Webinar: The Precipitation Prediction Grand Challenge
This webinar is a part of a series, launched by the Integrated Prediction of Precipitation and Hydrology for Early Action (InPRHA) Project, under the World Weather Research Programme (WWRP).
About the Webinar:
The impacts from extreme precipitation are deadly, damaging, and increasing. Unfortunately, models (global models in particular) have seen marginal improvement in precipitation skill over the past 2 decades. Further, partner needs in terms of accuracy, specificity, and lead time often exceed current capabilities. In response, NOAA has developed a strategy for a decadal effort to improve precipitation forecasts (from mesoscale weather to seasonal timescales) - called the NOAA Precipitation Prediction Grand Challenge. The goal of this effort is to dramatically improve precipitation forecasts in terms of accuracy, extent in time, and reliability. The precipitation forecast challenge demands investment across the value chain from basic understanding of precipitation processes and predictability limits, to enhanced observations, data assimilation, improved models, post-processing and tools for the human forecaster, culminating in understandable and actionable services. Thus, it is a grand Research-to-Operations challenge. This talk will provide a summary of the initiative and highlight early investment successes.
Speaker: Dr David Novak (Weather Prediction Center, USA)
Dr David Novak is the Director of the Weather Prediction Center. In this capacity, he is responsible for the overall provision of forecasts of rainstorms, winter storms, and extreme temperature events over the United States up to 7 days in advance. WPC is at the meteorological heart of the weather enterprise and is interwoven into the U.S. readiness framework for extreme weather. The Center is also a catalyst for collaboration among the National Weather Service forecast offices, driving consistent messaging for partners. Throughout his academic and professional career, David has championed collaborative research, bringing operational needs to the attention of the research community and integrating promising research into operations to enable enhanced partner support.
