International Activities

Because many NWS climate products are global in nature, NWS is engaged with the international community. NWS climate scientists serve as experts on World Meteorological Organization (WMO) teams, participate in international research projects, and collaborate on international climate products. In addition, NWS is involved in international training activities and in development of climate products for humanitarian purposes.

The NOAA Climate Prediction Center (CPC) provides graphical outlooks for Africa, Central America, the Caribbean, and Central Asia highlighting areas that might be exposed to reduced crop production or livestock vulnerability due to flooding or drought. The outlooks provide advance notice of food security issues in the regions of interest. The outlooks are incorporated into the Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNET) monthly food security outlooks.

CPC International Desks

As part of the U.S. contribution to the WMO Voluntary Cooperation Program (VCP), the NWS provides training in climate monitoring and forecasting to African National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) through the residency training program at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). The objective of the training is to strengthen the capacity of NMHSs to improve climate monitoring and forecasting capabilities and to improve services.

The Desks consists of;

1. professional development training desks including the African Desk and the Monsoon Desk, and
2. Operational weather and climate product development and delivery to mainly to support the mission of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the operations NMHSs around the world.