Strategic Guidance for the National Science Foundation’s Support of the Atmospheric Sciences
This report comes out at a time of significant opportunities and chal- lenges for the atmospheric sciences. More than ever before, society is recognizing the value of weather, air quality, climate, and space weather forecasts and demanding more sophisticated products and services. The last several decades have brought impressive advances in our knowledge of the atmosphere and the Sun, while illuminating just how much more we have to learn. New observational and computational tools have greatly expanded research capabilities. Yet, the national investment in atmospheric research has remained relatively flat over the past decade, presenting a challenge to those who must decide how best to allocate the available resources.
The National Science Foundation’s (NSF’s) Division of Atmospheric Sciences (ATM) has asked the National Academies to perform a study that will provide guidance to ATM on its strategy for achieving its goals in the atmospheric sciences. This request reflects a desire by NSF to get a broad view of the health of the atmospheric sciences and to get some guidance on how best to direct resources in the future. In response to NSF’s request, the National Academies formed the Committee on Strategic Guidance for NSF’s Support of the Atmospheric Sciences. In essence, the committee was asked to consider how ATM can best accomplish its goals of supporting cutting-edge research, education and workforce development, service to society, computational and observational objectives, data management, and other goals of the atmospheric science community into the future.
