami
A Machine Learning Model for Estimating Tropical Cyclone Track and Intensity Forecast Uncertainty- Hurricane Ocean Testbed (previously the Joint Hurricane Testbed) Dr. Mark DeMaria (PI), Dr. Elizabeth Barnes Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA)/ Colorado State University
Expansion of Ensemble-based Sensitivity to TC Hazard Forecasts- Hurricane Ocean Testbed (previously the Joint Hurricane Testbed) Dr. Ryan Torn, (PI) University at Albany-SUNY
The Impact of Targeted Synoptic Dropsondes on Tropical Cyclone Forecasts in HAFS- Hurricane Ocean Testbed (previously the Joint Hurricane Testbed) Dr. Sarah D. Ditchek (PI) Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS)/ University of Miami

VORTEX-USA

Project Title PI’s & Co-PI’s Affiliations
Improved Nowcasting of QLCS Tornadoes in the United States Todd A. Murphy (PI) University of Louisiana at Monroe
Understanding and Reducing Latinx Vulnerabilities to Tornadoes in the Southeast Jennifer First (PI), Mary Lehman Helt, Kelsey Ellis University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Spatiotemporal analysis of lightning and the mesoscale environment to identify significantly severe and potentially tornadic storms Eric Bruning (PI), Jason Jordan Texas Tech University, NOAA/ National Weather Service
Developing the timeline of information needs for the general public during tornado events Makenzie Krocak (PI), Joseph Ripberger (Co-PI), Carol Silva (Co-PI), Hank Jenkins-Smith (Co-PI) Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations (CIWRO)/ University of Oklahoma