TO OBSERVE AND PROTECT: HOW NOAA PROCURES DATA FOR WEATHER FORECASTING HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED TWELFTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012 Serial No. 112–73 Printed for the use of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://science.house.gov U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 73–606PDF WASHINGTON : 2012 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY HON. RALPH M. HALL, Texas, Chair F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, JR., EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, Texas Wisconsin JERRY F. COSTELLO, Illinois LAMAR S. SMITH, Texas LYNN C. WOOLSEY, California DANA ROHRABACHER, California ZOE LOFGREN, California ROSCOE G. BARTLETT, Maryland BRAD MILLER, North Carolina FRANK D. LUCAS, Oklahoma DANIEL LIPINSKI, Illinois JUDY BIGGERT, Illinois DONNA F. EDWARDS, Maryland W. TODD AKIN, Missouri BEN R. LUJA´ N, New Mexico RANDY NEUGEBAUER, Texas PAUL D. TONKO, New York MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, Texas JERRY MCNERNEY, California PAUL C. BROUN, Georgia TERRI A. SEWELL, Alabama SANDY ADAMS, Florida FREDERICA S. WILSON, Florida BENJAMIN QUAYLE, Arizona HANSEN CLARKE, Michigan CHARLES J. ‘‘CHUCK’’ FLEISCHMANN, SUZANNE BONAMICI, Oregon Tennessee VACANCY E. SCOTT RIGELL, Virginia VACANCY STEVEN M. PALAZZO, Mississippi VACANCY MO BROOKS, Alabama ANDY HARRIS, Maryland RANDY HULTGREN, Illinois CHIP CRAVAACK, Minnesota LARRY BUCSHON, Indiana DAN BENISHEK, Michigan VACANCY SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT HON. ANDY HARRIS, Maryland, Chair DANA ROHRABACHER, California BRAD MILLER, North Carolina ROSCOE G. BARTLETT, Maryland LYNN C. WOOLSEY, California FRANK D. LUCAS, Oklahoma BEN R. LUJA´ N, New Mexico JUDY BIGGERT, Illinois PAUL D. TONKO, New York W. TODD AKIN, Missouri ZOE LOFGREN, California RANDY NEUGEBAUER, Texas JERRY MCNERNEY, California PAUL C. BROUN, Georgia CHARLES J. ‘‘CHUCK’’ FLEISCHMANN, Tennessee RALPH M. HALL, Texas EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, Texas (II) C O N T E N T S March 28, 2012 Page Witness List ............................................................................................................. 2 Hearing Charter ...................................................................................................... 3 Opening Statements Statement by Representative Andy Harris, Chairman, Subcommittee on En- ergy and Environment, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives .................................................................................... 10 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 11 Statement by Representative Brad Miller, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives ............................................................................ 12 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 13 Witnesses: PANEL I Ms. Mary Kicza, Assistant Administrator, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis- tration (NOAA) Oral Statement ................................................................................................. 15 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 18 Dr. Alexander MacDonald, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Research Lab- oratories and Cooperative Institutes, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, NOAA Mr. John Murphy, Chief, Programs and Plans Division, National Weather Service, NOAA PANEL II Mr. Eric Webster, Vice President and Director, Weather Systems, ITT Exelis Oral Statement ................................................................................................. 37 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 39 Dr. David Crain, Chief Executive Officer, GeoMetWatch Oral Statement ................................................................................................. 47 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 49 Mr. Bruce Lev, Vice Chairman, AirDat LLC Oral Statement ................................................................................................. 71 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 81 Dr. Berrien Moore, Dean, University of Oklahoma College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, and Director, National Weather Center Oral Statement ................................................................................................. 82 Written Statement ............................................................................................ 84 Appendix I: Answers to Post-Hearing Questions Ms. Mary Kicza, Assistant Administrator, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis- tration (NOAA) ..................................................................................................... 100 (III) IV Page Dr. Alexander MacDonald, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Research Lab- oratories and Cooperative Institutes, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, NOAA ................................................................................................... 113 Mr. John Murphy, Chief, Programs and Plans Division, National Weather Service, NOAA ...................................................................................................... 122 Mr. Eric Webster, Vice President and Director, Weather Systems, ITT Exelis . 130 Dr. David Crain, Chief Executive Officer, GeoMetWatch .................................... 134 Mr. Bruce Lev, Vice Chairman, AirDat LLC ......................................................... 152 Dr. Berrien Moore, Dean, University of Oklahoma College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, and Director, National Weather Center ................. 156 Appendix II: Additional Material for the Record Submitted Report for the Record by Mr. Bruce Lev, Vice Chairman, AirDat LLC ........................................................................................................................ 162 TO OBSERVE AND PROTECT: HOW NOAA PROCURES DATA FOR WEATHER FORECASTING WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT, COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY, Washington, DC. The Subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 3:03 p.m., in Room 2318 of the Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Andy Harris [Chairman of the Subcommittee] presiding. (1) 2 RALPH M HALL, TEXAS lD[)![ HE.HNICl:: JUHNSON, TEXA~ CHAIRMAN RANKING MEMBER U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITIEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY 2321 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASH!NGTON, DC 20515,,6301 (202) 225-6371 www:'c'er>ccl'OtlSC$)OY Subcommittee on Energy & Environment To Observe and Protect: How NOAA Procures Data for Weather Forecasting Wednesday, March 28, 2012 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 2318 Rayburn House Office Building Panel I Ms. Mary Kicza, Assistant Administrator, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, NOAA Dr. Alexander MacDonald, Depnty Assistant Administrator [or Research Lahoratories and Cooperative Institntes, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, NOAA Mr. John Murphy, Chief, Programs and Plans Division, National Weather Service, NOAA Panel II Mr. Eric Webster, Vice President and Director, Weather Systems, ITT Exelis Dr. David Crain, Chief Executive Officer, GeoMetWatch Mr. Bruce Lev, Vice Chainllan, AirDat LLC Dr. Berrien Moore, Dean, University of Oklahoma College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, and Director, National Weather Cellter 3 U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT HEARING CHARTER To Observe and Protect: How NOAA Procures Data/or Weather Forecasting Wednesday, March 28, 2012 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 2318 Rayburn House Office Building PURPOSE On Wednesday, March 28, at 2:00 p.m. the Subcommittee Energy and Environment of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technolo~ry Committee will hold a hearing to examine how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) develops, evaluates, and executes plans to deliver the best and most cost effective data necessary to meet requirements for severe weather prediction and other observational needs. WITNESSES PANEL I Ms. Mary Kicla, Assistant Administrator, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Dr. Alexander MacDonald, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Research Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, NOAA Mr. John Murphy, Chief, Programs and Plans Division, National Weather Service, NOAA PANEL II Mr. Eric Webster, Vice President and Director, Weather Systems, ITT Exelis Dr. David Crain, Chief Executive Otlker, GeoMetWatch Mr. Bruce Lev, Vice Chairman, AirDat LLC Dr. Berrien Moore, Dean, University of Oklahoma College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences, and Director, National Weather Center BACKGROUND