The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) comprise the Department of Commerce’s (DOC’s) participation in USGCRP.

From daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings, and climate monitoring to fisheries management, coastal restoration, and supporting marine commerce, NOAA’s products and services support economic vitality and affect more than one-third of America’s gross domestic product. NOAA’s dedicated scientists use cutting-edge research and high-tech instrumentation to provide citizens, planners, emergency managers, and other decision-makers with reliable information they need, when they need it.

NOAA’s mission to better understand our natural world and help protect its precious resources extends beyond national borders to monitor global weather and climate and work with partners around the world. 

NOAA holds key leadership roles in shaping international ocean, fisheries, climate, space, and weather policies. NOAA’s many assets—including research programs, vessels, satellites, science centers, laboratories, and a vast pool of distinguished scientists and experts—are essential, internationally recognized resources. NOAA works closely with other nations to advance our ability to predict and respond to changes in climate and other environmental challenges that imperil Earth’s natural resources, human life, and economic vitality.

NIST’s measurement science research supports enhanced, internationally accepted, and traceable measurement standards, methodologies, and technologies that provide accurate greenhouse gas emissions and uptake data and analyses to support mitigation management and the advancement of climate science research. NIST provides measurements and standards for consistent, comparable, and reliable climate observations and provides calibrations and special tests to improve the accuracy of a wide range of instruments and techniques used in climate research and monitoring.