Officials Launch Future NCEP Home at University of Maryland

Last week, NOAA, University of Maryland officials, and others celebrated the launch of M-Square, a new crossroad where government, academia, private industry, technology, and science will converge at one of the Nation's largest research parks. M-Square is also the future location of NOAA's new National Center for Weather and Climate Prediction, the headquarters for the NWS's National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) and several other NOAA entities.

University, state and federal government, and elected officials presented remarks about this achievement and what it will mean for Maryland, as well as America. "For NOAA, this event represents the final site selection of the country's new National Center for Weather and Climate Prediction," said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, NOAA Administrator. "Being close to the research community provides a synergistic, collaborative link to accelerate the transfer of research breakthroughs into operational products that serve the Nation's needs to improve climate, weather, and water predictions."

The new building will replace NOAA's existing World Weather Building in Camp Springs, MD, and employ approximately 800 people. The new 250,000 sq. ft. facility is expected to break ground in April 2005 and open in late 2007.

"The entire spectrum of operational forecast products from climate to weather, including ocean and precipitation forecasts, will be produced at this NOAA facility. NCEP is where America's weather and climate forecasting begins," said Louis Uccellini, Director of NCEP. Uccelini was credited at the event by several officials as the "visionary" of the project.

In addition to NCEP's Office of the Director, five of the nine national centers will be located at M-Square. They are the:

• Climate Prediction Center, which assesses and forecasts the impacts of short-term climate variability, emphasizing enhanced risks of weather-related extreme events, for use in mitigating losses and maximizing economic gains;
• Environmental Modeling Center, that develops and improves numerical weather, climate, and ocean prediction through a broad program in partnership with the research community;
• Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, which provides nationwide analysis and forecast guidance products out through seven days;
• NCEP Central Operations, that sustains and executes the operational suite of numerical analyses and forecast models and prepares NCEP products for dissemination; and the
• Ocean Prediction Center, that issues weather warnings and forecasts out to five days for parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Also, the facility will house three other NOAA offices: the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research's Air Resources Laboratory, the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service's (NESDIS's) Satellite Services Division, and NESDIS's Office of Research and Applications.

The Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) serves as the source of atmospheric transport and dispersion capabilities to the National Weather Service, to NOAA as a whole, and to a wide range of external users. Bruce Hicks, Director of ARL, "expressed excitement with the opportunities that will exist through collocation with the operational elements of NOAA and the University of Maryland research staff."

"We are pleased that the new home for our research on the use of satellite data to improve environmental warnings and forecasts will be conducted in close proximity to NCEP and adjoining the University of Maryland," said Gregory W. Withee, Assistant Administrator for NOAA Satellites and Information. "This will also be the location where we will prepare some selected NOAA satellite-based operational products and where we will provide real-time access to the full suite of satellite data and products for the benefit of the public and government."

Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Treasury Samuel W. Bodman was among the dignataries celebrating this new research park. Bodman, formerly the Deputy Secretary for the Department of Commerce, is credited as a driving force between this government and university partnership. U.S. Senator Paul S. Sarbanes and Congressman Steny H. Hoyer also applauded this partnerhip in their remarks.

C.D. Mote, Jr., University of Maryland President, launched an NWS weather balloon during the ceremony to help broaden participant knowledge about NOAA and the National Weather Service. In addition, Bill Hibbert, a journeyman forecaster who serves as an Incident Meteorologist for the Buffalo, NY, Forecast Office demonstrated satellite operated "pack-and-go" equipment used by IMETs during fires at the NOAA exhibit.

Pictures of the announcement ceremony and a map of the building's location are available on the NCEP web site.

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More Weatherbug Data Available Through Expanded NWS, AWS Partnership

Leaders for the NWS and AWS Convergence Technologies, Inc. (AWS) recently signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the organizations to better incorporate data from AWS's nationwide, real-time weather sensor network into NWS operations.

Calling the new agreement "an excellent example of the public and private sectors working together for the good of the American people," Brig. Gen. D.L. Johnson, USAF (Ret.), NWS Director, on September 29, 2004, signed the new MOU along with Robert Marshall, President and Chief Executive Officer of AWS Convergence Technologies.

The new MOU between NWS and AWS opens up opportunities for research and makes the data more accessable to NWS forecast offices.

The AWS data is available for limited NWS use from the MADIS (Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System) system at NOAA's Forecast Systems Laboratory. To obtain access to the data, weather forecast offices should fill in the data application form at
http://www-sdd.fsl.noaa.gov/MADIS/data_application.html.

The AWS WeatherBug® Network includes more than 7,000 tracking stations across the U.S. Tracking stations are placed largely on school grounds and the exclusive network provides live data to subscribers and other entities such as television broadcasters and schools.

"Data is the fuel that feeds all the services NWS provides," said Johnson. "Accordingly, we are looking forward to working with AWS on joint research programs employing their data to improve products and services."

Read the full NOAA news release here.

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NWS to Link NWWS and National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS) to Improve Public Safety

NWS is working to establish a two-way link with the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS) to allow rapid exchange of information between law enforcement agencies and the NOAA Weather Wire Service (NWWS).

NLETS is the pre-eminent interstate law enforcement network in the Nation for the exchange of law enforcement and related justice information. The NWWS is a satellite data collection and dissemination system operated by the NWS that provides state and federal government, commercial users, media, and private citizens with timely delivery of meteorological, hydrological, climatological, and geophysical information.

A two-way link between the two systems will not only allow NWS to rapidly distribute weather information to state and local agencies, but will also permit local officials to relay information on storm impacts and real-time weather information directly to NWS meteorologists. "This quick exchange of information promises to enhance public safety during weather and non-weather emergencies," according to Martin Baron, the national NWWS Program Leader.

Computer Sciences Corporation (the NWWS contractor), has been awarded a contract to develop the interface between NWWS and NLETS. A dedicated terrestrial circuit will link the NLETS hub in Phoenix, AZ, with the NWWS operations center in Chantilly, VA.

Several states will be participating in a pilot project to begin on December 1, 2004, to test, evaluate, and solicit feedback on the new system. March 31, 2005, is the anticipated effective implementation date for the overall project.

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Florida Congressman Visits WFO Melbourne

In the wake of this season’s unprecedented hurricane activity in the state of Florida, U.S. Representative Dave Weldon paid a visit to the Melbourne, FL, Weather Forecast Office (WFO) on October 2, 2004.

Rep. Weldon’s 15th Congressional District was hit hard as Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne made landfall at nearly identical locations along Florida’s east coast. The district also sustained serious damage earlier in the season as Hurricane Charley roared through from the west.

According to Meteorologist-In-Charge Bart Hagemeyer, Rep. Weldon said he wanted to thank the WFO Melbourne staff for its outstanding service to the people of his district and to learn more about the operational aspects of the WFO.

During a tour of the office, Hagemeyer discussed the recent hurricanes in detail and explained the use of the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS). The Congressman also reviewed radar loops of Hurricanes Jeanne and Frances, which were displayed on Weather Event Simulator training consoles; and, received a briefing on the development of the National Digital Forecast Database.

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Forecast Office Reaches Students at Conservation Fair

Tribute to HPC Meteorological Technician Jackie Hatchett

Her life was celebrated by a host of family, friends, and coworkers at a memorial service in Fort Washington, MD, on July 24, 2004. In remarks at the service, HPC Director Jim Hoke said "Her work ethic and dedication to getting the job done, regardless of the weather outside or the time of the day or the day of the week or whether it was a holiday, serve as examples to us all." Among other things she was known and very much appreciated for her fondness of midnight shifts and her uncanny ability to fix operational reproduction equipment when it broke in the middle of the night. She is greatly missed, Hoke said.

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NWS Snapshots

Click here for a look at photos we've received from around the NWS.

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