White Papers

Explores the rapidly growing global economic sector focused on climate resilience, adaptation, and greenhouse gas mitigation. This paper details how NOAA provides critical data, new technologies, and foundational environmental intelligence to help private and public sectors scale climate solutions and guide future investments.

NOAA Cooperative Institute Recommendations for Continuing the Implementation of CI21 (July 2020)

Outlines the strategic next steps for NOAA’s partnerships with academic and non-profit research institutions under its 21st-century framework. The report focuses on maximizing collaboration, improving operational efficiencies, and aligning top-tier scientific research with long-term agency mission goals.

Predicting Arctic Weather and Climate and Related Impacts (March 2014)

Addresses the urgent operational and scientific challenges posed by the fast-changing Arctic environment. This white paper targets the necessary advancements in tracking extreme weather, forecasting sea ice loss, and scaling predictive models to support safer maritime navigation and local community safety.

Social Science Challenge Workshop (2011)

Highlights the essential role human data plays in environmental forecasting. This paper details strategies to bridge the gap between physical science (like weather models) and the social sciences—ensuring the public better understands, trusts, and effectively responds to severe weather alerts and climate risks.

Climate Science Challenge Workshop (2011)

Focuses on sharpening long-term climate projections and bridging the gap between national data and local needs. The paper outlines core scientific priorities required to give community leaders, city planners, and resource managers the precise, actionable climate data necessary to protect local infrastructure.

Ecosystem Research Science Challenge Workshop (2011)

Advocates for a shift from managing isolated environmental issues to treating entire marine and coastal habitats as unified systems. It outlines the research pathways needed to balance healthy fisheries and protected species with sustainable coastal development and economic growth.

Water Cycle Science Challenge Workshop (2011)

Targets the growing challenges of water volatility, from devastating flash floods to prolonged regional droughts. This document details the next-generation forecasting tools and collaborative data tracking required to improve water security and flood warning systems across the United States.

NOAA Science Workshop (2010)

An foundational, agency-wide review evaluating NOAA’s broad scientific portfolio and internal research infrastructure. It outlines structural improvements to better sync research breakthroughs across different laboratories, ensuring new scientific discoveries smoothly transition into daily, public-facing operations.