Agencies team up to accelerate Earth system prediction

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Accurately predicting the weather - at short and long time scales - is among the most complex and important challenges faced by science. Protecting the nation’s security and economic well-being will increasingly rely on improved skill in forecasting weather, weather-driven events like floods and droughts, and long-term shifts in weather, ocean and sea-ice patterns.

Accurately predicting the weather - at short and long time scales - is among the most complex and important challenges faced by science. Protecting the nation’s security and economic well-being will increasingly rely on improved skill in forecasting weather, weather-driven events like floods and droughts, and long-term shifts in weather, ocean and sea-ice patterns.

A new paper co-authored by officials from NOAA Research and NOAA’s National Weather Service, other federal agencies, and the military, captures the 60-year history of U.S. numerical weather prediction and details a five-agency strategy underway to coordinate and accelerate the America’s environmental prediction capability.

“This is our grand challenge,” said Craig McLean, assistant NOAA administrator for NOAA Research. “We need tools like these to improve our ability to make smart long-range investments, to build infrastructure that’s more resilient to severe weather and to protect public safety, commerce, and national security.”

The National Earth System Prediction Capability, or National ESPC, is a collaboration between the NOAA, NASA, the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and two military branches - the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force.

 

Continue reading at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Photo via National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).