New Directions for NWS International Activities

1. Dan Thompson Director, International Activities Office 2010 MIC-HIC Conference New Directions for NWSInternational Activities

2. Outline • IA Mission & Drivers • Strategy & Priorities • Managing International Cooperation • Upcoming Events • How you can become involved

3. International Mission • To strengthen and improve NOAA/NWS weather, water, and climate forecasts and warnings through international cooperation, and • To provide global leadership in setting standards and building partnerships for the protection of life and property and enhancement of the economy.

4. Internal Drivers • NOAA/NWS Mission • Data exchange, interoperability of systems, weather decision support services, research & development • Collaboration on NOAA initiatives • US Foreign Policy • Governance (met services, UN), humanitarian assistance (Haiti), democracy (information access) • US Commerce • Demonstrate U.S. technologies, establish level playing field (policies & standards), promote market access

5. External Drivers • Multilateral organizations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) • Congress, EC, Bureau, Audit Committee, DRR WG • Regional Associations • Technical Commissions Other international organizations • Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) • International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) • International Maritime Organization (IMO) • Bilateral relations • Australia, Canada, China, Finland, Germany, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, UK • Regional cooperation • Caribbean and Central America (CAFFG), Africa and SW Pacific (SWFDP)

6. The WMO • Secretariat • Congress & Executive Council • Regional Associations • Africa (RAI), Asia (RAII), S. America (RAIII), N./C. America & Caribbean (RAIV), SW Pacific (RAV), Europe (RAVI) • Technical Commissions • Basic Systems (CBS) • Instruments & Methods of Observation (CIMO) • Atmospheric Sciences (CAS) • Aeronautical Meteorology (CAeM) • Agricultural Meteorology (CAgM) • Hydrology (CHy) • Climatology (CCl) • Joint Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM)

7. WMO Regional Associations RA IV RA VI RA II RA III RA I RA V

8. International Goals • Global leadership • Integrated observations & data acquisition • Efficient & effective data exchange • Timely & accurate forecasting • Effective management of international activities

9. Global Leadership • Shape international hydro-met policy • CBS, CIMO, CAS, CCl, CHy, CAeM, JCOMM, EC, DRR/SD WG, WCC-3 • Promote effective governance of UN agencies • Audit & Budget Committees, EC • Strengthen WMO RAIV (North America) • Management Group • Hurricane Committee • DRR Pilot, WIGOS demonstration, Aviation forecasts • Contribute to GEOSS • Promote GEO-WMO cooperation • GEOSS Americas

10. Integrated Observations &Data Acquisition • Support WIGOS implementation • RAIV radar demonstration project • Improve regional observations networks • CHUAS • T-PARC • Tsunami Warning Systems • Increase data availability • Data rescue

11. Efficient & Effective Communication Systems • Facilitate transition to WIS • RAIV Communications assessment & strategy • Strengthen public alert and dissemination systems • EMWIN • RANET • ISCS • GEONETCast • Internet

12. Timely & Accurate Forecasts & Warnings • Improve forecasts for multi-hazard/high impact events • GFFGS • Asia Flood Network, Mexico River Forecast System • Central American DRR (end-to-end EWS) • Tsunami • Improve global scale, day-to-day forecasts and long-range forecasts • International Desks • North American Ensemble Forecast System • Space Weather • FEWSNET, N. American Drought Monitor

13. Managing InternationalActivities • IA aims to integrate international activities with the core NWS mission • NWS Director has designated certain NWS regions to partner with IA in leading specific programs, e.g., Pacific, Mexico, DRR • IA works in partnership with HQ office in designing and implementing technical programs, e.g., aviation services, hydrology, communications • IA is developing Internet-based systems for • DAA Approval of International Travel • Managing Projects (tracking, reporting, etc.) • Correspondence • Events (tracking and planning)

14. Countries & Donors (Demand) International Activities Office HQ / Field Offices Design Program Analysts Liaisons Project Manager (Contract Support) Experts (Project Execution) Implementation Monitoring & Evaluation

15. How You Can Be Involved • Roles for MICs and HICs • Collaboration with foreign meteorologists and hydrologists • Design and guide implementation of projects • Represent NWS at conferences and international meetings • Let IA know you are interested and discuss with your supervisor • IA will work with Regional Directors and Office Directors to designate experts for international assignments • Participate in rotational assignment in IA

16. Upcoming Events WMO RA V Quadrennial Mtg (Bali, 4/30-5/6) WMO Executive Council (Geneva, 6/8-18) NOAA-Roshydromet Bilateral Mtg (St. Petersburg, 7/12-18) CAgM (Brazil, 7/15-23) WMO RA III Quadrennial Mtg (Bogota, 9/15-30) NOAA-CMA Bilateral Mtg (Washington, 10/2010) GEO Ministerial (Beijing, 11/5)

17. Managing InternationalActivities • IA coordinates all international cooperation for the National Weather Service (NWS). IA is in the Office of the AA for Weather Services • NWS AA is the Permanent Representative (PR) for the US with the WMO • IA coordinates US participation in WMO and its subsidiary bodies. • IA program analysts and project managers • manage bilateral relations and NWS participation in international organizations • design and coordinate implementation of technical cooperation projects, • oversee foreign travel of NWS experts, • represent the NWS at international meetings, and • coordinate with other NOAA line offices, federal agencies and non-governmental partners.

18. Thank You!