NOAA COOPERATIVE SCIENCE CENTER in ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES and METEOROLOGY (NCAS-M)

Semi-Annual Performance Report for Cooperative Agreement #: NA16SEC4810006 Reporting Period: September 1, 2017 to February 28, 2018

Howard University (Lead Institution) 1840 7th Street, NW Suite 305 Washington, DC 20001

Dr. Vernon R. Morris, Director and Principal Investigator

Partner Institutions Jackson State University – Dr. Mehri Fadavi (Lead Investigator) University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez – Dr. Roy Armstrong (Lead Investigator) University of Texas at El Paso – Dr. Rosa Fitzgerald (Lead Investigator) University of Maryland College Park – Dr. Xin-Zhong Liang (Lead Investigator) State University of New York at Albany – Dr. Qilong Min (Lead Investigator) Pennsylvania State University – Dr. Jose D. Fuentes (Lead Investigator) University of Maryland Baltimore County – Dr. Belay Demoz (Lead Investigator) San Jose State University – Dr. Sen Chiao (Lead Investigator) Tuskegee University - Souleymane Fall (Lead Investigator) San Diego State University – Dr. Samuel Shen (Lead Investigator) Fort Valley State University – Dr. Hari P. Singh (Lead Investigator) Universidad Metropolitana – Dr. Juan Arratia (Lead Investigator)

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director Contents I. Executive Summary ...... 4 II. Accomplishments ...... 5 a. Increased number, annually, of CSC post-secondary students, trained ...... 5 b. Increased number of CSC post-secondary students educated and graduated annually ...... 8 c. Increased CSC capacity to train and graduate students ...... 9 d. Reduce the attainment gap for URMs in NOAA mission-relevant fields ...... 10 e. Increased NOAA mission-relevant research capacity at MSIs ...... 11 f. CSC-supported faculty, staff and students’ research directly aligned with NOAA’s mission and strategic priorities...... 15 II. Products of the Award ...... 16 III. Participants in Award Performance ...... 19 a. The following participants worked on the project during the reporting period: ...... 19 b. Partner Organizations that worked on the project during the reporting period: ...... 19 c. Other collaborators or contacts involved on the project during the reporting period: ...... 20 d. NOAA collaborators or contacts involved on the project during this reporting period: ..... 20 IV. Impacts of Award ...... 21 a. Impact on the development of future workforce candidates for the Atmospheric Sciences, Meteorology, and NOAA mission-aligned support in weather and climate...... 21 b. Impact on other disciplines and Program Level Outputs and Outcomes aligned with the 2016 FFO...... 21 c. Impact of the Center activities to build institutional capacity in support of the NOAA FY16 CSC award ...... 22 d. Impact of the NOAA award on the Centers data and information resources. Communication of Center accomplishments...... 22 e. How has the Center successfully conducted transfer of research results and new technologies in support of NOAA mission –aligned R2X? ...... 22 f. Societal impacts of the Center research activities. Communications to general public. .... 22 V. Changes/Challenges ...... 23 a. Changes in performance of the award objectives – approach and reasons(s) for change: .. 23 b. Actual or anticipated problems of delays and actions or plans to resolve them: ...... 23 c. Changes that have a significant impact on expenditures: ...... 23 d. Other ...... 23 VI. Special Award Conditions ...... 24 a. Multi-Year Special Award Condition ...... 24 b. New Award Special Award Condition ...... 24

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director c. NOAA Environmental Data and Information ...... 24 d. Center External Evaluator Support on Award Funds Special Award Condition ...... 24 e. EPP/MSI CSC Evaluation Plan for Center ...... 24 f. Direct Student Support, Post-Doctoral Program and Pre-Publication Manuscript Submission ...... 24 Direct Student Support ...... Error! Bookmark not defined. Direct Student Support ...... 25 Post-Doctoral Program...... 26 Pre-Publication Manuscript Submission: ...... 26 g. EPP MSI CSC Substantial Involvement and Collaborative Engagement ...... 26 h. Center Implementation Plan is Required ...... 27 i. EPP CSC Programmatic Special Awards Condition ...... 27 Professional Development (activities) ...... 27 j. Performance Progress Reports ...... 28 VII. Financial Information...... 29 a. Total NOAA Funding Breakout*...... 29 b. Total Leveraged Funding Breakout: ...... 30 VIII. Appendices ...... 31 a. NCAS-M Fellows ...... 31 b. NOAA MENTORS ...... 33 c. CALENDAR ...... 34 d. PHOTOS ...... 35 e. ACRONOYMS ...... 39

Table 1: Direct Student Support ...... 25 Table 2: Current NERTO Engagements ...... 28

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director I. Executive Summary Howard University is pleased to report on the first six months of the year two (2) of the NOAA Cooperative Science Center in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology (NCAS-M).

The NCAS-M promotes the expanded participation in education, training, capacity building, and collaborative research focusing on groups that are traditionally underrepresented in NOAA mission-relevant STEM, social, behavioral, and economic sciences disciplines (including communication sciences). The NCAS-M research and training activities support the primary goal of producing a diverse and highly skilled cadre of technical and environmentally literate professionals who will help build a more resilient nation in the face of increasing vulnerability to weather extremes and other environmental threats.

The NCAS-M is comprised of a thirteen-member consortium with Howard University as the lead institution. The partnership has nine directly funded partners as sub-awardees and four indirectly funded partners (related through a non-funded articulation agreements). NCAS-M nine funded partners include, Howard University (lead), Jackson State University, University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez, University of Texas - El Paso, San Jose State University, Pennsylvania State University, University of Maryland - Baltimore County, University of Maryland - College Park, State University of New York - Albany, and four non-funded partners: Fort Valley State University, San Diego State University, Tuskegee University, and Universidad Metropolitana. All thirteen of these academic institutions have been engaged in NOAA mission-relevant activities during this reporting period through faculty, student, or combined faculty-student engagement activities.

During this reporting period, NCAS-M was tasked with hosting the NOAA Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions 9th Biennial Education and Science Forum. Throughout the reporting period, NCAS-M worked diligently with NOAA EPP program office to establish an acceptable NOAA EPP Forum action plan. Much of the reporting period was utilized with the planning and implementation of the 2018 Forum. In addition to the preparation for the 2018 EPP Forum, NCAS-M put forth an ambitious travel schedule to various NOAA entities whom as a Center we deemed had shared research interest. The goals of these meetings were to establish new NOAA collaborations as well as familiarize the various NOAA agencies with NCAS-M faculty and student resources and research capabilities.

The NCAS-M was late with the issuing of subawards to our funded partners. Unfortunately, subawards for year two (2) and Cohort 2 were not issued to our funded partners until the end of this reporting period. Only students from Howard University were brought into Cohort 2 during this reporting period.

The following semi-annual performance report details the activities conducted during September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018.

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director II. Accomplishments Long Term Goals of NCAS-M: a. Increased number, annually, of CSC post-secondary students, trained Major Activities Specific Objectives Significant Results Key Outcomes/Other Achievements

MATLAB Two UMBC cohort 1 NCAS-M students gained programming students trained proficiency in Mathlab training at UMBC (Kendall Dawkins, Damian Emerson) Processing Two SUNYA cohort NCAS-M students gained radiation data set at 1 students trained proficiency in Python and SUNYA (Yanna Chen, programming Stephine Solimine) Identification of Developed a new UMD student (Vitaly Kholodovsky) extreme events spatio-temporal drafted a journal manuscript. This training at UMD threshold selection will be the M.S. thesis research method to identify topic for Vitaly Kholodovsky extreme event episodes by coupling pattern recognition indices with high (or low) threshold choices. Increased quantitative Taught and analytical skills; 4 UTEP cohort Course was designed to teach Atmospheric students, 3 non- research skills in addition to Physics course at cohort students standard course lectures. The UTEP enrolled and learned training was successful. both analytical and quantitative skills Plot analysis 2 cohort 1 students Both students prepared poster for training of model trained (Kendall NOAA 9th Biennial Education and output and AQ Dawkins, Damian Science Forum observations at Emerson) stations across Maryland Training to process Constructed ground- Student trained - Kafayat Olayinka and analyze aerosol based and satellite- and cloud data based aerosol and from ground-based thin cloud optical and satellite-based properties data set; measurements and Investigated spatial investigate their and temporal

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director variability and variability of aerosol long-term trend. and thin cloud optical properties based on observations at 4 ground sites at different climate regions including 3 DOE ARM site and Howard University Beltsville Campus site Radiosonde 3 JSU cohort NWS upper air certification training students, 2 JSU non- cohort students trained Agricultural Development of an NCAS-M Cohort 2 student, Jennifer decision support algorithm to estimate Kennedy, learned how to link training days suitable for weather forecasts with agricultural fieldwork (DSFW) decision needs. This is the starting from NCEP weather point for her to build her STEM and land surface career toward the area of decision forecasts to support making support. farmers’ decision in optimizing machinery, labor, and crop choice WFO Storm Site Students interacted Two (2) JSU NCAS-M cohort 1 Surveys Increased competence in with WFO personnel students participated applying STEM to in reviewing the decision making, policy storm surveys 2017 UCAR and management; NCAS-M faculty and NCAS-M participants: Vernon Annual Members students actively Morris, Terri Adams, Everette Meeting, Boulder, participated in the Joseph, Remata Reddy, Loren CO meeting, leading White, Leticia Williams, panels Group meetings NCAS-M UTEP 4 cohort + 4 non-cohort students and participation in faculty and students participated in discussions. A non- the Joint Advisory participated in the cohort student delivered a JAC talk Committee (JAC) JAC meeting to at the meeting. for the Paso del review and discuss Norte Region. the National Air Quality standards for pollutants.

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director Research on image Cloud identification Developing algorithm to forecast processing code and motion for solar radiation by using sky imager radiation forecasting measured sky conditions Climate data Used large data sets Vitaly Kholodovsky completed analysis and model of U.S. NCDC NERTO training with his NOAA prediction training climate (precipitation Thomas Knutson at GFDL, where for Vitaly and temperature he gained deeper understanding of Kholodovsky, during 1950-2016) the methodologies and measures Jennifer Kennedy and NLDAS land used for climate change detection and Emmanuel (soil moisture during and attribution and for testing model Dibia 1979-2017) to consistency with observations. Both develop the extreme Jennifer Kennedy and Emmanuel event identification Dibia have established working and fieldwork day relationship with their NOAA estimation methods, mentor, Michelle Hawkins and for which they have Daryl Kleist, respectively. gained significant skills in statistical analysis, computer Increased skills to use modeling and large data sets, algorithm geographical information development, as well systems (GIS) and as ArcGIS statistical analysis, application. computer modeling, and Emmanuel Dibia (co- algorithm development. advised by Vernon Morris and Xin- Zhong Liang) has been doing literature review, learning computer programming in Fortran and Python, so to prepare for his thesis research on integration of data assimilation to improve subseasonal- seasonal climate prediction Seminars Seminars on GIS, 4 cohort and 3 non-cohort students computer modeling participated. and algorithm development were performed at UTEP.

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director b. Increased number of CSC post-secondary students educated and graduated annually Major Activities Specific Objectives Significant Results Key Outcomes/Other Achievements

NONE TO The number of degrees NONE TO NONE TO REPORT REPORT earned annually in NOAA REPORT mission-related disciplines. Participation in Eight (8) abstracts Three (3) cohort and three (3) non- International and ten (10) cohort UTEP students enhance their Conferences presentations at student knowledge by participating at International these conferences. The number of students Conferences took (total and URM) who place. participated in Experiential professional development Four (4) ETSP Four (4) applications submitted: Training Summer opportunities, to include Applications 1) Milagros Esmerode - Ernest F. Program (ETSP) at least one on-site submitted to NOAA Hollings and EPP/MSI UG experiential research and mission scholarships Scholarships training opportunity at a in Fall 2017 2) Bryan Hayes - Ernest F. Hollings NOAA lab, office, or and EPP/MSI UG Scholarships facility with tangible 3) Anthony Salome Ortiz - Ernest F. training and research: (a) Hollings and EPP/MSI UG for a minimum duration Scholarships of 4 consecutive weeks, 4) Anthony Thornton - Ernest F. and (b) resulted in a Hollings and EPP/MSI UG publication or an oral or Scholarships poster presentation to NOAA experts, peers, and/or NCAS-M Cohort Four (4) NCAS-M Cohorts students Experiential and other stakeholders. students are (Shadya Sanders, Cassandra Shivers- Research participating in Williams, Catherine Liu, and Vitaly Training NERTOs Kholodovsky) were actively Opportunity participating in NERTOs (see section (NERTO) VII-e for more details)

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director c. Increased CSC capacity to train and graduate students Major Activities Specific Objectives Significant Results Key Outcomes/Other Achievements

Talks, seminars, Number of Two (2) talks, offered UTEP Students developed working courses seminars, new by Dr. William skills and functional competencies to courses, new Stockwell and Dr. support NOAA’s mission programs, and new Gary Morris were degrees offered to delivered, one (1) new develop working course created and skills and functional numerous seminars competencies to (approximately 12) support the NOAA mission and workforce. Recruitment and Total numbers of 21 NCAS-M Cohort 1 Demographics: (see Appendix A) support of students supported students supported • 2 (9.5%) Caucasian underrepresented by the CSCs and o 8 (38.1%) • 2 (9.5%) Asian students – Cohort 1 degrees awarded Atmospheric • 17 (81%) URM that reflect the Science Majors o 13 (76.5%) African changing o 6 (28.6%) American demographics of the Meteorology o 4 (23.5%) Hispanic nation. Majors o 3 (14.3%) Physic Majors o 1(4.8%) Social Psychology o 1 (4.8%) Marine Sciences o 1 (4.7%) Chemical Engineering o 1 (4.7%) School Psychology Recruitment and 8 NCAS-M Cohort 2 Demographics: (see Appendix A) support of students supported • 6 (75 %) African American underrepresented o 2 (33.3%) • 1 (12.5%) Hispanic students – Cohort 2 Atmospheric • 1 (12.5%) Caucasian Science Majors o 2 (33.3%) Sociology Major o 2 (33.3%) Economics o 1 (0%) Geography Sciences

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director o 1 (0%) Marine Sciences

d. Reduce the attainment gap for URMs in NOAA mission-relevant fields Major Activities Specific Objectives Significant Results Key Outcomes/Other Achievements Completion of NCAS-M Cohort 1 22 NCAS-M Cohort 1 and 6 NCAS- Individual Student and 2 students M Cohort 2 students completed Development Plans – completed Individual Individual SDPs that included the Annual Planning SDPs during the following areas: research internships form and Mid-Year reporting period. at NOAA, core competency Progress report attainment, integrative mechanism Increased number of of social sciences, type of award, URM students in and publications and presentations Teacher training in student development A ripple effect is A successful recruitment activity the Sciences at UTEP activities that will sought to recruit and through teacher training is lead them to the increase the number established at UTEP. attainment of degrees of students in STEM and/or employment in and NOAA related NOAA mission disciplines. -Mentor and alumni fields. Undergraduate interactions student retention in -Federal programs: Meteorology is Pathways and DoD reported at 60%, in SMART contrast to 30% in -Alumni scholarship other STEM fields at program JSU. Outreach programs at More than 100 high JSU leveraged school students through NSF-funded impacted IMAGE project Social Media Messaging of the Various social media vehicles Increased number of Center’s utilized: Tweets, Facebook posts, URM students who accomplishments and Instagram post, YouTube videos, select to pursue related topics issued and LinkedIn higher education in via social media NOAA mission Establish individual fields. 3 new under-graduate 3 additional under-graduate students contact with under- students were graduate students at recruited. UTEP.

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director e. Increased NOAA mission-relevant research capacity at MSIs Major Activities Specific Objectives Significant Results Key Outcomes/Other Achievements

Field Visits Students engaged in Student participation in visits to activities that allowed NOAA and other field facilities them to visit NOAA mission enterprise field facilities

NCAS-M Director Vernon Morris met Specific meetings: Wendy Marie

Visits with several NOAA Thomas, NOAA/NWS/AFS (9/15)

personnel to promote Craig McLean, NOAA/OAR

the Centers research Director, Acting Chief Scientist

capabilities and look (10/29); Ariel Stein, NOAA/ARL

for overlapping Director (11/1);

research interest Increase the number ESRL visit UTEP – of research Rosa Fitzgerald and Kevin Kelleher, Jenn Mahoney, and September 2017 collaborations with students will visit Melinda Marquis from GSD and NOAA and CSC ERSL in the 2018 Rich Lataitis of PSD visited the faculty, staff and summer. Goal is to campus of the University of Texas-El students. find good fits for Paso (UTEP) on September 26 to summer internships meet with students and faculty and for UTEP graduate explore connections and students or post- collaborations doctoral positions at ESRL.

October 2017 visit to Jose Fuentes from Discussions for possible faculty NOAA ARL ATDD Penn state led effort research collaborations/student along with Vernon opportunities between laboratory and Morris and HU Center student, Kafayat Olayinka

National Water Center EPP lead effort for NCAS-M faculty from JSU and HU visit – October 2017 CSCs to visit and participated and are continuing talks

discuss shared relating to partnering with the NWC

research interest in future research efforts

between the NWC

research staff and

CSCs faculty

Visited WFOs WFO Internships Cohort student: ▪ Janae Elkins: Eric Carpenter (NWS JAN WFO) Non-Cohort students:

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director ▪ Taylor Black, Latrice Maxie (NWS JAN WFO) ▪ Anthony Thornton: Thomas Salem (NWS MEG WFO)

Ceilometer/lidar One (1) non-cohort Data will be utilized by Daniel Tong, operations student UTEP student Barry Baker from the NOAA Air training Quality Modeling Group Participation in the One (1) cohort UPRM New collaborations with NOAA NOAA’s Deep student and one (1) AOML scientists: Ryan Smith, Grant Western Boundary leverage student Rawson, Jay Hooper, Pedro Peña, Time Series 2018 Diego Ugaz. expedition onboard the NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown from February 15 to March 1, 2018

New collaboration Student participation New collaborations with NOAA- with NOAA NWS in radiosonde NWS scientists from the Field personnel to test new Increase the number launches and data Systems Operations Center in generation radiosonde of research processing during the Virginia: Stephen Lanciani, Jennifer instruments at the collaborations with planned field Dover, and Benton Solecki NCAS-M NOAA and CSC campaign. AERADNET station faculty, staff and in Magueyes Island students.

Ceilometer network The ceilometer The successful operation of discussions between network is a large ceilometer network. Successful NOAA scientists and collaborative effort. network was established with NCAS-M scientists NOAA scientists who attended the during 2018 AMS AMS conference. meeting. Collaborative Two (2) papers (one Submitted Paper: Collaboration partnership - NOAA submitted and one in between UMBC, HU, and Michael Lidar data progress) Hicks (w/ NWS) - Interaction with CMAQ upgrade activities. Data output at several stations twice/day is being used by student to plot and compare with observation Progress Paper: Collaboration between David Turner, Belay Demoz, Janak Joshi, and non-cohort student - Symmetric convergence

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director paper collaboration (non-Cohort student)

Co-advised Increase the number Emmanuel Dibia He is well positioned for the Emmanuel Dibia of research coursework Qualification Exam to be taken in studying at UMD with collaborations with performance is early June for the requirement Vernon Morris (HU) NOAA and CSC excellent (A grade). entering the Ph.D. program at UMD. and Xin-Zhong Liang faculty, staff and (UMD) students. Increased number of New Coral Reef Watch Coral Reef Watch collaborators: Mark Eakin & Michael collaborators Ondrusek from NESDIS/STAR. Increase the number Invited Presentation of NOAA scientists Pius Lee, PhD Invited presentations at UMBC and serving as mentors NOAA, Office of will serve as a Grad student member and advisors for Oceanic and (Non-Cohort student Zhiefeng Yang) student research Atmospheric Research, Air Resources Laboratory NOAA mentors Recruited See list of approved NOAA Mentors in Appendix B

Student research Research training- Arrangements made for UTEP exchange UTEP-HU-UMBC on graduate student, Nakul Karle, to application of CL31 to visit Howard University Beltsville dust model Campus and UMBC to be trained Increase the number verification and interact with NOAA CI (Daniel of intra-institutional Tong and Barry Baker). collaborative PBL Research Numerous NCAS-M Semi-monthly ad-hoc PBL partnerships and CREST discussion group that includes established and collaborations NOAA scientists for AQ forecast maintained in established in PBL verification and validation over MD support of NOAA’s height study and EPA as well others being led by mission. UMBC (NCAS-M-HU and CREST) CSC Collaboration Met with CREST Established possible collaboration scientists when they with two (2) CREST scientists visited UTEP campus. UMD group acquired These include NCDC These became major sets of data that NOAA observational Increase the number of station data analysis students supported by CSC or other and modeling data uses of NOAA data in (Russell Vose), funding sources have been using in research and tool CMIP5 NCA data their research. development. (Kenneth Kunkel), CCPA precipitation

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director analysis (Yuejian Zhu), and NOAA CFSR analysis. UTEP group acquired GOES, METOPS, Use and enhancement of algorithm NOAA data NOAA 18, 19 satellite development for NOAA satellites’ algorithms to retrieve retrieval. products were developed by Fitzgerald’s research group. OWLETS planning - This project is Ozone Water Land Environmental PIs Morris (HU) and supported by Pius Lee Transition Study Part 2 (OWLETS- Demoz (UMBC) (NWS) and Ming Ji 2): A State of MD funded experiment worked with CREST (NWS) (June-July 2018) that will have PI Delgado (UMBC) participation from various agencies in a multi-agency, including NOAA forecast office. multi-institution on the design and implementation of a Increase the number field project to occur of inter-institutional in summer 2018. collaborative partnerships JSU partnering on established and 1) “Sundowner Wind Experiment four (4) proposals maintained in support (SWEX) in Coastal Santa Barbara, with other institutions of NOAA’s mission. California” for $1.3 million to NSF (PI: L. Carvalho at Univ. of California Santa Barbara) 2) “Excellence in Research: Observational Studies of the North American Monsoon System” for $500,000 to NSF (PI: L. White) 3) Upgrade the JSU Meteorology Computing Lab by installation of AWIPS II EDEX Server and CAVE Clients” for $20,000 to UCAR (PI: D. Lu) 4)“Educational Deployment of Doppler-on-Wheels in Florida Sea Breeze Environment” for $20,000 to UCAR (PI: S. Milrad at Embry- Riddle Aeronautical Univ.)

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director f. CSC-supported faculty, staff and students’ research directly aligned with NOAA’s mission and strategic priorities. Major Activities Specific Objectives Significant Results Key Outcomes/Other Achievements

Three (3) Number of peer Please see below for Please see below for the complete publications; reviewed publications, the complete description presentations, and description 22 presentations tools developed by Please see below for Please see below for the complete faculty, staff and the complete description students. description One (1) NCAS-M Use of CSC research CL31 final report and “Investigate and validate the CSC Report results and tools by recommendation to effectiveness of the Vaisala CL31 NOAA and other NOAA made ceilometer algorithm at selected sites stakeholders. across the U.S. for the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) program product improvement (Phase 3)” Report Compiled by Dennis Atkinson, Belay Demoz, Mike Hicks, Kevin Vermeesch

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director II. Products of the Award Within the Products section, recipient can list any products resulting from the FY16 CSC award, during the specified reporting period, such as: • Degrees Awarded: None to report

• Publications in Journals: 1. Ji, P., X. Yuan, X.-Z. Liang, 2017: Do lateral flows matter for the hyper-resolution land surface modeling? Journal of Geophysical Research, 122, 12,077–12,092. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JD027366

2. Devoun R Stewart, Emily Saunders, Roberto A Perea, Rosa Fitzgerald, David E Campbell and William R Stockwell, “Linking Air Quality and Human Health Effects Models: An Application to the Los Angeles Air Basin”, Environmental Health Insights, vol. 11, pp. 1-13, DOI 10.1177/1178630217737551, Nov. 13, 2017.

3. Richard Medina, William Stockwell and Rosa M. Fitzgerald, “Optical Characterization of Mineral Dust and Soot Particles in the El Paso- Juarez Airshed”, Journal of Aerosol Science and Engineering, DOI 10.1007/s41810-017-0019-8, 2017.

• Books: None to report

• Book Chapters: None to report

• Thesis/Dissertations: None to report

• Conference Papers, Posters and Presentations: 1. HENAAC, Oct.17-21, 2017, “Study of the Planetary Boundary Layer for the El Paso-Juarez Airshed”, Nakul Karle, Suhail Mahmud, Rosa Fitzgerald, Ricardo Sakai, Vernon Morris.

2. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, Presented September 11, 2017. “The Atmospheric Chemistry and Health Effects of Particulate Matter in the Los Angeles Air Basin”, Invited lecture, Stockwell, W.R., D.R. Stewart, E. Saunders, R.A. Perea, R. Fitzgerald and D.E. Campbell.

3. International Aerosol Modeling Algorithms Conference, University of California, Davis, California, Dec. 7, 2017. “The Atmospheric Chemistry and Health Effects of Particulate Matter in the Los Angeles Air Basin”, Stewart, D.R., Emily Saunders, R.A. Perea, R. Fitzgerald, D.E. Campbell and W.R. Stockwell.

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director 4. International Aerosol Modeling Algorithms (IAMA) Conference, University of California, Davis, California, Dec. 7, 2017 “Examination of the Effect of Chemistry on Nitrate Aerosol Formation”, Stockwell, W.R., D.R. Stewart, E. Saunders, D.E. Campbell, R. Fitzgerald, R. Perea.

5. Desert Research Institute Science Talk, Reno, Nevada, Dec. 12, 2017. “Atmospheric Chemistry and Health Effects of Particulate Matter in the Los Angeles Air Basin”, Stockwell, W.R., D.R. Stewart, E. Saunders, D.E. Campbell, R. Fitzgerald, R. Perea.

6. AGU, Dec. 11-15, 2017, “Study of the Urban Heat Island and Its Effect on the Planetary Boundary Layer for the El Paso-Juarez Airshed”, Nakul Karle, Suhail Mahmud, Rosa Fitzgerald, Ricardo Sakai, Vernon Morris.

7. AGU, Dec. 11-15, 2017, “Measuring solar coronal magnetism during the total solar eclipse of 2017”, K.L. Gibson, and S. Tomczyk.

8. AMS, Jan. 7-11, 2018, “Measuring solar coronal magnetism during the total solar eclipse of 2017”, K.L. Gibson, S. Sewell, S. Tomczyk, A. Boll, J. Burkepile, P. Judge, and B. Berkey.

9. AMS, Jan. 7-11, 2018, “Exploring the capabilities of the CHM 15k ceilometers to detect icing conditions in clouds”, J.M. Harvey, S.D. Landolt, and J. Wolff.

10. AMS, Jan. 7-11, 2018, “Examining diurnal variability across the equatorial Pacific Basin associated with ENSO”, T.O. Hurt, N. Sakaeda, J. Dias, and G.N. Kiladis.

11. AMS, Jan. 7-11, 2018, “Geostationary Lightning Mapper comparison to cloud optical depth in various storm environments”, R.F. Garrett and C. Burnett.

12. AMS, Jan. 7-11, 2018, “An overview of NCEP: Products, services, and impacts”, M. Feaster and G. Fisher.

13. AMS, Jan. 7-11, 2018, “Comparisons of mid-altitude radial convergence signatures in severe storms from KDGX and KULM”, J.N. Elkins, E.E. Carpenter, D. Lu, T.A. Murphy, and A.T.C. Hanks.

14. AMS, Jan. 7-11, 2018, “Biosphere-atmosphere responses to a total solar eclipse in three ecosystems with contrasting structure and physiology”, J.D. Wood, E.J. Sadler, N.I. Fox, S.T. Greer, P. Guinan, A.R. Lupo, P.S. Market, S. Rochette, A. Speck, and L. White.

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director 15. AMS, Jan. 10, 2018, “A New Integrated Threshold Selection Methodology for Spatial Forecast Verification of Extreme Events”, Vitaly Kholodovsky,

16. AMS, Jan. 7-11, 2018 “On the Relationship Between Biogenic Aerosol Concentrations and Anthropogenic Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides and Organic Compounds”, Stockwell, W.R., R. Fitzgerald, D.E. Campbell, R.A. Perea, D.R. Stewart and E. Saunders.

17. AMS, Jan. 7-11, 2018 “An Improved Methodology to Calculate the Aerosol Extinction Coefficients for the El Paso-Juarez Airshed”, Rosa M. Fitzgerald, Javier Polanco, William Stockwell.

18. AMS, Jan. 7-11, 2018 “Light Scattering from Aerosol Particles Under Presence of Humidity- Miguel Cortez, Ashley Mcafee, Rosa Fitzgerald

19. AMS, Jan. 7-11, 2018, “Inter comparison of WRF Simulations, Radiosonde, Meteorological Observations, and Satellite Data for Paso Del Norte Region- Suhail Mahmud, Nakul Karle, Rosa Fitzgerald, ozonesonde team.

20. AMS, Jan. 7-11, 2018, “Obtaining and Processing Metops B and NOAA 18,19 Satellite Data using a Flat Panel Polar Orbiting Satellite Tracking Antenna- Robert McAfee, Rosa Fitzgerald, Scott Williams, Rob Rabin.

21. Mississippi Academy of Sciences, Feb. 22-23, 2018, “Examining diurnal variability across the equatorial Pacific Basin associated with ENSO”, T.O. Hurt, N. Sakaeda, J. Dias, and G.N. Kiladis.

22. Mississippi Academy of Sciences, Feb. 22-23, 2018, “Air quality and meteorology association for asthmas prevalence in Mississippi Gulf Coastal region”, F. Tuluri, A. Gorai, T. Johnson, and R.S. Reddy.

• Other Publications: In preparation: 1. L. White, and S. Waugh (NSSL): Real-world comparisons of Gill and U- tube shields for mobile observing platforms outside of severe convective environments. Manuscript in preparation.

• Technologies or Techniques: None to report • Patents: None to report • Inventions: None to report • Licenses: None to report • Websites: o http://ncas-m.org/ o https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gsd/learn/hotitems/2017/utep.html

• Other Products: None to report

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director III. Participants in Award Performance NCAS-M has engaged a variety of participants during the reporting period in question. a. The following participants worked on the project during the reporting period: Name Most Senior Project Role Project Hours Worked per Month

Vernon Morris Director 100 Terri Adams Deputy Director 80 Kimberly Smith Assistant Director 160+ Jo-Anne Manswell Butty Education Lead 160+ Mehri Fadavi JSU Lead Investigator 40 Qilong Min SUNYA Lead Investigator 40 Xin-Zhong Liang UMD Lead Investigator 40 Belay Demoz UMBC Lead Investigator 40 Roy Armstrong UPRM Lead Investigator 40 Rosa Fitzgerald UTEP Lead Investigator 40 Jose Fuentes PSU Lead Investigator 40 Sen Chiao SJSU Lead Investigator 40

b. Partner Organizations that worked on the project during the reporting period: Type of Name Location Contribution to Project Organization Government NWS WFO Jackson, MS Mentor students

Government NWS WFO Slidell, LA Manuscript Government NOAA ESRL Boulder, CO Mentor students Government NOAA GFDL Princeton, NJ Mentor students (NERTO) Government NASA-GSFC Greenbelt, MD Provide Ozone and other data Research center NCAR Boulder, CO Mentor students University Univ. of Louisiana Monroe Monroe, LA Data sharing University Univ. of California Santa Santa Proposal development Barbara Barbara, CA University Univ. of Arizona Tucson, AZ Proposal development

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director University Univ. of California San San Diego, CA Proposal development Diego University National Autonomous Mexico, DF, Proposal development University of Mexico Mexico University CICESE Ensenada, Proposal development BCN, Mexico University Univ. of California Irvine Irvine, CA Proposal development University Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach, Proposal development Aeronautical Univ. FL University Univ. of Missouri Columbia, MO Research presentation University Northern Arizona Univ. Flagstaff, AZ Manuscript

c. Other collaborators or contacts involved on the project during the reporting period: William Stockwell (Desert Research Institute-DRI), Andrea Sealey (Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology), Leila Carvalho (Earth Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara-USCB), Charles Jones (Earth Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara-USCB), Pieter Hazenberg (University of Arizona), Craig Clements (San Jose State University), Cuauhtemoc Turrent Thompson (CICESE), David Adams (National Autonomous University of Mexico- UNAM), Jeffrey Wood (University of Missouri), Todd Murphy (University of Louisiana at Monroe -ULM), Benjamin Ruddell (Northern Arizona University), Travis Huxman (University of California Irvine), Nathan Hosannah (City College of New York), Brian Seok (Federal Reserve Board)

d. NOAA collaborators or contacts involved on the project during this reporting period: WFO JAN: Latrice Maxie, Bill Parker, Eric Carpenter, John Moore; WFO MEM: Thomas Salem; WFO LIX: Mike Koziara; WFO SDU: Alex Tardy; NWS Headquarters: Cindy Woods; NESDIS: Jamese Sims; NOAA GFDL: Thomas Knutson; NOAA NSSL: Ted Mansell and Bob Rabin; NOAA ERSL GOES: Lidia Cucurull; NOAA NESDIS Coral Reef Watch: Mark Eakin; NESDIS STAR: Michael Ondrusek; NOAA AOML: Ryan Smith, Grant Rawson, Jay Hooper, Pedro Peña, Diego Ugaz; NWS-FSOC: Stephen Lanciani; NWS: Jennifer Dover and Benton Solecki

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director IV. Impacts of Award a. Impact on the development of future workforce candidates for the Atmospheric Sciences, Meteorology, and NOAA mission-aligned support in weather and climate. NCAS-M engaged in several activities related to the training and development /professional development of Cohort 1 and other students to impact the development of NOAA future workforce candidates for Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology during this reporting period: Activities included the completion of: a) application of NOAA mission scholarships by participants of the Experiential Training Summer Program, b) Individual Student Development Plans, c) Individual Post-Doctoral Development Plans, d) NERTOs, e) student attendance at professional meetings (i.e., AGU Annual Meeting 2018 and AMS Annual Meeting 2018), f) advanced research trainings, g) field visits, and h) center-wide webinars. Some examples of our activities are as follows:

During NOAA’s Deep Western Boundary Time Series 2018 expedition students worked with NOAA scientists from the Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratories (AOML) and developed skills using oceanographic techniques and instrumentation. Besides the acquired scientific knowledge, this immersive opportunity provided hands-on experience with ship operations and expedition logistics, troubleshooting of electronic equipment, buoy deployment, water sampling and analysis, and the unique experience of living and working at sea.

Vitaly Kholodovsky was educated with deeper understanding and hands-on research experience for extreme episode identification and also trained in the NOAA facility for relating his thesis research with operational application to NOAA missions. Jennifer Kennedy was educated with improved skills in data analysis and decision support algorithm development related to NOAA missions. Emmanuel Dibia was educated with better understanding of weather and climate processes

b. Impact on other disciplines and Program Level Outputs and Outcomes aligned with the 2016 FFO. The award made possible the participation of graduate students in marine sciences at UPRM to be trained at sea in a NOAA vessel and work together with NOAA scientists in disciplines and using instrumentation that otherwise would have not been available to them.

Additionally, this award has made it possible for underrepresented students from the social science majors (e.g. economics and sociology) that are typically funded at a lower level than the physical sciences majors to commit 100% of their time and energy to their degree program without the added concerns of seeking additional funds to cover the cost of their education.

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director c. Impact of the Center activities to build institutional capacity in support of the NOAA FY16 CSC award NCAS-M embarked on an aggressive campaign during this reporting period to familiarize the NOAA workforce with the Center’s faculty, students and research capabilities. The fruits of this campaign are beginning to present themselves, for example:

New collaboration with NOAA NWS personnel from the Field Systems Operations Center in Virginia to test new generation radiosonde instruments at the Isla Magueyes Field Station in Puerto Rico. Jennifer Dover (Program Manager) and her team plan to visit La Parguera, Puerto Rico on March 12-15, 2018 to plan a sampling campaign in the summer/fall period in collaboration with NCAS-M PI Armstrong from UPRM.

JSU investigator, Duanjun. Lu visited the Water Center to develop future collaboration opportunities. Talks are underway. JSU utilize indirect cost funds for program operations. d. Impact of the NOAA award on the Centers data and information resources. Communication of Center accomplishments. NCAS-M launch it official website, ncas-m.org, during this reporting period.

UTEP was successfully integrated into the Center’s CL31 ceilometer network during this reporting period. NCAS-M and NCAS has organize a small network of stand- alone CL31 ceilometers across the USA with the goal to show viability of ASOS ceilometer by detecting mid-level cloud bases above 12,000 ft, archiving vertical backscatter data, and monitoring mixing heights and elevated aerosol layer. This award allowed for the training of personnel at UTEP on the installation, operation and maintenance of the instrument. e. How has the Center successfully conducted transfer of research results and new technologies in support of NOAA mission –aligned R2X? In general, this is accomplished through publications, discussions and meetings, and work in progress. For example, JSU has successfully integrated its ULM radar data into WFO JAN operations. f. Societal impacts of the Center research activities. Communications to general public. The Center’s focus was on the planning and implementation of the upcoming 2018 EPP Forum. UPRM was schedule in the fall of 2017 to host the NOAA Ocean Color Workshop and Coral Reef Watch User Outreach Meeting, but due to hurricane Maria impact on the island it has been postponed to April 19, 2018. JSU through leverage funded was able to engage in outreach to predominantly URM high schools.

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director V. Changes/Challenges a. Changes in performance of the award objectives – approach and reasons(s) for change: The NCAS-M will continue to work with Program to cooperatively identify solutions and best modes of satisfying all FFO requirements and achieving the goals of the program.

b. Actual or anticipated problems of delays and actions or plans to resolve them: Grossly inadequate funding for faculty in relation to time/effort required for project deliverables. The Center is seeking University financial support to address this concern. In addition, it has been an ongoing challenge with the understanding of how the cohorts and cohort funding work (requirements and policy of the award) with the partner institutions, which resulted in a severe delay in the issue of year 2 sub-awards. After significant dialogue between partner lead investigators, their respective research administrative services, and Howard University NCAS-M leadership team, the misunderstandings have been clarified and subawards have been issued.

During fall 2017 Puerto Rico suffered the impact of two major hurricanes. The impact on the island’s infrastructure and communications was unprecedented. The university was closed for an extended period of time and all research activities were significantly delayed. All NCAS-M research and educational activities were affected as a direct result of the hurricanes.

c. Changes that have a significant impact on expenditures: Year 2 subawards were issued late; therefore, expenditures will burn at a rate different from our fiscal year. Year two (2) funds will likely be expended from Spring/summer 2018 to Spring/summer 2020. All NCAS-M students are supported for two (2) years.

d. Other The NCAS-M continues responding to the budget threats and uncertainty as effectively as possible under the current federal and institutional (university) administration. We acknowledge that these are issues common to all academic entities, but the plight of minority-serving institutions remains more dire and tenuous than large, historically white public and well-endowed private institutions. The NCAS-M continues to seek alternate and complementary revenue streams to support efforts in education and training. We have been able to successfully acquire physical resources and in-kind contributions of instrumentation. We have also secured commitments from the University to support a limited number of additional students associated with the atmospheric sciences program.

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director VI. Special Award Conditions This section details the progress made during this reporting period (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) for the specified special award conditions written below.

a. Multi-Year Special Award Condition NCAS-M is in receipt of $6,165,000.00 total for the first two (2) years of this 5-year period. Year one funding was in the amount of $2, 975,000.00. Year one funding represents a shortfall of $125,000 from the proposed amount. Year two funding was received in two separate award files (award file 1 and 2). Award file one (1) was received in May 2017 in the amount of $1,600,709.00 and award file two (2) was received August 31, 2017 in the amount of $1,589,291.00. Award file two (2) combines two revenues of funding - $1,399,291.00 for ASM Center activities and $190,000.00 to host the NOAA Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program Education and Science Forum. This funding represents a shortfall of $100,000.00 from the proposed amount.

b. New Award Special Award Condition NCAS-M acknowledge the terms and conditions of Award #NA16SEC4810006 and are following them accordingly.

c. NOAA Environmental Data and Information NOAA environmental data are used, and students are trained on their applications: synoptic surface data; radiosonde data; NEXRAD weather radar; GOES satellite data. The NCAS-M actively encourages the use of NOAA data in core curriculum and in the execution of thesis research and training. UTEP currently store all NOAA satellite data retrieved by our own antenna.

d. Center External Evaluator Support on Award Funds Special Award Condition NCAS-M has expended $37,250.00 on SmartStart Evaluation and Research for the evaluation instruments and detailed evaluation plan.

e. EPP/MSI CSC Evaluation Plan for Center They have been replaced with SmartStart Evaluation and Research. SmartStart Evaluation and Research credentials were returned and with comments to include the evaluators CVs. NCAS-M is working with the evaluators to obtain their respective CVs. A detailed evaluation plan was submitted and is currently under review by NOAA program office.

f. Direct Student Support, Post-Doctoral Program and Pre-Publication Manuscript Submission NCAS-M financially supported 29 full-time students across the Center in cohort 1 and 2 who are US citizens with a minimum GPA of 3.0 during this performance period. The level of support provided for the students during this performance period is presented in Table 1.

Cohort-2 students are being on-boarded late in the 2017-2018 academic year due to the delay in the granting of sub awards. At present, students are still being recruited for Cohort 3.

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director Direct Student Support Table 1: Direct Student Support

Name Academic Tuition Stipend Travel NERTO One-time Classification Research

1 Cardona, Maria PhD $122.00 $6,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 2 Chen, Yanna PhD $4,077.00 $34,912.00 $2,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 3 Ellis, Tierra PhD $32,884.00 $12,692.31 TBD $0.00 $0.00 4 Garvey, Michael PhD $32,884.00 $12,692.31 TBD $0.00 5 Kennedy, Jennifer PhD TBS TBD TBD TBD TBD 6 Kholodovsky, PhD TBD TBD TBD TBD $0.00 Vitaly 7 Liu, Catherine PhD TBD TBD TBD TBD $0.00 8 Mejias, Carla PhD $4,160.00 $16,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 9 Moon, Zachery PhD TBD TBD TBD $0.00 $0.00 10 Olayinka, Kafayat PhD $32,884.00 $12,692.31 TBD $0.00 $0.00 11 Sanders, Shadya PhD $32,884.00 $12,692.31 TBD TBD $0.00 12 Shivers-Williams, PhD $32,884.00 $12,692.31 TBD TBD $0.00 Cassandra 13 Smith, Chantal PhD $32,884.00 $12,692.31 TBD $0.00 $0.00 14 Stephen, Solimine PhD $16,650.00 $34,912.00 $2,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 15 Yeager, Daniel PhD $32,884.00 $12,692.31 TBD $0.00 $0.00 16 Cortez, Miguel MS $0.00 $13,130.97 $1,711.36 $0.00 $0.00 17 Dibia, Emmanuel MS $15,535.00 $10,576.94 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 18 Fisher, Kalen MS $16,442.00 $1,923.07 TBD $0.00 $0.00 19 Kebede, Mussie MS $32,884.00 $10,576.94 TBD $0.00 $0.00

20 McAfee, Robert MS $0.00 $13,130.97 $1,859.79 $0.00 $0.00 21 Wilkinson, Ayesha MS $16,442.00 $1,923.07 TBD $0.00 $0.00 22 Wright, Mi’Cheal MS $32,884.00 $10,576.94 TBD $0.00 $0.00

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director 23 Dawkins, Kendall BS TBD TBD TBD N/A $0.00 24 Elkins, Janae BS/Senior $0.00 $12,350.00 $0.00 N/A $0.00 25 Emerson, Damian BS TBD TBD TBD N/A $0.00 26 Gibson, Keon BS/Senior $0.00 $12,300.00 $0.00 N/A $0.00 27 Harvey, Jaylond BS/Senior $0.00 $11,400.00 $0.00 N/A $0.00

28 Hurt, Tony BS/Senior $0.00 $11,400.00 $0.00 N/A $0.00

29 Jordan, Arianna BS/Senior TBD TBD TBD N/A $0.00

Post-Doctoral Program The goal of the ASM postdoctoral fellowship (PF) program is to support advanced training in NOAA-related sciences. ASM will support PFs in the thematic areas of atmospheric sciences and meteorology.

NCAS-M had three post-doctoral fellows during this performance period. Dr. Richard Medina Calderon who was stationed at Sterling National Weather Service working with Dr. Michael Hicks, PSL Manager, Office of Observations, Evaluation Branch until December 2017. Dr. Medina Calderon two-year post-doctoral fellowship ended in December 2017. He is currently seeking employment. NCAS-M Post-Doctoral Fellow, Dr. Keren Rosado, is currently stationed at NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory – Global Systems Division in Boulder, CO. Dr. Leticia Williams joined the NCAS-M post-doctoral fellowship program in January 2018. She is currently stationed at NOAA headquarters in downtown Silver Spring.

Pre-Publication Manuscript Submission: 1. L. White, and M. Koziara: Surface thermodynamic gradients associated with Gulf of Mexico sea breeze fronts. Manuscript submitted to Adv. in Meteorol.

2. M. Hicks, B. Demoz, K. Vermeesch, and D. Atkinson: Intercomparison of Mixing Layer Heights from the National Weather Service Ceilometer Testbed and Collocated Radiosondes. Submitted to Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology (JTECH)

g. EPP MSI CSC Substantial Involvement and Collaborative Engagement NCAS-M acknowledge the terms and conditions of this special award condition and will continue to work openly and collaboratively with NOAA. During this reporting period, Dr. Morris met with the technical monitor, Dr. Ming Ji, on September 29, 2017.

The NCAS-M leadership engages with OED and EPP MSI Program leadership on a regular (weekly) basis via telephone, email and in person for the planning and implementation of the 2018 9th Biennial EPP Education and Science Forum.

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director h. Center Implementation Plan is Required NCAS-M implementation plan was submitted to NOAA program office and returned with comments. NCAS-M is reviewing the comments and currently revising the document to address NOAA Program office concerns.

i. EPP CSC Programmatic Special Awards Condition The NCAS-M continues to work toward full staffing, interacting with Program officials to finalize operational plans (e.g. evaluation plan, implementation plan, communication strategy), setting up an advisory board, engaging with other CSC leadership and Program to further program sustainability and success through the Center Champions Committee, and building coalitions within NOAA. Many of our interactions have been spelled out in previous sections.

Provide FY16 Center award information for: • Number of EPP-funded post-secondary students from underrepresented minority communities who are trained 24 and graduate 0 in NOAA-mission sciences. • Total number of EPP-funded post-secondary students who are trained 29 and graduate 0 in NOAA-mission fields relevant to this announcement • Number of EPP-funded graduates who enter the NOAA mission workforce as hires by NOAA 0, NOAA contractors 0, NOAA partners 0, resource management agencies 0, NGO community 0, academia 0 or as entrepreneurs 0. • Number of EPP-funded graduates who participate in and complete NOAA agency mission-related postdoctoral level programs 3 (Dr. Richard Medina, Dr. Keren Rosado, and Dr. Leticia Williams). • Total new funds leveraged with NOAA EPP award (including post-secondary student support) $63,692.00

Professional Development (activities) NCAS-M hosted three (3) Center-wide Professional Development and Science Webinar Series during this performance period. The webinars held were as follows: 1. September 26, 2017 ASM Center-wide Webinar - Integrated Social Sciences Lead presenters: Terri Adams & Shadya Sanders 2. October 26, 2017 ASM Center-wide Webinar - NOAA OEd Scholarships Lead presenters: Victoria Dancy & Sandra Sarvis 3. January 25, 2018 ASM Center-wide Webinar – Pathways Program Lead presenter: Hope Hasberry

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director NCAS-M had three (3) students actively engaged in NERTOs during this performance period. The NERTO details for the students are as follows:

Table 2: Current NERTO Engagements Student Degree Academic Project Title NERTO NOAA End Date-Start Name/Cohort Level Advisor Mentor/Location Date Shadya PhD Terri Probabilistic and Deterministic Alan Gerard 2/14/ 2017 – Sanders Adams Information in Weather Norman, OK - 5/18/2018 Cohort 1 Forecasts: A Social Science NSSL Approach to Understanding Preferences among Weather Enterprise Personnel Cassandra PhD Terri Probabilistic and Deterministic Alan Gerard 2/14/ 2017 – Shivers- Adams Information in Weather Norman, OK - 5/18/2018 Williams Forecasts: A Social Science NSSL Cohort 1 Approach to Understanding Preferences among Weather Enterprise Personnel Vitaly PhD Xin- Detection and Attribution Tom Knutson 7/ 16 - 28 /2017 and Kholodovsky Zhong Analysis for Extreme Weather Princeton, NJ - 1/21-3/31, 2018 Cohort 1 Liang Events GFDL Catherine PhD Sen Chaio A 10yr Climatology of Allen White 6/19/2017 – Liu Atmospheric Rivers and Asian /Jesse Creamean 9/8/2017 Cohort 1 Long-range Transport in the – Boulder CO, Alaskan Region NOAA/ESRL

j. Performance Progress Reports This current report represents the performance progress report for the performance period beginning September 1, 2017 to February 28, 2018.

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director VII. Financial Information a. Total NOAA Funding Breakout* Budget Funds Budgeted Funds Used Funds Funds Category Encumbered Remaining

Salary 851,388.00 335,672.87 0.00 515,715.13

Fringe Benefits 226,188.00 86,898.15 0.00 139,289.85

Supplies 327,517.00 141,398.67 48,752.00 137,466.33 (includes Consultants fees) Travel 80,459.00 70,145.23 0.00 10,313.77

Participant 1,907,056.00 1,129,977.07 1,416.12 775,662.81 (student) cost

Sub-Awards 2,161,004.00 399,291.20 1,761,712.10 0.00

Equipment 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

F&A 421,388.00 0.00 0.00 421,388.00

TOTAL 5,975,000.00 2,163,383.19 1,811,880.22 1,999,835.89

*Please note that the numbers/amounts given above are estimates and are in the rear by a minimum of 30 days.

It is important to note that even though the award period had a start date of 9/1/17, partners did not receive their respective year 2 sub awards until mid-spring of 2018.

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director b. Total Leveraged Funding Breakout: Funding Funding Funding PI Project Title Contribution Source Type Amount to ASM Center

CRC Research $7,000.00 W. Stockwell (PI), Relationship Between Seminars, R. Fitzgerald (co- Projected Ozone and PM student PI) Trends and Changes in training. Precursor Relationships in the South Coast Air Basin in Response to Varying Reductions of Precursor Emissions/ The Ammonia Impact UTEP Student $25,992.00 Research Assistantships for Student Academic support to Suhail Mahmud and Nakul support, Programs: non- Karle totalizing: ESE, cohort $25,992. Computational students Sciences NSF Grant $7,000.00 L. White EAGER Travel, support staff, equipment NSF Grant $16,500.00 M. Fadavi IC-FAIM Support staff, travel, supplies NASA Grant $7,200.00 R. Armstrong HARPOONS Student (UPRM Support component)

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director VIII. Appendices a. NCAS-M Fellows List of NCAS-M Fellows

No Name Level Cohort Institution Degree Email Ethnicity (BS, Program MS, PhD) HU 1 Ellis, Tierra PhD 1 HU School [email protected] AA Psychology 3 Kebede, MS 1 HU Atmospheric [email protected] AA Mussie Sciences 4 Olayinka, PhD 1 HU Atmospheric [email protected] AA Kafayat Sciences 5 Sanders, PhD 1 HU Atmospheric [email protected] AA Shadya Sciences 6 Shivers, PhD 1 HU Social [email protected] AA Cassandra Psychology 7 Yeager, PhD 1 HU Atmospheric [email protected] AA Daniel Sciences 8 Garvey, PhD 2 HU Economics [email protected] AA Micheal 9 Fisher, Kalen MS 2 HU Atmospheric [email protected] AA Sciences 10 Smith, PhD 2 HU Economics [email protected] AA Chantal 11 Wilkinson, MS 2 HU Sociology [email protected] AA Ayesha 12 Wright, MS 2 HU Sociology [email protected] AA Mi’Cheal JSU 1 Elkins, Janae BS 1 JSU Meteorology [email protected] AA

2 Gibson, Keon BS 1 JSU Meteorology [email protected] AA

3 Harvey, BS 1 JSU Meteorology [email protected] AA Jaylond 4 Hurt, Tony BS 1 JSU Meteorology [email protected] AA

PSU 1 Moon, PhD 1 PSU Atmospheric [email protected] White Zachary Science SUNYA

1 Chen, Yanna- PhD 1 SUNYA Atmospheric [email protected] Asian Science 2 Solimine, PhD 1 SUNYA Atmospheric [email protected] Hispanic Stephen Science UPRM 1 Mejias, Carla PhD 1 UPRM Marine [email protected] Hispanic Sciences

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director 2 Cardona, PhD 2 UPRM Marine [email protected] Hispanic Maria Sciences UTEP 1 Cortez, MS 1 UTEP Physics [email protected] Hispanic Miguel 2 McAfee, MS 1 UTEP Physics [email protected] Hispanic Robert UMBC 1 Dawkins, BS 1 UMBC Physics [email protected] AA Kendall 2 Emerson, BS 1 UMBC Chemical [email protected] AA Damian Engineering UMD 1 Kholodovsky, PhD 1 UMD Atmospheric [email protected] White Vitaly and Oceanic Sciences 2 Kennedy, PhD 2 UMD Geography [email protected] White Jennifer Sciences 3 Dibia, MS 2 UMD Atmospheric [email protected] AA Emmanual Sciences SJSU 1 Jordan, BS 1 SJSU Meteorology [email protected] AA Arianna 2 Liu, MS 1 SJSU Meteorology [email protected] Asian Catherine AA= African American

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director b. NOAA MENTORS NOAA EMAIL NOAA OFFICE LINE MENTOR OFFICE 1 Brown, Tyra [email protected] NOAA - National Weather Service (NWS) NWS 2 Brown, [email protected] NOAA - National Weather Service (NWS) NWS Vankita 3 Carlis, DaNa [email protected] Office of Atmospheric Research (OAR) OAR

4 Cortinas, [email protected] NOAA - Oceanic and Atmospheric Research OAR John (OAR) / Office of Weather and Air Quality (OWAQ)

5 Hawkins, [email protected] NOAA - National Weather Service (NWS) NWS Michelle 6 Hicks, [email protected] NOAA - National Weather Service (NWS) / NWS Micheal Weather Forecasting Office (WFO), Sterling, VA

7 Knutson, [email protected] NOAA - Oceanic and Atmospheric Research OAR Thomas (OAR) 8 Marquis, [email protected] NOAA-Earth System Research Laboratory OAR Melinda (ESRL) / Physical Sciences Division/Renewable Energies 9 Moore III, [email protected] NOAA - National Weather Service (NWS) / NWS John Weather Forecasting Office (WFO), Memphis, TN

10 Parker, [email protected] NOAA - National Weather Service (NWS) / NWS William 'Bill' Weather Forecasting Office (WFO), Jackson, MS

11 Salem II, [email protected] NOAA - National Weather Service (NWS) / NWS Thomas Weather Forecasting Office (WFO), Memphis, TN

12 Sims, Jamese [email protected] NOAA Satellite and Information Service NESDIS (NESDIS) 13 Spencer, [email protected] NOAA - National Weather Service (NWS), Chief NWS Albert Engineer 'Benjie' 14 Tallapragada, [email protected] NOAA - National Center for Environmental NWS Vijay Prediction (NCEP), Environmental Modeling Center (EMC) 15 Taylor, Jason [email protected] NOAA - National Environmental Satellite, Data, NESDIS and Information Service (NESDIS) 16 Yapur, [email protected] NOAA - National Environmental Satellite, Data, NESDIS Martin and Information Service (NESDIS)

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director c. CALENDAR September 1 NOAA Undergraduate Scholarship Program Application - opens (Ends Jan 31st) 5 Center Champions Working Group Meeting 9:30AM Silver Spring, MD 5 CCWG Debrief with Louisa Koch 11:30 AM Silver Spring, MD 15 CSC/ASM Meeting with Wendy Marie Thomas, NOAA/NWS/AFS, SS, MD 18 #1_2018 EPP Forum Planning with NCAS-M and EPP 26 NOAA ESRL Visit to UTEP, El Paso. TX (POC: Fitzgerald) 26 ASM Center-wide Webinar on Integrated Social Sciences (Shadya Sanders) - 4:00 PM 29 CSC/ASM Meeting with Craig McLean, NOAA/OAR Director, Acting Chief Scientist 29 CSC/ASM Technical Monitor Meeting - Ming Ji

October 3 NOAA One Seminar - “Communicative Dimensions in STEM Faculty's Multicultural Mentoring of Underrepresented STEM Students” - Leticia Williams, PhD 5 ASM Visit to NOAA ATDD Oak Ridge, TN (POC: Fuentes) 9 - 12 UCAR Member Meeting - NCAS, Boulder, CO, Morris, Adams, Williams, Joseph 23, 24 SBE Community of Practice UN Event (Use of GEO Satellite Data) 26 ASM Center-wide Webinar on NOAA OEd Scholarships (POC: Butty) 26,27 ASM Visit to National Water Center - Tuscaloosa, AL (POC: EPP) 27 Visit to HU Beltsville, HU IRB - Dr. Charles Ichoku, NASA (Impending Distinguished Scientist - NCAS-M) 30 Proposal Defense - Michelle Dovil, NCAS-M Cohort I

November 1 NOAA/ARL Meeting with Director, Ariel Stein - College Park, MD 9 NOAA CSCs Social Science Leads Conversation with Dr. Grasso, NOAA Chief Economist 10 Veterans Day Holiday - Observed 15 NOAA Social Science Committee Meeting - Dr. T. Adams - Presentation 16,17 NOAA OEd visit to NCAS-M @ HU - Monitoring Visit - Award Requirements

December 1 Daniel Yeager, HU Fellow - Proposal Defense: Title: Saharan Dust Storm Implications on North Atlantic Sea Surface Temperature 11–15 AGU Fall Meeting - New Orleans, LA 16 Howard University – Winter Break - Closure

January 2018 4 Howard University Reopens 6–11 98th Annual AMS Annual Meeting - Austin, TX 6–8 AMS Career Fair 25 ASM Center-wide Webinar on PD - Topic: Pathways Opportunities for Students Hope Hasberry, NOAA, Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management Specialist 30 Daniel Tong, NOAA ARL Brown Bag Seminar

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director d. PHOTOS

Figure 1: Radiosonde launch at JSU with high school students at CPAS Symposium

Figure 2: High School students viewing JSU Meteorology students’ posters at CPAS symposium

Figure 3: Meteorology career discussion at Blackburn Middle School

Figure 4: Recruitment of high school visiting from Florida during CPAS Symposium

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director

Figure 5: Janae Elkins Poster

Figure 6: Poster by Jaylond Harvey

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director

Figure 7: Poster by Tony Hurt

Figure 8: NCAS-M Education Lead engaging students during the Career Fair at AMS 2018

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director

Figure 9: NCAS-M Career table at AMS 2018

Figure 10: NCAS-M Faculty at the AMS 2018 Career Fair

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director e. ACRONOYMS 3DVAR Three-Dimensional Variation AAAR American Association for Aerosol Research ACARS Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System ACS American Chemical Society ADP Automated Data Processing AERADNET AErosols and RADiation Observing NETwork AEROSE AERosols and Oceanographic Science Expedition AFWA Air Force Weather Agency AG Access Grid AGL Above Ground Level AGU American Geophysical Union AHPCRC Army High Performance Computing Research Center AIRS Atmospheric Infrared Sounder AL Alabama AMMA African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis AMS American Meteorological Society AMSU Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit AOML Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory AOT Aerosol Optical Thickness ARL Air Resources Laboratory ARM Atmospheric Radiation Measurement ARW Advanced Research WRF AQS Air Quality System ASL Atmospheric Surface Layer ASLO American Society of Limnology and Oceanography ASOS Automated Surface Observing System AUV Autonomous Underwater Vehicle AVHRR Advanced Very High-Resolution Radiometer AWIPS Advanced Weather Interactive Prediction System AWOS Automated Weather Observing System BAMP Howard University Beltsville Atmospheric Measurement Program BBSS Balloon Borne Sounding System BLH Boundary Layer Heights BSRN Baseline Surface Radiation Network CAFAS Careers in Fisheries, Aquatics, and Atmospheric Sciences CAMx Comprehensive Air Quality Model with Extensions CAREERS Channeling Atmospheric Research into Educational Experiences Reaching Students CAPE Convective Available Potential Energy CASTNET Clean Air Status and Trends Network CB4 Carbon Bond IV model CBIV Carbon Bond 4 mechanism CB05 Carbon Bond 2005 mechanism CBL Convective Boundary Layer CCBay Corpus Christi Bay CCN Cloud Condensation Nuclei

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director CE-CERT Center for Environmental Research and Technology (University of California Riverside) CFH Cryogenic Frostpoint Hygrometer CGD Climate and Global Dynamics CGU Canadian Geophysical Union CICS Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites CISM Center for Integrated Space Weather Modeling CLM Common Land Model CM3 Coordinated Mesoscale Measurements in Mississippi CMAQ Community Multi-Scale Air Quality model CMM5 Climate MM5 Model CMP Conference Mentorship Program COAMPS Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System COASTB Coastal Monitoring and Assessment Group B Reefs CONFRRM Cooperative Network for Renewable Resource Measurements CoZOBs Coastal Marine Zone Observations CPAS Cooperative Program in Atmospheric Sciences (UPRM) CPC Climate Prediction Center CPS Cumulous Parameterization Schemes CPU Central Processing Unit CREST Cooperative Remote Sensing Science and Technology Centers CREWS Coral Reef Early Warning System CRTM Community Radiative Transfer Model CSC Cooperative Science Center CSWR Center for Severe Weather Research CTD Conductivity/Temperature/Depth Instrument CUNY City University of New York CV Curriculum Vitae CVS Concurrent Version Systems CRW Coral Reef Watch CWRF Climate WRF D Democrat DC District of Columbia DCPS District of Columbia Public Schools DDR Direct to Diffuse Irradiance Ratio DEQ Department of Environmental Quality DISORT Discrete Ordinate Radiative Transfer DCRM Detailed Cloud Resolving Model DIAR-BAR Differential O2 Absorption Barometric Pressure Radar DMR Division of Marine Resources DOD SMART Department of Defense Science Mathematics & Research for Transformation Scholarship DOE Department of Energy DOW Doppler-on-Wheels DRI Desert Research Institute ECSU Elizabeth City State University EF Enhanced Fujita scale EMC Environmental Modeling Group ENSO El Nino/Southern Oscillation

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director EOC Expanding Opportunities Conference EOS Earth Observing System EPA Environmental Protection Agency EPIC Equatorial Processes including the Coupling EPP Educational Partnership Program (NOAA) EPPMSI Educational Partnership Program (NOAA) with Minority Serving Institutions EPIRM Environmental Physics Inverse Reconstruction Model EQB Environmental Quality Board ERDC Engineering Research and Development Center ESA European Space Agency ESE Environmental Sciences and Engineering ESRL Earth System Research Laboratory EWX Austin/San Antonio Region code for the Weather Forecast Office FAMU Florida A & M University FGSEE Future Geoscientists for a Sustainable Earth Environment FL Florida FSOC Field Systems Operations Center FRRF Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometry FSIRP Faculty and Student Internship Program FTE Full Time Employee GCOS Global Climate Observing System GDAS Global Data Assimilation GFDL Geographical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory GIS Geographic Information Systems GLAS Global Laser Altimeter S GOCART Georgia Tech/Goddard Global Ozone Chemistry Aerosol Radiation Transport Model GOESPO GOES Program Office GOES Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites GoHFAS Goddard Howard University Fellowship in Atmospheric Sciences GFS Global Forecasting System GLOW Goddard Lidar Observatory for Winds GMD Ground-based Midcourse Defense GPCP Global Precipitation Climatology Project GPA Grade Point Average GPI Global Precipitation Index GPS Global Positioning System GRUAN GCOS Reference Upper-Air Network GSFC Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA) GSM Global Spectrum Model GSPD GOES Program Data GUFMEX GUlf of Mexico EXperiment HBCU Historically Black Colleges and Universities HF High Frequency HU Howard University HUBRF Howard University Beltsville Research Facility HU IRB Howard University Institutional Review Board HURL Howard University Roman Lidar HUPAS Howard University Program in Atmospheric Sciences

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director HYSPLIT Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated IAMA International Aerosol Modeling Algorithms Conference IAMAS International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences ICCM Canary Institute of Marine Sciences ICE Informal Science Education IC-FAIM Institutional Change through Faculty Advancement in Instruction and Mentoring ICodEM Icod Environmental Model ICON Integrated Coral Observing Network IDAS-RAP Diversity in Atmospheric Science through Research Application and Partnership IPDDP Individual Post-Doctoral Development Plan IDV Integrated Data Viewer IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. IEO Spanish Institute of Oceanography IGARSS International Geosciences & Remote Sensing Symposium IGRA Infrared Gas Analyzer IHOP International H2O Project INTEX Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment IOAS-AOLS Integrated Observing and Assimilation Systems for the Atmosphere, Oceans, and Land Surface IOPs Intensive Observational Periods IR Infrared ISCS International Solar Cycle Studies ISO International Standards Organization ISWS Illinois State Water Survey IUGG International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics JAN Jackson, Mississippi - I Region code for the Weather Forecast Office JCET Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology JCSDA Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation JISAO Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean JPL NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory JSU Jackson State University JSU-MET Jackson State University Meteorology Program JPSS Joint Polar Satellite System LA Louisiana LA-MS Louisiana/Mississippi LAPS Local Analysis and Prediction System LEAD Linked Environment for Atmospheric Discovery Lidar LIDAR Light detection and ranging LISA-QED Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis and Mathematics Learning through Quantitative Exploration of Data LIX New Orleans/Baton Rouge Region code for the Weather Forecast Office LSD Light Stress Damage (algorithm) LSM Land Surface Model LST Local Solar Time LPASF Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics Siméon Fongang LW Longwave

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director LWS Living With a Star MADIS NOAA’s Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System MAS Mississippi Academy of Sciences MAST Mississippi Academy for Science Teaching MCC Mesoscale Convective Complex MECB Marine Ecosystems and Climate Branch MEMA Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Met Meteorological MD Maryland MDE Maryland Department of the Environment MDEQ Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality MEA Malt Extract Agar MFRSR Multi-Filter Rotating Shadowband Radiometer MHD Magneto Hydro Dynamics MISR Multi-angle Imaging Spectro Radiometer MMB Office of Management and Budget MMCR Millimeter Cloud Radar MM5 Mesoscale Model 5 MODIS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer MODTRAN Moderate resolution atmospheric Transmission MP Micro Physics MPL Micro-Pulse Lidar MS Mississippi MS DMR Mississippi Division of Marine Resources MSI Minority Serving Institution MWR Microwave Radiometer NAAPS Navy Automated Aerosol Prediction System NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standards NAM North American Model NAME North America Monsoon Experiment NAQFS National Air Quality Forecast System NARR North American Regional Reanalysis NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization NAVO Naval Oceanographic Office NCAR National Center for Atmospheric Research NCAS NOAA Center for Atmospheric Sciences NCAS-M NOAA Cooperative Science Center in Atmospheric Science and Meteorology NCCOS National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science NCDC National Climatic Data Center NCDDC National Coastal Data Development Center NCEP National Center for Environmental Prediction NCO NOAA Computing Office NCUR National Center on Undergraduate Research NCWCP NOAA Centers for Weather & Climate Prediction NDBC National Data Buoy Center

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director NESDIS National Environmental Satellite, Data & Information Service NGIA National Geospatial Intelligence Agency NHC National Hurricane Center NIS Network Infrastructure & Administrations NMM Non-hydrostatic Mesoscale Model NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOBCChE National Organization of Black Chemists & Chemical Engineers NoN Nationwide Network of Networks NOS National Ocean Service NRCS National Resources Conservation Service NREL National Renewable Energy Lab NRL Naval Research Laboratory NSF National Science Foundation NSSL National Severe Storms Laboratory NSTA National Science Teachers Association NWA National Weather Association NWS National Weather Service OAR Office of Atmospheric Research OCWWS Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services OD Optical Depth OES Oceanic Engineering Society OGP Office of Global Programs OLR Outgoing Longwave Radiation OMB Office of Management and Budget OOS Office of Operational Service OPDB Operational Products Development Branch ORA Howard University Office of Research Administration ORA Office of Research & Applications (NESDIS) ORAD Office of Research Applications and Development ORISE Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Optical Depth OSB Ocean Surface Bundle OS&T Office of Science and Technology PAR Photosynthetically Active Radiation PASCoR Partnership for Spatial and Computational Research PBL Planetary Boundary Layer PCR Polymerase Chain Reaction PDAS-RAP Promoting Diversity in Atmospheric Sciences through Research Applications Partnership PdN Paseo del Norte Pegion PI Principal Investigator PIERS Progress in Electromagnetics Research Symposium PM Particulate Matter PNE PIRATA Northeast Extension PPM Piecewise Parabolic Method PRWC Puerto Rico Weather Camp PSM Ponce School of Medicine (Puerto Rico) PSU Pennsylvania State University PPD Planning and Programming Division QBO Quasi-Biennial Oscillation

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director QEM Quality Education for Minorities QPF Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts RAC Research Advisory Council RAD Radar RACM2 Regional Atmospheric Chemistry Mechanism, Version 2 RAS Research Administration Services RASS Radio Acoustic Sounding System RAAS Reference Ambient Air Sampler RAMS Regional Atmospheric Modeling System RCC Riverside Community College REBS Radiation and Energy Balance Systems Rep. Representative RFC River Forecast Center RHB Ronald H. Brown Rn Net radiation RMS Root Mean Square RS Remote Sensing RSM Regional Spectrum Model RSMS University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science RSS Rotating Shadowband Spectrometer RTMA Real-Time Mesoscale Analysis SAR Semi-Annual Report SACS Southern Association of Colleges and Schools SACNAS Society of Associated Chicanos, Native Americans in Science SAHRA Center for Sustainability of Semiarid Hydrology and Riparian Areas (University of Arizona) SAL Saharan Aerosol Layer SAQM SARMAP Air Quality Model SARMAP SJVAQS/AUSPEX Regional Modeling Adaptation Project SCDAB Satellite Calibration and Data Assimilation Branch SCEP Student Career Experience Program SDP Student Development Plan SeaWiFS Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor SEC Space Environment Center SGP Southern Great Plains SJSU San Jose State University SLP Sea Level Pressure SMCD Satellite Meteorology and Climatology Division SMOKE Sparse Matrix Operator Kernel Emissions model SOARS Significant Opportunities in Atmospheric Research & Science SOSVRT Successive Order of Scattering Vector Radiative Transfer model SOW Statement of Work SPB Science Plans Branch SPC Storm Prediction Center SR Southern Region SRL Scanning Raman Lidar SSM/I Special Sensor Microwave Imager SSRB Solar Surface Radiation Branch SST Sea Surface Temperature

NCAS-M Semi Annual Performance Report (September 1, 2017 – February 28, 2018) Vernon R. Morris, Principal Investigator & Director STAR Satellite Applications and Research STC Science and Technology Center STEM Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics STP-M Solar-Terrestrial Physics and Meteorology SUW Subtropical Underwater SURFRAD Surface Radiation Budget Network SUNYA State University of New York at Albany SW Shortwave TCEQ Texas Commission for Environmental Quality TDL Techniques Development Laboratory TNRCC Texas National Resource Conservation Commission TOA Top of the Atmosphere TPIOP Television and Infrared Observation Satellite TRMM Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission TRMM PR Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Precipitation Radar TUV Tropospheric Ultraviolet and Visible model TX Texas UCAR University Corporation for Atmospheric Research UIUC University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign UMBC University of Maryland Baltimore County UMCP University of Maryland College Park UMES University of Maryland Eastern Shore UMET Universidad Metropolitana de San Juan UND University of North Dakota UPRH University of Puerto Rico Humacao UPRM University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez URC University Research Center US United States USA United States of America USDA United States Department of Agriculture USDA SCAN United States Department of Agriculture Soil Climate Analysis Network UTC Coordinated Universal Time UTEP University of Texas at El Paso UV Ultraviolet UW/APL University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory VAMD Vice Admiral VALIDAR Validation LIDAR Vis5d Visualization of Large 5-d Grided Data Sheets VIIRS Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite VOC Volatile Organic Compounds VRS Visible Reflectance Spectroscopy WBTP Weather Broadcast Training Program WFO Weather Forecast Office WMO World Meteorological Organization WRF Weather Research and Forecast model WSU Washington State University WTA Western Tropical Atlantic XBT Expendable Bathythermographs