Federal Plan for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research, FY2016

290 Pages·2015·3.53 MB·English

The Federal Plan
for Meteorological Services
and Supporting Research
Fiscal Year 2016
OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL COORDINATOR
FOR METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES
AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH
OFCM
A Half-Century of Multi-Agency Collaboration
FCM-P1-2015
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
THE FEDERAL COMMITTEE FOR
METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH (FCMSSR)
DR. KATHRYN SULLIVAN MR. BENJAMIN PAGE (Observer)
Chair, Department of Commerce Office of Management and Budget
DR. TAMARA DICKINSON MR. EDWARD L. BOLTON, JR.
Office of Science and Technology Policy Department of Transportation
DR. SETH MEYER MR. DAVID L. MILLER
Department of Agriculture Federal Emergency Management Agency
Department of Homeland Security
MR. MANSON K. BROWN
Department of Commerce MR. JOHN GRUNSFELD
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
MR. EARL WYATT
Department of Defense DR. ROGER WAKIMOTO
National Science Foundation
DR. GERALD GEERNAERT
Department of Energy MR. PAUL MISENCIK
National Transportation Safety Board
DR. REGINALD BROTHERS
Science and Technology Directorate MR. GLENN TRACY
Department of Homeland Security U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
DR. JERAD BALES DR. JENNIFER ORME-ZAVALETA
Department of the Interior Environmental Protection Agency
MR. KENNETH HODGKINS COL PAUL ROELLE (Acting)
Department of State Federal Coordinator for Meteorology
MR. MICHAEL BONADONNA, Secretariat
Office of the Federal Coordinator for
Meteorological Services and Supporting Research
THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR
METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH (ICMSSR)
COL PAUL ROELLE, Chair (Acting) MR. RICKEY PETTY DR. DAVID R. REIDMILLER
Federal Coordinator for Meteorology Department of Energy Department of State
MR. MARK BRUSBERG DR. VAUGHN STANDLEY DR. ROHIT MATHUR
Department of Agriculture Department of Energy Environmental Protection Agency
DR. LOUIS UCCELLINI MR. JOEL WALL MR. ROY WRIGHT
National Weather Service Science and Technology Directorate Federal Emergency Management Agency
Department of Commerce Department of Homeland Security Department of Homeland Security
DR. STEPHEN VOLZ DR. WILLIAM LEITH DR. JACK KAYE
NOAA Satellite and Information Service Department of the Interior National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Department of Commerce
MR. STEVEN CLARKE
DR. RAYMOND SAUVAJOT
CRAIG MCLEAN National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Department of the Interior
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
DR. PAUL B. SHEPSON
Department of Commerce MR. JOHN VIMONT
National Science Foundation
Department of the Interior
RADM TIMOTHY C. GALLAUDET
MR. DONALD E. EICK
United States Navy MR. PAUL FONTAINE
National Transportation Safety Board
Department of Defense Federal Aviation Administration
Department of Transportation MR. SCOTT FLANDERS
MR. SCOTT LIVEZEY
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
United States Navy MR. MARK KEHRLI
Department of Defense Federal Highway Administration MR. MICHAEL CLARK
Department of Transportation Office of Management and Budget
MR. RALPH STOFFLER
United States Air Force DR. JONATHAN M. BERKSON
Department of Defense United States Coast Guard
Department of Homeland Security
MR. MICHAEL BONADONNA, Secretariat
Office of the Federal Coordinator for
Meteorological Services and Supporting Research
The Federal Plan for
Meteorological
Services and
Supporting Research

FISCAL YEAR 2016

FEDERAL COORDINATOR FOR METEOROLOGICAL
SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH
Silver Spring Metro Center, Building 2 (SSMC 2)
1325 East West Highway, Suite 7130
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301.628.0112

FCM-P1-2015 Editor: Mr. Anthony Ramirez
September 2015 Assistant: Ms. Erin McNamara
WASHINGTON, D.C. Assistant: Mr. Kenneth Barnett
PREFACE
This edition of the Federal Plan for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research marks the
beginning of a new era in Federal meteorological coordination and the Office of the Federal
Coordinator for Meteorology (OFCM). As stated by Mr. Samuel P. Williamson in the preface to
the document The Federal Role in Meteorological Services and Supporting Research – A Half
Century of Multi-Agency Collaboration:
“…the federal meteorological enterprise is poised to continue delivering ever greater
value in meeting the Nation’s changing needs for meteorological and climatological
services and products.”
“…I look forward to the next half-century of challenges for OFCM. With the nation’s
continued support, we will strive to surpass the remarkable record set during our first
half-century.”
2015 has been a year of great change for many of the partners of the federal meteorological
enterprise. Several organizations, including the OFCM, are undergoing substantial
reorganization. As part of this transition, Mr. David McCarren accepted a temporary
appointment from the CNMOC to serve as Acting Federal Coordinator for over eight months.
During that time, we conducted a broad survey of the organizations participating in the Federal
Coordinating Infrastructure to gather input to inform decisions regarding the future direction of
OFCM. With strong leadership and support from the Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans
and Atmosphere, Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, the Federal Committee for Meteorological Services and
Supporting Research (FMCSSR) met for the first time in over ten years. Interdepartmental
Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (IMCSSR) later met to
approve substantial changes to the Federal Coordinating Infrastructure. As a result, the ICMSSR
deactivated all four Program Councils and assumed responsibility for all executive-level
coordination within the Federal Coordinating Infrastructure. This action also reduced the number
of subordinate Committees, Working Groups, and Joint Action Groups by 35%.
Amid all this change, the 15 agencies of the Federal Coordinating Infrastructure continue to
work together toward common goals in a number of important areas.
The Committee for Operational Environmental Satellites is working to improve interagency
communication and coordination of matters regarding the use of environmental satellites. In
2015 they documented broad Federal agency support and needs for international cooperation to
cover environmental satellite data coverage of the Indian Ocean and continued night visible
imagery from the NOAA polar orbiting satellites. In data-related work, the Satellite Telemetry
Interagency Working Group (STIWG) has been reintegrated in the federal Coordinating
infrastructure to heighten agency awareness of the Geostationary Operational Environmental
Satellite (GOES) Data Collection System (DCS) and opportunities for data sharing and
collaboration.
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OFCM continues to play a critical role in supporting cooperation through the Committee for
Operational Processing Centers and its subordinate working groups. Establishment of a new
information security-compliant communications infrastructure has been a top priority.
We will continue to plan, organize, and host the Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference to
share information and prepare for next year’s hurricane season, including publishing the 2016
National Hurricane Operations Plan. The Working Group for Tropical Cyclone Research is
working to complete a mid-course assessment of progress in achieving our strategic research
plan for tropical cyclones.
We are also eager to see the proof of concept system under development for dual-polarization
phased array radar and the possibility to move forward with a full-scale Advanced Technology
Demonstrator for Multifunction Phased Array Radar (MPAR). MPAR represents a potential
breakthrough in economy across a number of radar applications.
Remarkable change and progress has been made in the area of Space Weather planning and
interagency coordination. The National Space Weather Program continues to support the annual
Space Weather Enterprise Forum in Washington DC and the new National Space Weather
Strategy and Action Plans to be published in fiscal year (FY) 2016.
This is also an exciting time for discovering, acquiring, and employing new data streams from
satellites, unmanned aircraft systems, and networks of observing networks across the country—
all of which will be addressed through our interagency coordinating groups in the coming year.
This edition of the Federal Plan provides additional information on these topics as well as much
more information about activities across the agencies. It provides Congress and the Executive
Branch with a review of agency programs and activities in FY 2015, a comprehensive account of
proposed programs for FY 2016, and an outlook for future investment. The Federal Plan's
narratives, timelines, and schedules are current as of September 2015.
I extend my thanks to our agency partners and their staffs for their dedicated efforts to contribute
to this important document.

Paul A. Roelle, Colonel, PhD, USAF
Federal Coordinator for Meteorological
Services and Supporting Research (Acting)
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Table of Contents
PREFACE………………………………………………………………………………………………..iv
SECTION 1 AGENCY FUNDING FOR METEOROLOGICAL OPERATIONS AND
SUPPORTING RESEARCH .................................................................................................................. 1-1
AGENCY BUDGET SUMMARIES…………………………………………………………...………1-1
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE………………………………………………………...……1-1
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE/NATIONAL OCEANIC AND AMOSPHERIC
ADMINISTRATION .......................................................................................................................... 1-2
National Weather Service ............................................................................................................. 1-2
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Services .............................................. 1-4
Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research .............................................................................. 1-8
National Ocean Service ................................................................................................................. 1-9
Office of Marine and Aviation Operations ................................................................................. 1-10
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ........................................................................................................ 1-10
U.S. Air Force ............................................................................................................................. 1-10
U.S. Army ................................................................................................................................... 1-12
U.S. Navy .................................................................................................................................... 1-13
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY .............................................................................. 1-17
U.S. Coast Guard ........................................................................................................................ 1-17
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR .............................................................................................. 1-17
Bureau of Land Management ...................................................................................................... 1-17
National Park Service ................................................................................................................. 1-18
U.S. Geological Survey............................................................................................................... 1-18
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ..................................................................................... 1-19
Federal Aviation Administration ................................................................................................ 1-19
Federal Highway Administration ................................................................................................ 1-19
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ............................................................................. 1-20
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION .............................................. 1-20
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ................................................................................. 1-22
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ......................................................................................................... 1-23
DEPARTMENT OF STATE ............................................................................................................. 1-24
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION ..................................................................................................... 1-24
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION .......................................................................................... 1-24

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BUDGET TABLES
Table 1 Meteorological Operations and Supporting Research Costs by Agency ....................... 1-25
Table 2 Operational Costs by Budget Category .......................................................................... 1-26
Table 3 Supporting Research and Development Costs by Budget Category .............................. 1-27
Service Category Definitions ....................................................................................... 1-28
Table 4 Operational Costs by Service Category ......................................................................... 1-30
Table 5 Supporting Research and Development Costs by Service Category ............................. 1-30
Table 6 Personnel Supporting Meteorological Operations and Research ................................... 1-31
Table 7 Interagency Fund Transfers ........................................................................................... 1-31
Table 8 Facilities/Locations/Systems Taking Meteorological Observations .............................. 1-33
SECTION 2: FEDERAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH
PROGRAMS ......................................................................................................................................... 2-1
FEDERAL COORDINATION AND PLANNING FOR METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND
SUPPORTING RESEARCH .................................................................................................................. 2-3
STATUTORY BASIS FOR THE FEDERAL COORDINATION PROCESS ................................... 2-3
OFCM COORDINATING INFRASTRUCTURE .............................................................................. 2-4
OFCM HIGHLIGHTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015 AND PLANS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016 ......... 2-6
Activities Reporting to the Federal Coordinator
Support for Plans and Analyses Mandated by the COASTAL Act of 2012 ................................. 2-6
Programs and Mission Areas
National Aviation Weather Program ............................................................................................ 2-6
National Operational Processing Centers ..................................................................................... 2-7
National Space Weather Program ................................................................................................. 2-7
Multifunction Phased Array Radar ............................................................................................... 2-8
Committees, Working Groups, and Joint Action Groups .................................................................... 2-9
Committee for Operational Processing Centers ............................................................................ 2-9
Working Group for Cooperative Support and Backup .................................................... 2-9
Working Group for Observational Data .......................................................................... 2-9
Joint Action Group for Centralized Communications Management.............................. 2-10
Committee for Operational Environmental Satellites ................................................................. 2-10
Working Group for Hurricane and Winter Storms Operations and Research and
Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference ....................................................................... 2-10
Working Group for Disaster Impact Assessments and Plans: Weather and Water Data ......
....................................................................................................................................... 2-12
Working Group for Volcanic Ash .................................................................................. 2-13
Atmospheric Transport and Dispersion (ATD) ............................................................ 2-13
Committee for Observing Systems and Services ........................................................................ 2-13
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Joint Action Group for Unmanned Aerial Systems ....................................................... 2-14
Committee for Cooperative Research ......................................................................................... 2-14
Working Group for Tropical Cyclone Research ............................................................ 2-14
Working Group for Weather Information for Surface Transportation .......................... 2-15
Meteorological Codes .................................................................................................... 2-15
OFCM External Coordination ........................................................................................................... 2-16
Executive Office of the President ............................................................................................... 2-16
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) ................................................................... 2-16
Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) ........................................................ 2-16
NAS/NRC Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate ............................................. 2-16
American Meteorological Society ................................................................................. 2-16
FY 2015 OFCM PUBLICATIONS ................................................................................................... 2-17
BASIC SERVICES ................................................................................................................................ 2-19
OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES .............................. 2-19
NOAA/National Weather Service ............................................................................................... 2-19
NOAA/National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service ................................. 2-22
NOAA/Office of Marine and Aviation Operations ..................................................................... 2-27
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Basic Meteorological Services ...................... 2-29
SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ........................................................ 2-29
Interagency Collaborative Research Programs and Projects ...................................................... 2-29
NOAA/National Weather Service/Environmental Modeling Center .......................................... 2-31
NOAA/ National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service ................................ 2-32
NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research .............................................................. 2-33
NASA Supporting Research for Basic Meteorological Services ................................................ 2-44
National Science Foundation ...................................................................................................... 2-47
AGRICULTURAL AND LAND MANAGEMENT METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES .............. 2-49
OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES .............................. 2-49
Interagency Programs ................................................................................................................. 2-49
U.S. Department of Agriculture .................................................................................................. 2-49
Department of Interior ................................................................................................................ 2-54
SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ........................................................ 2-55
U.S. Department of Agriculture .................................................................................................. 2-55
AVIATION SERVICES ........................................................................................................................ 2-57
OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES .............................. 2-57
Interagency Collaborative Operational Products and Services ................................................... 2-57
NOAA/National Weather Service ............................................................................................... 2-62
Federal Aviation Administration ................................................................................................ 2-64
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SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ........................................................ 2-74
The National Airspace System of the Future .............................................................................. 2-74
FAA Interagency Planning Office ................................................................................. 2-75
FAA NextGen Office ..................................................................................................... 2-75
FAA AWG and AWSD Roles in NextGen Transition .................................................. 2-75
The NAS Infrastructure Portfolio .................................................................................. 2-77
NOAA/National Weather Service ............................................................................................... 2-78
NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research ............................................................... 2-78
Federal Aviation Administration ................................................................................................ 2-80
CLIMATE SERVICES ......................................................................................................................... 2-89
OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES .............................. 2-89
NOAA/National Weather Service ............................................................................................... 2-89
NOAA/NESDIS/National Climatic Data Center ........................................................................ 2-90
NOAA/Office of Marine and Aviation Operations ..................................................................... 2-92
United States Air Force ............................................................................................................... 2-93
United States Navy ..................................................................................................................... 2-94
United States Geological Survey ................................................................................................ 2-96
Department of State .................................................................................................................... 2-96
SUPPORTING RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ........................................................ 2-98
Interagency Collaborative Research Programs and Projects ...................................................... 2-98
NOAA/NESDIS/ National Centers for Environmental Information/Center for Weather and
Climate ........................................................................................................................... 2-99
National Centers for Environmental Information / Center for Coasts, Oceans, and
Geophysics ................................................................................................................... 2-100
NOAA/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research ............................................................. 2-101
Laboratories and Programs .......................................................................................... 2-102
Department of Agriculture/National Institute of Food and Agriculture ................................... 2-108
United States Geological Survey ............................................................................................. 2-109
National Aeronautics and Space Administration ...................................................................... 2-111
Department of Energy/Office of Science .................................................................................. 2-115
National Science Foundation .................................................................................................... 2-116
EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND HOMELAND SECURITY SERVICES .................................. 2-119
OPERATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ............................ 2-119
Federal Emergency Management Agency ................................................................................ 2-119
U.S. Coast Guard ...................................................................................................................... 2-121
Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric Assessment Center ................................................... 2-122
NOAA/National Weather Service ............................................................................................. 2-123
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