2.5: Economy
A more productive and efficient economy through environmental information relevant to key sectors of the U.S. economy Other Information:
The capacity to increase renewable energy generation, which is fundamental to economic security and sustainable development,
is based in part on the ability to predict and harness precipitation, wind, and cloud patterns. Burgeoning renewable energy
industries need more accurate resource assessments with better observations tailored to sources such as wind profiles over
sea and land, solar irradiance and cloud cover measurement, as well as forecasts that support load balancing and energy supply
planning on hourly, daily, weekly, seasonal, and interannual scales. Geomagnetic storms and other space weather phenomena
affect electrical grid stability as well as satellite communications. Weather events impact health services both through effects
on the healthcare delivery infrastructure and through direct impacts of weather on human health—especially on sensitive populations.
The productivity of U.S. agriculture requires weather, water, and climate information over a wide range of time and space
scales. Timely and accurate weather, climate, and water information and forecasts can make a significant contribution to a
secure and reliable infrastructure for energy, communications, health care, and agriculture. To achieve this objective, NOAA
will develop integrated environmental information services for the unique needs of weather-sensitive sectors, including solar,
wind, and oceanic. NOAA will develop information that is critical to the development, production, and transmission of renewable
energy; forecasts and warnings of space weather and geomagnetic storms that are within the accuracy and confidence levels
required for decision making; improved understanding of how to use NOAA information to mitigate health sector impacts; and
enhanced modeling and prediction capabilities needed to address global food supply and security challenges. Through partnerships
with other Federal agencies; the UN; and energy, communication, health services, and agriculture industries, NOAA will support
sector-specific planning and decision making with environmental information. NOAA's partnership with America's weather and
climate industry enables the Agency to provide information relevant to key sectors of the economy and rely on market forces
to develop decision tools and other specialized services for the specific companies, farms, hospitals, etc. that compose these
sectors. Key components of the objective require improved long-range forecasting and regional downscaling; increased accuracy
of space weather models, predictions, and forecasts; expanded ability to observe, understand, and model planetary boundary
layer processes (especially in complex terrain and offshore); and accessible, real-time environmental data and information.
Over the next five years, evidence of progress toward this objective will include: * Production gains in renewable energy
through better information; * Mitigated economic loss due to advanced warning of geomagnetic storms; * Health sector efficiencies
due to improved use of weather, water, and climate information; * An integrated suite of information targeted to food security
needs; and * Growth of America's weather and climate industry.
Indicator(s):
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