On March 25th The Weather Research and Forecast Innovation Act of 2015 (H.R. 1561) was approved by voice vote in the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. This bipartisan bill sets program goals for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that “prioritize weather research, across all weather programs, to improve weather data, forecasts, and warnings for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy”. Rep. Lucas (R-OK), Vice-Chairman of the Committee and sponsor of the bill, explained in his opening statement that this bill will focus NOAA’s “research and computing resources on improved weather forecasting, quantitative observing data planning, next generation modeling, and an emphasis on research-to-operations technology transfer.”
The bill expands private and academic involvement in weather forecasting by creating “a technology transfer initiative…with the American weather industry and academic partners, to ensure continuous development and transition of the latest scientific and technological advances into National Weather Service (NWS) operations.” The bill creates direct collaborations by requiring NOAA to “enter into at least one pilot contract with a private sector entity capable of providing data that meet the standards and specifications set by NOAA” and instituting postdoctoral and academic research fellowships at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction. The bill also establishes a Working Group “composed of leading experts and innovators from all relevant fields of science and engineering” to provide advice on weather research priorities, integrating existing and emerging technology from private and academic research, and identifying “opportunities to improve communications between weather forecasters, emergency management personnel, and the public.” The Working Group will also submit an annual report to the Science Advisory Board on NOAA’s progress in implementing their recommendations.
The bill streamlines federal efforts and fosters collaborations between agencies by aligning research in NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) and NWS and establishing an Interagency Committee on weather forecasting research between NOAA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the National Science Foundation (NSF). The Interagency Committee will identify the top priorities for forecasting improvements and provide recommendations within the constraints of the current federal budget and existing programs.
The bill also sets goals to improve “the understanding of how the public receives, interprets, and responds to warnings and forecasts of high impact weather events that endanger life and property.” The bill specifies that NOAA should work with the NSF, private weather industry, and academia “to enhance the integration of social science knowledge into weather forecast and warning processes,” which includes improving “the communication of threat information necessary to enable improved severe weather planning and decision making on the part of individuals and communities.”
The bill authorizes the program for $90.8 million in FY15 and requires an addition $16 million to come from NOAA’s research and development budget to carry out technology transfer initiatives at OAR. These authorization values are increased to $100 million and $20 million respectively for FY16 and FY17. After approval by the Committee, the bill now awaits a vote on the House floor.
- Karen Paczkowski, GSA Science Policy Fellow