Full Committee Hearing to Examine Weather Forecasting Enhancements
April 16, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) will convene the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on April 22, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. for a hearing entitled, “Weathering the Storm: How Can We Better Communicate Weather to Enhance Commerce and Safety?” The hearing will examine how weather information is communicated to and used by individuals, businesses, and government.
From 2008 through 2013, the estimated cumulative costs of U.S. weather events such as tornados, floods, and hurricanes was $309 billion. Less severe weather events are also a frequent contributor to costly air service delays, motor vehicle accidents, and other impacts on everyday life and commerce. Roughly seventy percent of all U.S. commercial airline delays, for example, are weather related, costing an estimated $41 billion in 2007. Improvements in forecasting and readiness have the potential to lower the negative impact of weather events.
Several offices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), notably including the National Weather Service (NWS), play a considerable role in the federal weather enterprise. The hearing will feature testimony from non-government experts positioned to answer questions about how the data generated by the federal government is used by the private and public sectors to make decisions that affect life and property. Witnesses will also discuss the future of the U.S. weather enterprise and the challenges and benefits of incorporating innovative technology serving a changing user community and forging partnerships between public and non-public sectors.
Witnesses:
From 2008 through 2013, the estimated cumulative costs of U.S. weather events such as tornados, floods, and hurricanes was $309 billion. Less severe weather events are also a frequent contributor to costly air service delays, motor vehicle accidents, and other impacts on everyday life and commerce. Roughly seventy percent of all U.S. commercial airline delays, for example, are weather related, costing an estimated $41 billion in 2007. Improvements in forecasting and readiness have the potential to lower the negative impact of weather events.
Several offices of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), notably including the National Weather Service (NWS), play a considerable role in the federal weather enterprise. The hearing will feature testimony from non-government experts positioned to answer questions about how the data generated by the federal government is used by the private and public sectors to make decisions that affect life and property. Witnesses will also discuss the future of the U.S. weather enterprise and the challenges and benefits of incorporating innovative technology serving a changing user community and forging partnerships between public and non-public sectors.
Witnesses:
- Dr. Jay Trobec, Chief Meteorologist, KELO-TV
- Mr. Ron Sznaider, Vice President, Cloud Services - Weather, Schneider Electric
- Dr. Kim Klockow, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Postdoctoral Researcher, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, Office of Weather and Air Quality
- Mr. Bryan Koon, Director of Emergency Management, State of Florida
Hearing Details:
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
**9:45 a.m. (time changed to 9:45 a.m. from 10:00 a.m.)**
Full Committee hearing entitled, “Weathering the Storm: How Can We Better Communicate Weather to Enhance Commerce and Safety?”
This hearing will take place in Senate Russell Office Building, Room 253. Witness testimony, opening statements, and a live video of the hearing will be available at http://1.usa.gov/1cyZGmD.
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