NOAA03-R928
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Aja Sae-Kung
7/25/03
 NOAA News Releases 2003
NOAA Home Page
NOAA Public Affairs

NOAA AWARDS $7.7 MILLION IN CLIMATE RESEARCH
TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today announced grants of $5,759,913 and $1,938,100 to the University of California’s Joint Institute for Marine Observation (JIMO) to conduct climate research by studying the relationship between the ocean and the atmosphere. NOAA is an agency of the Commerce Department.

The grants will fund JIMO studies in climate and coastal observations, analysis and prediction research, biological systems research and research and development of observation systems. Studies will focus on the coupled ocean-atmosphere climate research, blue water and littoral oceanography, marine biology, biological oceanography, marine geology and geophysics, and ocean technology.

“We are constantly working to improve the understanding of our environment and to strengthen climate research like that of the University of California’s Joint Institute for Marine Observation,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “These grants will help us better understand the link between the ocean and atmosphere and how it drives changes in regional climate patterns. The grants reinforce NOAA’s and the Bush Administration’s commitment to the environment in California and throughout the world.”

The $5.7 million grant will fund new and continuing JIMO research projects, including the following:

  • The Ocean’s Role in Climate.
  • NOAA/NCEP Ensemble Seasonal Forecast Verification & Application.
  • Mixed layer heat transport in the tropical Atlantic.
  • U.S. Global Change Research Information Office.
  • The impact of climate variability on eastern North Pacific sea levels.
  • U.S. and global water and energy budgets.
  • Forecasting climate changes over North America from predictions of ocean mixed layer anomalies in the tropical and mid-latitude Pacific.
  • Global model investigation of warm season precipitation for North American Monsoon Experiment.
  • The Scripps Experimental Climate Prediction Center.
  • The Calif. Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigation.

The $1.9 million grant will fund additional climate and coastal observations, analysis and prediction research. It will focus on the economic benefits of weather and climate forecasts to California energy production management.

In fiscal year 2003, NOAA has awarded more than 475 grants totaling more than $204 million 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 goals and programs reflect a commitment to these basic responsibilities of science and service to the nation for the past 33 years.

The Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (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.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov

NOAA Administrator, Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D.: http://www.noaa.gov/lautenbacher.html