The Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, a partnership between N.O.A.A. and the University of Oklahoma, recently won a N.O.A.A. backing competition that extends the partnership for at least 5 and up to ten years. CIMMS is located in the National Weather Center Building on the University of Oklahoma Research campus in Norman, Okla.
High Resolution (Credit: NOAA)
N.O.A.A. has selected the University of Oklahoma to continue a federal/academic research partnership that focuses on weather radar research, improving forecasts for severe storms, and improving our understanding of extreme weather and short-term regional climate.
Following a competitive selection process, N.O.A.A. chose the University of Oklahoma to continue this partnership, the Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies (CIMMS), which was 1st formed in 1978.
CIMMS is one of 18 N.O.A.A. cooperative institutes nationwide. N.O.A.A. funds cooperative institutes at universities with strong research programs relevant to NOAA's mission. These institutes provide resources and opportunities that extend beyond the agency's own research capacity.
"The University of Oklahoma is a strong partner in helping N.O.A.A. enhance weather radar, storm models, and other technologies that enable us to warn residents about dangerous weather with greater lead times," said Alexander MacDonald, Ph.D., chairman of the N.O.A.A. Research Council and deputy assistant administrator for the N.O.A.A. Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. "We are very pleased to continue our collaborations through this cooperative institute."
The partnership allows researchers at the University of Oklahoma to gain support for research plans that may involve N.O.A.A. scientists. CIMMS scientists may collaborate with any N.O.A.A. scientist, but most often work with those in the National Severe Storms Lab and 5 National Weather Service (NWS) units: the Radar Operations Center, Storm Prediction Center, Warning Decision Training Branch, the Norman, Okla., Weather Forecast Office, and the NWS Training Center in Kansas City, Mo.
Total N.O.A.A. backing is variable from year to year and is based on the number of plans the lead university suggests and N.O.A.A. approves.
"We are especially delighted to continue our involvement with N.O.A.A. at such a crucial time for environmental stewardship," said Peter J. Lamb, Ph.D., CIMMS director. "Devastating tornado outbreaks last spring and continued drought across the south central U.S. are just 2 recent situations illustrating the need for the kind of research we do with N.O.A.A. and other agency funding."
CIMMS will focus on 5 research themes:
- Weather radar research and development;
- Stormscale and mesoscale modeling research and development;
- Forecast enhancements research and development;
- Impacts of climate change related to extreme weather events; and
- Social and socioeconomic impacts of severe weather systems
N.O.A.A. supports cooperative institutes to promote research, education, training, and outreach aligned with its mission. Cooperative institutes also coordinate resources among all non-government partners and promote the involvement of students and post-doctoral scientists in NOAA-funded research. This unique setting provides N.O.A.A. the benefit of working with complementary capabilities of a research institution that contributes to NOAA-related sciences ranging from satellite climatology and fisheries biology to atmospheric chemistry and coastal ecology.
NOAA's mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Visit us at www.noaa.gov and join us on Facebook, Twitter and our other social media channels.
