NOAA AWARDS $800,000 TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
TO SUPPORT CLIMATE RESEARCH PROGRAMS

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded $800,000 to the University of Arizona to continue work toward integrating climate research with forecast capabilities. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The grant is the first phase of a five-year program aimed to improve forecasts and create a database of climate-impact information by integrating climate research data with research from other areas such as hydrologic forecasting and fire and drought management. The data gathered throughout the project will be shared with other academic partners, government and private institutions to create a network of climate researchers.

“Funding from this NOAA grant to the University of Arizona supports research that greatly increases our ability to accurately observe and record climate variability, which allows for better prediction of weather and ultimately increased protection of lives and property,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “NOAA and the Bush Administration are working to improve the understanding and forecasting of weather phenomena through partnerships with members of the academic and scientific communities.”

Each year, NOAA awards approximately $900 million in grants to members of the academic, scientific and business communities to assist the agency in fulfilling its mission to study the Earth’s natural systems in order to predict environmental change, manage ocean resources, protect life and property and provide decision makers with reliable scientific information. NOAA’s goals and programs reflect a commitment to these basic responsibilities of science and service to the nation for the past 34 years.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources. To learn more about NOAA, please visit http://www.noaa.gov.