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Samuel P. Williamson Federal Coordinator for Meteorology

The Role of OFCM in Interagency Coordination Presentation for GOES User Conference II October 1, 2002. Samuel P. Williamson Federal Coordinator for Meteorology. Overview. Background Coordinating Infrastructure Major Earlier Activities Key Program Areas Future Activities Keys To Success

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Samuel P. Williamson Federal Coordinator for Meteorology

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  1. The Role of OFCM in Interagency CoordinationPresentation for GOES User Conference IIOctober 1, 2002 Samuel P. Williamson Federal Coordinator for Meteorology

  2. Overview • Background • Coordinating Infrastructure • Major Earlier Activities • Key Program Areas • Future Activities • Keys To Success • Benefits • Summary

  3. Background Historical Perspective OFCM • Accountable to Congress and OMB • Coordinate agency budgets • Report budgets and activities in annual Federal Plan Public Law 87-843 (1963) 1963 DOC Administrative Order 1964 OFCM formed in 1964 1979 GAO Study Revitalizes OFCM

  4. Background Mission To ensure the effective use of federal meteorological resources by leading the systematic coordination of operational weather requirements, services, and supporting research, among the federal agencies

  5. Aviation Weather Space Weather Environmental Services Observing Capabilities Climate Analysis, Monitoring and Services Cooperative Research Modeling and Prediction Information Technology and Communications Weather Information for Surface Transportation Homeland Security Background Key Program Areas--Agency Priorities

  6. Coordinating Infrastructure Federal Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (FCMSSR) Federal Coordinator for Meteorology Program Councils Interdepartmental Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (ICMSSR) National Space Weather Program Standing Committees National Aviation Weather Program Environmental Services, Operations, and Research Needs Operational Processing Centers Environmental Information Systems and Communications Climate Analysis, Monitoring and Services Working Group for Environmental Support to Homeland Security Integrated Observing Systems Cooperative Research

  7. Coordinating Infrastructure Roles / Responsibilities • Federal Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (FCMSSR) • Sets policy and priorities • Interdepartmental Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (ICMSSR) and Program Councils • Implement policy decisions • Make policy recommendations to FCMSSR • Assess adequacy of Federal programs and guide implementation of new interagency programs • Standing Committees • Document requirements, programs and activities to provide framework for participation and collaboration • Perform analysis of agency programs to provide basis for national leadership to allocate funds to meet requirements

  8. Coordinating Infrastructure Roles / Responsibilities (Cont.) • Program councils and committees have the capability to form specialized teams to work specific projects--assigned within the existing infrastructure • Working Groups • Joint Action Groups (JAG) • Groups formed to satisfy specific need • Interact with private sector and academia through process, as required • Input and feedback critical to process • Forums and workshops hosted to gather user requirements and ideas

  9. Coordinating Infrastructure OFCM Partners Independent agencies: Departments of: • Environmental Protection Agency • Federal Emergency Management Agency • National Aeronautics and Space Administration • National Science Foundation • National Transportation Safety Board • Nuclear Regulatory Commission • Agriculture • Commerce • Defense • Energy • Interior • State • Transportation Executive Office of the President: • Office of Management and Budget • Office of Science and Technology Policy

  10. Coordinating Infrastructure OFCM Affiliations National Research Council (NRC) Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (BASC) Climate Research Committee (CRC) University Corp. for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) US Weather Research Program (USWRP) American Meteorological Society (AMS) US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) Subcommittee on Natural Disaster Reduction (SNDR)

  11. Major Earlier Activities • Improved Weather Reconnaissance System -- 1982 • National Aircraft Icing Program Council -- 1984 • FAA, DOD, and NASA agreed to promote greater coordination on aircraft icing • National Aircraft Icing Technology Plan -- 1986 • National Plan to Improve Aircraft Icing Forecasts -- 1986 • OFCM funded NCAR to develop research strategy -- FY89 • FAA funded 6-year program to achieve plan goals -- FY90 • OFCM managed the project for the USAF and NOAA • Coordination carried out through IWRS Program Council • In 1990, completed installation of 12 operational systems on the WC-130 “Hurricane Hunter” aircraft

  12. Major Earlier Activities • Satellite Telemetry Interagency Working Group • ICMSSR and Interagency Advisory Committee on Water Data jointly chartered the Satellite Telemetry Interagency Working Group (STIWG) in 1985 to continue ongoing GOES related work (circa early 1970’s) • STIWG developed the first National Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) Data Collection System (DCS) Operations Plan--1997 • GOES DCS provides communication link for collecting and transmitting environmental data from remote platforms • The plan addresses such things as DCS architecture, operational procedures, data collected, agency missions, system enhancements, and interagency coordination • STIWG routinely works DCS communication and operational enhancement issues between NESDIS and GOES DCS users

  13. Major Earlier Activities Automated Surface Observing System Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD) 1,499 1988

  14. Key Program Areas Aviation Weather • National Aviation Weather Program Council/ Aviation Weather JAG • Created in response to National Research Council report • Strategic Plan (Tier 1)--April 1997 • National Aviation Weather Initiatives (Tier 2) -- produced 86 initiatives -- January 1999 • ”Service Design” (Tier 3) -- agencies realigned existing programs or initiate new programs • ”Budgets and Schedules” (Tier 4) -- Agencies developed funding profiles and established schedules to support programs to meet requirements • Tier 3/Tier 4 analysis completed--April 2001-- report available on OFCM web site • Study on training included in aviation weather support and services R&D programs was completed--report published in April 2002

  15. Space Weather Strategic Plan, 1995 Implementation Plan, 1997 Implementation Plan, 2nd Edition, July 2000 Key Program Areas

  16. Key Program Areas Space Weather • Space Weather Program Council/ Committee for Space Weather • Committee co-chaired by NSF, NOAA, Air Force • Latest implementation plan incorporates the National Security Space Architect Space Weather Architecture Transition Plan • Currently working NASA’s Living with a Star Defense Initiative • Offer to Air Force to modify program to provide additional information required for space weather forecasting • Involves NOAA/SEC for communications aspects and NSF for research aspects

  17. Key Program Areas Environmental Services • Committee for Environmental Services, Operations, and Research Needs • Annual Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference • Develop annual hurricane and winter storm operations plans • Post-Storm Data Acquisition (WG)--coordinates Civil Air Patrol support to survey damage • 2001--Published new Wind Chill Temperature Index (JAG/Temperature Indices)

  18. Key Program Areas Observing Capabilities • Committee for Integrated Observing Systems • Cooperative Observing (COOP) Network • working multi-year program to refurbish existing network followed by a total modernization to improve the network density (JAG) • OFCM participated in NWS led COOP forum to gather and understand user requirements - Sept 2002 • Lightning Detection Systems--developing federal requirements for lightning data for 2003 contract (JAG with NWS lead) • Develop nationally coordinated system to meet requirements for road-weather observations (FHWA)

  19. Key Program Areas Climate Analysis, Monitoring and Services • Committee for Climate Analysis, Monitoring and Services • Coordinated federal efforts to develop and field the Climate Reference Network to meet climate monitoring requirements • Developed Government Climate Resources home page/portal • Provides links to agencies’ climate resources • Listed on FirstGov.com under “Environment and Energy” and hosted on OFCM homepage • Working to move to www.climate.gov

  20. Key Program Areas Cooperative Research • Committee for Cooperative Research • Principal focus: Transitioning research to operations • Need to develop a sustainable, formalized approach to transition successful hurricane research results into the operations (55th IHC) • Described a proposed framework in the 2002 Federal Plan special article • Joint Hurricane Testbed is a step in the right direction • Provided $200,000 in seed money to support the development of the next-generation Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR)

  21. Key Program Areas Modeling and Prediction • Committee for Operational Processing Centers (COPC) • Sets the standard by which we base the success of the other committees • Directors/Commanding Officers (NOAA, Navy, and Air Force) of the OPCs meet semiannually • Have developed a strategic vision and implementing objectives • Collaborating to establish requirements and develop a next-generation “community” weather research and forecast model for mesoscale applications

  22. Key Program Areas Modeling and Prediction • Federal Plan for Cooperative Support and Backup Among Operational Processing Centers • Backup procedures worked flawlessly during NCEP Cray 90 supercomputer outage • Rear Admiral Richard D. West, Oceanographer of the Navy: • This outage “vividly illustrated the value of a national backup numerical weather prediction capability.” • Currently evaluating catastrophic backup procedures--single points of failure

  23. Key Program Areas Information Technology and Communications • Committee for Environmental Information Systems and Communications • Develop and coordinate next-generation information management systems, including data visualization capabilities • Address issues of communications interfaces and data exchange, data formats, meteorological codes, geographic information systems, and meteorological information management • Advocate federal agency interests for the free and open exchange of data • Address next-generation Internet requirements • Work to protect frequency allocation/bandwidth requirements

  24. Strategy for Providing Atmospheric Information Continued Strong Partnerships & Alliances + Follow-on Working Level Sessions Planning to Exploit our National Investment in Weather Technology Plan of Actions and Milestones December 3-5, 2001 Strategy Proceedings of Workshop Key Program Areas Information Technology and Communications Strategy for Providing Atmospheric Information Overarching goal: Provide framework for developing strategy leading to optimal 21st century national atmospheric information system (BASC 21st Century Report Action Item) Next Steps

  25. Key Program Areas Weather Information for Surface Transportation (WIST) • ICMSSR formed WIST Joint Action Group to address meteorological requirements for surface transportation • First WIST Symposium: OFCM Co-sponsored with DOT-FHWA • Build clear understanding of weather needs / requirements to establishment national needs / requirements document • Results of symposium used to validate requirements • Refined and validated requirements templates for six core modes of surface transportation • National needs assessment report will be ready for publication in Fall 2002

  26. Key Program Areas Homeland Security • Workshop on Effective Emergency Response: Selecting a Suitable Dispersion Model for a Given Application, December 5-6, 2001 • The overarching goal of the workshop was to define a framework for supporting the objective determination of the most appropriate dispersion model to be used in a given situation. • To accomplish this work, the Joint Action Group for Selection and Evaluation of Atmospheric Transport and Diffusion Models (JAG/SEATD) was established. • In order to understand the needs of the end-users, the JAG/SEATD members coordinated with modelers, emergency managers, and first-responders.

  27. Key Program Areas Homeland Security (Cont.) • While there are over 140 documented Atmospheric Transport and Diffusion modeling systems that are used for regulatory purposes, research and development, and emergency operations, the JAG/SEATD narrowed the list to 29 non-proprietary modeling systems that are used operationally either by first‑responders and/or at the Federal operational modeling centers. • These 29 modeling systems were the focus of the JAG/SEATD’s evaluation and the group’s published report in September 2002. • Future Goal: Develop interagency approved National concept of operations for support to Homeland Security operations

  28. Future Activities Year 2002-2003 Priorities • Homeland Security • Interagency policy and procedures on the use of atmospheric transport and diffusion models • Develop interagency approved National concept of operations for support to Homeland Security operations • Urban Meteorology • Urban modeling--homeland security issue • Aviation Weather User Forums Follow-up • Marine Transportation Systems • Risk Management & Assessment Follow-on

  29. Keys To Success Coordination, Cooperation, and Integration-- Hallmarks for successfully achieving end goals • Be responsive to agency/user needs and requirements • Do not compete with NOAA Line Offices or the other Federal agencies • Strive to build consensus • Plan of action • Resources • Resolve conflicts / issues and mitigate challenges before they become problems • Respond to crises in a timely manner • Facilitate steering of future direction and policy

  30. Benefits of OFCM Interagency Coordination • Thoroughly develop interagency/user needs and requirements • Save/marshal resources by focusing agency programs on validated requirements/priorities • Find opportunities for leveraging existing programs by broad interagency participation • Develop ways to accelerate obtaining required capabilities through interagency cooperation • Document concepts of operation covering all interagency requirements and using all their capabilities

  31. Summary • OFCM has over 35 years of experience • Use a proven interagency coordinating infrastructure and a continually evolving and responsive collaboration process • The OFCM continues to play a critical role in the overall Federal weather program

  32. OFCM Web Site Panel/Conference/Forum/ Workshop summaries and presentations are available on OFCM Web Site Click on “Special Projects” and navigate to the desired location For Publications: Click on “Publications” http://www.ofcm.gov/

  33. BACKUPS

  34. BACKGROUND Publications • Annual Federal Plan for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research • National Hurricane Operations Plan • National Winter Storms Operations Plan • National Severe Local Storms Operations Plan • Federal Meteorological Handbooks • Directory of Atmospheric Transport and Diffusion Consequence Assessment Models • Federal Plan for Cooperative Support and Backup Among the Operational Processing Centers • Proceedings of workshops, symposia, and forums ...To name a few...

  35. Coordinating Infrastructure FCMSSR Members • VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere (DOC/NOAA/ Chairperson) • Vacant, Associate Director for Environment (OSTP) • Mr. Randolph Lyon, Chief, Commerce Branch (OMB) • CAPT Frank Garcia (USN), Military Assistant for Environmental Sciences (DOD) • Mr. Monte Belger, Acting Deputy Administrator (DOT/FAA) • Mr. John J. Kelly, Jr., Assistant Administrator for Weather Services (DOC/NOAA/NWS)

  36. Coordinating Infrastructure FCMSSR Members (2) • Dr. Aristides Patrinos, Associate Director, Office of Biological and Environmental Research (DOE) • Dr. Robert M. Hirsch, Chief Hydrologist (DOI/USGS) • Mr. Roy P. Zimmerman, Deputy Director, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (NRC) • Dr. Ghassem R. Asrar, Associate Administrator for Earth Science (NASA) • Dr. Margaret Leinen, Assistant Director, Directorate for Geosciences (NSF) • Dr. Ray Motha, Chief Meteorologist, World Agricultural Outlook Board (USDA)

  37. Coordinating Infrastructure FCMSSR Members (3) • Mr. Henry L. Longest,Acting Assistant Administrator for Research & Development (EPA) • Mr. Paul Misencik , Chief, Operational Factors Division, Office of Aviation Safety (NTSB) • Mr. Robert F. Shea, Acting Administrator Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FEMA) • Mr. Ralph Braibanti, Director, Staff for Space and Advanced Technology (DOS) • Mr. Samuel P. Williamson, Federal Coordinator (DOC/NOAA/OFCM)

  38. Williamson-OFCM Motha-USDA Garcia-DOD Scheraga-EPA Moore-DOI Brown-NRC Eick-NTSB Jones-DOC/NWS Berkson-DOT/USCG Petty-DOE Gambel-FEMA Kakar-NASA Moyers-NSF Wuchte-OMB Maclure-DOS Whatley-DOT/FAA Coordinating Infrastructure ICMSSR Members Chairman

  39. Major Earlier Activities • In 1971, the Interdepartmental Board for Cooperation (IBC) of NOAA and DOD was established as a joint military contingency planning and crisis support group • Provides for use of NOAA assets and capabilities for national defense purposes • At request of DOC, DOE, and FEMA, provided logistical support to the Three-Mile Island nuclear accident in March 1979 • Last met in 1990 and 1991 to coordinate NOAA’s support to DOD during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm

  40. Key Program Areas Aviation Weather -- Next Steps • Develop comprehensive National Aviation Weather Training Program • Action driven by the common and unique training requirements from a broad spectrum of people who operate in the aviation system • Initial Aviation Weather Training Report is near completion • Transitioning research to operations • The FAA’s Aviation Weather Technology Transfer approach is currently focused on the FAA’s users • Committee for Aviation Services and Research to address the integration and coordination of user needs on an interagency basis

  41. Key Program Areas Environmental Services • Committee for Environmental Services, Operations, and Research Needs • Co-chaired by NOAA, Air Force, and Navy • Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference • Develop operations plans in support of the hurricane and winter storm programs (WG/Hurricane and Winter Storms Operations and Research) • Post-Storm Data Acquisition (WG)--recently coordinated Civil Air Patrol support to survey flood damage in Arkansas

  42. Key Program Areas Environmental Services • Published new Wind Chill Temperature Index (JAG/Temperature Indices) • New WCT Index implemented for Winter 2001-2002 by NWS, DOD, and Canada • Severe Local Storms Operations (JAG) • Published new plan May 2001 • Atmospheric Transport and Diffusion (JAG) • Completing national assessment of Weather Information for Surface Transportation (JAG)

  43. Key Program Areas Environmental Services • Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference • Recent changes include: • Integration of research and operations • Major effort to improve information dissemination • Improved outreach to and education of our user communities--particularly emergency management • Publish annual National Hurricane Operations Plan • Themes the past 2 years: • Landfalling Hurricanes: A Major Challenge for Operations and Research in the 21st Century • Hurricane Season 2002: 10 Years after Hurricane Andrew

  44. Key Program Areas Climate Analysis, Monitoring and Services • Responding to recommendations from BASC Summer Study report on Climate Services Specifically addressing two recommendations and assist, as required, with the others • Forming JAG to define scope of effort to: • Inventory existing observing climate-related observing systems (Recommendation 1.1) • Promote efficiency by seeking out opportunities where existing observation networks can combine their efforts to serve multiple purposes in a more cost-effective manner (Recommendation 1.2)

  45. Key Program Areas Cooperative Research • Committee for Cooperative Research • Cosponsored with Subcommittee for Natural Disaster Reduction (SNDR) the Forum on Risk Management and Assessment of Natural Hazards, Feb 5-6, 2001 • Built consensus to proceed with national natural hazard assessment in “bite-size chunks” • Follow-on work will focus on a national assessment for climate services, and weather and technical hazards • Working with U.S. Weather Research Program to expand the membership • NOAA, Navy, NSF, and NASA are the current players • Air Force, DOT (FAA & FHWA), FEMA, and DOE are candidates for inclusion

  46. Key Program Areas Modeling and Prediction • Committee for Operational Processing Centers (COPC) • Sets the standard by which we base the success of the other committees • Directors/Commanding Officers (NOAA, Navy, and Air Force) of the OPCs meet semiannually • Have developed a strategic vision and implementing objectives • Collaborating to develop a next-generation “community” weather research and forecast model for mesoscale applications

  47. Key Program Areas Modeling and Prediction • Federal Plan for Cooperative Support and Backup Among Operational Processing Centers • Backup procedures worked flawlessly during NCEP Cray 90 supercomputer outage • Rear Admiral Richard D. West, Oceanographer of the Navy: • This outage “vividly illustrated the value of a national backup numerical weather prediction capability.” • Currently evaluating catastrophic backup procedures--single points of failure

  48. Key Program Areas Weather Information for Surface Transportation (WIST) December 1998: Meeting of Interdepartmental Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (ICMSSR) • Directed formation of WIST Joint Action Group • Address meteorological requirements for surface transportation Sep Dec Mar Jun Sep Dec Mar Jun Sep Dec Mar Jun Sep 1999 2000 2001 1998

  49. Key Program Areas WIST December 1999: First WIST Symposium • Co-sponsored with DOT-FHWA • Explore the impacts of weather on surface transportation safety • Explore current weather issues impacting surface transportation • Build clear understanding of weather needs / requirements that leads to establishment of national needs / requirements document Sep Dec Mar Jun Sep Dec Mar Jun Sep Dec Mar Jun Sep 1999 2000 2001 1998

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