NOAA Awards $9 Million To Trustees Of Columbia University Tosupport The International Research Institute

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded a $9,036,355 grant to the trustees of Columbia University to finance the International Research Institute for Climate Prediction. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The funds from this award will support the final year of the five-year consolidation phase of the International Research Institute for Climate Prediction. The IRI is dedicated to developing society's capability to understand, anticipate and control the impacts of seasonal climate fluctuations in order to enrich human welfare and the environment. The IRI, in collaboration with local forecast groups around the world, routinely disseminates climate forecasts and information. During the upcoming year, a system will be developed to identify, document and review user needs for climate forecast information, especially in developing countries.

“The funding from this NOAA grant will help enhance the lives of people around the world through improved forecast information,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “NOAA is working to increase our understanding of our environment through strong domestic and international organizations like the International Research Institute.”

Each year, NOAA awards approximately $900 million in grants to members of the academic, scientific and business communities to assist the agency in fulfilling its mission to study the Earth’s natural systems in order to predict environmental change, manage ocean resources, protect life and property, and provide decision makers with reliable scientific information. NOAA’s goals and programs reflect a commitment to these basic responsibilities of science and service to the nation for the past 34 years.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources. To learn more about NOAA, please visit http://www.noaa.gov.