Applied Meteorological Research

Through the Collaborative Science, Technology, and Applied Research (CSTAR) program, the NWS provides funding to the university community for highly collaborative applied research activities.

The CSTAR program creates a cost-effective transition from basic and applied research to operations and
services.

This service-science linkage provides a foundation for the ongoing infusion of science and technology into NWS operations.
Related Programs

Examples of Funded Projects

Awards are related to topics of regional and national importance such as developing an operational system for probabilistic quantitative precipitation forecasts in the U.S., improving the prediction of warm- and cool-season heavy precipitation events over the Northeastern U.S., improving forecasts of topographically-forced weather systems in the Carolinas and Virginia, and improving operational radar algorithms in the Inter-mountain West.


Agency - Department of Commerce

The Department of Commerce fosters and promotes the nation's economic development and technological advancement through vigilance in international trade policy, domestic business policy and growth, and promoting economic progress at all levels.

Office - N/A.



Program Accomplishments

Projects awarded through the CSTAR program are leading to a deeper understanding of meteorological factors involved in the NWS warning and forecasting programs, which, in turn, will benefit the U.S. public with more responsive warning and forecast programs. Specifically, regional and local lightning climatologies are being developed and distributed to NWS forecast offices for use in anticipating thunderstorm development; improvements to operational hurricane prediction models are being implemented; algorithms for better detection and estimation of precipitation amounts in the complex terrain of the western U.S. are being developed; and new techniques for forecasting and warning extreme winter weather events are being developed.

Uses and Use Restrictions

The funds are used by recipients to implement programs described in proposals submitted and selected in response to calls for proposals from the CSTAR Program Office.

The CSTAR Program Office may support non-competitive awards in case specific instances or by direction from legislative language.