Climate Testbed (CTB)

WPO, in partnership with NOAA National Weather Service’s (NWS) Climate Prediction Center (CPC) and Environmental Modeling Center (EMC), is soliciting proposals from the external community to advance NOAA’s operational subseasonal-to-seasonal (two weeks to two years; S2S) prediction capabilities via the NOAA Climate Test Bed (CTB).

The portfolio will prioritize capabilities that enhance operational prediction systems, products, or research that aims to transition to operations, with a preference toward activities that enhance or improve precipitation outlooks and service delivery. Proposed ideas that begin at RL 6-to-7 (i.e., projects in the demonstration stage) and have a high potential for eventual transition to operations (i.e., RL 8) after the two-year funding period will be prioritized (please see Appendix A for RL definitions). Projects that are estimated to conclude at or below RL 6 may still apply; however, they should consider additional funding sources from other grants or programs at the end of the two-year CTB funding period. Engagement with the Earth Prediction Innovation Center (EPIC) and program is also strongly encouraged.

Fire Weather

WPO invites research and development proposals to improve fire weather forecast information and delivery. This opportunity will support new research into the coupled Unified Forecast System (UFS) for the short-term fire-atmosphere modeling systems. WPO collaborates with NOAA’s OAR Laboratories, NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), and emergency managers from across the fire weather community. WPO, through collaboration with partners, aims to develop and improve impact-based decision support tools, products, and models, to provide timely and accurate guidance to safeguard lives and property, and manage downstream air quality impacts.

The increase in frequency of drought and hot-dry-windy conditions over the last several decades, combined with the continued expansion into the wildfire-urban interface region, has led to a marked increase in the number of acres burned by hazardous wildfires. The number of wildfires and the acres burned are projected to increase as the climate warms, with profound changes to certain ecosystems. Wildfires threaten forest and grasslands, housing and communities, aquatic and soil ecosystems, and air quality both near to and far from the fires, and ultimately costs the Nation billions of dollars a year when accounting for the local costs of damage to buildings, communities, and the downstream impacts on human health associated with smoke and poor air quality.