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WEATHER SERVICES
FOR THE NATION
Becoming Second to None
Committee on the Assessment of the
National Weather Service's Modernization Program
Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate
Division on Earth and Life Studies
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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS · 500 Fifth Street, NW · Washington, DC 20001
NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National
Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the
National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible
for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.
This study was supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under contract number
DG133R08CQ0062, Task Order #8. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed
in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsoring agency or
any of its sub agencies.
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-25972-9
International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-25972-X
Additional copies of this report are available for sale from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street, NW,
Keck 360, Washington, DC 20001; (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313; http://www.nap.edu/.
Copyright 2012 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America.
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The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars
engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to
their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the
Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters.
Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy
of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in
the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising
the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed
at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of
engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services
of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health
of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its
congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues
of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the
broad community of science and technology with the Academy's purposes of furthering knowledge and advis-
ing the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the
Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National
Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering
communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph
J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.
www.national-academies.org
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COMMITTEE ON THE ASSESSMENT OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE'S MODERNIZATION PROGRAM
JOHN A. ARMSTRONG (Chair), Retired, IBM Corporation, Amherst, Massachusetts
JAMES D. DOYLE, Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey, California
PAMELA EMCH, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, Redondo Beach, California
WILLIAM B. GAIL, Global Weather Corporation, Boulder, Colorado
DAVID J. GOCHIS, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado
EVE GRUNTFEST, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
HOLLY HARTMANN, University of Arizona, Tucson
KEVIN A. KLOESEL, University of Oklahoma, Norman
NICHOLAS LAMPSON,* Retired, United States House of Representatives,
Beaumont, Texas
JOHN W. MADDEN, Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency
Management, Fort Richardson
GORDON MCBEAN, University of Western Ontario, Canada
DAVID J. MCLAUGHLIN, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
ADRIAN E. RAFTERY, University of Washington, Seattle
JAMES L. RASMUSSEN, Retired, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
Frederick, Maryland
PAUL L. SMITH, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City
JOHN TOOHEY-MORALES, NBC-6 WTVJ-TV and ClimaData, Miami, Florida
NRC Staff
MAGGIE WALSER, Study Director
AMANDA PURCELL, Research Associate
RICARDO PAYNE, Senior Program Assistant
Asterisk (*) denotes member who resigned during the course of the study.
v
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Preface
T
he Modernization and Associated Restructur- information, or other technical information. They
ing (MAR) of the National Weather Service include Rick Anthes, Ray Ban, Stan Benjamin, Rit
(NWS) was completed in 2000. This Com- Carbone, Fred Carr, Don Cline, John Cortinas, Walt
mittee was formed to conduct a comprehensive assess- Dabberdt, Julie Demuth, Dan Eleuterio, Doug Forsyth,
ment of the MAR. In its first report, the Committee Mike Foster, Robert Gall, Mike Hudson, Jack Hayes,
concluded that the MAR was a success and worth the Pam Heinselman, Susan Joslyn, Kevin Kelleher, Mary
investment. This report contains the second part of Kicza, Jeff Lazo, Frank Marks, Curtis Marshall, Cliff
the Committee's work, advice for the NWS on how Mass, Berrien Moore, Rebecca Morss, Liz Quoetone,
best to plan, deploy, and oversee future improvements, Ed Rappaport, Bill Read, Gary Reisner, Tim Spangler,
based on lessons learned from the MAR. It is the Travis Smith, Dave Stensrud, Fred Toepfer, and Louis
Committee's hope that the recommendations in this Uccellini.
report will aid the NWS in becoming second to none The Committee would also like to thank all those
in integrating advances in science and technology into who have firsthand experience with the MAR who
their operations and meeting user needs. briefed us as we prepared our first report. Their input
To carry out the second part of its charge, the was equally valuable as we prepared this report. The
Committee held four in-person meetings during individuals who briefed the Committee or provided
which they heard input from a range of NWS staff and information as we prepared our first report include Carl
stakeholders in the larger weather, water, and climate Bjerkaas, Gary Carter, Valery Dagostaro, Joe Facundo,
enterprise. The Committee reviewed the literature, George Frederick, Joe Friday, Mary Glackin, Richard
NWS documents, and other relevant information, Hallgren, Jack Hayes, Rick Heuwinkel, Richard Hirn,
and met by phone. In addition, the Committee hosted Fiona Horsfall, Jack Kelly, Chuck Kluepfel, Ken Kraus,
a Town Hall Meeting at the 92nd Annual Meeting Sandy MacDonald, Lauren Marone, Frank Misciasci,
of the American Meteorological Society as a way of Joel Myers, Vickie Nadolski, Tim Owen, Maria
gathering input from the community. The Town Hall Pirone, Bill Proenza, Barry Reichenbaugh, Buddy
Meeting attendees represented the public, private, and Ritchie, Jae-Kyung Schemm, Bob Serafin, John Sokich,
academic sectors. Margaret Spring, Louis Uccellini, Rich Vogt, Glenn
This report would not have been possible without White, and Doug Young. Our sincerest thanks are
the assistance of many of our colleagues in the enter- extended to Edward Johnson and John Sokich for their
prise. The Committee would like to acknowledge the help and support throughout the study process. The
many individuals who briefed us, provided written Committee is grateful for the insights provided by John
vii
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viii PREFACE
Snow, who served as the liaison from the NRC Board
on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate. The Committee
is greatly indebted to Study Director Maggie Walser
and to Senior Program Assistant Ricardo Payne for
their expert support.
John A. Armstrong, Chair
Committee on the Assessment of
the National Weather Service's
Modernization Program
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Acknowledgments
T
his report has been reviewed in draft form by Matthew Parker, Savannah River National
individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives Laboratory, Aiken, South Carolina
and technical expertise, in accordance with pro- Maria Pirone, Harris Corporation, Washington, DC
cedures approved by the NRC's Report Review Com- Scott Rayder, University Corporation for
mittee. The purpose of this independent review is to Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado
provide candid and critical comments that will assist the Elizabeth Ritchie, Arizona State University,
institution in making its published report as sound as Tucson
possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional George Smith, Riverside Technology, Inc.,
standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness Moneta, Virginia
to the study charge. The review comments and draft Joseph Yura, Retired, University of Texas, Austin
manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity
of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the follow Although the reviewers listed above have provided
ing individuals for their participation in their review of many constructive comments and suggestions, they were
this report: not asked to endorse the conclusions nor did they see the
final draft of the report before its release. The review of
Grady Booch, IBM Research, Littleton, Colorado this report was overseen by Dr. Shuyi Chen, University
Robert Brammer, Brammer Technologies, LLC, of Miami, Florida, appointed by the Division on Earth
Andover, Massachusetts and Life Studies, and Dr. Neal Lane, Rice University,
Gilbert Brunet, Environment Canada, Quebec, Houston, Texas, appointed by the Report Review Com-
Canada mittee, who were responsible for making certain that an
Jenni Evans, Pennsylvania State University, independent examination of this report was carried out
University Park in accordance with institutional procedures and that all
Kai Lee, Packard Foundation, Los Altos, California review comments were carefully considered. Responsi-
Barry Myers, Accuweather, State College, bility for the final content of this report rests entirely
Pennsylvania with the authoring committee and the institution.
ix
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS x
Institutional oversight for this project was provided by:
BOARD ON ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES AND CLIMATE
ANTONIO J. BUSALACCHI, JR. (Chair), University of Maryland, College Park
GERALD A. MEEHL (Vice Chair), National Center for Atmospheric Research
LANCE F. BOSART, State University of New York, Albany
RICHARD CARBONE, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado
SHUYI S. CHEN, University of Miami, Florida
KIRSTIN DOW, University of South Carolina, Columbia
GREG S. FORBES, The Weather Channel, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia
LISA GODDARD, Columbia University, Palisades, New York
ISAAC HELD, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Princeton, New Jersey
ANTHONY JANETOS, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, College Park, Maryland
HAROON S. KHESHGI, ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, Annandale, New Jersey
MICHAEL D. KING, University of Colorado, Boulder
JOHN E. KUTZBACH, University of Wisconsin-Madison
ARTHUR LEE, Chevron Corporation, San Ramon, California
ROBERT J. LEMPERT, The RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California
ROGER B. LUKAS, University of Hawaii, Honolulu
SUMANT NIGAM, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, College Park, Maryland
RAYMOND T. PIERREHUMBERT, University of Chicago, Illinois
KIMBERLY PRATHER, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California
RICH RICHELS, Electric Power Research Institute, Inc., Washington, DC
DAVID A. ROBINSON, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway
KIRK R. SMITH, University of California, Berkeley
JOHN T. SNOW, University of Oklahoma, Norman
CLAUDIA TEBALDI, Climate Central, Princeton, New Jersey
XUBIN ZENG, University of Arizona, Tucson
NRC Staff
CHRIS ELFRING, Director
EDWARD DUNLEA, Senior Program Officer
LAURIE GELLER, Senior Program Officer
MAGGIE WALSER, Program Officer
KATIE THOMAS, Associate Program Officer
LAUREN BROWN, Research Associate
AMANDA PURCELL, Research Associate
RITA GASKINS, Administrative Coordinator
ROB GREENWAY, Program Associate
SHELLY FREELAND, Senior Program Assistant
RICARDO PAYNE, Senior Program Assistant
ELIZABETH FINKLEMAN, Program Assistant
GRAIG MANSFIELD, Financial Associate
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Contents
SUMMARY1
1THE RATIONALE FOR FURTHER EVOLUTION OF THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE 7
Today's Key Challenges, 7
The Evolving Context, 10
Responding to the Challenges, 11
2 PRIORITIZE CORE CAPABILITIES 17
Foundational Datasets, 17
Essential Functions, 30
Operationally Related Research, 31
Advisory Groups for Technological Improvements, 36
3 EVALUATE FUNCTION AND STRUCTURE 39
Possible Realignment of Offices, 40
Workforce Training, 44
4 LEVERAGE THE ENTIRE ENTERPRISE 49
The Opportunity and Goal, 51
Implementing a Leveraged Enterprise, 54
Challenges and Risks, 57
International Partners, 57
Acquisition Partners, 58
REFERENCES59
APPENDIXES
A STATEMENT OF TASK 63
B ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 65
C BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS 69
xi
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