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NOAA's Enhanced Weather Forecasting through Commercial Radio Occultation Data
Technology Category
- Networks & Connectivity - Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)
- Sensors - GPS
Applicable Industries
- Aerospace
- Transportation
Applicable Functions
- Logistics & Transportation
- Procurement
Use Cases
- Last Mile Delivery
- Smart Contracts
Services
- Testing & Certification
The Challenge
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an American scientific and regulatory agency, was tasked with improving weather modeling and computing capabilities as part of its commitment to the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017. The agency recognized the potential of commercially sourced Radio Occultation (RO) data to enhance weather forecasting and understanding of climate change. However, before awarding contracts to commercial aerospace companies, NOAA needed to assess the accuracy, reliability, and overall impact of commercial RO data on weather forecasting applications. A pilot program was initiated for this purpose. The initial assessment found that Spire Global's Level 2 products were mature and stable, with a marked positive impact on the Day 1 forecast.
About The Customer
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is an American scientific and regulatory agency within the US Department of Commerce. NOAA provides environmental stewardship services in coordination with federal, state, and local authorities. The agency is committed to the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, which drives improvements in weather forecasting and warning systems to build a responsive and resilient Weather-Ready Nation. NOAA recognizes climate change as one of the world's most significant challenges and is committed to fostering positive change through data-backed intelligence.
The Solution
NOAA awarded Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts to commercial aerospace companies, including Spire Global and GeoOptics, to deliver RO data for weather applications. Spire Global, which provides industry-trusted space-based weather data using a proprietary constellation of low-orbit satellites, was awarded a 2-year contract with a $23 million ceiling. The contract required Spire to develop, manufacture, and operate satellites to collect atmospheric data for operational weather forecasts. The data had to meet specific quality requirements, including latency, signal-to-noise ratio, altitude extent, quantity, and geographic distribution. Over time, NOAA awarded four Delivery Orders (DO) to Spire and GeoOptics, each with stringent data accuracy and operational impact guidelines.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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