Noaa’s huge public weather data runs the local forecasts on your phone and TV – a private company alone could not match it

When a hurricane or tornado begins to form, your local weather forecasts can quickly pull up cards that track its movement and show where it is on its way. But have you ever wondered where they get all this information?

The forecasts may seem effortless, but behind the scenes provides a large network of satellites, aircraft, radar, computer models and weather analysts access to the latest data – and warnings when needed. This data comes from analysts at National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationKnown as NOAA, and its national weather service.

Atmospheric scientists Christine Wiedinmyer and Kari BowenThere is a former National Weather Service forecaster, Noaa’s central role explained in most US weather forecasts.

When people watch a weather report on TV, what happened to NOAA to make this prognosis possible?

Many of the weather information Americans trust starts with real -time data collected by NOAA satellitesAt aircraftAt Weather balloonsAt radar and Maritime buoysas well as Weather stations around the world.

All this information goes into the agency’s computersWhat process the data that should begin to define what is going on in different parts of the atmosphere.

NOAA forecasters use computer models that simulate physics and the behavior of the atmosphere along with their own experience and local knowledge to start painting a picture of the weather – what comes in a few minutes or hours or days. They also use this data to Project seasonal relationship beyond weeks or months.

When severe weather is on its way, the agency Issuing the official warnings You can see in the news and on your phone.

All this analysis happens before the information reaches private weather -Apps and TV stations.

No matter who you are, you can freely access this data and the analyzes. In fact, a large number of private companies use NOAA data to create smart maps and other weather products that they sell.

It would be extremely difficult to do all this without NOAA.

The agency drives one fleet of 18 satellites There are full instruments dedicated to observing weather phenomena that are essential to predicting the weather, from how hot the land surface is to the water content of the atmosphere. Some are Geostationary satellites There are highs over different parts of the United States measuring weather conditions 24/7. Others revolve around the planet. Many of these are operated as part of partnerships with NASA or the air defense.

Some private companies start investing in satellites but it will take a huge amount on money to repeat Row of instrumentation And coverage that NOAA has in place. Satellites last only for so long and take time to build, so NOAA is constant Planning for the futureAnd to use its technical expertise to develop new instruments and computer algorithms to interpret the data.

Maritime buoys are another measuring system that would be difficult to replicate. Over 1,300 buoys Across oceans around the world, the water temperature, wind and wave altitude-all are important for coastal warnings as well as long-term forecasts.

Weather Observation has been for a long time. President Ulysses S. Grant created First National Weather Service in the war department in 1870. It became a civil service in 1880 under the Department of Agriculture and is now in the Trade Department. The information that its researchers and technologists produce are important for security and also benefit people and industries in many ways.

Could a private company create forecasts on its own without NOAA data?

It would be difficult for a company to provide comprehensive weather data in a reliable way that is also available to the entire public.

Some companies may launch their own satellite, but a satellite gives you only part of the image. Noaa’s weather observation network has been around for a long time and collects data from points All over the United States and the world seas. Without the robust data, computer models and the wide network of forecasts and developers, forecasts also become less reliable.

Analysis of this data is also complex. You will not be able to take satellite data, run a model on a standard laptop and suddenly have a forecast.

And there is a question of whether a private company will Take the legal risk on to be responsible for the nation’s forecasts and serious weather alerts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fq3topkhhu

Noaa is Taxpayer-fundedSo it’s a public good – its services provide security and security for everyone, not just those who can pay for it.

If weather data was only available at a price, a city may be able to afford the weather information needed to protect its residents, while a smaller city or rural area of ​​the whole state may not. If you are in a tornado-discovered area or coastal zone, this information may be the difference between life or death.

Is climate data and research into the changing climate important for forecasts?

Earth’s systems – its land, water and the atmosphere – are changing, and we need to be able to assess how these changes will affect weather tomorrow, in two weeks and far into the future.

Rising global temperatures affect weather patterns. Dryness can burn fire. Forecasts must take into account the changing climate to be accurate, regardless of who creates the prognosis.

Drought is an example. The dryness of the soil controls how much water is exchanged with the atmosphere to form clouds and rainfall. In order to have an accurate weather forecast we need to know How dry things are On the surface and how it has changed over time. It requires long -term climate formation.

Noaa doesn’t do all this by itself – who else is involved?

NOAA is working with the private sector, Academy, nonprofit organizations and many others around the world to ensure that everyone has the best information to produce the most robust weather forecasts. Private weather companies and media also play important roles in getting these forecasts and warnings more widespread to the public.

A lot of companies depend on accuracy from Noaa’s weather data and forecasts: aviation, energy companies, insurance, even modern tractors’ Precision agriculture equipment. The agency’s long -range forecasts are important for managing state reservoirs to ensure enough water is stored and to avoid flooding.

The government agency may be held responsible In a way, private companies are not because it corresponds to Congress. So the data is reliable, accessible and developed with the goal of protecting public security and property for everyone. Could the same be said if only for-profit companies produced this data?