The NOAA HPCC program couples very tightly to NOAA's mission in a number of ways.

NOAA's research in climate prediction and weather forecasting, as supported by the HPCC Program, for example, is critical to its mission to describe and predict changes in the Earth's environment, manage the nation's ocean and coastal resources, and promote global stewardship of the world's oceans and atmosphere. This research depends on advances in high-end computing, on the collection and dissemination of environmental data, on the ability to visualize and analyze vast quantities of data, and on the ability of NOAA researchers to collaborate effectively, efficiently, and easily with colleagues throughout NOAA, the nation and even the world.

Increased computing power will enable higher resolution in the current models of the Earth's atmosphere-ocean system. Increased resolution will enable more accurate representation of key features such as weather fronts and ocean eddies, and distortions due to clouds can be reduced. More accurate NOAA models will improve the understanding of the behavior of climate and weather systems, enabling better decision making by Government and industry on issues that affect both the environment and the economy.

Through HPCC efforts that support climate modeling, NOAA will provide better simulations of atmosphere-ocean coupling and a first-ever direct attack on the regional climate change problem. More accurate, more timely assessment of the future impact of climate change will make it possible to avoid "false choices" between the economy and the global environment. In weather forecasting, finer resolution in global and regional models will result in better weather forecasting and warning services, especially for hazardous weather and flight safety.

NOAA information is critical to the nation's ability to respond to most domestic crises either directly if weather related or due to a hazardous materials release, or indirectly through the effects of weather on the recovery effort for earthquakes, fire, or terrorism. Through HPCC efforts in advanced networking and information management technology, critical data and information are becoming available more quickly, from more diverse sources, yet in a more integrated form for use during emergencies.

NOAA has become a U.S. Government and world leader in the dissemination of information through the Internet, so as to perform its mission better and to support the timely provision of information to its federal partners and the public.