MISSION

The central mission of the Research Applications Program is consonant with one of the stated missions of NCAR and UCAR: to perform and facilitate the transfer of technology developed in the atmospheric sciences to the public and private sectors. The motivation for this is embodied in what Walter O. Roberts, the first Director of NCAR, termed "science in service to society." Through a program of directed research aimed at solving practical problems, RAP contributes to the depth of fundamental understanding in atmospheric science and develops new sources of support for such research. Subsequently, through a program of technology transfer, RAP expands the reach of atmospheric science into weather-sensitive human endeavors that are not currently making practical use of weather information or are using such information in naïve or inefficient ways. Educating potential users of weather information in the "art of the possible" is an important element in securing new investments in research and development.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

The Research Applications Program began as a small effort within the Atmospheric Technology Division to investigate, and later detect, microbursts. This core group of scientists - J. Wilson, C. Mueller, C. Kessinger and R. Roberts - is still at RAP nearly 20 years later. The program became a separate NCAR division in 1989 and has expanded dramatically, both in scientific focus and size, since then. RAP currently has a staff of 120, with 48 scientists, 45 software engineers, 16 managers/administrative staff, and 11 student assistants. The FY01 budget was approximately $21M, of which $8.7M in modified total direct costs were generated for the institution.

RAP is unique within NCAR for its emphases on directed research and technology transfer, its near-total reliance on non-NSF funding, and its matrix organization that blends scientific and engineering expertise to accomplish programmatic objectives. RAP is a dynamic organization that is aggressive in pursuing significant new opportunities and successful in delivering what it promises. The division has clearly benefited from the prestige and credibility of its parent institution, NCAR; RAP has, in turn, waved the NCAR banner worldwide, contributing to the organization's visibility and reputation for excellence.

APPROACH TO TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

The division's research and development emphases are: in-flight icing; snowfall and freezing precipitation; convective weather forecasting; ceiling and visibility; atmospheric turbulence; numerical weather prediction; land-surface modeling; remote sensing of precipitation; precipitation physics; hybrid automated forecast systems; and algorithm development/enhancement. Important recent accomplishments are highlighted in this Annual Scientific Report.

The division is also engaged in technology transfer programs for airport weather systems in Taiwan, Kuwait, and Korea; a prototype four-dimensional weather system to support operations at five Army test ranges; an Aviation Gridded Forecast System (AGFS) for the FAA; and Aviation Weather Information systems for NASA.

STRATEGIC GOALS

RAP's principal scientific goal is the attainment of an improved operational capability for detection, warning, and forecasting significant weather events. Its principal applications goal is the transfer of that capability to governmental and private sectors through such mechanisms as advanced algorithms or software systems; complete hardware/software systems; education; training; and expert advice.

- Brant Foote, Program Director