The NOAA Climate Program: Research and Climate Services

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The NOAA Climate Program Research and Climate
Services
NOAA Climate Program

• Chet Koblinsky
• Director of the NOAA Climate Program, and
• Acting Director of the Office of Global Programs
• Climate Prediction Assessments and
• Services Workshop, March 9-11,
• Florida State University,
• Tallahassee, Florida

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NOAA Climate Program

• Ten years ago NOAAs climate services were
  primarily focused on the dissemination of
  coarsely resolved national seasonal forecasts.
• Over the last ten years NOAA has, in close
  collaboration with decision-makers, conducted
  research that has enhanced the relevance, value,
  and accuracy of its data and forecasting tools.
• Where should NOAA be in 10-20 years in regard to
  climate services for climate variability, climate
  change?
• Need to develop a vision and roadmap for the
  future.

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NOAA Climate Program

• The current program stems from NOAAs commitment
  to develop a cohesive system that links research,
  operational climate services, and decision-makers
  needs.

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NOAA Climate ProgramVision

• NOAA s MISSION
• To understand and predict changes in the Earths
  environment and conserve and manage coastal and
  marine resources to meet our Nations economic,
  social, and environmental needs.
• BENEFITS TO THE NATION
• Consistent with its results-oriented approach to
  strategic planning, NOAA is committed to
  maximizing the benefits of its products and
  services to our Nations
• Environment Public Safety Economy

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NOAA Climate ProgramMission Goal 2 - Climate

• Climate is one of the four strategic themes
  within NOAA.
• Understand climate variability and change to
  enhance societys ability to plan and respond
• Climate Services (NAS) The timely production
  and delivery of useful climate data, information,
  and knowledge to decision makers.
• Anticipated Outcomes (Build an end-to-end
  system)
• Increased use and effectiveness of observations
  and climate information show the benefit of the
  observations, provide feedback on what works,
  what doesnt work, and what needs to be changed
  and how.

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NOAA Climate Program Research to Delivery
Information Gathering and Dissemination
Research
Operations/ Decision-makers
NOAA Climate Transition Program
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NOAA Climate ProgramOrganizational Ideas
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NOAA Climate Program Elements

• 1. Climate Observations and Analysis (T. Karl -
  NESDIS) 50
• Observations
• Data Stewardship
• Understanding Climate Variability and Change
• 2. Climate Forcing (D. Albritton - OAR) 20
• Global Carbon Cycle
• Atmospheric Composition
• 3. Climate Predictions and Projections (A.
  Leetmaa - OAR) 25
• Climate Prediction
• Climate Change Projections
• Reducing Model Uncertainty
• 4. Climate and Ecosystems (N. Cyr - NMFS) 1
• 5 Regional Decision Support (R. Livezey NWS, C.
  Nierenberg - OAR) 4

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NOAA Climate ProgramGoal 5

• Regional Decision Support A mature and
  efficient system for understanding and responding
  to stakeholder needs for products and services.
• Outcome Enhance NOAAs operational decision
  support tools to provide climate services for
  national socio-economic benefits
• Performance Measure Provide NWS forecasters
  scientific training to understand and use NOAA
  climate forecasts and other climate products, and
  adapt these products for regional delivery.

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NOAA Climate ProgramMilestones for Goal 5

• Exploratory workshops to identify climate
  sensitive issues at regional scales.
• Regional forums to identify research priorities
  and transfer to operations
• Develop prototype methods for application of
  climate information to practical management
• Transition research products to operations
• Social science-based studies for context and use
  of climate information

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NOAA Climate ProgramExamples

• Operational wildfire forecasting a federal and
  state partnership with NOAA.
• Climate implications for estuarine
  rehabilitation, the CALFED example.
• NWS partnerships with FEMA to improve disaster
  management in Montana.
• Climate based risk management NOAA-USDA
  research-extension partnership.

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NOAA Climate Program

• Where should NOAA be in 10-20 years in regard to
  climate services for climate variability, climate
  change?

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