This paper examines the potential of regional environmental prediction by focusing on the local forecasting effort in the Pacific Northwest. A consortium of federal, state, and local agencies have funded the development and operation of a multifaceted numerical prediction system centered at the University of Washington that includes atmospheric, hydrologic, and air quality models, the collection of real-time regional weather data sources, and a number of real-time applications using both observations and model output. The manuscript reviews northwest modeling and data collection systems, describes the funding and management system established to support and guide the effort, provides some examples of regional real-time applications, and examines the national implications of regional environmental prediction.
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
Laboratory for Atmospheric Research, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington
3-Tier, Inc., Seattle, Washington
National Weather Service, Seattle, Washington
Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, Seattle, Washington
PUSDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Seattle, Washington
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, Washington
Washington State, Department of Ecology, Olympia, Washington
U.S. EPA Region X, Seattle, Washington
Washington State, Department of Transportation, Seattle, Washington
