The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officially announced the launch of its National Water Center (NWC) on May 26 with the opening of a 65,000 square foot facility at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The Alabama campus will become the center for water forecast operations in the U.S. The NWC also has resources in Maryland and Minnesota.
The NWC Alabama facility includes an applied water resources research and development center, a proving ground for transitioning research into operations, a geo-intelligence facility and an airborne snow and soil moisture observation agency.
The purpose of the center is to facilitate information sharing and collaboration between federal agencies, particularly with regard to improving water resources forecasts via a partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S .Army Corps of Engineers and NOAA that is formally known as the Integrated Water Resources Science and Services partnership.
NOAA will now be fully equipped to improve its predictive forecasts for extreme precipitation events, up to 30 days in advance. According to the NWC website, the mission of the center is to “coordinate, integrate and support consistent water prediction activities from global to local levels.” According to Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, NOAA Administrator, “The National Water Center will bring researchers, forecasters and stakeholders together to accelerate progress toward improved water forecasts the nation needs to manage our precious water resources wisely.”