Software has been used for (Operational) Environmental modeling since the late 1950s, with initial numerical approaches dating back as far as 1920. With that, we have a wealth of experience with software, but also a wide range of software approaches, and software ages. This presentation will focus on several aspects of such software in general, and with a focus on NOAA operational software. After a brief overview of which laws and internal rules govern software governance at NOAA, the presentation will focus on three subjects.
Dr. Ir. Hendrik L. Tolman,
National Weather Service (NWS)
The presentation will start with NOAA’s experiences with open source and open science software development, focusing on more than three decades of experience of open science approaches with the WAVEWATCH wind wave models. The presentation will then switch over to discussing the need for software modernization for the Unified Forecast System (UFS), which represents the core of modeling efforts for both research and operations at NOAA. These general considerations are now actively applied to the recently started development of the WAVEWATCH IV wind model. The last topic to be addressed is the impact of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) on environmental prediction, and my (personal) views on possible futures for both numerical modeling and AI/ML in this field.
Dr. Ir. Hendrik L. Tolman is the Senior Science Advisor of the Environmental Modeling Center (EMC) of the National Weather Service (NWS). Apart from 8 years working at NWS Headquarters, he has been at EMC since 1992, as wave modeler (original development of the WAVEWATCH III wave model), Marine Modeling Branch Chief and as the Director. Dr. Tolman champions open science through the Unified Forecast System (UFS), champions the use of social and behavioral science in forecasting, and often represents the NWS with respect to its use of Artificial Intelligence, in which field he has been active since ca. 1995. Dr. Tolman holds a Doctorate (Dr., PhD equivalent) and Engineering degree (Ir., Masters equivalent) from the Civil Engineering Department of Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. He is a naturalized US citizen of Dutch origin.