NSF Review Could Restructure Critical Weather Science Infrastructure
Intent to restructure critical weather science infrastructure
The National Science Foundation announced a review of the research and observational capabilities managed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, signaling potential changes in stewardship of major assets and a refocus on priority forecasting needs.
What this could mean for weather science
NSF’s review may include transferring the Wyoming supercomputer, reallocating NSF-operated aircraft, and sharpening modeling efforts toward seasonal prediction, severe storms, and space weather, while engaging partners and the research community to shape follow-on actions.
Implications and next steps
Stakeholders can expect a Dear Colleague Letter outlining options and timelines; the process aims to maintain world-class infrastructure for modeling and forecasting but will require careful coordination to preserve operational continuity, research excellence, and public safety benefits as responsibilities shift.
About the Organizations Mentioned
National Science Foundation
The **U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)**, an independent federal agency established by Congress in 1950 via the National Science Foundation Act, promotes scientific progress, advances national health, prosperity, welfare, and defense by funding groundbreaking research and education in all non-medical fields of science and engineering.[1][2][3][4] NSF invests in promising ideas, people, and infrastructure across disciplines, using two core criteria—**Intellectual Merit** (advancing knowledge) and **Broader Impacts** (national benefits)—to evaluate proposals.[1] Its **2022–2026 Strategic Plan** outlines three goals: **Discover** (new knowledge via frontier research), **Innovate** (technology translation), and **Impact** (societal solutions, global leadership).[2] Key priorities include AI, quantum information science, biotechnology, translational research, STEM workforce development, and equitable participation without preferential treatment.[1][2] Historically, NSF has fueled U.S. innovation since the post-WWII era, supporting **93% of its budget** for research, education, and related activities. It backs over **1,900 organizations** nationwide, 350,000+ researchers, students, and entrepreneurs, and drives economic competitiveness through discoveries like gene therapies, cybersecurity, and quantum technologies.[2][3] **Key achievements** include jump-starting the quantum revolution with foundational R&D for quantum computers advancing AI and drug development, enabling biotechnology industries, and maintaining U.S. S&E leadership.[2] In FY2024, its enacted budget was **$9.06 billion**; the FY2025 request seeks **$10.183 billion** (up 3.1%), emphasizing emerging industries, resilient planet initiatives, STEM education, and research infrastructure like major facilities and Antarctic programs.[3][4][5] Currently, as of late 2025, NSF operates with a **$10B+ FY20
National Center for Atmospheric Research
The **National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)**, headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, is a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and managed by the nonprofit University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), a consortium of over 120 universities.[1][3] Established in 1960 under founding director Walter Orr Roberts, NCAR was created to equip the atmospheric science community with cutting-edge facilities unattainable by single institutions, fostering collaborative breakthroughs in Earth system science.[1][3] NCAR's mission centers on advancing research, education, and observation in atmospheric and related fields, including climate science, meteorology, atmospheric chemistry, space weather, and societal impacts like droughts, wildfires, and severe storms.[1][2] It equips global scientists with **specialized tools** such as research aircraft, supercomputers, the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory, and open-access datasets—totaling over 20,000 resources—alongside community models like the **Community Earth System Model (CESM)**, **Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF)** model, and **Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM)**.[1][2][4] These resources power forecasts for hurricanes, El Niño patterns, and climate change effects, while in-house teams of ~750 scientists, engineers, and staff produce influential publications and host workshops, fellowships, and public outreach at its visitor center.[3][5][6] Key achievements include pioneering high-performance computing for weather prediction and wildfire modeling, enhancing global resilience to environmental risks.[2][4] Today, under director Everette Joseph, NCAR operates seven laboratories and two programs from sites in Colorado, Wyoming, and Hawaii, remaining a hub for innovation where academia, government, and industry converge.[1][3] For business and tech leaders, NCAR's scalable models and cyberinfrastructure exemplify how public investment drives predictive tech wit
