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Samuel P. Williamson Federal Coordinator for Meteorology

The Role of NOAA’s Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research in Interagency Coordination. Samuel P. Williamson Federal Coordinator for Meteorology. Presentation for NOAA Science Advisory Board March 19, 2003. Overview. Background

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Samuel P. Williamson Federal Coordinator for Meteorology

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  1. The Role of NOAA’s Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research in Interagency Coordination Samuel P. Williamson Federal Coordinator for Meteorology Presentation for NOAA Science Advisory BoardMarch 19, 2003

  2. Overview • Background • Coordinating Infrastructure • Key Focus Areas • Future Activities • Keys To Success • Benefits • Summary

  3. Background Historical Perspective OFCM • Accountable to Congress and OMB • Coordinate agency budgets • Report budgets and activities in annual Federal Plan Public Law 87-843 (1963) 1963 DOC Administrative Order 1964 OFCM formed in 1964 1979 GAO Study Revitalizes OFCM

  4. Background Mission 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

  5. Environmental Support for Homeland Security Aviation Weather Space Weather Weather Information for Surface Transportation Climate Analysis, Monitoring and Services Cooperative Research Observing Capabilities Modeling and Prediction Information Technology and Communications Environmental Services Background Key Focus Areas--Agency Priorities

  6. Coordinating Infrastructure Federal Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (FCMSSR) Federal Coordinator for Meteorology Program Councils Interdepartmental Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (ICMSSR) National Space Weather Program Standing Committees National Aviation Weather Program Environmental Services, Operations, and Research Needs Operational Processing Centers Environmental Information Systems and Communications Climate Analysis, Monitoring and Services Working Group for Environmental Support to Homeland Security Integrated Observing Systems Cooperative Research

  7. Coordinating Infrastructure Roles / Responsibilities • Federal Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (FCMSSR) • Sets policy and priorities • Interdepartmental Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (ICMSSR) and Program Councils • Implement policy decisions • Make policy recommendations to FCMSSR • Assess adequacy of federal programs and guide implementation of new interagency programs • Standing Committees • Document requirements, programs and activities to provide framework for coordination and collaboration • Perform analysis of agency programs to provide basis for national leadership to allocate funds to meet requirements

  8. Coordinating Infrastructure Roles / Responsibilities (Cont.) • Program Councils and Committees have the capability to form specialized teams to work specific projects--assigned within the existing infrastructure • Working Groups • Joint Action Groups (JAG) • Groups formed to satisfy specific need • Interact with private sector and academia through process, as required • Input and feedback critical to process • Forums and workshops hosted to gather user requirements and ideas

  9. Independent agencies: Departments of: • Environmental Protection Agency • National Aeronautics and Space Administration • National Science Foundation • National Transportation Safety Board • Nuclear Regulatory Commission • Homeland Security • FEMA • Coast Guard • Agriculture • Commerce • Defense • Energy • Interior • State • Transportation Executive Office of the President: • Office of Management and Budget • Office of Science and Technology Policy Coordinating Infrastructure OFCM Partners

  10. Coordinating Infrastructure OFCM Affiliations National Research Council (NRC) Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (BASC) Climate Research Committee (CRC) University Corp. for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) US Weather Research Program (USWRP) American Meteorological Society (AMS) US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) Subcommittee on Natural Disaster Reduction (SNDR)

  11. Coordinating Infrastructure Example - Key Products, Outcomes, Results • Annual Federal Plan for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research • Annual Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference • National Hurricane Operations Plan • National Winter Storms Operations Plan • National Strategic and Implementation Plans for Space Weather, Aviation Weather, and Weather Information for Surface Transportation • Federal Plan for Cooperative Support and Backup among Operational Processing Centers • National Post-Storm Data Acquisition Plan • Directory of Atmospheric Transport and Diffusion Models • Federal Meteorological Handbooks • Requirement studies, summaries, evaluations and analyses • Crosscut reviews of federal weather programs • Organize and host forums, symposia, and workshops addressing national meteorological needs

  12. Key Focus Areas Environmental Support for Homeland Security • OFCM has provided coordinating infrastructure for the federal Atmospheric Transport and Diffusion (ATD) modeling community for over 2 decades • Joint Action Group for Atmospheric Transport and Diffusion was the vehicle for coordination • The principal deliverable is the Directory on Atmospheric Transport and Diffusion Consequence Assessment Models (1999) containing detailed descriptions and characteristics of 64 models and applications (updated periodically) • Working Group for Environmental Support to Homeland Security and Joint Action Group for the Selection and Evaluation of Atmospheric Transport and Diffusion Models (JAG/SEATD) formed in 2002, in response to 9/11 implications for increasedmeteorological support for Homeland Security • 2002 JAG/SEATD Report…provide information to help improve state of ATD modeling and use of ATD products in emergency operations

  13. Key Focus Areas Environmental Support for Homeland Security • Report identified research and development needs to bridge gaps in understanding and capability • Thirteen research needs identified…they need to be refined and prioritized by federal agencies involved in Homeland Security • OFCM will conduct a Homeland Security forum in June 2003, to begin to refine and prioritize the R&D work required to meet Homeland Security meteorological support requirements, with a focus on urban environment • Goal: Use forum results to further develop, and then gain approval of, a national concept of operations for support to Homeland Security operations, with R&D requirements identified to support improved operations

  14. Key Focus Areas Aviation Weather • OFCM has provided coordinating infrastructure for federal aviation meteorological community for almost 3 decades • National Aviation Weather Program Council formed in 1989 • Purpose--guided development of an integrated multi-agency plan to cover aviation weather services for the next decade and beyond…published in 1992 • OFCM began to assist FAA with preparation of a definitive plan to achieve an improved aviation weather system in 1995 • OFCM would also assess the effectiveness of the national aviation weather system and related research conducted by federal agencies • 1997 - National Aviation Weather Program Strategic Plan published

  15. Key Program Areas Aviation Weather • Goal of 1997 National Aviation Weather Program is to reduce the number of weather-related aviation accidents and increase efficient use of the national air space • The Strategic Plan listed four high-priority areas for action…one of which is “emphasis in research needs to be placed on the implementation of new technologies, as well as in development of these innovations” • National Aviation Weather Initiatives published by the OFCM-sponsored Joint Action Group for Aviation Weather in 1999 • Initiatives focused on specific aviation weather hazards identified by users • 86 R&D and technology initiatives were identified for the aviation weather hazards

  16. Key Program Areas Aviation Weather • The National Aviation Weather Initiatives Baseline Tier 3/4 Report was published as a “snapshot” of the current status of aviation weather related R&D activities within the government agencies in 2001 • Federal agencies proposed funding profiles and schedules to support programs to meet initiative needs • Aviation Weather Initiatives and Tier 3/4 impacts: • 2003 - NWS received funding to start a seven-year program to improve aviation weather warnings and forecasts (FY03) • 2003 - OFCM will complete a new baseline of aviation weather related R&D activities

  17. Space Weather Strategic Plan, 1995 Implementation Plan, 1997 Implementation Plan, 2nd Edition, July 2000 Key Focus Areas

  18. Key Focus Areas Space Weather • Coordination infrastructure through National Space Weather Program Council (NSWPC) and Committee for Space Weather (CSW) • NSWP and CSW efforts have greatly advanced R&D in space weather area • Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC)-- established in 1998 by interagency effort to aid in development of models for specifying/ forecasting conditions in space environment • The CCMC fills a long-standing gap between space weather research community and operational units • The CCMC concept--enhance space weather research, develop space weather models, and provide a means for more effective transitioning of research models to operations

  19. Key Focus Areas Space Weather • Center for Integrated Space Weather Modeling (CISM)--created in 2002…a NSF Science and Technology Center focused on central and most ambitious research goals of the National Space Weather Program • Will create models to predict potentially damaging space weather events---make it possible to begin to protect against them • Space Weather Committee currently tackling: • Identifying existing NOAA and DOD facilities (or other facilities) which should be expanded to accommodate the archive of current and future space- and ground-based data sets of the geospace environment to support future R&D • Determining which space weather facilities contribute key data to space weather models, operational programs, and R&D, and determining a strategy to maintain/ establish facilities needed for operational use

  20. Key Focus Areas Weather Information for Surface Transportation (WIST) • Coordination infrastructure provided by WIST Joint Action Group • Formed to address meteorological requirements for surface transportation • Weather support for surface transportation was seen as minimal and safety and economic productivity were at stake • WIST Symposium outcomes: • Build clearer understanding of weather needs / requirements to establishment national needs / requirements document • Symposium results used to refine and validate general requirements for six core modes of surface transportation--roadway, railway, transit, marine transportation, pipeline systems, and airport ground operations • Result--first national WIST needs assessment report published in December 2002

  21. Key Focus Areas Weather Information for Surface Transportation (WIST) • National WIST needs assessment report identified three R&D related strategic thrust areas • Expand coordination among R&D programs and providers of WIST products and services • Translate research results and new technologies into WIST applications • Support research to expand and fill gaps in fundamental knowledge that enables/supports future technology development/application

  22. Key Focus Areas Climate Analysis, Monitoring and Services • Coordination infrastructure provided through Committee for Climate Analysis, Monitoring and Services • Coordinated federal efforts to research, develop, and field the Climate Reference Network to meet climate monitoring requirements • Developed Government Climate Resources home page/portal to enhance interagency cooperation • Provides central location to link to agencies’ climate research and program resources

  23. Key Focus Areas Climate Analysis, Monitoring and Services • Preparing to respond to recommendations from BASC Summer Study report on Climate Services. Specifically addressing two recommendations and will assist, as required, with the others • Next Step – develop set of requirements for Climate Information, Products, and Services to support the US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP)

  24. Key Focus Areas Cooperative Research • Coordinating infrastructure through Committee for Cooperative Research • Principal focus: Transitioning research to operations • Set need to develop a sustainable, formalized approach to transition successful hurricane research results into operations (55th IHC in 2001) • Described a proposed framework in the 2002 Federal Meteorological Plan’s special article • Joint Hurricane Testbed is a first and important step in the right direction • Provided $200,000 in seed money to support the research and development of the next-generation Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR) to support NOAA and DOD Hurricane reconnaissance

  25. Key Focus Areas Cooperative Research • Cosponsored with Subcommittee for Natural Disaster Reduction (SNDR) the Forum on Risk Management and Assessment of Natural Hazards, Feb 5-6, 2001 • Built consensus to proceed with national natural hazard assessment in “bite-size chunks” • Follow-on work will focus on a national assessment for climate, technical hazards, urban environment, agriculture, and transportation • Worked with U.S. Weather Research Program to expand the membership • NOAA, Navy, NSF, and NASA were original members • Added Air Force, DOT (FAA & FHWA), FEMA, EPA, USDA, and DOE as result of interagency coordination actions

  26. Key Focus Areas Observing Capabilities • Committee for Integrated Observing Systems • Cooperative Observing (COOP) Network--OFCM co-sponsored a COOP forum with the NWS and NESDIS to gather and understand user requirements and benefits in September 2002 • Lightning Detection Systems--developing federal requirements for lightning data for 2003 contract (JAG with NWS lead) • Develop nationally coordinated system to meet requirements for road-weather observations (FHWA) • 2003 – conduct a meteorological observation requirements study and develop a national requirements document • Focus on climate, natural hazards, technological hazards, urban environment, transportation, and agriculture

  27. Key Focus Areas Modeling and Prediction • Coordination infrastructure through the Committee for Operational Processing Centers (COPC) and Working Group for Cooperative Support and Backup • Performed a backup capabilities “gap analysis,” developed a strategic vision, and implementing objectives • Collaborated to establish requirements and begin development of a next-generation “community” weather research and forecast model for mesoscale applications • Performing a communications loading and throughput study to pinpoint current gaps and develop expansion requirements plan for next 5-10 years

  28. Key Focus Areas Modeling and Prediction • Federal Plan for Cooperative Support and Backup Among Operational Processing Centers--updated in November 2002 • Backup procedures worked flawlessly during NCEP Cray 90 supercomputer outage • Rear Admiral Richard D. West, Oceanographer of the Navy: • This outage “vividly illustrated the value of a national backup numerical weather prediction capability.” • Currently finishing development of a catastrophic backup plan--single points of failure

  29. Key Focus Areas Information Technology and Communications • Coordination infrastructure through the Committee for Environmental Information Systems and Communications • Develops and coordinates next-generation information management system requirements, including data visualization capabilities • Address issues of communications interfaces and data exchange, data formats, meteorological codes, geographic information systems, and meteorological information management • Advocate federal agency interests for the free and open exchange of data • OFCM committee point of contact invited recently to attend a NOAA Hydrometeorology Testbed Concept Meeting and a Hydro-Meteorological Data Scoping Meeting to help lay foundation for wider interagency participation

  30. Key Focus Areas Environmental Services • Coordination infrastructure through Committee for Environmental Services, Operations, and Research Needs • Examples of interagency activities: • Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference--establish research needs and set courses of action • Develop and publish annual operations plans in support of the hurricane and winter storm programs (WG/Hurricane and Winter Storms Operations and Research) • Natural Disaster Reduction/Post-Storm Data Acquisition (WG) coordinates Civil Air Patrol support to survey storm and/or flood damage, sets post-storm data acquisition requirements, and published a National Post-Storm Data Acquisition Plan (2003)

  31. Key Focus Areas Environmental Services • Published new Wind Chill Temperature and Extreme Heat Indices Report (JAG/Temperature Indices) • New WCT Index implemented for Winter 2001-2002 by NWS, DOD, and Canada • Working requirements for further research to improve heat indices • Severe Local Storms Operations (JAG) • Published new plan May 2001 • Published national needs assessment of Weather Information for Surface Transportation (WIST) in December 2002, as mentioned earlier (JAG)

  32. Example - Environmental Services

  33. Key Focus Areas Example - Environmental Services • Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference (IHC) • Recent activities include: • Integration of research and operations activities with a focus on transitioning successful research to operations • Major effort to improve information dissemination • Improved outreach to and education of our user communities--particularly emergency management • Publish annual National Hurricane Operations Plan • New Initiative: Develop a future year capabilities improvement roadmap • IHC Themes the past 2 years: • Hurricane Season 2002: 10 Years after Hurricane Andrew • The Nation’s Hurricane Warning Program: Streamlining the Roadmap for the Future

  34. Future Activities Year 2003-2004 • Weather Information for Surface Transportation -- follow on actions/recommendations • Risk Management & Vulnerabilities Assessment forum at National Hurricane Conference, April 2003, New Orleans, LA • Space Weather Week, May 2003, Boulder, CO • Intelligent Transportation Society of America, May 2003, Minneapolis, MN • Environmental Support for Homeland Security, June 2003, Washington, DC • Focus on development of a National Plan for Environmental Support to Homeland Security • International Workshop on Volcanic Ash, Spring 2004, Washington, DC

  35. Keys To Success Coordination, Cooperation, and Integration-- Hallmarks for successfully achieving end goals • Be responsive to agency/user needs and requirements • Do not compete with NOAA Line Offices or the other federal agencies • Strive to build consensus • Plan of action • Resources • Resolve conflicts / issues and mitigate challenges before they become problems • Respond to crises in a timely manner • Facilitate steering of future direction and policy

  36. Benefits of OFCM Interagency Coordination • Thoroughly develop interagency/user needs and requirements • Save/marshal resources by focusing agency programs on validated requirements/priorities • Find opportunities for leveraging existing research or acquisition programs by broad interagency participation • Develop ways to accelerate obtaining required capabilities through interagency cooperation and research • Document concepts of operation covering all interagency requirements and using all their capabilities

  37. Summary • OFCM has over 35 years of experience • Use a proven interagency coordinating infrastructure and a continually evolving and responsive collaboration process • The OFCM continues to play a critical role in the overall federal weather program

  38. OFCM Web Site Panel/Conference/Forum/ Workshop summaries and presentations are available on OFCM Web Site Click on “Special Projects” and navigate to the desired location For Publications: Click on “Publications” http://www.ofcm.gov/

  39. BACKUPS

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