Meeting Sponsors
- Ball Aerospace and Technologies: http://j.mp/BallAerospace
- Accuweather: http://j.mp/AccuWxInc
- CLS America: http://j.mp/CLS-America
- Vaisala: http://j.mp/Vaisala
- Vieux Inc: http://j.mp/VieuxInc
Links to Meeting Information:
Meeting Web Page: http://j.mp/2013-AWF
Meeting Participants: http://j.mp/2013-AWF-Participants
Program Committee Chair: Melinda Marquis, NOAA
Program Committee Members: Andrea Bleistein, NOAA, Pam Emch, Northrop Grumman, Tom Fahy, Capitol Meteorologics, Mary Glackin, Future Commissioner, Weather & Climate Enterprise, Sue Haupt, NCAR, John Haynes, NASA, Jim Koermer, Plymouth State Univ., John Lanicci, Embry Riddle Univ., John Lasley, JAL Consultants, Angel McCoy, Dept. of the Interior/BOEM, Marjorie McGuirk, NOAA, Shawn Miller, Raytheon, Tim Schneider, NOAA, Keith Seitter, AMS, and Chris Strager, NOAA.
Tuesday, 2 April 2013
7:30 AM-8:00 AM: Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Breakfast
Location: Abelson/Haskins (AAAS Building)
8:00 AM-8:30 AM: Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Session
8:00 AM
Call to Order -- by BEED Chair, Melinda Marquis
8:10 AM
Welcome -- by AMS President, Marshall Shephard
8:15 AM
Remarks about CWCE -- by CWCE Commissioner, Matt Parker
8:20 AM
Remarks about the theme of the 2013 AWF -- BEC Chair, Betsy Weatherhead
8:30 AM-10:15 AM: Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Panel Discussion
1
The Economic Value of the Weather and Climate Enterprise
Location: Auditorium (AAAS Building)
Moderator:
Panelists:
The United States and other nations make substantial investments to collect and analyze weather and climate information with the aim of protecting life and property, promoting economic vitality, and contributing in other ways to the common good for their citizens. These investments are critical and justified because severe weather events and significant climate anomalies are creating serious adverse economic and societal impacts. However, little is actually known about how to quantify the value of the efforts of the Weather and Climate Enterprise to reduce these impacts. Without such metrics, it is difficult for policy and decision makers to assess whether additional investment by the public or private sectors would return benefits by reducing adverse impacts of severe weather events. Moreover, there is little guidance for the optimum distribution of such investments between improved observations, enhanced computer hardware and software capabilities, new research directions, university education of future professionals, or advanced training for present professionals in the management of weather and climate risk.
10:15 AM-10:45 AM: Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Coffee Break
Location: Foyer (AAAS Building)
10:45 AM-12:15 PM: Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Panel Discussion
2
Commercialization of Weather and Climate Data
Location: Auditorium (AAAS Building)
Moderator:
Panelists:
In today’s economic environment, it is becoming apparent that the federal government will not be able to fund the development, deployment and operation of the high-resolution observational networks that are increasingly being called for by the users of the weather, water, and climate community products and services. This panel will look at the possibilities of the private sector owning and operating the required networks and the likelihood of the federal agencies paying for the information. Panelists will address the following questions:
1) Are the federal agencies willing to buy data?
2) Does the private sector believe selling the data to feds economically feasible; i.e., does they see a possible ROI with commercialization of weather and climate data?
3) Will OMB support long-term funding for commercial contracts for data?
12:15 PM-1:15 PM: Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Lunch
Location: Abelson/Haskins (AAAS Building)
1:15 PM-2:45 PM: Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Panel Discussion
3
This is a follow-up to the panel discussion held during the 2012 Forum. The session will provide additional opportunity for dialogue on the sources, distributors, and users of weather and climate data, with a focus on military applications. The panelists will be asked to discuss the following: The current status of the Defense Weather Follow-on System, the high priority geophysical observations for the defense community, the potential for a gap in these observations, and the potential for addressing these gaps via a variety of observing systems both military and civil. The discussion will include the topic of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for weather and climate observations, and may address particular regional areas of interest such as the Arctic or Tropical Oceans.
2:45 PM-3:15 PM: Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Coffee Break
Location: Foyer (AAAS Building)
3:15 PM-4:45 PM: Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Panel Discussion
4
This is a follow-up to the panel discussion held during the 2012 Forum. Environmental security issues from around the world will be discussed in the context of how they could impact the weather and climate enterprise in this country. The panel will address the following questions:
• What parts of the world are most vulnerable to increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, and climatic anomalies such as prolonged flooding and drought? How can these events cause security problems in different parts of the world?
• What are the implications of environmental security issues to U.S. interests, and what roles can the U.S. climate and weather enterprise play in helping policymakers develop effective strategies to deal with these issues?
4:45 PM-5:30 PM: Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Session
1
6:00 PM-6:30 PM: Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Reception (Marriott Hotel)
Location: Grand Ballroom AB (Washington Marriott at Metro Center)
6:30 PM-9:30 PM: Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Keynote Speaker
AMS 2013 Washington Forum Banquet (Marriott Hotel)
Location: Grand Ballroom AB (Washington Marriott at Metro Center)
6:30 PM
Dinner Keynote Speaker: Prof. Mark Jacobson, Stanford University, Director of the Atmosphere/Energy Program
Wednesday, 3 April 2013
8:00 AM-8:30 AM: Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Breakfast
Location: Abelson/Haskins (AAAS Building)
8:30 AM-9:00 AM: Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Keynote Speaker Session
2
9:00 AM-10:45 AM: Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Panel Discussion
5
International Opportunities in the Weather and Climate Enterprise
Location: Auditorium (AAAS Building)
Moderator:
Panelists:
Modern day severe weather events and the changing climate bring about a need for international collaboration with respect to environmental impact, energy security, aide to developing countries, and technology advancement. Opportunities abound abroad to be at the forefront of these issues. This panel will consist of experts in their respective fields of the international sector to address ongoing challenges and initiatives in developing countries, research efforts to address global climate change and the future of clean renewable energy, U.S. efforts to lessen environmental impact abroad, energy security in developing countries, and economic opportunities abroad. Panelists will address questions such as the following: What does your organization do? From your professional perspective, what geographical regions and/or challenges are in need of the greatest attention with respect to weather and climate? Is there a need for international collaboration? If so, what are the pros and cons to the U.S. weather and climate enterprise by addressing this need? What opportunities are available for attendees to address the topics discussed today?
10:45 AM-11:15 AM: Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Coffee Break
Location: Foyer (AAAS Building)
11:15 AM-12:45 PM: Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Panel Discussion
6
Representatives of the public, private, and academic sectors will discuss gaps and other deficiencies in policy that are hindering expansion of wind and solar energy in the United States, with reference to policies in other countries that support expansion of these weather-dependent energy systems. Panelists will address such as the following:
What has been the effect of the PTC and its extensions on annual timescales, and should it be extended again?
What policies in Europe, Canada, and other countries support faster growth of wind and solar power?
What are key components of any future, U.S. energy policy to encourage a sustainable energy system?
How will the weather and climate enterprise contribute to the nation’s energy system in the future?
12:45 PM-1:45 PM: Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Lunch
Location: Abelson/Haskins (AAAS Building)
1:45 PM-3:30 PM: Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Panel Discussion
7
User Forum: Averting a National Water Crisis
Location: Auditorium (AAAS Building)
Moderator:
Panelists:
Panelists will explore the reality and causes of the impending global and US water crisis, and what to do about it. With population growth and economic development stressing our water supplies, an aging water infrastructure, and a changing climate, the need for an integrated approach to science and services for water resources has never been greater; yet our nation's ability to meet that demand is inadequate.
3:30 PM-4:00 PM: Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Coffee Break
Location: Foyer (AAAS Building)
4:00 PM-5:30 PM: Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Panel Discussion
8
Executive Branch and Congressional Staffers: Agency Initiatives, Plans, Progress and Opportunities
Location: Auditorium (AAAS Building)
Moderators:
Panelists:
Speaker:
Ms. Holubowich, a former GAO analyst, will provide an overview of federal budget spending from data provided by the Center for Budget & Policy Priorities, www.cbpp.org. The Panel will then examine legislative initiatives and programs that serve the American people. Professional staff members from the White House Office of Management & Budget and the Office of Science & Technology Policy discuss progress on federal programs. Staff members from the House and Senate provide an outlook on pending legislation and discuss issues associated with programs. They can also provide an outlook on Federal budget and appropriations for NASA, NOAA, NIST, NSF and weather, water, and climate related activities The Panel will be asked to discuss how Sequestration will affect the these programs and to provide an outlook on 2014 and 2015 budget years.
Thursday, 4 April 2013
8:00 AM-8:30 AM: Thursday, 4 April 2013
Breakfast
Location: Abelson/Haskins (AAAS Building)
8:30 AM-8:40 AM: Thursday, 4 April 2013
Brief Remarks -- by AMS President-Elect, Bill Gail
Location: Auditorium (AAAS Building)
8:40 AM-10:15 AM: Thursday, 4 April 2013
Panel Discussion
9
New Developments and Opportunities in Surface Transportation
Location: Auditorium (AAAS Building)
Organizer:
Panelists:
A wide variety of weather conditions can adversely impact surface transportation systems and result in injury, death, and economic loss that can even exceed that resulting from more widely-publicized severe weather conditions such as tornadoes and hurricanes. The Surface Transportation panel will discuss recent developments in meteorological support to the transportation sector, and their potential benefits, not only for the transportation sector, but also the wider weather enterprise.
10:15 AM-10:45 AM: Thursday, 4 April 2013
Coffee Break
Location: Foyer (AAAS Building)
10:45 AM-12:15 PM: Thursday, 4 April 2013
Panel Discussion
10
This session will highlight NOAA and FEMA plans to comply with the recently passed legislation known as the Consumer Option for an Alternative System to Allocate Losses (COASTAL) Act. The COASTAL Act is intended to lower costs to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) by better discerning wind versus storm surge damages in the case of “clean slabs,” where little tangible evidence beyond a building’s foundation remains for the proper adjustment of insurance claims for homes totally destroyed by a hurricane or tropical storm. The session will also provide both research and private sector perspectives regarding coastal policies and storm surveys.
See COASTAL Act here:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112s1091is/pdf/BILLS-112s1091is.pdf
12:15 PM-1:15 PM: Thursday, 4 April 2013
Lunch
Location: Abelson/Haskins (AAAS Building)
1:15 PM-2:30 PM: Thursday, 4 April 2013
Panel Discussion
11
This session will provide an overview of recent key National Weather Service's activities and reports. The new Assistant Administrator will provide an overview of the organization and main milestones for the coming year. We will also hear about the National Academy of Sciences reports as well as the soon-to-be completed National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) report. Finally, we will hear an update on the Weather-Ready Nation (WRN) initiative, including the agency's WRN Roadmap, associated Pilot Projects, and upcoming activities. Finally, we will provide an overview of 2012 extreme weather events and lessons learned for a Weather-Ready Nation.
2:30 PM-3:00 PM: Thursday, 4 April 2013
Coffee Break
Location: Foyer (AAAS Building)
3:00 PM-4:45 PM: Thursday, 4 April 2013
Panel Discussion
12
Panelists from major federal agencies will each give a 10 minute opening statement that will look ahead, provide updates on current weather, water, and climate programs, and provide insights on new science initiatives and directions. The subsequent session discussion emphasizes topics related to future programs and initiatives that may lead to business or partnership opportunities for AMS Members.
4:55 PM-5:00 PM: Thursday, 4 April 2013
AMS 2013 Washington Forum Adjourns
Location: Auditorium (AAAS Building)