1 Update from American Meteorological Society Ad Hoc Committee on Private and Public Weather Services Doyle Pittman Tennessee Valley Authority October 10, 2003

2 Background  Long history of tension between private and public sectors on provision of weather and climate services  In recent years, universities have also become involved  A committee of the National Research Council completed a study in 2002 of academic - private – public partnerships (Fair Weather – Effective Partnerships in Weather and Climate Services)

3 NRC Report Conclusion  Prudent public policy must be based on the assumption that rapid advances in scientific understanding and technology will continue.  The changes make it inadvisable to define sharp boundaries for what each sector can and cannot do. Indeed, such prescriptions would be obsolete and ineffectual before they could be promulgated.  Instead, the public, private, and academic sectors must work diligently to improve the processes and mechanisms by which they will deal with the problems and differences that are certain to arise.

4 NRC Recommendation  The NRC report contained about a dozen recommendations, one of which states that these parties should seek a: "...neutral host, such as the American Meteorological Society, to provide a periodic, dedicated venue for the weather enterprise as a whole to discuss issues related to the public- private partnership."

5 AMS Executive Committee Charge ... ascertain the level of enthusiasm for the alternatives of a relatively passive versus a relatively proactive AMS response to the NRC report; and  develop a set of optional responses, with pros and cons, for the EC to consider.

6 Ad Hoc Committee  The AMS Executive Committee created this committee in July 2003 with the following structure: Chair Academic Members Private Sector Members Public Sector Members User’s Representatives Non-Government Organization Ex Officio

7 Ad Hoc Committee continued  Consists of 21 members  Matt Parker is a private sector rep.  Doyle Pittman is a user rep.- energy sector  Meeting by teleconference only  AMS set up a list server to facilitate communication  Complete work this fall – EC act in Jan. 04

8 User Input  Committee very interested in hearing from the user community:  Solicited input from NUMUG list server  Received 14 responses

9 Receipt of information from the weather community?  Prefer an electronic means: Website Newsletter (Check out AboutWeather

10 Do you get the information you want?  Yes, but have to do some hunting  Don’t always get it in a timely manner

11 Aware of product developments/enhancements?  NO  AMS serve as clearinghouse

12 Other thoughts?  Cost to AMS  Is AMS a neutral host?  Information overload  AMS should not facilitate between sectors

13 Possible Directions  AMS host an open forum for all sectors at annual and regional meetings  AMS provide communication opportunities such as: Web site Newsletter Reports  Form a new Commission in the AMS or add a Board in an existing Commission.  Annual partnership workshop.