The Office of Weather and Air Quality oversees two major research programs, the U.S. Weather Research Program and the National Earth System Prediction Capability Program, in which NOAA funds high-priority weather and modeling research to advance the understanding of weather, air quality, and earth system modeling systems directed at improving NOAA's operations. This science contributes to improvements in the prediction of weather and air quality and provides information about how weather affects our health, economy, and well-being. The Office supports research that is conducted across the United States, at national and international scales, and globally. The Office also provides strategic guidance for the agency's weather, air quality and environmental modeling programs.