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NCAR and UCAR at the Millennium: A Vision for Science, Facilities, Service, and Leadership

Recent Review Documents

During 1996 and 1997, the National Science Foundation conducted extensive reviews of NCAR and its management. These reviews were part of both evaluating the current cooperative agreement between UCAR and NSF to manage NCAR (1993-1998) and considering a cooperative agreement for 1998-2003. The materials submitted for these reviews provide documentation of recent achievements of the national center, its management by UCAR on behalf of the university community, and future plans. NCAR--Science, Facilities, and Service, issued in January of 1997, is a retrospective account of the performance of NCAR programs, linkages to other institutions around the world, management activities, and other achievements from 1993 through 1997. NCAR and UCAR at the Millennium: A Vision for Science, Facilities, Service, and Leadership was submitted to NSF in September of 1997. It details our vision of the center's activities and role in the scientific community for the years 1998-2003.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface

Executive Summary

  1. Introduction

    1. Background

    2. UCAR Mission And Goal Areas

    3. Looking Ahead -- The New Environment
      1. Federal Science Budget
      2. Observational Technologies
      3. Computational Technologies
      4. Information Technologies
      5. Operational Weather Services
      6. Human Dimensions
      7. The International Arena
      8. Human Resources--Changing Demographics

    4. Strategic Planning

  2. Science and Facilities -- The Vision

    1. Fundamental Research: a Necessary First Priority
      1. Precipitation Physics
      2. Natural Variability of the Earth System
      3. Atmospheric Kinetics and Photochemistry
      4. Solar Magnetism
      5. Dynamical and Turbulent Systems

    2. Understanding and Predicting the Earth System
      1. Predicting the Weather on Short Time and Space Scales
      2. Climate--Natural Variability and Anthropogenic Change
        1. The Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere
        2. Climate of the 20th Century and Beyond
        3. Chemistry and Climate
      3. Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Quality
        1. Tropospheric Ozone and Other Photo-oxidants
        2. Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions
        3. The Role of Aerosols
      4. Solar-Upper Atmosphere Coupling

    3. Advanced Scientific Facilities
      1. Computing and Data Handling Facilities
        1. Computing Requirements
        2. Data archiving and management system
      2. Atmospheric Observing Systems
        1. Plans for aircraft facilities
        2. Plans for surface systems
      3. Solar Observing Systems
      4. Community Models
        1. Mesoscale Model, version 5 and beyond
        2. Climate System Model
        3. Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics General Circulation Model
        4. Chemical transport modeling
      5. Datasets
        1. Plans for data delivery and support
        2. Reanalysis project: toward a comprehensive global dataset
      6. Networking and Data Communications

    4. Human Dimensions and Societal Impacts
      1. Human Dimensions Initiative
      2. Current Human-Dimensions Themes
        1. Interactions among atmospheric processes, environment, and society
        2. Use of weather- and climate-related information in decision making
        3. Development and application of impact assessment methodologies

    5. Education and Training

    6. Applications and Technology/Information Transfer
      1. Direct Transfer of Information and Technology
      2. Transfers Involving Public-Domain Access
      3. Licensing Activities

  3. UCAR Management of NCAR

    1. NCAR as a National Center
      1. A Center of Excellence
      2. Focus on Interactions
      3. Emphasis on Challenging Problems
      4. Broad and Balanced Activities
      5. Responsiveness
      6. Adaptability
      7. Supportive Work Environment
      8. Fiscal Integrity
      9. Quality Management

    2. Responses to Third- and Fourth-Year Reviews
      1. Communications
      2. Information Management
      3. Diversity and Mentoring of Young Scientists
      4. Cross-Divisional Interactions

    3. The Leadership Structure
      1. UCAR Members and Affiliates
      2. UCAR Board of Trustees
      3. UCAR Senior Management
        1. President's Office
        2. Corporate Affairs
        3. Finance and Administration
      4. NCAR Senior Management
      5. UCAR Office of Programs

  4. Conclusion

References