The National Weather Service employs 122 Science & Operations Officers (SOOs) in Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs), 6 SOOs within the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), and 13 Development & Operations Hydrologists (DOHs) across River Forecast Centers (RFCs). Those employed in these roles are charged with being the chief science advisors of their respective offices, with duties including ensuring technical integrity of office operations, identifying research efforts for transfer from research-to-operations (R2O) and operations-to-research (O2R), and professionally developing staff through training initiatives.
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Announcing the FY24 OSTI SOO/DOH Cloud Computing Projects
The NWS Office of Science & Technology Integration (OSTI) is proud to announce a significant stride in prototyping cloud-based services on Vlab Cloud with its second round of SOO/DOH cloud projects. Building upon the successes of the inaugural cloud computing initiative in 2022, this year's opportunity supports an exciting array of projects that are designed to enhance operational readiness, applied research, training, and future NWS cloud infrastructure.
The awardees of the FY24 cloud computing competition are as follows:
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USNIC Data Processing Exploration in the Cloud (Gary Premo, OPC & USNIC): Harnessing cloud computing for enhanced data processing capabilities at a National Center.
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Radar Simulator Server in the Cloud (T.J. Turnage, CRH & WFOs): Developing displaced real-time radar simulations for advanced training and research.
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DESI/WSUP Archive for Training and Analysis (Chauncy Schultz, WFOs BIS/FGF with OAR/GSL): Creating a comprehensive archive for the DESI and WSUP viewers in the cloud to support Probabilistic IDSS training and analysis.
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Eastern Region Flash Flood Improvement Project via Cloud Services (Rob Deal; WFO PHI, ERH and ER WFOs): Utilizing cloud services to improve flash flood forecasting via the cloud WES infrastructure.
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Characterizing North American Monsoon via Total Lightning and MRMS Data (Lamont Bain, WFO FGZ): Understanding the North American Monsoon through cloud-analyzed data to support IDSS and deployed IMETs.
This initiative underscores the critical role of cloud technology in prototyping and advancing NWS infrastructure. By providing resources for cloud computing to meteorologists and hydrologists at forecast offices and centers, the NWS OSTI aims to accelerate cloud-based development activities, encourage experimentation with innovative technologies, and foster collaboration within the agency and across line offices. These projects not only exemplify the NWS's commitment to technological advancement, but also set the stage for a future where the NWS benefits from the agility and power of cloud technology.
The projects will be introduced at the March 2024 VLab Webinar on March 27th, from 3 to 4 PM ET. This seminar represents an opportunity to celebrate and learn about these innovative projects, while exploring future directions for cloud-based solutions.
