NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction Opportunities for NOAA

1. NOAA Center for Weather and Climate PredictionOpportunities for NOAA Presentation to the NOAA Executive Panel Dr. Louis W. Uccellini Director, National Centers for Environmental Prediction March 30, 2007

2. Purpose • Vision • Background • Facility Data • Opportunities for • NOAA • Summary NOAA Center for Weather and Climate PredictionOutline

3. NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction Purpose: Information Brief • Review background for the NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction (NCWCP) • Increase awareness of the opportunities associated with the collocation of the NCWCP with the research community at the University of Maryland’s M Square Research Park

4. NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction Vision for NCWCP • Create a world-class, state-of-the-art facility to advance NOAA’s mission in weather, climate and oceans • Link NOAA: NWS/NESDIS/OAR to larger research and academic communities • Accelerate the transition of research to operations and applications • Improve products and services • Operational global analyses of the “earth system” • Prediction products • Recruit the next generation of NOAA employees

5. NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction Background • Build-to-suit lease under the authority of GSA • Consolidates NOAA programs from World Weather Building, Airman’s Bldg. and SSMC-3 • Lease awarded September 2005 • OPUS East is the developer • HOK is the architect • UMD is the ground lessor • Location • Near University of Maryland College Park in M2 Research Park • Near College Park Metro

6. Building Data 10-acre site @ UMD College Park 4-story building plus roof cupola 269,000 rentable sq. ft. Accommodates 821 staff 40 spaces for visiting scientists 700 vehicle parking Sustainable Site Design Raised floor throughout all levels Large full height atrium Green Roof, Rain Garden & Water feature Functions Includes 5 NWS/NCEP Centers, NESDIS Research and Satellite Services, OAR Air Resources Laboratory Mission Critical, 24x7 operational Office Space Laboratories Computer Room for file servers Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation Library, Conference rooms Auditorium for 500 people NOAA Media Center Fitness Center & Medical Unit NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction Facility Data

7. NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction Opportunities for NOAA • From the Status Report: Bricks and Mortar Collocation with Research/Academic Communities Related Activities and Programmatic Opportunities

8. NOAA Center for Weather and Climate PredictionRelated Activities University of Maryland: New Building Right Next Door! • Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center • Cooperative Institute for Climate Studies • DOE and NSF climate program components NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC): Considering move(s) to new UMD Building • Goddard Modeling and Assimilation Office • GSFC Hydrology Laboratory • Goddard Laboratories for Atmospheres Emerging NOAA Program Requirements • Climate Test Bed, Ecosystem Modeling, Ocean/Coastal Zone Prediction & GOES-R Algorithm Working Group • Requirements for 60-90 staff/contractors (20-25K rentable sq. ft.) provided to GSA for new lease • Seeking to stay within delineated area in proximity to NCWCP site • Space will be available at same time as NCWCP occupancy

9. NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction First New UMD Building NORTH

10. NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction Opportunities for NOAA Opportunities offered by the NCWCP • Link NOAA: NWS/NESDIS/OAR/NOS/NMFS to larger research and academic communities • Accelerate the transition of research to operations and applications • Improve products and services • Operational global analyses of the “earth system” • Prediction products • Recruit the next generation of NOAA employees

11. NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction Opportunities for NOAA Link NOAA: NWS/NESDIS/OAR/NOS/NMFS to larger research and academic communities • Build upon current ongoing activities • Earth System Modeling Framework • NASA/NOAA/DoD Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation • Cooperative Institute for Climate Studies • Climate Test Bed • WRF Community Modeling • “Ocean Backbone”*: HYCOM Real-time Ocean Forecast System run operationally at NCEP • Regional ocean, human health, ecological forecasts, integrated link to fishery assessments (NOS, NMFS) • Climate effects on ecosystems (NMFS) *from the NOAA SAB Ocean Model Review Team

12. NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction Opportunities for NOAA • Explore new possibilities offered by the collocation at UMD and interactions with ESSIC/NASA/GSFC: • Interdisciplinary, Earth System Research focus • Expand Ocean  Coastal Zone predictive capabilities • Expand beyond the traditional weather and climate prediction into an “environmental prediction” suite of products • Expand water/air quality predictive capabilities, and associated linkages to ecological assessments and related human health issues • UMD will resubmit proposal on an “Advanced Study Institute for Environmental Prediction” (ASIEP) to advance NOAA and ESSIC environmental prediction activities

13. NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction Opportunities for NOAA Accelerate the Transition of Research to Operations and Applications • Take full advantage of the unique data flow – data assimilation – real-time modeling located at NCWCP to link research and operational communities • Research • Operations • Field Programs • (e.g. THORPEX, IPY, …) • Atmosphere • Ocean • Land • Cryosphere • Data Access • Data Assimilation • Model Forecast

14. NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction Opportunities for NOAA Improve Products and Services • Operational global analyses of the Earth System • Provide a main underpinning for GEOSS and IOOS for effective use of all the data, including those needed for integrated ecosystem assessments • Assure full utilization of new satellite data (be ready for the NPOESS era) • Support Reanalysis required for climate, weather, ocean prediction systems • Prediction Products • More rapid improvement of existing products and assessment of “next generation” models • More rapid expansion into the operational ecological, environmental and health-related products. Ties in with ongoing ESSIC activities and related plans for the ASIEP

15. NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction Opportunities for NOAA Recruit the Next Generation • Existing and new opportunities point to need for an interdisciplinary workforce • Earth System programs and related prediction challenges associated with the NCWCP complex already attracting attention of top scientists around the world • 40 spaces created within NCWCP to host visiting scientists and students facilitates recruitment process • University of Maryland planning to extend University “privileges” to all NOAA employees at NCWCP • University of Maryland working to develop undergraduate Earth System program within Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

16. NOAA Center for Weather and Climate PredictionSummary • Building blocks are in place for “once in a lifetime” opportunities for NOAA • Creation of NCWCP and concurrent actions by UMD point to • Unique combination of global operational infrastructure and research components • Expansion of the prediction component beyond the standard weather, climate and ocean into ecosystems, air/water quality, health,… • Center of excellence will provide a ready source for the next generation NOAA workforce