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Hurricane Research Division
Mission Statement

The Hurricane Research Division's (HRD) mission is to advance the understanding and prediction of hurricanes and other tropical weather. HRD's research is based on a combination of computer models, theories, and observations, with particular emphasis on data obtained with research aircraft.

HRD Research supports NOAA's Strategic Plan in the following areas:

Strategic Goal: Serve Society's Needs for Weather and Water Information
1. Advance the prediction of tropical cyclone intensity change by improving understanding of the processes that modulate internal storm dynamics and storm interactions with the atmosphere and ocean below. hurricane intensity change
2. Enhance the ability to diagnose and predict the impact of tropical cyclones on life and property through wind, rain, waves, and storm surge. wind swath from Donna
3. Improve the prediction of tropical cyclone tracks through an optimal analysis of observations of field observations that enhance understanding of the interactions between a tropical cyclone and its environment. hurricane track forecasting

Strategic Goal: Understand Climate Variability and Change to Enhance Society's Ability to Plan and Respond
4. Improve the understanding of and ability to predict tropical cyclone frequency and intensity on intraseasonal, interannual, decadal and longer time scales. Cold vs Warm Atlantic major hurricane activity

These goals are accomplished by :

Field Research

Much of HRD's research is based on the in situ and remotely-sensed observations in the inner core of tropical cyclones and their surrounding environment collected in our annual field program using the two NOAA turboprop aircraft and jet operated by NOAA's Aircraft Operations Center (AOC). The field program is used to carry out scientific experiments designed to address the goals stated above. Data sets gathered by these experiments, combined with dynamical and statistical models and theoretical development, span the spectrum of spatial and temporal scales, from global to microscale, from seconds to centuries, forming the cornerstone of research at HRD. Because of this extensive field experience HRD scientists are recognized internationally for their knowledge about tropical cyclones, and also for their expertise in technological areas such as airborne Doppler radar, dropsondes, cloud microphysics, and air-sea interaction, to name a few. These assets make HRD unique worldwide, and provide NOAA a unique capability.

Coordination and Projects

HRD coordinates parts of its programs with other NOAA organizations, e.g. AOC, NESDIS, and the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), in particular the Environmental Modeling Center. It maintains active research programs with, and receives funding from other governmental agencies, in particular, the Department of the Navy's Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In program areas where its is beneficial to NOAA, HRD arranges cooperative programs with scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and at a number of universities.

Our highest priority is the NOAA Intensity Forecast Experiment (IFEX), developed through a partnership of HRD, EMC, NCEP, and NESDIS. The goals of IFEX are the collection of data to directly aid the development and evaluation of the next generation operational tropical cyclone forecasting model system, the Hurricane Weather Research and Forecast model system (HWRF).

Our current research staff consists of 23 full-time employees and 8 contract employees, some working under a cooperative joint agreement with the University of Miami's CIMAS.

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