SUBCHAPTER I—UNITED STATES WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING IMPROVEMENT
§8511. Public safety priority
In conducting research, the Under Secretary shall prioritize improving weather data, modeling, computing, forecasting, and warnings for the protection of life and property and for the enhancement of the national economy.
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§8512. Weather research and forecasting innovation
(a) Program
The Assistant Administrator for the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research shall conduct a program to develop improved understanding of and forecast capabilities for atmospheric events and their impacts, placing priority on developing more accurate, timely, and effective warnings and forecasts of high impact weather events that endanger life and property.
(b) Program elements
The program described in subsection (a) shall focus on the following activities:
(1) Improving the fundamental understanding of weather consistent with
(2) Improving the understanding of how the public receives, interprets, and responds to warnings and forecasts of high impact weather events that endanger life and property.
(3) Research and development, and transfer of knowledge, technologies, and applications to the National Weather Service and other appropriate agencies and entities, including the United States weather industry and academic partners, related to—
(A) advanced radar, radar networking technologies, and other ground-based technologies, including those emphasizing rapid, fine-scale sensing of the boundary layer and lower troposphere, and the use of innovative, dual-polarization, phased-array technologies;
(B) aerial weather observing systems;
(C) high performance computing and information technology and wireless communication networks;
(D) advanced numerical weather prediction systems and forecasting tools and techniques that improve the forecasting of timing, track, intensity, and severity of high impact weather, including through—
(i) the development of more effective mesoscale models;
(ii) more effective use of existing, and the development of new, regional and national cloud-resolving models;
(iii) enhanced global weather models; and
(iv) integrated assessment models;
(E) quantitative assessment tools for measuring the impact and value of data and observing systems, including Observing System Simulation Experiments (as described in
(F) atmospheric chemistry and interactions essential to accurately characterizing atmospheric composition and predicting meteorological processes, including cloud microphysical, precipitation, and atmospheric electrification processes, to more effectively understand their role in severe weather; and
(G) additional sources of weather data and information, including commercial observing systems.
(4) A technology transfer initiative, carried out jointly and in coordination with the Director of the National Weather Service, and in cooperation with the United States weather industry and academic partners, to ensure continuous development and transition of the latest scientific and technological advances into operations of the National Weather Service and to establish a process to sunset outdated and expensive operational methods and tools to enable cost-effective transfer of new methods and tools into operations.
(5) Advancing weather modeling skill, reclaiming and maintaining international leadership in the area of numerical weather prediction, and improving the transition of research into operations by—
(A) leveraging the weather enterprise to provide expertise on removing barriers to improving numerical weather prediction;
(B) enabling scientists and engineers to effectively collaborate in areas important for improving operational global numerical weather prediction skill, including model development, data assimilation techniques, systems architecture integration, and computational efficiencies;
(C) strengthening the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's ability to undertake research projects in pursuit of substantial advancements in weather forecast skill;
(D) utilizing and leverage existing resources across the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration enterprise; and
(E) creating a community global weather research modeling system that—
(i) is accessible by the public;
(ii) meets basic end-user requirements for running on public computers and networks located outside of secure National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration information and technology systems; and
(iii) utilizes, whenever appropriate and cost-effective, innovative strategies and methods, including cloud-based computing capabilities, for hosting and management of part or all of the system described in this subsection.
(c) Extramural research
(1) In general
In carrying out the program under this section, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research shall collaborate with and support the non-Federal weather research community, which includes institutions of higher education, private entities, and nongovernmental organizations, by making funds available through competitive grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements.
(2) Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that not less than 30 percent of the funds for weather research and development at the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research should be made available for the purpose described in paragraph (1).
(d) Annual report
Each year, concurrent with the annual budget request submitted by the President to Congress under
(
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2022—Subsec. (b)(4), (5).
2019—Subsec. (b)(4).
§8512a. Learning excellence and good examples from new developers
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Administration
The term "Administration" means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(2) Administrator
The term "Administrator" means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(3) Earth Prediction Innovation Center
The term "Earth Prediction Innovation Center" means the community global weather research modeling system described in paragraph (5)(E) of
(4) Model
The term "model" means any vetted numerical model and associated data assimilation of the Earth's system or its components—
(A) developed, in whole or in part, by scientists and engineers employed by the Administration; or
(B) otherwise developed, in whole or in part, using Federal funds.
(5) Open license
The term "open license" has the same meaning given such term in
(6) Operational model
The term "operational model" means any model that has an output used by the Administration for operational functions.
(7) Suitable model
The term "suitable model" means a model that meets the requirements described in paragraph (5)(E)(ii) of
(b) Purposes
The purposes of this section are—
(1) to support innovation in modeling by allowing interested stakeholders to have easy and complete access to operational model codes and to other models, as the Administrator determines appropriate; and
(2) to use vetted innovations arising from access described in paragraph (1) to improve modeling by the Administration.
(c) Plan and implementation of plan to make certain models and data available to the public
(1) In general
The Administrator shall develop and implement a plan to make available to the public, at no cost and with no restrictions on copying, publishing, distributing, citing, adapting, or otherwise using under an open license, the following:
(A) Operational models developed by the Administration.
(B) Models that are not operational models, including experimental and developmental models, as the Administrator determines appropriate.
(C) Applicable information and documentation for models described in subparagraphs (A) and (B), including a description of intended model outputs.
(D) Subject to subsection (f), all data owned by the Federal Government and data that the Administrator has the legal right to redistribute that are associated with models made available to the public pursuant to the plan and used in operational forecasting by the Administration, including—
(i) relevant metadata; and
(ii) data used for operational models used by the Administration as of December 23, 2022.
(2) Accommodations
In developing and implementing the plan under paragraph (1), the Administrator may make such accommodations as the Administrator considers appropriate to ensure that the public release of any model, information, documentation, or data pursuant to the plan do 1 not jeopardize—
(A) national security;
(B) intellectual property or redistribution rights, including under titles 17 and 35;
(C) any trade secret or commercial or financial information subject to
(D) any models or data that are otherwise restricted by contract or other written agreement; or
(E) the mission of the Administration to protect lives and property.
(3) Priority
In developing and implementing the plan under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall prioritize making available to the public the models described in paragraph (1)(A).
(4) Protections for privacy and statistical information
In developing and implementing the plan under subsection (a), the Administrator shall ensure that all requirements incorporated into any models described in paragraph (1)(A) ensure compliance with statistical laws and other relevant data protection requirements, including the protection of any personally identifiable information.
(5) Exclusion of certain models
In developing and implementing the plan under paragraph (1), the Administrator may exclude models that the Administrator determines will be retired or superseded in fewer than 5 years after December 23, 2022.
(6) Platforms
In carrying out paragraphs (1) and (2), the Administrator may use government servers, contracts or agreements with a private vendor, or any other platform consistent with the purpose of this title.2
(7) Support program
The Administrator shall plan for and establish a program to support infrastructure, including telecommunications and technology infrastructure of the Administration and the platforms described in paragraph (6), relevant to making operational models and data available to the public pursuant to the plan under subsection (a).
(8) Omitted
(d) Requirement to review models and leverage innovations
The Administrator shall—
(1) consistent with the mission of the Earth Prediction Innovation Center, periodically review innovations and improvements made by persons not employed by the Administration as Federal employees to the operational models made available to the public pursuant to the plan under subsection (c)(1) in order to improve the accuracy and timeliness of forecasts of the Administration; and
(2) if the Administrator identifies an innovation for a suitable model, develop and implement a plan to use the innovation to improve the model.
(e) Report on implementation
(1) In general
Not later than 2 years after December 23, 2022, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the implementation of this section that includes a description of—
(A) the implementation of the plan required by subsection (c);
(B) the process of the Administration under subsection (d)—
(i) for engaging with interested stakeholders to learn what innovations those stakeholders have found;
(ii) for reviewing those innovations; and
(iii) for operationalizing innovations to improve suitable models; and
(C) the use of any Federal financial assistance, including under
(2) Appropriate congressional committees defined
In this subsection, the term "appropriate congressional committees" means—
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(f) Protection of national security interests
(1) In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, for models developed in whole or in part with the Department of Defense, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, as appropriate, shall withhold any model or data if the Administrator or the Secretary of Defense determines doing so to be necessary to protect the national security interests of the United States.
(2) Rule of construction
Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede any other provision of law governing the protection of the national security interests of the United States.
(g) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.
(
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This title, referred to in subsec. (c)(6), means title CVI of div. J of
The Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Act, referred to in subsec. (e)(1)(C), is section 402 of title IV of
Codification
Section was enacted as part of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, and not as part of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 which comprises this chapter.
Section is comprised of section 10601 of div. J of
1 So in original. Probably should be "does".
2 See References in Text note below.
§8513. Tornado warning improvement and extension program
(a) In general
The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the United States weather industry and academic partners, shall establish a tornado warning improvement and extension program.
(b) Goal
The goal of such program shall be to reduce the loss of life and economic losses from tornadoes through the development and extension of accurate, effective, and timely tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings, including the prediction of tornadoes beyond 1 hour in advance.
(c) Innovative observations
The Under Secretary shall ensure that the program periodically examines the value of incorporating innovative observations, such as acoustic or infrasonic measurements, observations from phased array radars, and observations from mesonets, with respect to the improvement of tornado forecasts, predictions, and warnings.
(d) Program plan
Not later than 180 days after April 18, 2017, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, in coordination with the Director of the National Weather Service, shall develop a program plan that details the specific research, development, and technology transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources and timelines, necessary to achieve the program goal.
(e) Annual budget for plan submittal
Following completion of the plan, the Under Secretary, acting through the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and in coordination with the Director of the National Weather Service, shall, not less frequently than once each year, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding with the activities identified in the plan.
(
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2022—Subsecs. (c) to (e).
§8514. Hurricane forecast improvement program
(a) In general
The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the United States weather industry and such academic entities as the Administrator considers appropriate, shall maintain a project to improve hurricane forecasting.
(b) Goal
The goal of the project maintained under subsection (a) shall be to develop and extend accurate hurricane forecasts and warnings in order to reduce loss of life, injury, and damage to the economy, with a focus on—
(1) improving the prediction of rapid intensification and track of hurricanes;
(2) improving the forecast and communication of storm surges from hurricanes;
(3) incorporating risk communication research to create more effective watch and warning products; and
(4) evaluating and incorporating, as appropriate, innovative observations, including acoustic or infrasonic measurements.
(c) Project plan
Not later than 1 year after April 18, 2017, the Under Secretary, acting through the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and in consultation with the Director of the National Weather Service, shall develop a plan for the project maintained under subsection (a) that details the specific research, development, and technology transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources and timelines, necessary to achieve the goal set forth in subsection (b).
(
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2022—Subsec. (b)(4).
§8515. Weather research and development planning
Not later than 1 year after April 18, 2017, and not less frequently than once each year thereafter, the Under Secretary, acting through the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and in coordination with the Director of the National Weather Service and the Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services, shall issue a research and development and research to operations plan to restore and maintain United States leadership in numerical weather prediction and forecasting that—
(1) describes the forecasting skill and technology goals, objectives, and progress of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in carrying out the program conducted under
(2) identifies and prioritizes specific research and development activities, and performance metrics, weighted to meet the operational weather and flood-event mission of the National Weather Service to achieve a weather-ready Nation;
(3) describes how the program will collaborate with stakeholders, including the United States weather industry and academic partners; and
(4) identifies, through consultation with the National Science Foundation, the United States weather industry, and academic partners, research necessary to enhance the integration of social science knowledge into weather forecast and warning processes, including to improve the communication of threat information necessary to enable improved severe weather planning and decisionmaking on the part of individuals and communities.
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Editorial Notes
Amendments
2022—Par. (2).
§8516. Observing system planning
The Under Secretary shall—
(1) develop and maintain a prioritized list of observation data requirements necessary to ensure weather forecasting capabilities to protect life and property to the maximum extent practicable;
(2) consistent with
(3) identify current and potential future data gaps in observing capabilities related to the requirements listed under paragraph (1); and
(4) determine a range of options to address gaps identified under paragraph (3).
(
§8517. Observing System Simulation Experiments
(a) In general
In support of the requirements of
(1) may include assessments of the impact of observing capabilities on—
(A) global weather prediction;
(B) hurricane track and intensity forecasting;
(C) tornado warning lead times and accuracy;
(D) prediction of mid-latitude severe local storm outbreaks; and
(E) prediction of storms that have the potential to cause extreme precipitation and flooding lasting from 6 hours to 1 week; and
(2) shall be conducted in cooperation with other appropriate entities within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, other Federal agencies, the United States weather industry, and academic partners to ensure the technical and scientific merit of results from Observing System Simulation Experiments or other appropriate quantitative assessment methodologies.
(b) Requirements
Observing System Simulation Experiments shall quantitatively—
(1) determine the potential impact of proposed space-based, suborbital, and in situ observing systems on analyses and forecasts, including potential impacts on extreme weather events across all parts of the Nation;
(2) evaluate and compare observing system design options; and
(3) assess the relative capabilities and costs of various observing systems and combinations of observing systems in providing data necessary to protect life and property.
(c) Implementation
Observing System Simulation Experiments—
(1) shall be conducted prior to the acquisition of major Government-owned or Government-leased operational observing systems, including polar-orbiting and geostationary satellite systems, with a lifecycle cost of more than $500,000,000; and
(2) shall be conducted prior to the purchase of any major new commercially provided data with a lifecycle cost of more than $500,000,000.
(d) Priority Observing System Simulation Experiments
(1) Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation
Not later than 30 days after April 18, 2017, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research shall complete an Observing System Simulation Experiment to assess the value of data from Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation.
(2) Geostationary hyperspectral sounder global constellation
Not later than 120 days after April 18, 2017, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research shall complete an Observing System Simulation Experiment to assess the value of data from a geostationary hyperspectral sounder global constellation.
(e) Results
Upon completion of all Observing System Simulation Experiments, the Assistant Administrator shall make available to the public the results an assessment 1 of related private and public sector weather data sourcing options, including their availability, affordability, and cost-effectiveness. Such assessments shall be developed in accordance with
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§8518. Computing resource efficiency improvement and annual report
(a) Computing resources
(1) In general
In acquiring computing capabilities, including high performance computing technologies and supercomputing technologies, that enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to meet its mission requirements, the Under Secretary shall, when appropriate and cost-effective, assess and prioritize options for entering into multi-year lease agreements for computing capabilities over options for purchasing computing hardware outright.
(2) Acquisition
In carrying out the requirements of paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall structure multi-year lease agreements in such a manner that the expiration of the lease is set for a date on or around—
(A) the expected degradation point of the computing resources; or
(B) the point at which significantly increased computing capabilities are expected to be available for lease.
(3) Pilot programs
(A) In general
In order to more efficiently and effectively meet the mission requirements of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Under Secretary may create 1 or more pilot programs for assessing new or innovative information and technology capabilities and services.
(B) Program requirements
Any program created under paragraph (3) shall assess only those capabilities and services that—
(i) meet or exceed the standards and requirements of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including for processing speed, cybersecurity, and overall reliability; or
(ii) meet or exceed, or are expected to meet or exceed, the performance of similar, in-house information and technology capabilities and services that are owned and operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration prior to the establishment of the pilot program.
(C) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated, out of funds appropriated to the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, to carry out this paragraph $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2019, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, and $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023, to remain available until expended.
(b) Reports
Not later than 1 year after January 7, 2019, and triennially thereafter until the date that is 6 years after the date on which the first report is submitted, the Under Secretary, acting through the Chief Information Officer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and in coordination with the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the Director of the National Weather Service, shall produce and make publicly available a report that explains how the Under Secretary intends—
(1) to continually support upgrades to pursue the fastest, most powerful, and cost-effective high performance computing technologies in support of its weather prediction mission;
(2) to ensure a balance between the research to operations requirements to develop the next generation of regional and global models as well as highly reliable operational models;
(3) to take advantage of advanced development concepts to, as appropriate, make next generation weather prediction models available in beta-test mode to operational forecasters, the United States weather industry, and partners in academic and Government research;
(4) to use existing computing resources to improve advanced research and operational weather prediction;
(5) to utilize non-Federal contracts to obtain the necessary expertise for advanced weather computing, if appropriate;
(6) to utilize cloud computing; and
(7) to create a long-term strategy to transition the programming language of weather model code to current and broadly-used coding language.
(
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2019—
§8519. Authorization of appropriations
(a) In general
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to carry out this subchapter—
(1) $136,516,000 for fiscal year 2019, of which—
(A) $85,758,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes;
(B) $30,758,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry research programs; and
(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in
(2) $148,154,000 for fiscal year 2020, of which—
(A) $87,258,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes;
(B) $40,896,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry research programs; and
(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in
(3) $150,154,000 for fiscal year 2021, of which—
(A) $88,758,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes;
(B) $41,396,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry research programs; and
(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in
(4) $152,154,000 for fiscal year 2022, of which—
(A) $90,258,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes;
(B) $41,896,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry research programs; and
(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in
(5) $154,154,000 for fiscal year 2023, of which—
(A) $91,758,000 is authorized for weather laboratories and cooperative institutes;
(B) $42,396,000 is authorized for weather and air chemistry research programs; and
(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint technology transfer initiative described in
(b) Limitation
No additional funds are authorized to carry out this subchapter and the amendments made by this title.1
(
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This subchapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this title", meaning title I of
The amendments made by this title, referred to in subsec. (b), mean the amendments made by title I of
Amendments
2019—
1 See References in Text note below.
§8520. United States Weather Research Program
(a) Establishment
The Secretary of Commerce, in cooperation with the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology through the Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences, shall establish a United States Weather Research Program to—
(1) increase benefits to the Nation from the substantial investment in modernizing the public weather warning and forecast system in the United States;
(2) improve local and regional weather forecasts and warnings;
(3) address critical weather-related scientific issues;
(4) coordinate governmental, university, and private-sector efforts;
(5) submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, not less frequently than once each year, a report, including—
(A) a list of ongoing research projects;
(B) project goals and a point of contact for each project;
(C) the five projects related to weather observations, short-term weather, or subseasonal forecasts within Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research that are closest to operationalization;
(D) for each project referred to in subparagraph (C)—
(i) the potential benefit;
(ii) any barrier to operationalization; and
(iii) the plan for operationalization, including which line office will financially support the project and how much the line office intends to spend;
(6) establish teams with staff from the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the National Weather Service to oversee the operationalization of research products developed by the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research;
(7) develop mechanisms for research priorities of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to be informed by the relevant line offices within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the relevant user community, and the weather enterprise;
(8) develop an internal mechanism to track the progress of each research project within the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and mechanisms to terminate a project that is not adequately progressing;
(9) develop and implement a system to track whether extramural research grant goals were accomplished;
(10) provide facilities for products developed by the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to be tested in operational simulations, such as test beds;
(11) encourage academic collaboration with the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the National Weather Service by facilitating visiting scholars; and
(12) carry out the activities of the Earth Prediction Innovation Center as described in
(b) Implementation plan
The Secretary of Commerce, in cooperation with the Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences, shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a plan for implementation of the United States Weather Research Program which shall—
(1) establish, for the 10-year period beginning in the year the plan is submitted, the goals and priorities for Federal weather research which most effectively advance the scientific understanding of weather processes and provide information to improve weather warning and forecast systems in the United States;
(2) describe specific activities, including research activities, data collection and data analysis requirements, predictive modeling, participation in international research efforts, demonstration of potential operational forecast applications, and education and training required to achieve such goals and priorities; and
(3) set forth the role of each Federal agency and department to be involved in the United States Weather Research Program, identifying and addressing, as appropriate, relevant programs and activities of the Federal agencies and departments that would contribute to such Program.
(c) Subseasonal defined
In this section, the term "subseasonal" means the time range between 2 weeks and 3 months.
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly set out as a note under
Section was enacted as part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992, and not as part of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 which comprises this chapter.
Amendments
2019—Subsec. (a)(12).
2017—Subsec. (a)(5) to (11).
Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (c).
§8521. Weather and climate information in agriculture
(a) Findings
Congress finds that—
(1) agricultural and silvicultural operations are vulnerable to damage from atmospheric conditions that accurate and timely reporting of weather information can help prevent;
(2) the maintenance of current weather and climate analysis and information dissemination systems, and Federal, State, and private efforts to improve these systems, is essential if agriculture and silviculture are to mitigate damage from atmospheric conditions;
(3) agricultural and silvicultural weather services at the Federal level should be maintained with joint planning between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Department of Agriculture; and
(4) efforts should be made, involving user groups, weather and climate information providers, and Federal and State governments, to expand the use of weather and climate information in agriculture and silviculture.
(b) Policy
It, therefore, is declared to be the policy of Congress that it is in the public interest to maintain an active Federal involvement in providing agricultural and silvicultural weather and climate information and that efforts should be made, among users of this information and among private providers of this information, to improve use of this information.
(c) Functions
The Under Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Weather Service and the heads of such other programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as the Under Secretary considers appropriate, shall—
(1) collect and utilize information in order to make usable, reliable, and timely foundational forecasts of subseasonal and seasonal temperature and precipitation;
(2) leverage existing research and models from the weather enterprise to improve the forecasts under paragraph (1);
(3) determine and provide information on how the forecasted conditions under paragraph (1) may impact—
(A) the number and severity of droughts, fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, heat waves, coastal inundation, winter storms, high impact weather, or other relevant natural disasters;
(B) snowpack; and
(C) sea ice conditions; and
(4) develop an Internet clearinghouse to provide the forecasts under paragraph (1) and the information under paragraphs (1) and (3) on both national and regional levels.
(d) Communication
The Director of the National Weather Service shall provide the forecasts under paragraph (1) of subsection (c) and the information on their impacts under paragraph (3) of such subsection to the public, including public and private entities engaged in planning and preparedness, such as National Weather Service Core partners at the Federal, regional, State, tribal, and local levels of government.
(e) Cooperation
The Under Secretary shall build upon existing forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships, including—
(1) by designating research and monitoring activities related to subseasonal and seasonal forecasts as a priority in one or more solicitations of the Cooperative Institutes of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research;
(2) by contributing to the interagency Earth System Prediction Capability; and
(3) by consulting with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security to determine the highest priority subseasonal and seasonal forecast needs to enhance national security.
(f) Forecast communication coordinators
(1) In general
The Under Secretary shall foster effective communication, understanding, and use of the forecasts by the intended users of the information described in subsection (d). This shall include assistance to States for forecast communication coordinators to enable local interpretation and planning based on the information.
(2) Requirements
For each State that requests assistance under this subsection, the Under Secretary may—
(A) provide funds to support an individual in that State—
(i) to serve as a liaison among the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, other Federal departments and agencies, the weather enterprise, the State, and relevant interests within that State; and
(ii) to receive the forecasts and information under subsection (c) and disseminate the forecasts and information throughout the State, including to county and tribal governments; and
(B) require matching funds of at least 50 percent, from the State, a university, a nongovernmental organization, a trade association, or the private sector.
(3) Limitation
Assistance to an individual State under this subsection shall not exceed $100,000 in a fiscal year.
(g) Cooperation from other Federal agencies
Each Federal department and agency shall cooperate as appropriate with the Under Secretary in carrying out this section.
(h) Reports
(1) In general
Not later than 18 months after April 18, 2017, the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report, including—
(A) an analysis of the 1 how information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on subseasonal and seasonal forecasts, as provided under subsection (c), is utilized in public planning and preparedness;
(B) specific plans and goals for the continued development of the subseasonal and seasonal forecasts and related products described in subsection (c); and
(C) an identification of research, monitoring, observing, and forecasting requirements to meet the goals described in subparagraph (B).
(2) Consultation
In developing the report under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall consult with relevant Federal, regional, State, tribal, and local government agencies, research institutions, and the private sector.
(i) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Foundational forecast
The term "foundational forecast" means basic weather observation and forecast data, largely in raw form, before further processing is applied.
(2) National Weather Service core partners
The term "National Weather Service core partners" means government and nongovernment entities which are directly involved in the preparation or dissemination of, or discussions involving, hazardous weather or other emergency information put out by the National Weather Service.
(3) Seasonal
The term "seasonal" means the time range between 3 months and 2 years.
(4) State
The term "State" means a State, a territory, or possession of the United States, including a Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
(5) Subseasonal
The term "subseasonal" means the time range between 2 weeks and 3 months.
(6) Under Secretary
The term "Under Secretary" means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
(7) Weather industry and weather enterprise
The terms "weather industry" and "weather enterprise" are interchangeable in this section and include individuals and organizations from public, private, and academic sectors that contribute to the research, development, and production of weather forecast products, and primary consumers of these weather forecast products.
(j) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the activities under this section—
(1) $26,500,000 for fiscal year 2019;
(2) $27,000,000 for fiscal year 2020;
(3) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2021;
(4) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; and
(5) $28,500,000 for fiscal year 2023.
(k) Derivation of funds
Amounts made available to carry out this section shall be derived from amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the National Weather Service.
(
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section was formerly set out as a note under
Section was enacted as part of the Food Security Act of 1985, and not as part of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 which comprises this chapter.
Amendments
2022—Subsec. (f)(1).
2019—Subsec. (j).
Subsec. (k).
2017—Subsecs. (a), (b).
Subsecs. (c) to (j).
1 So in original. The word "the" probably should not appear.