Subcommittee Discusses Expanding Role of Commercial Weather Data | SpaceRef - Your Space Reference

"Today, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Environment held a hearing to discuss the benefits and challenges of purchasing and incorporating commercial weather data at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA currently procures and maintains the Nation’s geostationary and polar satellites which provide critical observational data for U.S. weather forecasting. These observations are supplemented with a variety of commercial weather data that are purchased to add value to existing forecasts. The hearing provided Members an opportunity to hear the perspective of the weather community on the expanded role commercial weather data may play in future NOAA observational programs ... Members discussed the current NOAA policy of providing free and open access to weather data, how such a policy has benefited academic and private interests, and the challenges associated with maintaining such a policy while expanding the use of commercial weather data ..."