,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #cbb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,january #bi1 #bjbe,mr4 ,padilla 7for himself and ,ms4 ,murkowski7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to improve the lead time1 accuracy1 and dissemination of forecasts of atmospheric rivers throughout the ,united ,states1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,improving ,atmospheric ,river ,forecasts ,act4 #b4 ,atmospheric rivers forecast improvement program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,under ,secretary1 in collaboration with the weather enterprise in the ,united ,states and institutions of higher education1 shall establish an atmospheric river forecast improvement program 7in this section referred to as the program74 7b7 ,program elements ,in carrying out the program1 the ,under ,secretary shall seek to reduce the loss of life and property and economic losses from atmospheric rivers through the development and extension of1 and research on1 accurate1 effective1 and actionable forecasts and warnings1 including by-- 7#a7 establishing quantitative atmospheric river forecast skill metrics that include the benefits of dynamical modeling1 data assimilation1 and machine learning improvements in the probabilistic forecasts of landfall location1 extreme wind and precipitation1 and cascading impacts2 7#b7 developing an atmospheric river forecast system within a unified forecast system1 and advancing next-generation coupled modeling systems1 with the capability of providing seasonal to short-range atmospheric river forecasts that include forecasts of snow accumulation and other hydrologic components2 7#c7 advancing scientific understanding of the roles of atmospheric rivers in subseasonal-to-seasonal precipitation and probabilistic predictions at subseasonal and seasonal scales2 7#d7 developing tools and improved forecast products to predict periods of active or inactive atmospheric river landfalls and inland penetration over the ,united ,states with a focus on addressing stakeholder and public needs related to perceiving1 comprehending1 and responding to atmospheric river forecast improvements2 7#e7 enhancing the transition of research to operations through the testbeds of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 including the evaluation of physical and social science1 technology1 and other research to develop products and services for implementation and use by relevant stakeholders2 and 7#f7 incorporating social1 behavioral1 risk1 communication1 and economic sciences1 including by collecting voluntary data regarding hazardous weather or water events4 7c7 ,innovative observations1 data assimilation1 and modeling ,the ,under ,secretary shall ensure the program periodically examines1 tests1 and evaluates the value of incorporating innovative observations1 such as observations from radar1 observations from crewed or uncrewed aircraft1 novel airborne and satellite-based measurements1 data from ocean buoys1 data from soil moisture monitoring systems1 reservoir storage data1 observations from mesonets1 or any observations1 measurements1 or data from other emerging technologies1 with respect to the improvement of atmospheric river analyses1 modeling1 forecasts1 predictions1 and warnings4 7d7 ,improved modeling 7#a7 ,in general ,under the program1 the ,under ,secretary may improve modeling for precipitation forecasts1 with an emphasis on forecasting for complex terrain4 7#b7 ,improved precipitation forecasts ,improved precipitation forecasts pursuant to improved modeling under paragraph 7#a7 should support improved water resource management and resilience to extreme water-related events1 from floods to drought1 which may include the use of enhanced streamflow prediction4 7#c7 ,elements ,in improving modeling under paragraph 7#a71 the ,under ,secretary may-- 7,a7 develop1 test1 and operationalize prototype high-resolution ,atmospheric ,river ,analysis and ,forecasting ,system models through a research and operations partnership with partners outside the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration2 7,b7 enhance data assimilation of current and new satellite and ocean observations2 7,c7 improve data processing techniques2 7,d7 use artificial intelligence and machine learning methods as applicable2 7,e7 ensure the surface and subsurface observations of the ocean meet the needs of atmospheric river analysis and forecasting predictions on time scales from days1 to weeks1 to months1 to seasons2 and 7,f7 improve or establish baseline weather monitoring service in areas that have historically experienced1 or are predicted to experience1 atmospheric rivers4 7e7 ,atmospheric river reconnaissance 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,under ,secretary shall acquire and sustain adequate crewed and uncrewed aircraft1 scientific equipment1 and personnel necessary to meet mission requirements annually from ,november #a through ,march #ca to-- 7,a7 ensure atmospheric river air reconnaissance observations are available throughout the expected seasons of atmospheric rivers2 7,b7 meet air reconnaissance and research mission requirements of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 including with respect to tropical cyclones1 high-impact weather1 sea ice1 atmospheric chemistry1 climate1 air quality for public health1 fire weather research and operations1 and other missions1 including marine animal surveys1 post-damage surveys1 and coastal erosion reconnaissance2 7,c7 ensure data and information collected by the aircraft are made available to all users for research and operations purposes2 7,d7 participate in the research and operations partnership that guides flight planning and uses research methods to improve and expand the capabilities and effectiveness of atmospheric river reconnaissance over time2 7,e7 develop data management strategies to ensure that data and metadata are adequately stewarded1 maintained1 and archived in accordance with collective benefit1 authority to control1 responsibility1 and ethics principles 7commonly known as ,,care principles71 findable1 accessible1 interoperable1 and reusable principles 7commonly known as ,,fair principles71 and the ,foundations for ,evidence-,based ,policymaking ,act of #bjah 7,public ,law #aae-dce2 #acb ,stat4 #eebi7 and the amendments made by that ,act1 and preserve and curate such data and metadata in accordance with chapter #ca of title #dd1 ,united ,states ,code 7commonly known as the ,federal ,records ,act of #aiej72 7,f7 maintain or establish within the ,office of ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,research not fewer than one atmospheric river observatory1 which shall include water vapor flux analyses and forecasts1 radar and disdrometer precipitation analyses1 and snow level radars in all ,states along the ,west ,coast of the ,united ,states1 including ,alaska1 to ensure equal and comprehensive coverage of that region2 and 7,g7 undertake such other additional activities as the ,under ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of the ,air ,force1 considers appropriate to improve and grow the atmospheric river reconnaissance mission4 7f7 ,improved atmospheric river hazard communication ,under the program1 the ,under ,secretary shall consider research and development activities to-- 7#a7 as appropriate1 develop and refine methods to categorize the intensity of atmospheric rivers on a quantitative scale and the impacts of such a scale in hazard communication2 7#b7 develop best practices for communication of atmospheric river events and hazards across regions of the ,united ,states2 7#c7 gather information from areas prone to atmospheric rivers regarding levels of knowledge and preparedness1 including responses to early forecasts and warnings by the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration2 and 7#d7 explore strategies and effectiveness of communicating that atmospheric river events are beneficial at lower intensities versus hazardous at higher intensities4 7g7 ,program plan ,not later than #bgj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,under ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of the ,air ,force or the ,commander of the #ecrd ,weather ,reconnaissance ,squadron of the ,air ,force ,reserve ,command1 shall-- 7#a7 develop a plan that details the specific research1 development1 data acquisition1 partnerships with institutions of higher education1 and technology transfer activities1 as well as corresponding resources and timelines1 necessary to achieve the goals of the program under subsection 7b72 7#b7 submit that plan to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7#c7 make that plan available to the public4 7h7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section #aja7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a774 7#b7 ,seasonal2 subseasonal2 ,under ,secretary2 weather enterprise ,the terms seasonal1 subseasonal1 ,under ,secretary1 and weather enterprise have the meanings given those terms in section #b of the ,weather ,research and ,forecasting ,innovation ,act of #bjag 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #heja74