“Tropical Cyclone

Research:

Identifying Gaps

and Focusing

Research on

Operational Needs”

March 2 - 5, 2009

63rd Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference

Mr. Samuel P. WilliamsonFederal Coordinator for Meteorology

Sponsored and hosted by:

The Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services

and Supporting Research

63rd Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference“Tropical Cyclone Research: Identifying Gaps and

Focusing Research on Operational Needs”

Closing Remarks

Overview

• Motivation and Objectives • Conference Highlights• Next Steps• Conference Materials• Feedback• Special Recognition• Location of Future IHCs

63rd Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference

The Honorable Rick BakerMayor of St. Petersburg

City of St. Petersburg, FL

• Improved services to prevent loss of life and injuries and to reduce the nation’s vulnerability to these devastating storms:

Why Are We Here?

Hurricane Ike Best Track Hurricane Ike Fcst, Sep 9, 5:00 EDT

Track Intensity Structure

Waves Storm surge Rainfall

-- Observations --

• Review the Nation’s tropical cyclone forecast and warning program from end-to-end

– Update the National Hurricane Operations Plan for 2009

• Review the 2008 Joint Hurricane Testbed (JHT) projects, and identify candidates that may be successfully transitioned into operations

• Review interagency linkages of tropical cyclone research to tropical cyclone forecast and warning center’s operational priorities

– (related to 62nd IHC action item)

• Build upon tropical cyclone partnership alliances, leveraging agency capabilities to meet the needs of the tropical cyclone forecast and warning centers

Conference Objectives

• Panel Discussion - Tropical Cyclone Partnership Alliance: A Senior Leader Perspective

Moderator: Dr. Kelvin K. Droegemeier, Associate VP for Research and

Director, Sasaki Institute, University of Oklahoma

Panelists: Dr. Richard Spinrad, Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, NOAA

Mr. Robert Winokur, Technical Director, Office of the Oceanographer and Navigator of the Navy

Dr. Jack Kaye, Associate Director for Research, Earth Science Division, NASA Headquarters

Colonel Mark Zettlemoyer, Chief, Integration, Plans & Requirements, Directorate of Weather, HQ Air Force

RDML David Titley, Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command

Dr. John “Jack” Hayes, Assistant Administrator for Weather Services, NOAA

Conference Agenda

• Invited Presentations- Mr Michael Buckley (DHS/FEMA)

- Mr. Bill Proenza (NOAA/NWS)

• Workshop/Panel - Session 2: Identifying Tropical Cyclone Research Needs, Progress and Gaps Moderator: Dr. Elizabeth Ritchie, Associate Professor, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona

Panelists: Dr. Frank Marks, NOAA AOML/HRD

Dr. Scott Braun, NASA/GSFC

Dr. Brad Smull, NSF

Dr. Rob Rogers, NOAA AOML/HRD

Dr. Ron Ferek, ONR

CAPT Mike Angove, Navy

Conference Agenda

Vice Admiral Roger T. Rufe, Jr., USCG(Ret.)

Director, Operations Coordination & Planning, DHS

Presentation of the Hagemeyer Award toDr. Mark DeMaria

Banquet

Next Steps

• Publish the 2009National HurricaneOperations Plan

• Follow through on the outcomes of the conference and actions already stated

Conference Materials Available

Presentations and other material will be available on the OFCM web site shortly

after the IHC.

Click on “Special Projects” and navigate to the

63rd IHC.

http://www.ofcm.gov/

We need and want your feedback on any aspect of the conference to help us maximize the value to you and the

results of this conference.

samuel.williamson@noaa.gov

mark.welshinger@noaa.gov

michael.babcock@noaa.gov

(301) 427-2002

Feedback

Special Recognition

WG/Tropical Cyclone Research

WG/Hurricane and Winter Storms Ops

Speakers, Session Leaders, Moderators, and Panelists

OFCM and STC Staff

Media – Mike Babcock, Dennis Feltgen (NHC)

Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront HotelRobert Spoto, Deb Sanders, Amy NcNeely and

the Staff

Mayor Baker, the City Council, and the Marketing Director and Staff of the City of

St. Petersburg, FL

Special Recognition

Ms. Erin McNamara

“The best one yet!”

Next IHC

Tentative Locations

64th IHC – 2010Savannah, GA

65th IHC – 2011Miami, FL

Thank you for your attendance and

participation in the63rd Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference!

63rd Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference

On behalf of the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology,

Have a safe trip home!